By the way, for those of you who are so worried that we spend WAYY too much time on here...yes we do.
However it is a great & cheap way to relax and kill and hour after a hard day's blowing the budget doing amazing things, and as our only way of keeping in touch with home (IE: bragging a lot to you all) it is not at all geeky or pathetic (just slightly addictive) so please keep up with your stories, even if you are insistant they pale in comparison, any news from home is still much welcome- tell me about the weather for god's sake...and who was xmas number one!!???!!
It's nice to have a peek at the real world every so often, if only to induce a smug smile because I'm not there!!!
Sunday, January 21, 2007
A nut shell of Cambodia...and fleas
As I sit here, trying not to scratch my (what I can only assume are...beautifully attractive...) Cambodia elephant flea bites (told you, hot stuff huh?), trying to sleep in this oppressive heat, in a shared bed with towels as bedding, I briefly ponder having a cold shower (through a mixture of choice...and non existent hot water...but that can only be done when sitting on the toilet anyway, besides which I'm sure I just heard something scuttle across the floor)...but instead have to ask myself...
Will they count THIS as roughing it yet?!?
Ah yes Cambodia we have arrived!! This place, though I'm afraid to say I think out done by Vietnam-apart from generally having far less litter, is beautiful. Landscapes are a strange mix of green jungles and arid fields, almost African in appearance, though I gather during wet season it all resembles Wales. Now there's a random comparison if ever I heard one!! The people are BEAUTIFUL, though features have been steadily softening the further south we've travelled from China, both men and women, and ESPECIALLY the children are stunning here, and always smiling and keen to wave at and play for passing buses/ferries.
Hoping for some chill out time after our scramble from Vietnam we headed straight for the southern beaches. Chill out time is certainly what we found. The highlights of our first stop, which comprised a "city" of 2 roads and nothing but guesthouses, were a pig swimming in the sea and a dog which followed us on our exploration..of the two roads..and was subsequently christened Sandy (think "Annie!"). We didn't stay long.
The big attraction at our next stop actually admitted to being a ghost town. They were certainly more truthful with this description than that of the previous "city." It was terrifying!!! Driving up dirt and bolder wridden track claiming to be a road, dodging signs warning the presence of land mines, tales of tigers, snakes and spiders, and the sheer drop back down the mountain we found the Black Place and Bokor Hill station. Sounds nice huh? It wasn't, it was terrifying- not helped by the sound effects following us as we trekked (CAREFULLY...but speedily) through the jungle (does anyone know what a sicadder actually is/looks like?). The whole area had been occupied by the Khmer Rouge, hence the mines, and this was evident immediately. A grandiose french colonial style castle, hotel and casino had been reduced to burnt out relics, pierced with bullet holes and over grown by moss. A cathedral, in the same state, stood ominous and in shadow upon the hill over looking the scene. Despite the possibility of an over night stay we, again, didn't stay long!
After a brief recuperation from my trauma (Libby'd loved it...probably my reaction more than the place its self!) at the beach we'd been hunting all week for, we headed off to the hills where we found dust and elephants and waterfalls (non of which I fell off!!). We went on the most atmospheric elephant trek through the jungle, which again was intermixed with African scenes; the remoteness of the region was just breathtaking. Despite leaving from the province's capital, we'd see nothing for hours then happen across a small shack, complete with smiling and waving children, or some one washing their clothes and their children in the river...of course it was mine and Libby's graceful beast who chose to..er...relieve himself on this poignant scene...at my big all jinxing mouth's command actually. Ooop's. Once we'd got off the poor animals' back, I must say they are some of the most beautiful and elegant, graceful creatures I've ever seen.
After a day, a night, and a happy pizza in Phnon Penh we set off for the temples of Angkor Wat. Wow. Just wow, I don't even know how to begin to describe the feeling clambering through the dark to see something we had no idea of the shape or size, position or sheer magnitude of, then seeing it slowly revealed as the sun rose. Or exploring all the hidden crevices of a temple so deeply entrenched in the jungle that trees were growing over, on, in and even through it. Great roots smashing through the boulders, strong trunks stretching seemingly through to reach the sky...and Libby and I doing our BEST Lara Croft impressions through out. Just magical!
