***FOLKS - HAVING ISSUES LOADING PHOTOS AT THE MOMENT, CONNECTION SPEEDS AREN'T THE BEST BUT WILL KEEP TRYING OF COURSE***
Country - Viet Nam
City - Hội An
Population (Hội An) - 121,716
Currency - See Hanoi post here
The three day biking trip finished at about 15h00 on the final day and I had such an incredible time. As previously stated, relatively expensive by Vietnamese standards but worth every cent. The biking guys recommended a hotel to us so instead of going to find somewhere we were fine with them taking us there. No worries. Easier for us in any case.
We had intended spending one night in Hội An again as we were behind our own self imposed schedules. Especially mine, I only had so much time between Viet Nam and Cambodia before I had to be in Bangkok on 12th March. However, we had to stay two. The night bus for the following night was completely booked out. Outside of our control so we just accepted that. Besides, I had heard that Hội An was beautiful.
The hotel was great, I shared a room with Joe for 15 USD per night, so 7.50 USD each. The room had two double beds, mini bar, television with a bunch of channels, bathtub and wonderful air conditioning - vital in this part of the world! We bumped into the Austrian guys we met in Hue by chance again who were actually staying at the same hotel. Paul came out with us for dinner but Philip was feeling good so he stayed behind. Of course only getting there we didn't know where to go for food. A dude with flyer's coerced us into his pub which had a restaurant upstairs. No issue for us. The food was amazing. The chef even came out, shook our hands and personally explained the specials to us!
I spoke to three Norwegian girls (Erika, Chrissy and Elley) who were just finishing up their meal and asked them to join us downstairs for some drinks. Even had a lively debate about how many continents there are in the world! In my mind there are seven (North and South America (the Americas), Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe and Antarctic). As it turns out this is speculative and much opinion based but that is for another discussion or blog entry perhaps. In short, there can be between four and seven continents in the world, depending on what you view as a continent.
We had a bunch of drinks and then Erika told us about a place called Salsa club. Free rum and coke between 22 and 23h00!! I can get behind that and so did about another 15 people when I spread the word..Close to midnight we went down to the beach where each night there are beach parties. Not unbelievably pricey but at a premium to the happy hours we had at the earlier venues. Still, plenty of banter with everybody and met alot of great people. I was coaching Erika how to play pool where we ate dinner and there were a couple of decent New Zealanders I hung out with down at the beach. Along with the Cork lads of course.
Unfortunately we left relatively early at about 02h00, Danny wanted to watch Liverpool play Real Madrid in the Champions League so we ventured back early (Liverpool victorious 1-0). Got a little high off some Ho Chi Mhin weed and watched the game, a late end to the night. How very unusual.
The next morning I got up relatively early. I don't know what it is but I don't sleep so much in Asia. Could be the heat. Could be not wanting to waste my days. I don't know, it is what it is I suppose. I went for breakfast with Elley, the girl from the Isle of Man - the spring rolls were magnificent :) Okay, more like brunch I'll admit. We had breakfast at about 11h00 but only manged to make it to bed at 07h00. We took a stroll around Hội An after. It is such a small cozy place to be. Bigger than Hue but not by much.
I priced the renting of a bicycle for the day and was surprised by how cheap they were: 1 USD per day! I convinced Joe and Shane to rent with me and cycle to the beach for swimming. It was only 4km, hardly a trek. It was lovely to travel at our own leisure, really good to get exercise too after the three days sitting on a motorbike. Actually made the swimming more enjoyable. Unfortunately Danny missed out on this day - fast asleep in his bed! Was great fun fighting against the waves, of course I couldn't possibly win hehe. All in the name of banter. That night we went back to the same place for dinner as the night prior, it was simply that good. I had lovely chicken, Danny, who loves tuna, had to get some tonight after sampling mine the day before.
The early part of Thursday evening was actually sort of like a re-run of the day before, we had some beers and went to the Salsa club. In fact, I told quite a few people about the free rum and coke deal but when we got there the promotion wasn't on! However, it was buy one get one free so wasn't the worst either! We did manage to make it back to the first bar and catch the free shuttle bus to the beach party before midnight which saved some cash on scooter taxis. Didn't have the best experience of them when we left to watch the game yesterday. Trying to jerk us around.
The next morning I got up relatively early. I don't know what it is but I don't sleep so much in Asia. Could be the heat. Could be not wanting to waste my days. I don't know, it is what it is I suppose. I went for breakfast with Elley, the girl from the Isle of Man - the spring rolls were magnificent :) Okay, more like brunch I'll admit. We had breakfast at about 11h00 but only manged to make it to bed at 07h00. We took a stroll around Hội An after. It is such a small cozy place to be. Bigger than Hue but not by much.
