Chilling out in Halong Bay

Halong Bay, Hanoi

Hanoi and Chiangmai - No Same Same

It appears in Asia that they are obsessed with saying "same same".THey just can't say the word "same" once. Incidentally, there is a roaring trade in same same t-shirts with the tourists.

I'm currently now in an internet cafe in Chiangmai, THailand. Its in the North of Thailand, near Burma and the GOlden Triangle. I flew from Hanoi to Bangkok, then we got an overnight train to Chiangmai. I spent about 13 hours on the train and slept on a hard sleeper bunk. Its a different experience to travelling by plane or bus. Travelling by train is more comfortable and slightly more expensive than bus, and its better for your ass. COnsidering that i slipped on the stairs on a boat in Hanoi and landed on my backside.....that's another story.

I prefer train rides over buses as they are more comfortable bus also because you get to see more of the countryside. Its goes through towns, villages, nature and you get to see more of Thailand that way. Tim and I had a seat to our ourselves, and next to us was a chick from Holland. We talked to her most of the night about travelling, Europe, drugs, and even a bit about tax!~

How come How long


THe last two days, we have spent in Halong Bay which is about 4 hours from Hanoi. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world. There's about 1600 islands (yes 1600!) in this area. We took a cruise and saw all the islands. It was so peaceful and serene. It reminds me of Milford Sound, in New Zealand. WOrds cannot describe how awesome this place was.

We cruised for a while and then we went to this massive limestone cave. It was huge, like half a kilometre long. THere were heaps of stacalites hanging from the roof, it was just simply unbeileveable. Think Jenolan Caves to the power of 1,000,000.

We were supposed to go Kayaking, but the bastards running the tour ripped us off. In fact we were supposed to go to several islands and that didn't happen either. So we had to call up the Captain and complain and eventually spoke to the tour operator who then took us to an island the next day to appease the tourists. These Viets are just dodge cause they try to do the absolute minimum.

We slept over night on the boat. From time to time, these hoochie mamas on little paddle boats would come up to our big boat and try to sell us food, beer and drinks. It was fun negotiating with them. In fact, I tried a pick up line from my viet phrasebook and pointed at Tim "Can I kiss you?". She gave us the biggest cringe i've seen in my life and just paddled as fast as she could away from us. Apparently that line doens't work in Vietnam.

That night we went to the top deck of the boat and all 14 tourists sat around talking. To me that has been one of my most interestnig experiences on tour. THere was one dude, Bob who really inspired me. Just to hear everyone's travel stories and where they had been was amazing.

I so want to see the world now, as much as I can before I get too old. There's just so many places i need to see, like the Jesus statue in Rio De Janiero, the pyramids in Egypt, cross the Ocean from Antigua to Europe, the Inca Trail in Peru. I want to see India, South America, Canada and more!

Meeting all these people on my travels has really inspired me to travel even more. And i've met so many interesting and varied people from backpacking.

On the bunk below me in Hanoi, was a lawyer from Melbourne who works at Allens. I met these two Spanish guys in the door way of the hostel who work for the Spanish Consulate in HOng Kong. THis Canadian guy i had been hanging out with he's been to the Himalayas in 3 different countries in the last two years and is now studying chinese in CHina. Bob, is a private tutor in Taiwan who's been travelling for the last 30 years. On the train last night, the Holland chick just quit her Public Relations job in London to go travelling. Amazing people with amazing stories.

I'm out like no two things the same same,

DJ Ho.

Good Morning Vietnammmmm!

Everyone that has written a post about travelling to Vietnam uses that opening line and its a bit cliche, but i had to use it!

The thing I like about travelling in South East Asia is that you can eat whenever you want and there are always snacks available and its so cheap. That's what I love about Hong Kong. On every street corner, your bound to find a snack shop and they are open 24/7. So yesterday I had the following to eat at these places.

Breakfast
2 semi-stale rolls with Marmalade (provided free by hostel)

Lunch
TIm hadn't arrived yet so I went with these two Canadians who befriended me. We chilled out at this fancy cafe by the Red River Lake, which is the centerpiece of Town.

