Janith and Kristin's Tour of Asia

After visiting two large cities in a row, we were ready to visit Hoi An, a smaller city of about 120 000 people. With its charming old town, numerous tailors to choose from and a perfect white sand beach only 4 km away. This is the perfect place to go for some tailor made suits, dresses, shoes and well enjoyed relaxing on the beach.

Japanese bridge in Hoi An

We decided to take a flight to get to Hoi An. Its about an hour by air to Danang and one half hour taxi drive, from Ho Chi Minh. By bus or train its about 12 hours, so when the price with Jetstar wasn't too bad, we decided to save those extra hours for relaxing on the beach. Had a little stroke of bad luck though, and our flight was delayed by four hours.

Our trusted Lonely Planet guide tipped us about a guesthouse/hotel called Hoa Binh on Hai Ba Trung road. For only 12 dollars a night we got great service, a swimming pool, a nice clean room, satellite TV and a free internet (when it was working). We were very happy with this place, so we stayed there all five nights.

Our first plan of business was to find a good tailor, so we asked our hotel and settled on "Peace" which they recommended. There are so many places and so many stories of bad tailors, that we wanted to be safe. Janith went crazy and got three suits and four shirts, and I got one suit, a dress and two skirts. But we needed shoes to match, so the next stop was to get tailor made leather shoes at (). Janith only got one pair and I went a little crazy with three pairs and a bag. Since we had to come back the next day and try everything on, to make adjustments, there was no time to go on any arranged day trips, so we rented two bicycles and went of to the beach. After a lot of sweating in the heat we made it, and it was so worth it. This beach was so beautiful and perfect for a laid back day. We rented a couple of tanning beds from one the the resorts, and chilled out bathing and relaxing.

Oh the lovely beach...

As it is best to try on the clothes your getting made several times, to make sure your satisfied, we spent another day at the beach after trying everything on. But this time we decided to rent a scooter. I was scared out of my mind to drive in Vietnam (because they drive like crazy), but sometimes you have to take a chance, and Janith trusted me, so off we went. Amazingly enough we survived, and had another great day at the beach.

Scootering around Hoi An

Two days of relaxing seemed a bit too much so we took a day trip to Cham Island. Took a short walk on the Island and breathed in the busy life of the fisherman village with a touch of touristification. Fun to see fish and squid drying in the sun, and fisherman in small round "boats", used when retrieving the fish nets.

Fisherman

Fish drying in the sun.

Before lunch we went snorkeling, with a huge amount of other tourists in orange life vests (don't know if they didn't know how to swim, or just couldn't be bothered). Not that many fancy Nemo's swimming around, but it was still fun. We had a wet boat ride back, which seemed to come as a surprise for some of the other people in the boat. Who could image getting wet when your on the water...? Not them apparently.

Hoi An is a sweat and charming, place with not to many tourists (we thought), but we went outside of the tourist season. Also remember that Hoi An is a small city, so it can quickly appear to be a lot of tourists there. But the charm of the city disguises this quite easy.

Hoi An has a lot to offer, just watch out for bad tailors. When we get rich, we'll be back to get some more clothes and shoes

The next big city on our trip was Ho Chi Minh city or as the natives still call it: Saigon, simply because it's easier to say.We found our way to the backpacker area also called Pham Ngu Lao pretty fast with a prepaid taxi from the airport, but don't think for a second this means they won't try to get an extra dollar or two out of you. Luckily Janith was firm in his belief, and argued his way out of paying the taxi driver two extra dollars for "toll". Me, on the other hand, was about to give him the money when he set his puppy eyes on me, but Janith is a man of principals, and he was not about to be cheated!

