It all started when snorklin' in Hoi An.
The sea was calm, the weather was prime. We were in a COMPLETELY SAFE, TOTALLY NEW, STATE OF THE ART wooden boat.
Well, we were all there, Jules was the first to hop in (for safety reasons), but like always, I was next! Along came the group, some with life jackets, slagging in their goggles so they wouldn't fog up (HUH, boy-scouts [inside joke]).
We (the group) swam calmly in the water. I was so tempted to just touch everything! I knew I shouldn't have; I was told not to, but I did it anyway!
It was half way through the snorkle and most of the group were fed up with Paddy, Darcy and I wandering off in the ocean. Because of this, we were called back by Jules, so we slowly started heading back towards the group.
Out of no where, as we were swimming, Paddy said, "Oi look! There's a sea urchin tagged with the number 405".
I relpied "I'm pretty sure they don't tag sea urchins..."
But Paddy was certain of what he had seen.
During this time, Darcy was thinking to himself "That number sounds familiar..."
I became distracted and started to day dream "Jules really taught me something about keeping my passport, money and valuables safe, when he took our stuff from our unlocked hotel room, jeez that scared me... Should have locked our room that day, should have paid more attention!"
Subconsiously I remembered that I had the room key in my pocket. When I checked to see if it was there, my stomach flipped when I found out, IT WASN'T!!! I didn't wanna tell Jules that I'd lost my room key, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN!
That's when it clicked. It occured to me that what Paddy had thought to be a sea urchin, mysteriously tagged with the number 405, was in fact my room key that had fallen out of my pocket earlier on. Darcy and I drifted off to find it.
The group had made a decision that we had had enough. Thus, we headed back to the boat. I sped ahead trying to quickly look for the key.
Suddenly in a sarcastic voice, Jules yelled out, "Hey Jye, where's that tagged sea urchin?"
I put on an act to make it seem like I wasn't woried. I laughed nerviously. Somehow he had found out!
Jules suggested than that the group quickly scout out around the reef to check every sea urchin.
I had lost all hope, when I saw Jules poking something with his snorkle on the ocean floor. As I glimpsed the number 405 dangling off the end of his snorkle, I almost died with relief.
Saturday, 9 July 2011
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Day 15
Waking up on the sleeper trains is annoying. because they're always late, you never know where your stop is. Twice we got ready to leave, but it always seemed to be the next stop..
When we finally left the train station, we came to our hotel and after a few room mix ups and a few short naps, we were good to go.
We headed for the War Remnants Musium. This was one of the highlights of my trip, but also one of the worst. The musium is based on the American War (what we would call the Vietnam War). Outside there are tanks, helicopters, planes and a rebuilt part of a jail used. This jail showed the different ways people were tortuered and killed. Yet if you thought that was confronting, wait until you saw what was inside the building!
I felt physically ill when we walked through the exhibit on War Crimes. This musium is from the Vietnamese point of view, and what some US soldiers had done was just horrile! The My Lai Massacre for example was explaned in words and pictures that just made me sick. The story of three young innocent children hiding from US soldiers in a sewer only to be found and killed (I wont go into detail) was the story that I was most shocked by. But it wasn't al doom and gloom. One section of the musium was dedicated to the work of those photographers and journalists that lost their lives in the American war. The story of Dicky Chapelle, born Georgette Louise Meyer, was an American Photojournalist against communism, known for her work as a war correspondent in the war. She was hit in the neck by a piece of shrapnel and later died. There was something special to her story to me.
Next we split up, one group checking out the markets, the other going to chill at the hotel. The boys have been practicing their bartering skills and ended up buying 20 pairs of sunnies, getting the first pair from 150'000 dong (about $7.50 USD) and the last pair for 25'000 dong (about $1.25 USD). We later found out that not even the locals can get that price usually.
We than went out for dinner and later met up with our in country agent, to thank him for all his great help.
Tomorrow we are off to Cambodia to start on our Project work.
I have no idea when the next post will be, will try to get back to you all.
PS- You may have to wait for Jye's "Sea Urchin" story...
When we finally left the train station, we came to our hotel and after a few room mix ups and a few short naps, we were good to go.
We headed for the War Remnants Musium. This was one of the highlights of my trip, but also one of the worst. The musium is based on the American War (what we would call the Vietnam War). Outside there are tanks, helicopters, planes and a rebuilt part of a jail used. This jail showed the different ways people were tortuered and killed. Yet if you thought that was confronting, wait until you saw what was inside the building!
