Chaka chaka is a phrase that was coined by my dear cousin Elvis- whose filthy mind came up with this phrase when he was talking to Thanh, his assistant, about making love. Lol.
The trip so far has been a blast. My cousins are crazy and we've been cracking silly jokes all week long. There isn't a moment that we aren't laughing (except on the 3 hour drive to Hue where we dozed off) and making absolute nonsense. Fantastic way to spend a holiday.
Friday, July 10, 2009
What Did We Do Today?
Got to meet Thanh's wife and two daughters today. Drove up to Bana and took the world's longest cable car ride up the hill. The view on the way up was absolutely spectacular. Played around with the two girls and took lots of silly photos in silly poses.
Was supposed to go to Monkey Mountain after and go snorkeling at one of the beaches but that didn't quite work out. The motor of the boat that we were on wasn't working, and even if it did, the fella only had one snorkel. Decided to drive back and head to Da Nang beach again.
We were there at about 5ish in the afternoon and the beach was PACKED. Apparently during summer, people get off work at 4.30pm. How fantastic is that?
Got back and arranged for the manicurist to come over to do our nails, and it was so cheap! I think we paid USD2 per person, to have a full set of nail art done for both hands and feet. *grins*
After doing our nails, we had a home cooked meal for dinner- Thanh's wife made a delicious tuna salad, cooked some fish in tomato sauce, steamed prawns and fried chicken. Delicious.
Have to pack my bags now and check in online. Back to Singapore tomorrow.
Was supposed to go to Monkey Mountain after and go snorkeling at one of the beaches but that didn't quite work out. The motor of the boat that we were on wasn't working, and even if it did, the fella only had one snorkel. Decided to drive back and head to Da Nang beach again.
We were there at about 5ish in the afternoon and the beach was PACKED. Apparently during summer, people get off work at 4.30pm. How fantastic is that?
Got back and arranged for the manicurist to come over to do our nails, and it was so cheap! I think we paid USD2 per person, to have a full set of nail art done for both hands and feet. *grins*
After doing our nails, we had a home cooked meal for dinner- Thanh's wife made a delicious tuna salad, cooked some fish in tomato sauce, steamed prawns and fried chicken. Delicious.
Have to pack my bags now and check in online. Back to Singapore tomorrow.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Da Nang Day Three
After the swim this morning, we grabbed some breakfast and then proceeded on a 3 hour drive to Hue. Was tired so I napped on the way. Did the typical tourist thing today and visited the palace, pagoda and tomb.
Car broke down on the way and Thanh and Kuya Elvis has to change the tire. Ate Leny and I amused ourselves by taking lots of pictures on the road. Lol.
The weather was crazy hot and this time I was prepared and 1. lathered on the sunblock (I already have funny tan lines!) 2. took out my cap 3. drank lots and lots of water.
Had to postpone the drive to Bana to tomorrow as it was late and the last cable car ride (on the longest cable car ride in the world, apparently) was at 6.30pm and we didn't have enough time to make it. Took our time sightseeing and then had a yummy seafood dinner.
Been working for the past 2 hours or so, pfft. So feeling really tired and brain dead now.
Car broke down on the way and Thanh and Kuya Elvis has to change the tire. Ate Leny and I amused ourselves by taking lots of pictures on the road. Lol.
The weather was crazy hot and this time I was prepared and 1. lathered on the sunblock (I already have funny tan lines!) 2. took out my cap 3. drank lots and lots of water.
Had to postpone the drive to Bana to tomorrow as it was late and the last cable car ride (on the longest cable car ride in the world, apparently) was at 6.30pm and we didn't have enough time to make it. Took our time sightseeing and then had a yummy seafood dinner.
Been working for the past 2 hours or so, pfft. So feeling really tired and brain dead now.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Why Vietnamese Are So Tiny
Other than eating tonnes of veg, I just found out another reason that Vietnamese are so tiny! Just got back from the beach. We headed there at about 5ish (local time) and already the beach was full of people. There were groups of old folks doing exercises, lots of people swimming. It was so interesting.
