Mariann und die Informatiker

So we have been in Cambodia since Sunday night after a somewhat harrowing trip through the Mekong over the border.Opinions differ on this point. No free Internet in Phnom Penh and a lousy connection means I cant right much. So lets just say Cambodia is expensive even though its poorer than Vietnam, there are more offroaders here complete with bodyguards than in Zurich, the people are were nice and we've had some good fun. We go up to Angkor tomorrow and Ko Samui on Sunday. As soon as I get an Internet connection that doesnt drive me to tears, more will follow. Did I mention that I just discovered a super cocktail (Singapore Sling), which is probably not helping my eye hand coordination skills...... :)

So the clothes from Hoi An were a great sucess, even if they are probably synthetic. We also had an interesting afternoon at the beach. Immediately after arranging yourself on your towel about 10 different vendors surround you like flies: fresh mango and pineapple, foot massage, pulling out  hair with a thread,  you want manicure etc. etc., the last being a particularily hot idea, wwhat with the wind blowing sand everywhere. My personal favorite however was the lady who told us everyone had been lucky except her and we needed  to make her  lucky. 

Yesterday we boarded a Vietnam  Airlines plane to Nha Trang. The flight takes about an hour, the bus would be 12  hours. But 12 hours in an overnight bus has me feeling nauseous just thinking about it, train ok, bus no way. We arrived around noon all excited by the beautiful views from  the air and were immediately contacted by a hotel. Apparently the hotel in Hoi An had called ahead and given them our names. Only we hadnt even decidedto book there yet.  As  it turns out we probably should have gone there,  but I'm getting ahead of myself. So we decided to be really clever and share a taxi. According to the guidebook the airport should have been close, next door so to speak. Alas a new airport has been built (in one year) and is now 40km away (equals  15$ taxi ride). Turns out this is symbolic for the rest of the city. Restaurants disappear, new ones pop up and high rises everywhere you look. Think spanish Torremolinos and that's what it will probably look like  in a year. A pity, from my point of view, because the location is really beautiful, but it will  probably bring a lot of money and get rid of those pesty, cheap backpackers!:)

We landed in a cheap hotel for6$ a night.  In Hoi An we got a really beautiful room with fan for 8.  Here we got a hole in the  wall. It was the first place, where I feel compelled to sleep in my own sleeping bag. So needless to say not happy at all. But at least we got to go diving. According  to H. its not as nice as Egypt, but  I thought we  saw a lot and we  had an excellent service for only 30$ and 45$. It  was a first for me and I really loved seeing the marine life. But also a teensy weensy bit scary, cos I had difficulty adjusting the pressure on my ears. They're still popping!  :). Then  some sun at the beach again. All in all quite nice day, but I'll be glad to leave this place tomorrow. 

We are taking a three day tour up into the mountains and also to see some villages. Roughing it so to speak, and horrors of  horrors no free internet. :)  Then on Tuesday if I haven't been bitten by a snake, fallen of the elephant or sucked  dry by mosquitos (I must be some kind of rare delicacy here (sushi perhaps), because I  will get bitten even  when covered from head to toe in Antibrumm, while H. stands next  to me with no protection whatsoever.  If I am to contract malaria or dengue fever, I  am resigned to my fate, there's just no preventing  it. If there is a mosquito in  the region,  it  will find me.)  back to the beach in Mui Ne, a more quiet sort of place renowed for sand dunes and kite surfing... guess you's already planning to go? If you guessed Mr. Cannot Keep Still Unless Sleeping,  you guessed right.  This attitude  sometimes clashes with my more I need to relax a  bit and lets see when we  get there attitude :) So probably H.will go get his daily dopamin fix and I shall get mine simply listening to the waves and nodding  off over a good book. Pretty good system  if you ask me. Anyways I'll keep you posted! 

The trip so far: Ha noi, Ha Long Bay, Hue, Hoi An....

Some highs: Cruising and swimming in Ha Long Bay and staying overnight on the boat watching the moon rise, the delicious Vietnamese food and of course Vietnamese beer. There are several different kinds from the North to the South, all tasty and all very cheap. We are happily drinking our way through them and taking photos of each one. The cheapest beer was in Hanoi on the street for 2000 dong or less than 20Rp.! To be tasted either in the middle of a crossroads while choking on the motorbike fumes or in a dark side alley, sitting in the middle of beer canisters small tables and rubbish all the while getting curious stares from the locals. Naturally I'm taller than most of the men, H. must seem like a giant :)

Some lows: The traffic. Crossing the street is actually not a problem, as long as you walk slowly, but the fumes and the constant honking is. The Vietnamese specialise in a form of honking I call preventive honking, just to let you know that they will be coming. Motorbikes are the kings of the road. Guess where the pedestrians are...... Hanoi was also very, very messy. But most annoying:Being pestered with "You want cyclo" or "You buy, you buy" ALL THE TIME. Tourist equals walking piggy bank. After awhile you start to get really blase and say no to everything, which is a pity, because sometimes the people are really nice. For example yesterday at one of the bus breaks, two people asked us for Swiss coins and showed us their collections. The kids are also really really cute, and always shout hello and wave :) Or we were invited into a home by the waitress and at the bus station here in Hoi An we meet some really nice hotel people, who also gave us good tips where to get some clothes made. I bought a suit, a skirt, two dresses and a shirt for 150 USD. We go for a final fitting in an hour. Then if we're happy with it, we'll send it home per post. I feel so luxurious! :)

We've got one more day in Hoi An, then we go on to Nha Thrang, so H. can do some diving. I'm not sure I want to yet. Im definately up for beach time. Its very hot and humid and so sightseeing can be very tiring! Speaking of time for a nap :)

So almost ready to leave. Passport check, one large backpack check, one nervous breakdown check. Ready for 30+ degrees, 80% humidity and one typhoon, probably not :) 

Tomorrow evening at around 7, we shall actually be flying to Paris for oh what the first time in 5 years?!! Now that wakes memories! Would love to stay, as Paris in September is absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately we've only got 2 hours transit and knowing Charles de Gaulle it will take us about that time to navigate the damn place. Wish us luck, also for the flight, it will be interesting to see how poor H. fits his tall frame into the teensy weensy AF seats...But if past experience is anything to go by, he'll be fast asleep and I'll be wide awake as usual, only to fall into a coma immediately upon arrival. Tune in to fine out the latest results from the melatonin debate ;)

With any luck you'll be hearing from me from Hanoi with some reviews and news. So until then have a good one guys, see you in a month!