And that my dears was Cambodia. Beautiful, relaxed and so very friendly, all intermixed with a lot of action that I think Bridgette Jones could learn a thing or two from... not to be out done by the joys of my attack, it seems (IN MY ABSENCE) my house has become flea infested, my dog rather ill, myself single and my ex engaged.
Bugger.
They don't even have decent ice cream here. So cruel. Still, in true Bridge style we're off to Thailand next, where I hear the standard of travelling male specie, not to mention their parties, is second to non... though I do not intend to follow in her foot steps all the way to jail!!
Still waiting to hear who was Christmas number one....
Miss me
C x
Will they count THIS as roughing it yet?!?
Ah yes Cambodia we have arrived!! This place, though I'm afraid to say I think out done by Vietnam-apart from generally having far less litter, is beautiful. Landscapes are a strange mix of green jungles and arid fields, almost African in appearance, though I gather during wet season it all resembles Wales. Now there's a random comparison if ever I heard one!! The people are BEAUTIFUL, though features have been steadily softening the further south we've travelled from China, both men and women, and ESPECIALLY the children are stunning here, and always smiling and keen to wave at and play for passing buses/ferries.
Hoping for some chill out time after our scramble from Vietnam we headed straight for the southern beaches. Chill out time is certainly what we found. The highlights of our first stop, which comprised a "city" of 2 roads and nothing but guesthouses, were a pig swimming in the sea and a dog which followed us on our exploration..of the two roads..and was subsequently christened Sandy (think "Annie!"). We didn't stay long.
The big attraction at our next stop actually admitted to being a ghost town. They were certainly more truthful with this description than that of the previous "city." It was terrifying!!! Driving up dirt and bolder wridden track claiming to be a road, dodging signs warning the presence of land mines, tales of tigers, snakes and spiders, and the sheer drop back down the mountain we found the Black Place and Bokor Hill station. Sounds nice huh? It wasn't, it was terrifying- not helped by the sound effects following us as we trekked (CAREFULLY...but speedily) through the jungle (does anyone know what a sicadder actually is/looks like?). The whole area had been occupied by the Khmer Rouge, hence the mines, and this was evident immediately. A grandiose french colonial style castle, hotel and casino had been reduced to burnt out relics, pierced with bullet holes and over grown by moss. A cathedral, in the same state, stood ominous and in shadow upon the hill over looking the scene. Despite the possibility of an over night stay we, again, didn't stay long!
After a brief recuperation from my trauma (Libby'd loved it...probably my reaction more than the place its self!) at the beach we'd been hunting all week for, we headed off to the hills where we found dust and elephants and waterfalls (non of which I fell off!!). We went on the most atmospheric elephant trek through the jungle, which again was intermixed with African scenes; the remoteness of the region was just breathtaking. Despite leaving from the province's capital, we'd see nothing for hours then happen across a small shack, complete with smiling and waving children, or some one washing their clothes and their children in the river...of course it was mine and Libby's graceful beast who chose to..er...relieve himself on this poignant scene...at my big all jinxing mouth's command actually. Ooop's. Once we'd got off the poor animals' back, I must say they are some of the most beautiful and elegant, graceful creatures I've ever seen.
After a day, a night, and a happy pizza in Phnon Penh we set off for the temples of Angkor Wat. Wow. Just wow, I don't even know how to begin to describe the feeling clambering through the dark to see something we had no idea of the shape or size, position or sheer magnitude of, then seeing it slowly revealed as the sun rose. Or exploring all the hidden crevices of a temple so deeply entrenched in the jungle that trees were growing over, on, in and even through it. Great roots smashing through the boulders, strong trunks stretching seemingly through to reach the sky...and Libby and I doing our BEST Lara Croft impressions through out. Just magical!