Waded out to the beach and even though we were probably around 500m out, the water was still only up to chest level. The sand was very clean- no sharp coral bits or rocks. The water was very clear as well.
Didn't spend much time at the beach because we've got a 3 hour drive to Hue. Time to shower and pack up!
Waded out to the beach and even though we were probably around 500m out, the water was still only up to chest level. The sand was very clean- no sharp coral bits or rocks. The water was very clear as well.
Didn't spend much time at the beach because we've got a 3 hour drive to Hue. Time to shower and pack up!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Day Two: My Son, Marble Mountain and Hoi An
One of the perks about going around with a local is that you get to eat great local food. No tourist trap restaurants, no deciphering of menus and using hand signals to communicate.
Had beef stew for breakfast this morning. Chunks of beef and mystery meat (looks like salami) are cooked in a stew and served in a cast iron dish with an egg cracked on top. You mix it all up and eat it with pieces of baguette. Delicious. We had local coffee as well, and I have to say, that stuff is da bomb.
Lunch was beef soup- slices of beef and onions cooked in a tasty and very flavourful broth, eaten with broken bits of "paper rice" and baguette. Delicious too.
Anyway, went to My Son in the morning to see some ruins. Apparently My Son was the capital of one of the three regions before Vietnam became Vietnam. Walked around the ruins, took pictures and made up stories about how people used to cement the bricks together. (Thanh says that archaeologists still have not figured out what they used.)
After that, we headed to Marble Mountain- and AIYAH it wasn't really 1000 steps. Lol. Lots of caves and everything was so humid, but the view was nice and I haven't really been in many caves so this trip sort of made up for my lack of cave viewings in the past. Lol. There were also lots of marble sculptures on sale- laughing buddhas, roaring lions, booby naked ladies. You name it, they had it.
The last stop for the day was Hoi An. We walked along the beach, which wasn't as crowded as Da Nang beach and then went to the market place. Lots of cheap tailors and imitation bags around. We saw this old lady grilling little pieces of something, and stopped to ask her what it was. Sweet potato mixed with coconut. Sounded good, so we each had one and it was delicious.
Dinner was rather disappointing. We stopped at a place full of ang mohs and ordered ang moh food- burgers and roasted chicken, and the food was barely decent. I finished 2 bottles of coke though. Hehehe.
Anyway, it was a tiring day with lots of climbing, walking and perspiring. Had a shower back at the hotel and need to go to sleep. Plan for tomorrow: swimming at Da Nang beach at 5am (wah) and then a 3 hour drive to Hue where we'll sit on the supposed world's longest cable car ride and stay the night at Bana.
Bona staying at Bana. Lol I amuse myself.
Had beef stew for breakfast this morning. Chunks of beef and mystery meat (looks like salami) are cooked in a stew and served in a cast iron dish with an egg cracked on top. You mix it all up and eat it with pieces of baguette. Delicious. We had local coffee as well, and I have to say, that stuff is da bomb.
Lunch was beef soup- slices of beef and onions cooked in a tasty and very flavourful broth, eaten with broken bits of "paper rice" and baguette. Delicious too.
Anyway, went to My Son in the morning to see some ruins. Apparently My Son was the capital of one of the three regions before Vietnam became Vietnam. Walked around the ruins, took pictures and made up stories about how people used to cement the bricks together. (Thanh says that archaeologists still have not figured out what they used.)
After that, we headed to Marble Mountain- and AIYAH it wasn't really 1000 steps. Lol. Lots of caves and everything was so humid, but the view was nice and I haven't really been in many caves so this trip sort of made up for my lack of cave viewings in the past. Lol. There were also lots of marble sculptures on sale- laughing buddhas, roaring lions, booby naked ladies. You name it, they had it.