I priced the renting of a bicycle for the day and was surprised by how cheap they were: 1 USD per day! I convinced Joe and Shane to rent with me and cycle to the beach for swimming. It was only 4km, hardly a trek. It was lovely to travel at our own leisure, really good to get exercise too after the three days sitting on a motorbike. Actually made the swimming more enjoyable. Unfortunately Danny missed out on this day - fast asleep in his bed! Was great fun fighting against the waves, of course I couldn't possibly win hehe. All in the name of banter. That night we went back to the same place for dinner as the night prior, it was simply that good. I had lovely chicken, Danny, who loves tuna, had to get some tonight after sampling mine the day before.
The early part of Thursday evening was actually sort of like a re-run of the day before, we had some beers and went to the Salsa club. In fact, I told quite a few people about the free rum and coke deal but when we got there the promotion wasn't on! However, it was buy one get one free so wasn't the worst either! We did manage to make it back to the first bar and catch the free shuttle bus to the beach party before midnight which saved some cash on scooter taxis. Didn't have the best experience of them when we left to watch the game yesterday. Trying to jerk us around.
The other Irish guys decided to pass on coming out earlier in the night (yeah, I know, are they really Irish?) so I was hanging with some Australian guys. I did know plenty of people from the night before so it was fine. At one point my banter book went missing! A dude from New Zealand helped me located it. Someone was simply adding an entry!
Friday was quite a fun day before we left for our bus at about 18h00. The Cork lads had more energy now after having an early night so were up a bit earlier than me, who arrived back at the hotel at 06h00 :) We went for a stroll around the town. At the beginning the route was similar to what Elly and myself walked, near the river and up the town through the winding streets, if you could call them that. We stopped off for some wonderful lunch, I had the spring rolls which were brilliant. Favourite food in Viet Nam: noodle soup and spring rolls.
After that we walked around more and ended up buying some clothes. I bought a sleeveless wife-beater tee shirt (I didn't name them that!) and a pair of shorts that have subsequently split at the seam! Didn't exactly cost me a fortune so no big deal. On our walk back to the hotel we found a great bar that claimed to have the best pizza and burgers in town. We stopped off there and played some pool. The bar was so close to the travel company where the bus was leaving from we decided to get our packed bags and bring them there in time for the start of happy hour at 16h00!!
Friday was quite a fun day before we left for our bus at about 18h00. The Cork lads had more energy now after having an early night so were up a bit earlier than me, who arrived back at the hotel at 06h00 :) We went for a stroll around the town. At the beginning the route was similar to what Elly and myself walked, near the river and up the town through the winding streets, if you could call them that. We stopped off for some wonderful lunch, I had the spring rolls which were brilliant. Favourite food in Viet Nam: noodle soup and spring rolls.
After that we walked around more and ended up buying some clothes. I bought a sleeveless wife-beater tee shirt (I didn't name them that!) and a pair of shorts that have subsequently split at the seam! Didn't exactly cost me a fortune so no big deal. On our walk back to the hotel we found a great bar that claimed to have the best pizza and burgers in town. We stopped off there and played some pool. The bar was so close to the travel company where the bus was leaving from we decided to get our packed bags and bring them there in time for the start of happy hour at 16h00!!
The plan worked out very well indeed. The burgers looked great and though western food I decided to indulge by splitting with the Austrian guy Philip. It was indeed a great burger, by Asian standards anyway. Nothing over the top. We bumped into both Paul and Philip back at the hotel and so they had came along.
I also got a pizza for the bus ride to Nha Trang. Can always eat pizza cold, no problem there! Similarly to the burger the pizza was wonderful. Better than the burger in fact. I really enjoyed my time in Hội An and would recommend to anyone considering a trip to Viet Nam. Biking tour aside the best place I stayed in Viet Nam and that is saying something.
Nha Trang tale to follow...PEACE
I also got a pizza for the bus ride to Nha Trang. Can always eat pizza cold, no problem there! Similarly to the burger the pizza was wonderful. Better than the burger in fact. I really enjoyed my time in Hội An and would recommend to anyone considering a trip to Viet Nam. Biking tour aside the best place I stayed in Viet Nam and that is saying something.
Nha Trang tale to follow...PEACE
Liam O'Connor, travelling hobbit