I felt physically ill when we walked through the exhibit on War Crimes. This musium is from the Vietnamese point of view, and what some US soldiers had done was just horrile! The My Lai Massacre for example was explaned in words and pictures that just made me sick. The story of three young innocent children hiding from US soldiers in a sewer only to be found and killed (I wont go into detail) was the story that I was most shocked by. But it wasn't al doom and gloom. One section of the musium was dedicated to the work of those photographers and journalists that lost their lives in the American war. The story of Dicky Chapelle, born Georgette Louise Meyer, was an American Photojournalist against communism, known for her work as a war correspondent in the war. She was hit in the neck by a piece of shrapnel and later died. There was something special to her story to me.
Next we split up, one group checking out the markets, the other going to chill at the hotel. The boys have been practicing their bartering skills and ended up buying 20 pairs of sunnies, getting the first pair from 150'000 dong (about $7.50 USD) and the last pair for 25'000 dong (about $1.25 USD). We later found out that not even the locals can get that price usually.
We than went out for dinner and later met up with our in country agent, to thank him for all his great help.
Tomorrow we are off to Cambodia to start on our Project work.
I have no idea when the next post will be, will try to get back to you all.
PS- You may have to wait for Jye's "Sea Urchin" story...
Teacher Comments
Demi is very busy in the hotel foyer on a computer updating the blog. We leave for Cambodia tomorrow and you will probably hear from us in Phnom Phen thereafter it might be difficult. The whole team is going really well they are all rubbing along well together. Jyes socks that he keeps in a moldy vault have caused some problems especially in the sleeper train. Boyd keeps looking for a washing machine. Darcy is the girl scout as he keeps telling us. Meggan and Brooke are the happy travelers sourcing Facebook and ice-cream at every opportunity. Patrick is chomping and sleeping his way around Vietnam and has now joined Callum and the cone hat society. Chloe is calm,quiet and very fit,able to climb any mountain.
This is certainly a challenging experience but they have all stepped up with organizing absolutely everything. I just do what I'm told, they have learnt to budget and communicate overcoming language barriers. Most of all they have learnt to haggle, the poor sunglasses vendors they have been practicing on them they have bought about 20 pairs of glasses but have got the price down from 70 000 dong to 25 000 dong.
This is certainly a challenging experience but they have all stepped up with organizing absolutely everything. I just do what I'm told, they have learnt to budget and communicate overcoming language barriers. Most of all they have learnt to haggle, the poor sunglasses vendors they have been practicing on them they have bought about 20 pairs of glasses but have got the price down from 70 000 dong to 25 000 dong.
Day 14
The day started with a short meeting to change roles in the group and just figure stuff out.
We than had a group go get some snacks for the days 14 hour train ride back to Saigon. When we were all ready , we took a bus back to Da Nang, had lunch (a home made burger) and waited for our train which was once again late.
Somehow, even after being the first to shotgun NOT being in the same room as Jye, I was put in a room with Jye... Infact, I was the only girl apart from Mrs LeLay, which was kind of annoying, but funny, because the Jye always find ways to make everyone laugh.. Thankfully he washed his socks this time.
We made friends with some kids from Saigon who were learning english and we ended up playing 13 with them. A while later, everyone fell asleep (finally)!
We than had a group go get some snacks for the days 14 hour train ride back to Saigon. When we were all ready , we took a bus back to Da Nang, had lunch (a home made burger) and waited for our train which was once again late.
Somehow, even after being the first to shotgun NOT being in the same room as Jye, I was put in a room with Jye... Infact, I was the only girl apart from Mrs LeLay, which was kind of annoying, but funny, because the Jye always find ways to make everyone laugh.. Thankfully he washed his socks this time.
We made friends with some kids from Saigon who were learning english and we ended up playing 13 with them. A while later, everyone fell asleep (finally)!
Day 13,
We woke up and hade breakfast, but there was no need in the end because our cooking classes put our pancakes to shame! The Morning Glory cooking school first took us out to the markets to grab fresh ingredients. I dont think there is anything more strange than an asian food market.. there was every kind of vegetable, herb, fish, noodle, rice, fruit you could think of, even skinned frogs!