Papaya Shake
Rice and Stir Fried Beef with Capsicum

Afternoon Snack
Tim and I went for a walk around the city and did a loop and ended up at St Paul's cathedral. We stopped at this lil local cafe and I had a Custard Apple Shake - simply beautiful. I've never had one before and we shared a fried rice.

On the way to picking up our friend, i grabbed a pearl milk tea. I wasn't exactly sure what i was ordering, i just pointed at what the girl in front of me had.

Dinner
Tim and I had dinner with this chick from the Czech Republic, who he met on the bus. She's 32, travelled the world, 6 foot tall and blonde. Did I mention she's hot?

Back to the food....

The restaurant was a hot pot place but Tim and i really wanted to get down and dirty and eat on the streets and squat on those plastic stools. We couldn't find a place so we settled on this hot pot place.

I had beef in black bean sauce which had a pepper steak taste to it.

Came back to the hotel and chilled out on the rooftop and had a halida beer.

Water Puppet Show
We checked out this water puppet show and it was boring as. It was mainly full of old white folks like grandmas and grandfather types. The first 10 minutes were interesting and when they had these puppets kind of pop out of nowhere and dance in the water.

After the show, we went with our crew of 8 backpackers to find a pub. In our group there is an Irish dude, two Swedes, two canadians, Melbourne chick and two extremely good looking Aussie males (Tim and myself. Ahem.).

We walked through this food market which stretched for like 100 metres. There were rice paper rolls everywhere, fried fish, vegies. The roofs were hanging real low so sometimes we had to duck, so it was exactly like how an Asian food market should be! Including food scraps on the ground, slippery walkway, being real right, we could barely fit through, and some locals were driving motorbikes in the opposite direction to us!

We ended up at this Westerner expat type bar with the best seat in the house. It was ok. Didn't really feel like drinking since I've had 4 beers in two days and i was so tired.

So I ended the night on a sweet note with one of my all time favourite drinks - a mango lassie. It' s a yogurt based drink, thick and creamy. Whenever i have indian food, i always get my standard: butter chicken and a mango lassie!

That's been my food adventure on my first full day in Vietnam.

Hostel International

In case your wondering, I've been staying at this hostel in Vietnam called Hanoi Backpackers Hotel. It's so chilled out. Half the people in here are Aussies! Its the only hostel in Hanoi and a really well run one - its run by Aussies of course! Staying here its been so easy to meet people and hang out with them.

We've got a bbq on the rooftop tonite and apparently we are doing a swimwear/bikini competition. The chicks have been working on their catwalk runway hip movement/lap dance last night at the pub, so it should be a good show :P Supposedly the guys are supposed to wear their swimwear too, so not really sure about that.

Staying at a mixed dorm and at this place has been an excellent decision. I was a bit apprenhisve at first having never hostel'd before and i was concerned with my security of my personal belongings. I've got my own locker and everything was cool, until the person with the locker above mine opened my locker and took everything out and chucked her Hello Kitty paraphenalia in. Nothing went missing so that was good and I've just chucked my valueables in Tim's locker.

As soon as I walked into the dorm I met these two Canadians and we chatted like we were old friends. Then a couple of Aussie chicks showed up and we talked about our travels, education, "mushroom" shakes in Thailand (yes, those mushrooms!).

Since Tim hadn't arrived, I went to explore the town by myself. I walked around the Lake and got comfortable crosssing the road. There's just a million bikes everywhere. You can't cross the road completely, just have to weave yourself in between the bikes. Last night we started walking into the oncoming traffic - that's how the locals do it! You just have to walk slowly, confidently, and people will give way. Don't run cause that'll cause them to swerve. So far no close calls.


The Plane Ride

interesting. Should I say more?

In the departure line, I saw two of Australia's best fast bowlers - Glenn Macgrath and Brett Lee. It was unmistakable. Every one kinda had quick glances and hushed whispers. When they walked past me, i deicded to chat with them. In fact, i was the only person that spoke to them - they were going to NZ for the one dayers. Then they let in Shane Watson into the line - who do they think they are - they can't even beat the Pom's in one day internationals!