We found a nice little hotel called Duna Hotel, on Pham Ngu Lao road in the heart of the backpacker area. Very central and in walking distance of all the major attractions like Ben Thanh Market and the water puppet show. They had the friendliest staff (two very sweet sisters) who were very willing to help with anything we needed, like planing our day trips to Mekong Delta, Cu Chi tunnels and our plain ticket to Danang, after Jetstar's web page broke down. We spent the first day in Saigon just looking around, having some dinner and watching the world cup at Allez Boo a very popular three story cafe/pub/ restaurant in the backpacker area. Had a great time except for England loosing the game and one drunk and disgusting old Russian who didn't speak a word of English, but thought it was ok to kiss girls on the cheeks he pleased. Needless to say we both were pissed off, and I lost my appetite. Had an early night after that to get ready for our trip to Mekong Delta the next day.

Mekong Delta

The day started early as we thought we were being picked up at 7.30, but time is relevant in Vietnam, and we were picked up 30 minutes later, and we were even on time for once! From Saigon to the Mekong Delta is about a 2 hour trip by bus, it's really not a long distance, but because the roads are pretty bad you can more or less double or even triple the time you would have spent in Norway. We spent the day floating around in a boat on the Mekong Delta experiencing the river market and how they make popped rice.

making popped rice 2.

We also had a nice little trip on the small boats/rafts, which one shouldn't move to much around in, and a bike ride on the crappiest bicycle known to man. All together, it was a great day on the Mekong Delta, although Janith wanted to hold a snake we met during one of our stops, but unfortunately everyone else was busy wanting the same thing. Next time we meet a snake, we'll make sure it happens!

Bike ride!

We didn't have many days in Saigon so we had to make the most of it and decided we really wanted to see the Cu Chi tunnels, that were used by Vietnamese locals, from the Cu Chi district, during the war. It's amazing how people can live! We were lucky and got a guide that had worked as a translator for the Americans during the war, so he had experienced it all first hand. He showed us everything from the extreme booby traps, the tiny entrances used to escape down into the tunnels, the tunnels itself and gave us a great deal of information on the war.

Booby trap.

We also got to try to shoot with an AK-47, but the experience was ruined for Janith because he didn't get any protective ear gear while I was shooting, so he thought he had gone deaf for a few minutes. Fun as it was, it was not easy, and neither of us actually managed to hit the target, but to our defense we only had five rounds each... Before we got back on the bus to return to Saigon, we took a short walk in the 200 km long tunnels...

Janith in Cu Chi tunnel

This is the enlarged tunnels for the western tourists, so they actually used to be smaller. We were very happy we are small people, but even then it was hard work to crawl in the small dark tunnels. It was very hard to believe that people lived like this for so many years, in tunnels no bigger than half a meter tall in three storeys beneath the surface. They had to know the tunnels like their own pockets, because they had them rigged with booby traps, which also "switched" location every six hours. This way the Americans, if they were lucky enough to find an entrance to the tunnels, wouldn't get far into the tunnels. No wonder many soldiers went mad from this war, we never would have set a foot into these jungles!

We really liked Ho Chi Minh City, although we only spent a couple of days there. Like with every other place we've been to on this trip we would like to come back and explore the rest of the city.

After a taxi trip, ferry trip and one 5 hour long buss trip, we finally arrived in Bangkok. We pretty much had an idea of where we wanted to stay, but on the bus we met another backpacker, who needed to stay somewhere a little cheaper. So we followed her to Bangkok's backpacker area (Khao San road, in Banglamphu area) to see if we could find something cheaper too. We definitely found something cheaper, but since we are 24 and 25, we are starting to reach retirement age, and the "keep it going all night party mode" is sadly not for us (I think we're still exhausted from the party week in Mumbai). We need our beauty sleep, and we lasted for one "long" night. Lets just say we were very happy we brought earplugs. Yes we know, could we sound any older!

The next morning we went back to the place we originally wanted to stay: Suk 11. We were cheated good by our tuk tuk driver, (small tip: Always make sure that the price you agree on is the total and not per person), but ok, it happens. Suk 11 is a charming, big backpacker place in Sukhumvit, Soi 11. It's located in a tourist area, but it's close to the sky train (a cheap and effective way to travel), which connects to the metro, so it's easy to get around from there. Even though it can be crowded (so take care of you bag), the trains depart every 5-7 minutes.