And that my dears was Cambodia. Beautiful, relaxed and so very friendly, all intermixed with a lot of action that I think Bridgette Jones could learn a thing or two from... not to be out done by the joys of my attack, it seems (IN MY ABSENCE) my house has become flea infested, my dog rather ill, myself single and my ex engaged.
Bugger.
They don't even have decent ice cream here. So cruel. Still, in true Bridge style we're off to Thailand next, where I hear the standard of travelling male specie, not to mention their parties, is second to non... though I do not intend to follow in her foot steps all the way to jail!!
Still waiting to hear who was Christmas number one....
Miss me
C x
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Ending Vietnam on a somber note
Well I have to say not only did we make it out of the country, but in a FAR more preferable manner than we arrived; in that it didn't so much involve violence this time, but boats, drinks, firemen and dancing!! All in all a good day, and night, spent arriving in Cambodia!
I didn't really do Vietnam much justice in my last garbled attempt at an email, I missed SOO much out, but then it is a country of many wonders and a lot of beauty so it would be impossible to describe it all to you, or even hope to do it justice. One thing though I can not neglect to mention, but I didn't feel went very well with accounts of glitter encrusted nights out, was our trip to the war museum that day.
What a poignant and symbolic way to end the year. This was one of the most harrowing places I have ever been to and I highly implore ANYONE who gets the opportunity to go. It is the Vietnamese account of the War of Reunification, as they refer to it now. Divided into 8 sections detailing everything from examples of weaponry used to photos of their effects, photographer's accounts of the war and their photos, anti-war campaigner's views and how the peoples have gone from strength to strength since. The only problem was we just didn't have the time to take it all in properly and do it justice. There were a lot of incredibly moving imagery and stories, from both sides.
But, in ignorance I have to ask, how and why it was allowed to happen. If anyone does have any information about the war I am so interested to research it properly. It wasn't warfare in my mind it was sick, depraved calculated genocide. Churches, schools and hospitals were specifically targeted, and not by bombs, by devastating chemicals which still have mammoth effects today. How could hatred for this country, which up until this point USA had had little to do with, have grown so deep that its citizen's were no longer human beings, but insects and rodents to be stamped out. Their homes and lively hoods and very environments attacked on as basic a level as they themselves were. Children and heir grandparents found cowering were not killed, but dragged out of their hiding places and gutted, there are images which look almost jungle like in the animalistic nature with which the GI, in all his armour and weapons was chasing down a small frail, barely clothed man, like a hungry lion and a starved gazelle. As was pointed out by a US soldier, many of his colleagues seemed to relish the job of tracking down and eradicating the "problem," as opposed to relishing t6he prospect of getting the job done and home to their families.
Why is it that even now, those soldiers who had a hand in loading and using the chemicals are being compensated, whilst there has not even been any official recognition, never mid apology/compensation to the Vietnamese of the heinous crimes that were done against them. Why was such weaponry allowed to be developed in the first place, and what sick person, or organisation could possibly have devised it all?
And why, oh why is this not taught in schools. Why is Hitler, who had, having seen this place, no where near on the same scale of cold hearted, malicious, calculated and devastating methodologies or ideas so vilified (obviously I am not disparaging the hideous things the Jews etc went through at all), while there is film after film made about "Nam" absolutely glorifying it?
I can not even being to describe the things we saw, but I have never been so touched or so moved by a museum, and so deter mind to see in a new year with out there ever being the possibilities of such monstrosities reoccurring. I fear though in this terror/hate state we live in, that maybe wishful thinking.
Anyway, please excuse my little outburst there, atop my soap box. But if you have any thoughts or pearls of wisdom on the matter, do impart them, please.
I didn't really do Vietnam much justice in my last garbled attempt at an email, I missed SOO much out, but then it is a country of many wonders and a lot of beauty so it would be impossible to describe it all to you, or even hope to do it justice. One thing though I can not neglect to mention, but I didn't feel went very well with accounts of glitter encrusted nights out, was our trip to the war museum that day.
