Two of them had to go get China Visas but along with the other two (Dan and Maui) we headed off for the local bus station. These guys are true back packers....
Dan and Maui making baguette and polish ham (all the way from Poland) sandwiches...
So rather than take a tour, we took a local bus to Haiphong first (lots of walking) and then a ferry to the island. About half price and we got to stay in Haiphong and meet some locals and pretty much not be tourists so much.
For the ferry we paid the 'Vietnamese' price too as we pretended we had lost our money and needed to go to the Island to meet some friends to get more (o: --- There are two prices for the ferry, 30000 for Vietnamese and 70000 for Foreigners. fair enough but if we can get it cheaper, we will! --- we did miss one boat while pretending to be poor and then they let us on the next which was good as it was carrying a cargo of furniture and we travelled on the roof sitting on the furniture!
The 'poor man's' local transport....
I can't describe how good everything was. Sadly I'm not a story teller. But imagine if you will, being me for a moment. I am sitting, laid back, on a lazy boy on the roof of a ferry in Vietnam. I have the with warm sun on my back, a fresh breeze on my face and two Polish guys laughing along with me as we sit eating baguettes with corned beef, heading to a beautiful Island for the next few days. Life was, and still is, good!
The island too was a blast. Cheap rooms again ($2ea for A/C, t.v. etc) and meals were costing us around 7c for a baguette with more tinned polish meat and fresh tomatoes. Good.
First day was spent swimming on a beautiful beach. White sand, coolish water, sunny as. We also swam out to a nearby island, got cut up on the sharp rocks, swam back, played some soccer on the beach with some locals and then headed home to drink and go out on the town.
Cat Co II...
The pathway there (to Cat Co II)...
Next day we hired a Vietnamese's fishing boat (actually kicked the owner out of his home - nicely) and went for a paddle around the Island. This was a highlight.
'Hiring' a boat for the day (pretty much just commandered it)...
The boat was so rugged but so authentic.
Our first class ride (string, wire, spit - it was all 'holding' it together)...
We were going to hire kayaks but this was way cooler. They also gave us a free ride on a motor boat back (we were taking too long - about 6hrs for $5 for 5 of us! Cheap!).
Why'd it take so long? Well... the tide went out but our hired boat stayed still...
We also swam some more, met some Germans and played some poker that night with about 10 of us. Then back to town again to end the night.
Cat ba Island poker tournament...
Next day we headed back to Hanoi, this time taking the fast boat as it was cheaper from the island and we didn't think the same story would work twice (o:
Back in Hanoi, the first thing we did was get a Domar Kebab. OOOoooohhhh. Soooo ghooood! Drooling juist thinking about it! Ahhhhhh, mmmmmm. Kebabs. (or actually a quick email was first and then a Domar Kebab). And they're not even a Kiwi dollar each! And they're huge! Mmmm, i want one now - and will probably have one for breakfast (O; Hahaha, what a tourist!
The night was again spent driking beer with the Canadian and aussie again and a Phillipino (sp?) we met in the dorm along with 3 french, a kiwi and some english. Too many people in fact and so when we went to town we were actaully trying to lose people!
But yes. These Poles can drink. I think i am gaining weight... no, I KNOW i am gaining weight and in the wrong places right now. Every day they drink. Phew! But it is 6 beers for a kiwi dollar and so in a way it is cheaper than drinking water! And they don't just drink, like don't get the wrong impression. They're not alcoholic's or anything.
Dan with the usual Polish breakfast (yes those are 1.5L bottles of beer)...
So today we head off to Laos we hope. I am shortening my time in Nam as they want to change their plans from going to Cambodia to now coming to Laos with me. But they can't wait as their travels are not so long. It also means by mssing another week here that I can now go to Burma for a week as well and that is meant to be an awesome country! Nice (o:
And Jo is still living in Cambodia, teaching English, and loving it.
All right, time for a Kebab. Hope everyone is smiling.
Our hired boat quickly developed leaks (that's Catalonia's hand bailing and yes, more 1.5L bottles of beer next to it - it's just so much cheaper than water!)...
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