Entrance to SUK 11

After settling in and relaxing a little bit, we went off to experience what Janith had been looking forward to the entire trip: Thai Boxing! One sky train, one metro and one confusing map consultation later, we managed to find the place, Lumpini Stadium. We decided to get ringside seats, even though they coasted a little more than we wanted to pay (2000 baht each), there's nothing like smelling and feeling the sweat and blood of a good Thai boxing match. Several matches actually, cause they show eight matches of different weight classes, so you start of with the small boys in their teens and end up with the guys who beat the crap out of each other.

Thai Boxing

Thai Boxing

When you sit in the inner ring you can buy beer and snacks from the cute Thai waitresses, who always wants you to buy more of course, but our waitresses wasn't just happy with us buying beer from her, she wanted Janith to be the one to pay. I was the one who had all the money for some reason, so after she had pointed out that Janith should pay, he turns to me frantically and begs me to hand over some money. Apparently equality between the sexes isn't that big in Thailand, but it was funny how she kept pushing Janith to pay.

As much as we wanted to visit a lot of different places in Bangkok, we only had a few days, so we decided we didn't want to miss Chinatown (we are returning to Bangkok anyways). Turns out, the streets in Chinatown are very difficult to navigate, at least they were to us. We managed though to find our way at last and got to experience the busy and hectic life of Chinatown. We're still amazed at what you can buy at those markets, both a little weird and interesting at times.

Talat Mai Market

Talat Mai Market

One of the mainstreets in Chinatown

We loved Bangkok and what it has to offer, although we could do without the cunning tuk tuk drivers!
So again we finish in Terminator style: Bangkok, we will be back to explore more!

Oh well, We couldn't stay at one place on Koh Chang. The plan was to travel down the southern parts of the island after the short stop in White Sand Beach. On the 19th we packed our backpacks and decided to go to Lonely Beach, a safe haven for younger backpackers. And why young people... Well, must be that the accommodation is cheaper, and it's more of a party place.

We arrived a little late in the evening so we didn't see much, but we rented a Bungalow/hut just down by the water. After a nights sleep we didn't know where to go, but the rough plan was to stay in Lonely Beach for a couple of days or so. During breakfast we met two other backpackers from Germany. They had been traveling for 3 months, and Koh Chang was their last stop. They wanted to find a quiet place with a large sandy beach, but they where a "little" disappointed by Lonely Beach (and so were we). They had been recommended by someone to come to either Lonely Beach or another beach on the west side of the island (Long Beach), and they had been warned not to go to White Sand Beach. Hostels was shut down during the low season on Long Beach, so their only option was Lonely Beach, but everything changed when we recommended White Sand. The beach was much nicer there, and since it was low season the beach wasn't that crowded at all. The only down side, as we pointed out to them, was that White Sand was a little bit more expensive, but the value for money was higher... especially as it was low season.

Janith enjoying beeing back at white sand beach.

After we got a good look around in Lonely Beach, we decided to go back to White Sand, and the two Germans followed us, a little skeptical though. Both Kristin and I felt that White Sand had the little extra, i.e. a touch of paradise. We could have gone straight to Rock Sand Resort, where we stayed before, but we wanted to see what one of the other places could offer. After a while all four of us ended up at Star Beach Bungalows, on the north side of White Sand. This was one of the places where we used to chill out during the evenings. We were always met by the greatest hospitality and the biggest smile from the young Thai couple, Kay and Apple, who runs the place. Thumbs up for this place! But "watch out" for the cute and lazy "watch dogs" :P Especially the youngest of them, who loves chilling in the hammock.

Dog loving the hammock

We had planned to leave Koh Chang for Bangkok the 23rd of June, but we stayed there an extra day. This was because we wanted to go Jungle trekking. We were recommended a guide called Raht by some other backpackers, which we met during our short stay at Lonely Beach. AND MAN are we glad we did it! It was amazing. This was a trip through the Koh Chang jungle that took 7 hours. Mr. Raht arranges these trips every day, but he did it with an extreme glow and enthusiasm, so its feels more like he's just one of the group who wants to capture the moment.