What a poignant and symbolic way to end the year. This was one of the most harrowing places I have ever been to and I highly implore ANYONE who gets the opportunity to go. It is the Vietnamese account of the War of Reunification, as they refer to it now. Divided into 8 sections detailing everything from examples of weaponry used to photos of their effects, photographer's accounts of the war and their photos, anti-war campaigner's views and how the peoples have gone from strength to strength since. The only problem was we just didn't have the time to take it all in properly and do it justice. There were a lot of incredibly moving imagery and stories, from both sides.
But, in ignorance I have to ask, how and why it was allowed to happen. If anyone does have any information about the war I am so interested to research it properly. It wasn't warfare in my mind it was sick, depraved calculated genocide. Churches, schools and hospitals were specifically targeted, and not by bombs, by devastating chemicals which still have mammoth effects today. How could hatred for this country, which up until this point USA had had little to do with, have grown so deep that its citizen's were no longer human beings, but insects and rodents to be stamped out. Their homes and lively hoods and very environments attacked on as basic a level as they themselves were. Children and heir grandparents found cowering were not killed, but dragged out of their hiding places and gutted, there are images which look almost jungle like in the animalistic nature with which the GI, in all his armour and weapons was chasing down a small frail, barely clothed man, like a hungry lion and a starved gazelle. As was pointed out by a US soldier, many of his colleagues seemed to relish the job of tracking down and eradicating the "problem," as opposed to relishing t6he prospect of getting the job done and home to their families.
Why is it that even now, those soldiers who had a hand in loading and using the chemicals are being compensated, whilst there has not even been any official recognition, never mid apology/compensation to the Vietnamese of the heinous crimes that were done against them. Why was such weaponry allowed to be developed in the first place, and what sick person, or organisation could possibly have devised it all?
And why, oh why is this not taught in schools. Why is Hitler, who had, having seen this place, no where near on the same scale of cold hearted, malicious, calculated and devastating methodologies or ideas so vilified (obviously I am not disparaging the hideous things the Jews etc went through at all), while there is film after film made about "Nam" absolutely glorifying it?
I can not even being to describe the things we saw, but I have never been so touched or so moved by a museum, and so deter mind to see in a new year with out there ever being the possibilities of such monstrosities reoccurring. I fear though in this terror/hate state we live in, that maybe wishful thinking.
Anyway, please excuse my little outburst there, atop my soap box. But if you have any thoughts or pearls of wisdom on the matter, do impart them, please.
The heat is on in Saigon (or Ho Chi Mhin City, depending on who you're talking to)
Well well well where to start, where did I even finish last time-LAST YEAR!?! ...Mmm that then is as good a place to start as any....
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
Can't wait to hear all your stories of what, where, when you all did, and of course who with!!
I don't really know how to describe our night...all of it..till dawn...(BLERG) but...
I know it started well, thanks to a little lady called Lady Eden..of the free cocktail variety, and a street party held by Miss Saigon.
I know it ended well, as we woke in a room full of glitter, most of it plastered to our bodies (its worse than sand I tell you, gets EVERYWHERE!!!), strange hats (one alarmingly claiming we'd been to Havana...?!?!) and wrappings looking suspiciously kebab-like. To confirm these sightings I stumbled bleary eyed to the camera for a memory inducing inspection. The reason for the aching body and feet soon became apparent....seemed I had plummeted right down that slippery slope of drink induced stupid dances, I hope my victim, for of course I had to drag someone down with me, was aware that this (silly dancing) was my aim (mmm of course, normally I'm all stylish like!), and not just some warped pulling style.
Oh god, the head ache got worse.
But was soon fixed by a day well spent in Saigon (or Ho Chi Mhin City, depending on who you talk to) watching trashy chick flicks and eating trashier food!! Nothing like starting the year as you mean to go on....