The passenger from Hell

On the plane from Sydney to Bangkok, i got a nice prime window seat. Then this 35 year old FOB lady from Laos sat next to me. This was ok, and i was minding my own business. Her arm and leg were touching mine and i was ok with this contact. A while later, i felt something poke my leg. I was like what the hell?

She then bumped me a couple of times with her foot and was kinda brushing up her arm against mine. It was unmistakeable, she was flirting with me. Her whole body language suggested it as well. Her legs were crossed and she was leaning over towards me and using her left foot to touch my left foot. I'm on a 10 hour flight and this FOB lady is rubbing her leg against mine. I'm in a cramp space and I'm trapped. So I pull out my picture of Marie (Thank God I had one) and just concentrated on her hahaha.

TO top it off, she then gave me post cards from Laos and used my headset. What the hell? WHo takes someones headset to use when they go to the bathroom? I tried to give the postcards back but she wouldn't have none of that. What am I, some kind of inflight entertainment?


I love you shortime

Then on the connecting flight from Bangkok to Hanoi, I was sitting next to this Viet dude. We didn't get off to a good start as I almost crushed his laptop when i put another bag over his laptop bag. He borrowed my pen to fill out his arrival card and I thought what the hell, i'm gonna talk to him.

I whipped out my Viet phrasebook and asked him a couple of basic phrases. He smiled and taught me hello, goodbye, etc.. Then we started talking and I found out he's really cool guy. He's been living in Germany for the last 3 years studying Civil Enginnering.

We talked about our girlfriends, checked out this hot Thai Airways chick and tried to guess her age. Apparently the local girls in germany aren't his cup of tea :P He likes that Viet flava too. I then flipped over to the "special section" in the phrasebook - pick up lines. We had a blast as he taught me how to say "that was amazing/wild", "honey, you are my everything", and some other phrases that can't be repeated here. But i made sure he taught me "i love you forever" which translates into the more common phrase "I love you longtime"!!!!!!!!!

When I was walking around the lake, i went into this side street and found this quaint DVD shop. They had all the covers of all the latest movies and I walked in. I negotiated the price down from 16,000 dong to 15,000 dong which is like AUD $1.30A to AUD$1.20. Hey, its Asia, you always gotta try and negotiate! Also cause i'm tight (Hoi, thanks for telling Marie that!). I was about to pay for my purchase and noticed that the sales person was trying to learn english via this computer program. So I asked her about it and we ended talking for about half an hour. She was really talkative and wanted to know my age, where i was from, my story, etc... so I whipped out my newly learnt phrase.... "I love you longtime!". I wasn't saying it properly so she wrote it down for me and practiced it a couple of times.....so Marie......

"Anh se ye em mai mai"!


I'm out like I love you long time,

DJ Ho.

One pho bo please!

Hey all,

I'm in Hanoi, Vietnam at the moment. Flew in yesterday night after a 12 hour flight. It's been really good. Hanoi is just full of peopel on bikes, hustle and bustle everywhere.

I'm staying at this Backpacker Hostel and its awesome. its got this really good vibe and i'm heaps of interesting peopel. Been hanging out with these Canadian group. I'm in a mixed dorm and were 6 Aussie chicks in my room from WA (Chuck , aren;'t you jealous?). There's 12 people in my dorm and there are only 3 guys.

I've never backpacked before i.e. stayed at a hostel, but everyone is so friendly and we hangout togather. I'm here with Tim and we just came back from a walk around the streets. The streets are just so alive here, the locals live their lives out on the streets. Squatting and eating Pho Bo (beef noodle soup), selling flowers, the town is building up for Vietnamese New Year.

I'll be going to Halong Bay, a place with awesome limestone caves, doing some snorkelling and kayaking. Only been here a day and a half and i was up to 4am on the first night walking around the city, drinking beers on the rooftop and chatting the night away.

I'm out like Pho Bo,

DJ Ho.

Shoutouts!

Not in any order of importance but here are some shoutouts :P

Happy Valentines Day Marie!