The guide, Mr. Rhat, and us

The happy jungle animals

We were impressed by Mr. Raht's trained eye. He could for example see small lizards chilling on a branch from a mile away. We were lucky to see different types of poisonous spiders, like a huge Tarantella and several Orb spiders, a Viper snake, geckos, flying lizards and chameleons, to mention some. Mr. Raht told us that on a trip the day before they observed a cobra!

Huge Tarantella...iiiik :S

Orb Spider

A green Viper snake

It was a really nice day, so it was really humid and hot walking through the jungle, but we had several "pit stops" at different waterfalls. One of the highlights must be when we swam upstream a river with several small waterfalls.... WOHOOO! that was fun! If we only had a waterproof camera!!!!!!!! THIS TRIP IS RECOMMENDED if you come to Koh Chang! We only paid 600 baht, and it included lunch and snacks. Expect this amount to be 900-1200 baht during the high season.

Woho, waterfalls are fun!

The view from one of the falls

Well cheerio for now!

After a hard week partying in Mumbai, we were pretty tired, so we decided to move on to the wonderfull island Koh Chang. What we are starting to realize now more than ever, is that the world is a small place. At the ferry point, waiting for the ferry to Koh Chang, we met Maren, Max and Patrice. Maren is from Haugesund (Norway), but goes to school in Bergen, and of course she knows a couple of friends of ours (Ola og Hanne). We have decided not to be surprised anymore when meeting Norwegians, we might as well be staying in Gronland, Oslo. The world is the size of a pea!

Janith and I had decided to spend the first night at White Sand Beach, and then see what we wanted to do. We teamed up with Maren, Max and Patrice and two girls from New Zealand, Jemma and Fiona, to find a place to stay. We all ended up as neighbors at Rock Sand Resort, a nice backpackers place on the north side of the beach. We all got bungalows with a sea view, and let me tell you... waking up to the sound of the sea is fantastic!!! Even when it's raining, the view is amazing from this place! No wonder we fell in love with Koh Chang!

Rock sand resort

Our view from our bungalow.

A cloudy sky met us the next morning, but who cares when it's 30 degrees and the water is great! We weren't planning to stay on the beach for too long, but as the sun came out it was too tempting, and of course I (Kristin) ended up with a fried back (nope some Norwegians never learn). It looked like somebody had painted me with red paint, not very flattering. I looked like a boiled lobster, seriously!!!!

Janith loves the waves

While we were frying up on the beach (Janith did get a small sunburn too), Jemma and Fiona had gone out and arranged elephant trekking for us all later that day. We went to a place called Ban Kwan Chang Elephant Camp. Thanks for arranging this girls. It was a once in a lifetime experience! It is a little terrifying just as your about to jump into a river with two huge elephants (we had a couple of pictures in our heads of being smashed like a bug), but it turned out to be great! Janith and I also got the most lively of the two. During the whole time we were sitting on its back, he/she was scratching its belly on the rocks on the riverbed, so it was like being on a really slow ride! But it was FUN FUN FUN...

our elephant enjoying the refreshing river!

Bathing with elephants

We went on to an hour of elephant trekking, and let us tell you it is a bumpy ride! These animals are not comfortable to sit on unless your sitting behind its ears. Our elephant Tintala, (apparently a girl according to Jemma and Fiona who got a front seat view of her doing her business), was only 27 years old. A youngster just like us, but they look a lot older. An elephant eats around 200 kg of food every day, and they were not shy to ask for it (or grab it), when we fed them bananas. Especially Tintala was a greedy one, that may be why she was the biggest one of them.

Elephant feeding

End of elephant trekking

The night was always ended with some "chilling" at one of the many bars down at the beach. Football + Shisha or just sound of the high tides combined with some cold beers was a popular choice. We now understand why people go to Thailand!

GOOOOO KOH CHANG!

Coconut dring. Very Nice!!!