Now my memory of events prior to this are somewhat more coherent...funnily enough...I have managed to fall over in some quite spectacular ways, including off a motorbike and a waterfall- not at the same time I'm afraid, I know that would've been far more impressive...but still I'm sure most of you kind hearted folk out there are having a good old chuckle at the imagery non the less...would you like to add to that a combined total of about 3 days since spent on the bumpiest most uncomfortable, tear jerking buses ever...now I bet you're laughing!
Against all odds I've had some pretty cool, not too bruised times as well- in fact some of them were positively suave I tell you; such as the 3 (...maybe 4, it was all a rather wonderful haze) days we spent in a town call Hoi An, having nearly a whole new wardrobe hand tailored out of silk. It is quite a step up from the Primark I'm renowned for I think you'll agree, though the prices are pretty much the same!!
Then there was the exceedingly tough Christmas spent in the lap of luxury C/O Darragh...and (because I'm a glutton for punishment and couldn't bear to leave on our last night in the area) me!! Darragh is proof that Santa still exists, in fact he is the very man, as Libby's Christmas present he put us up in a beautiful luxury resort for 2 nights over Christmas. Simple but effective idea and very brownie point earning we loved it! Santa even found us there as at our..erm...gala dinner (the hotel called it that not us OK?!) I won a facial and a manicure at the hotel spa! Cue 3 rather gluttonous days spent by the pool- or beach (oh the difficult decisions with which we are faced in life), eating, drinking and being excessively pampered! Heaven. Then back on the traveller bus with a bang...I'm sure they looked at us funny when we clambered on from our 5 star hotel... Surrey strikes again!!
Actually I have been asked if we have actually roughed it yet, and it is rather shamefully that I must confess that, well....
GOD NO
We haven't!!! Well with rooms averaging out at the princely sum of US$4 a night each tending to be quite nice, there's been no need. or occasion to. We have, on occasion, been kind enough to share such accommodation with rats, fleas, bed bugs and rather too homely smells- sometimes probably even a combination, but other than that, I'm afraid it has been beds and 4 walls all the way! Must try harder...
We've also had a few amazing days spent zooming through the country side and city streets on the back of bikes (with out falling off..ironically that was on a 5 min journey "just around the corner"..of death..as the driver didn't feel the need to slow the over laden bike down at all on reaching said corner. It wasn't over laden for long.) I have reverted truly back to my child hood and been made really very happy by a real live secret garden and a "Crazy House."
The Garden was in the outskirts of a city called Hue. We were on a day tour, and as it was just the two of us we were taken quite off the beaten track- it was amazing! At one point we were riding through rice paddies, and it was raining leading the water levels to rise in the fields, it felt like we were biking over the ocean. Anyone who knows me knows that how amazing that would've felt, there were even boats out and everything! The garden its self was actually part of a fairly depressingly dilapidated tomb. Set back in the grounds and guarded by a high thick wall the actual burial sight of the Emperor can be found in the gardens but no one has been in there since he was laid to rest, and no one knows where he is. Of course I had a look through the key hole!
The "Crazy House" as it is actually called, is in Dalat, another (less cloudy) hill station. Dalat claims notoriety for its mock Eiffel tower. Some might call it a radio mast...especially if they were to continue further south of the country and see that ever city, town, dirt track even, has them. Oh maybe I'm being cynical, maybe they're all feeling the Parisian effect, who can say. Though a few of the "great sights" I have seen here have left me rather suspicious that the Vietnamese are in fact tourism touting geniuses, call anything a legend and they know it makes money- hell there is even a Chicken Village, so named because of the huge and incredibly ugl-mystical concrete chicken statue in its centre!!!