First we made Cabbage with Prawn Mousse (or some kind of tofu for Jye) Broth. Now, im not too into seafood, but WOW this was good! Turns out it was only the start. We than made Rice Paper Rolls, which were spring rolls with a smaller spring roll inside! We than prepared Chicken with Lemon Grass and other delicious herbs on a skewer which was sent off to be cooked when we had finished. While it was cooking we made Hoi An pancakes which are amazing, they have no flour, no milk and no eggs in them! Just before our skewers were ready, we made a mago salad to go with it. So we had an amazing 5 course meal for lunch!
Next we were off to the Cham Islands to snorkel. It took an hour on a big colourful boat to get out there. Once at our dive spot we put on our flipers and snorkels (we looked so silly) and jumpped in. Soon enough we were swimming amongst colouful fish and strage corals.
Funniest story to tell now, I hand over to Jye to tell it..
We than split into two groups, one group returning to the hotel, the other to go pick up their new suites, dresses and shoes.
That night there was a small fashion show, full of colour (honestly you have to see these suits)!
First we made Cabbage with Prawn Mousse (or some kind of tofu for Jye) Broth. Now, im not too into seafood, but WOW this was good! Turns out it was only the start. We than made Rice Paper Rolls, which were spring rolls with a smaller spring roll inside! We than prepared Chicken with Lemon Grass and other delicious herbs on a skewer which was sent off to be cooked when we had finished. While it was cooking we made Hoi An pancakes which are amazing, they have no flour, no milk and no eggs in them! Just before our skewers were ready, we made a mago salad to go with it. So we had an amazing 5 course meal for lunch!
Next we were off to the Cham Islands to snorkel. It took an hour on a big colourful boat to get out there. Once at our dive spot we put on our flipers and snorkels (we looked so silly) and jumpped in. Soon enough we were swimming amongst colouful fish and strage corals.
Funniest story to tell now, I hand over to Jye to tell it..
------------------------------------------------------------
See post "Story of the Tagged Sea Urchin"
------------------------------------------------------------
That night we had dinner which was nice, but dessert was better! We went to a place we had seen that morning that sold all kinds of treats. Some got pavlova or fruit tarts, some just got whatever had the most chocolate in it..We than split into two groups, one group returning to the hotel, the other to go pick up their new suites, dresses and shoes.
That night there was a small fashion show, full of colour (honestly you have to see these suits)!
Day 12
The morning began while we were still on the train to Da Nang, which is 30km from Hoi An, our destination.
Because the time table for the train was mixed up from the delay, we didnt know when we would get to Da Nang, and the PA System was all in Vietnamese. Some of the group members were up by 5am to make sure we got off at the right stop.
We stopped in Da Nang 2 hours after the scheduled time and missed out on breakfast. We quickly took a taxi to the bus station and had an interesting ride to Hoi An via the public bus. We saw an old lady with jet black teeth and were told this was because some very poor people in Vietnam who cant afford dental care, paint their teeth in black enamel to keep them from rotting away.
At the hotel, we found the lady at reception extreamly kind and helpful, she also spoke good english, which makes our trip so much easier! The hotel itself was also good, and cheap ($6 USD a night). We had a quick lunch at the hotel's restaurant before taking to the streets to check out where we would be having cooking classes the next day. We also booked a trip to the Cham Islands for a snorkeling trip. After all that we split up. One group going to buy gifts the other group, to get fitted for suits, dresses and shoes.
That night we had dinner on the second floor to a restaurant that overlooked the canal running through Hoi An.
Because the time table for the train was mixed up from the delay, we didnt know when we would get to Da Nang, and the PA System was all in Vietnamese. Some of the group members were up by 5am to make sure we got off at the right stop.
We stopped in Da Nang 2 hours after the scheduled time and missed out on breakfast. We quickly took a taxi to the bus station and had an interesting ride to Hoi An via the public bus. We saw an old lady with jet black teeth and were told this was because some very poor people in Vietnam who cant afford dental care, paint their teeth in black enamel to keep them from rotting away.
At the hotel, we found the lady at reception extreamly kind and helpful, she also spoke good english, which makes our trip so much easier! The hotel itself was also good, and cheap ($6 USD a night). We had a quick lunch at the hotel's restaurant before taking to the streets to check out where we would be having cooking classes the next day. We also booked a trip to the Cham Islands for a snorkeling trip. After all that we split up. One group going to buy gifts the other group, to get fitted for suits, dresses and shoes.