Happy B'day Aleks! Bar Europa was good.

Congrats Howard on your engagement.

it's 2am and i gotta go sleep. T minus 8 hours to Hanoi! Going to Vietnam and thailand for 3 weeks. Talk to you peeps later!

I'm out like shoutouts,

DJ Ho

Private Property

What a long day today.

5.30am - drag myself out of bed, shower. Glance quickly over shirts and put on least creased one, spend 5 mins straigntening tie (that knot's gotta be right).

6am - wake up brother and convince him that its a great idea to drive me to the train station

7am - Mull over whereis.com map i've printed out. Should i get out at Museum, St James or Town Hall? Screw it, they all are pretty much the same distance

7.15am - rock up to the Sheraton on the Park hotel. Walk through doors confidently, like I belong there.

7.20am - I am like the 10th person to arrive at the Property Industry conference. See Nuggets at the registration booth and catchup.

7.40am - meet random people and make our way to my designated seat

8am - 9am: Listen to Bill Evans - Chief Economist at Westpac, Matt Whitby - Head of Reseach at FKP, Tony Cope - head of GPT.

They spoke about property market trends, rental yields, which property markets where hot (Perth, Brisbane), interest rates (rate rise, then level off, then rate cuts), strong labour market locally and in New York and London going gangbusters. Meet Mr X and Mr J, grab their business cards, say my goodbyes and go.

9.15am - Walk through Martin Place, the center of dollars and slick suits.

9.25am - stop by coffee shop, say hello to colleague who then tells me he was resigned.

9.40am - check voicemails, write down message from London.

10am - return telephone call, finish off previous day's letter

11am - sit down with a manager and discuss his 200+ page report about client's intellectual property and royalties. Forces me to think from an economic and business viewpoint. Write up filenote and skim report.

12pm - craving for Mango smoothie. Must have Mango Smoothie. mmmm yum.

12.30 pm - training is cancelled, but still get to eat training lunch. Stock up on as much free sandwiches and orange juice as humanly possible.

1pm - go on walk with two girls from work around the city.

2pm - back to work, but so sleepy. Watch Dwight Howard slam dunk highlight video from NBA.com. Marvel at this freak of nature.

3pm - Analyst comes over and asks if I know my accounting. Of course DJ Ho knows his stuff. We discuss journal entries for 20mins. DJ Ho is da man.

3.30pm - Another analyst questions me about deductibility of donations. Without hesistation DJ Ho quotes section, grabs legislation, and proves point. DJ Ho is da man x 2.

4pm - Check Fantasy NBA team. Actually i think i checked it 3 times during the day.

4.30pm - Finish that letter off. Call Brisbane office and liase with staff there.

5pm - Communicate progress and timeline for tax return

5.30pm - run through phone call

6pm - Dial London cause its 8am over there. They are not there. Leave message.
6.30pm - update Partner on conference who asks "did you get any business cards?". DJ: "Of course!". DJ Ho is da man x 3.

7.00pm - walk out the door with my mate. Explain how I've been playing telephone tag with London. Suggestion - give them my mobile.

7.05pm - turn around and go back to the office. Write email to London and make sacrifice in the name of superior client service - advise client to call my mobile.

7.30pm - Finally walk out but its raining! Chat to another person on way out.

7.35pm - bump into Fat Chris, chat, hop on train

7.40 - 8.30pm - read over client email and notes and anticipate phonecall.

9pm - have dinner, call gf, check phone again.

11pm - blogging.

12am - Check mobile one last time. No calls. Ahhh i can sleep cause i have training at 8am tomorrow.

Like I said - Long day!

I'm out like long days,

DJ Ho.

Autobots roll out! Transform

Ladies and gentlemen, may i present the new transformer shoe! Its a toy which converts into a Nike shoe. How cool! Its off the heezy. You can't wear it though.
Thanks Chuck for the heads up! Hums "More than meets the eye, defenders in the sky"

For more info click here. Perhaps your more feeling this shoe?

I'm out like transformer shoes,

DJ Ho.