Anyhew, "Crazy House," is actually the home of the architect. She is renowned for her controversial designs, so much so that she kept being arrested because of them...until her father took over from Ho Chi Mhin (or Uncle Ho, as he is rather upsettingly all too often referred to). This house is the stuff of children's fantasy...and nightmare! I'm sure if was plucked straight from "The Labyrinth" or at least some of the tales of the Jabberwalky! I entered the grounds first and my jaw dropped, I swear I started skipping and oh-ah'ing. There were huge plants and flowers everywhere, the main house was made of an intertwined mixture of "tree trunks and roots" and was a maze of rooms and corridors and stairways, some inside, some precariously balancing over the whole city. There was even a cave section to the house. Surprisingly the dining/living room was a bit of a let down, what with its table and chairs, but all of the rest of the rooms had their own little creepy quirks (usualy a large animal with glowing red eyes) and lots of alcoves for bed etc. I opened a wardrobe and was rather upset, and surprised NOT to find Narnia!!
And now we have commenced a madcap DASH to the Cambodian border as our visa's run out tomorrow and we were too busy being hungover to get a move on...oops! Its got the Great Race/Escape written all over it...wish us luck!
Keep in touch, would love some more tale from home, they are never boring- even news of the weather...and actual news is much welcomed! Oooh what was Christmas Number One? The Powder Puff Girls? Noddy? Some Xfactor robot? See there is so much we are missing.
By the way some of you glutton's for punishment have actually been asking for photos, I have been putting a few on Facebook, here are the links...
Vietnam: http://rhbncac.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2021272&l=6449d&id=200901546
Hong Kong: http://rhbncac.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2021271&l=fdf6e&id=200901546
China: http://rhbncac.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2018233&l=cc838&id=200901546
...and... http://rhbncac.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2018237&l=b4ee3&id=200901546
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
Can't wait to hear all your stories of what, where, when you all did, and of course who with!!
I don't really know how to describe our night...all of it..till dawn...(BLERG) but...
I know it started well, thanks to a little lady called Lady Eden..of the free cocktail variety, and a street party held by Miss Saigon.
I know it ended well, as we woke in a room full of glitter, most of it plastered to our bodies (its worse than sand I tell you, gets EVERYWHERE!!!), strange hats (one alarmingly claiming we'd been to Havana...?!?!) and wrappings looking suspiciously kebab-like. To confirm these sightings I stumbled bleary eyed to the camera for a memory inducing inspection. The reason for the aching body and feet soon became apparent....seemed I had plummeted right down that slippery slope of drink induced stupid dances, I hope my victim, for of course I had to drag someone down with me, was aware that this (silly dancing) was my aim (mmm of course, normally I'm all stylish like!), and not just some warped pulling style.
Oh god, the head ache got worse.
But was soon fixed by a day well spent in Saigon (or Ho Chi Mhin City, depending on who you talk to) watching trashy chick flicks and eating trashier food!! Nothing like starting the year as you mean to go on....
Now my memory of events prior to this are somewhat more coherent...funnily enough...I have managed to fall over in some quite spectacular ways, including off a motorbike and a waterfall- not at the same time I'm afraid, I know that would've been far more impressive...but still I'm sure most of you kind hearted folk out there are having a good old chuckle at the imagery non the less...would you like to add to that a combined total of about 3 days since spent on the bumpiest most uncomfortable, tear jerking buses ever...now I bet you're laughing!
Against all odds I've had some pretty cool, not too bruised times as well- in fact some of them were positively suave I tell you; such as the 3 (...maybe 4, it was all a rather wonderful haze) days we spent in a town call Hoi An, having nearly a whole new wardrobe hand tailored out of silk. It is quite a step up from the Primark I'm renowned for I think you'll agree, though the prices are pretty much the same!!
Then there was the exceedingly tough Christmas spent in the lap of luxury C/O Darragh...and (because I'm a glutton for punishment and couldn't bear to leave on our last night in the area) me!! Darragh is proof that Santa still exists, in fact he is the very man, as Libby's Christmas present he put us up in a beautiful luxury resort for 2 nights over Christmas. Simple but effective idea and very brownie point earning we loved it! Santa even found us there as at our..erm...gala dinner (the hotel called it that not us OK?!) I won a facial and a manicure at the hotel spa! Cue 3 rather gluttonous days spent by the pool- or beach (oh the difficult decisions with which we are faced in life), eating, drinking and being excessively pampered! Heaven. Then back on the traveller bus with a bang...I'm sure they looked at us funny when we clambered on from our 5 star hotel... Surrey strikes again!!