That night we had dinner on the second floor to a restaurant that overlooked the canal running through Hoi An.
Day 11
The day started the usual way, breakfast, packing, making plans for the day...
We had a mini bus coming to take us to Nah Trang at 3pm, so we decided to visit the Dalat Markets for a while. On our way there, we stumbled across a little place just off the main road with the nicest smells driffting out onto the street. We were pretty hungry so we stopped there for lunch, and while some people didnt quite like their food, I actually had the best meal in county so far!
We walked down the road to the markets and looked around. Some people purchased gifts for those back home, but obviously I can't talk about that because that would ruin the element of surprise! We coulnt spend too much time at the markets so we walked back and sat in the lobby of our hotel.
With the thought of a long bus ride to Nah Trang and an overnight train ride, many decided it was a good idea to stock up on snacks and drinks.
The bus ride was through the mountains, down to the sea side city and I was surprised that no one became car sick. When we dropped to a certain altitude, the humidity and heat hit us hard. All of a sudden it was just horrible and sticky! But it was not as bad as Nah Trang itself.
The thought of cramming into the packed, non air conditioned city train station for the next 4 hours was the most horrible thought ever! Those hours were the worst on the trip for me. There was a TV at the front which I actually wished we could turn off because all it did was play the same 15 minutes of a movie in 33 second intervals with 3 minutes of adverts in between over and over and over! We did have a break though when we went to get dinner and there was a funny moment when we tryed to use the toilet which was all automatic. Mrs LeLay found out the hard way that one of the toilets was not working and Darcy, trying to skip the 10c fee got stuck in one at the exact point the lights went out and the room disinfect itself. He came out wih dripping wet shoes, but at least they were clean.
when the train finally arrived (late) we had a bit of trouble finding our bunks, seeing as the tickets were in Vietnamese.. Finally all settled down, I realised I was in the same cabbin as Jye because the unmistakable of his socks was suffocating us. I dont think he had taken them off OR washed them the whole trip! Even with them stuffed in his bag we had to sanitise the whole cabbin, just to get rid of half the smell! It was quite funny looking back at it.. Im sure the night didn't end there for the boys, but I wouldn't know because I fell asleep early from exhaustion.
It was a pretty long day!
We had a mini bus coming to take us to Nah Trang at 3pm, so we decided to visit the Dalat Markets for a while. On our way there, we stumbled across a little place just off the main road with the nicest smells driffting out onto the street. We were pretty hungry so we stopped there for lunch, and while some people didnt quite like their food, I actually had the best meal in county so far!
We walked down the road to the markets and looked around. Some people purchased gifts for those back home, but obviously I can't talk about that because that would ruin the element of surprise! We coulnt spend too much time at the markets so we walked back and sat in the lobby of our hotel.
With the thought of a long bus ride to Nah Trang and an overnight train ride, many decided it was a good idea to stock up on snacks and drinks.
The bus ride was through the mountains, down to the sea side city and I was surprised that no one became car sick. When we dropped to a certain altitude, the humidity and heat hit us hard. All of a sudden it was just horrible and sticky! But it was not as bad as Nah Trang itself.
The thought of cramming into the packed, non air conditioned city train station for the next 4 hours was the most horrible thought ever! Those hours were the worst on the trip for me. There was a TV at the front which I actually wished we could turn off because all it did was play the same 15 minutes of a movie in 33 second intervals with 3 minutes of adverts in between over and over and over! We did have a break though when we went to get dinner and there was a funny moment when we tryed to use the toilet which was all automatic. Mrs LeLay found out the hard way that one of the toilets was not working and Darcy, trying to skip the 10c fee got stuck in one at the exact point the lights went out and the room disinfect itself. He came out wih dripping wet shoes, but at least they were clean.
when the train finally arrived (late) we had a bit of trouble finding our bunks, seeing as the tickets were in Vietnamese.. Finally all settled down, I realised I was in the same cabbin as Jye because the unmistakable of his socks was suffocating us. I dont think he had taken them off OR washed them the whole trip! Even with them stuffed in his bag we had to sanitise the whole cabbin, just to get rid of half the smell! It was quite funny looking back at it.. Im sure the night didn't end there for the boys, but I wouldn't know because I fell asleep early from exhaustion.
It was a pretty long day!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)