Actually I have been asked if we have actually roughed it yet, and it is rather shamefully that I must confess that, well....
GOD NO
We haven't!!! Well with rooms averaging out at the princely sum of US$4 a night each tending to be quite nice, there's been no need. or occasion to. We have, on occasion, been kind enough to share such accommodation with rats, fleas, bed bugs and rather too homely smells- sometimes probably even a combination, but other than that, I'm afraid it has been beds and 4 walls all the way! Must try harder...
We've also had a few amazing days spent zooming through the country side and city streets on the back of bikes (with out falling off..ironically that was on a 5 min journey "just around the corner"..of death..as the driver didn't feel the need to slow the over laden bike down at all on reaching said corner. It wasn't over laden for long.) I have reverted truly back to my child hood and been made really very happy by a real live secret garden and a "Crazy House."
The Garden was in the outskirts of a city called Hue. We were on a day tour, and as it was just the two of us we were taken quite off the beaten track- it was amazing! At one point we were riding through rice paddies, and it was raining leading the water levels to rise in the fields, it felt like we were biking over the ocean. Anyone who knows me knows that how amazing that would've felt, there were even boats out and everything! The garden its self was actually part of a fairly depressingly dilapidated tomb. Set back in the grounds and guarded by a high thick wall the actual burial sight of the Emperor can be found in the gardens but no one has been in there since he was laid to rest, and no one knows where he is. Of course I had a look through the key hole!
The "Crazy House" as it is actually called, is in Dalat, another (less cloudy) hill station. Dalat claims notoriety for its mock Eiffel tower. Some might call it a radio mast...especially if they were to continue further south of the country and see that ever city, town, dirt track even, has them. Oh maybe I'm being cynical, maybe they're all feeling the Parisian effect, who can say. Though a few of the "great sights" I have seen here have left me rather suspicious that the Vietnamese are in fact tourism touting geniuses, call anything a legend and they know it makes money- hell there is even a Chicken Village, so named because of the huge and incredibly ugl-mystical concrete chicken statue in its centre!!!
Anyhew, "Crazy House," is actually the home of the architect. She is renowned for her controversial designs, so much so that she kept being arrested because of them...until her father took over from Ho Chi Mhin (or Uncle Ho, as he is rather upsettingly all too often referred to). This house is the stuff of children's fantasy...and nightmare! I'm sure if was plucked straight from "The Labyrinth" or at least some of the tales of the Jabberwalky! I entered the grounds first and my jaw dropped, I swear I started skipping and oh-ah'ing. There were huge plants and flowers everywhere, the main house was made of an intertwined mixture of "tree trunks and roots" and was a maze of rooms and corridors and stairways, some inside, some precariously balancing over the whole city. There was even a cave section to the house. Surprisingly the dining/living room was a bit of a let down, what with its table and chairs, but all of the rest of the rooms had their own little creepy quirks (usualy a large animal with glowing red eyes) and lots of alcoves for bed etc. I opened a wardrobe and was rather upset, and surprised NOT to find Narnia!!
And now we have commenced a madcap DASH to the Cambodian border as our visa's run out tomorrow and we were too busy being hungover to get a move on...oops! Its got the Great Race/Escape written all over it...wish us luck!
Keep in touch, would love some more tale from home, they are never boring- even news of the weather...and actual news is much welcomed! Oooh what was Christmas Number One? The Powder Puff Girls? Noddy? Some Xfactor robot? See there is so much we are missing.
By the way some of you glutton's for punishment have actually been asking for photos, I have been putting a few on Facebook, here are the links...
Vietnam: http://rhbncac.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2021272&l=6449d&id=200901546
Hong Kong: http://rhbncac.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2021271&l=fdf6e&id=200901546
China: http://rhbncac.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2018233&l=cc838&id=200901546
...and... http://rhbncac.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2018237&l=b4ee3&id=200901546
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