The last stop for the day was Hoi An. We walked along the beach, which wasn't as crowded as Da Nang beach and then went to the market place. Lots of cheap tailors and imitation bags around. We saw this old lady grilling little pieces of something, and stopped to ask her what it was. Sweet potato mixed with coconut. Sounded good, so we each had one and it was delicious.
Dinner was rather disappointing. We stopped at a place full of ang mohs and ordered ang moh food- burgers and roasted chicken, and the food was barely decent. I finished 2 bottles of coke though. Hehehe.
Anyway, it was a tiring day with lots of climbing, walking and perspiring. Had a shower back at the hotel and need to go to sleep. Plan for tomorrow: swimming at Da Nang beach at 5am (wah) and then a 3 hour drive to Hue where we'll sit on the supposed world's longest cable car ride and stay the night at Bana.
Bona staying at Bana. Lol I amuse myself.
Day One In Da Nang
Boarded the plane in the afternoon and transited at Siem Reap. Had a USD3 can of 7-Up while waiting to re-board the plane, and was just daydreaming when suddenly I hear this woman shouting in my direction. "Hurry up, woman!" she shouts as I hurriedly grab my bags and rush to the gate. Lol.
Finally landed in Da Nang and the view while the plane was descending was just simply amazing. The sun was an orange-y golden glow, illuminating the mountains and the reflection was just lighting up the lake/river/body of water. I was mesmerized.
Got to the immigration counter and could see my cousins waiting for me. Waved to them as I took my place in the queue and when I was finally out there were lots of hugs around. The plan for the evening was simple- check me in to the hotel (the aircon in the spare room at my cousin's place wasn't working), dinner, a walk along the beach, drinks at a bar.
I think I know why the Vietnamese are such tiny people. We had a seafood dinner and ordered shrimps (ordered this wrongly and got tiny prawns that were cooked in salt. Lots and lots of salt.), prawns (we re-ordered the prawns that were the size we wanted and cooked the way we liked), fish, and a hotpot which had more prawns, crab, squid and a tonne of veg.
Seriously. The pile of mixed vegetables that came with the hot pot was HUGE. And when Thanh (my cousin's assistant, our very own guide to Da Nang) found out that I liked kang kong (dammit I forgot the Vietnamese name for it. Mui ree or something hahahaha), he ordered more and another huge pile of kang kong came.
Walked by the beach after dinner. Apparently the beach spans 30 something km, and dotted all over were little stalls that had tables and chairs laid out where people could sit down and have a drink or two. Very chill. The sand was powdery soft and the sea seemed to go on forever (unlike in Singapore where you can see the ships anchored. Yawn.). The moon was almost full and it shone so brightly in the night sky.
Very nice.
Finally made our way to this bar called the Seventeen Saloon. There was a fantastic Filipino band that was performing there- and I was so happy during their second set when they started playing Guns N' Roses and Queen. (Oh-oh-oh sweet child of mine!!! Yes yes, I know. Have to let my inner mina out once in a while. Lol.) Had a couple of drinks there and then made our way back when the bar closed for the evening.
The best part of the trip so far has to be our mode of transportation. Motorbike! It's really quite fun to sit on one, just don't let my dad find out that's what I've been doing. Lol.
Alright, time to go to sleep. The plan for tomorrow is to go to the Marble Mountain. Sweet!
Finally landed in Da Nang and the view while the plane was descending was just simply amazing. The sun was an orange-y golden glow, illuminating the mountains and the reflection was just lighting up the lake/river/body of water. I was mesmerized.
Got to the immigration counter and could see my cousins waiting for me. Waved to them as I took my place in the queue and when I was finally out there were lots of hugs around. The plan for the evening was simple- check me in to the hotel (the aircon in the spare room at my cousin's place wasn't working), dinner, a walk along the beach, drinks at a bar.
I think I know why the Vietnamese are such tiny people. We had a seafood dinner and ordered shrimps (ordered this wrongly and got tiny prawns that were cooked in salt. Lots and lots of salt.), prawns (we re-ordered the prawns that were the size we wanted and cooked the way we liked), fish, and a hotpot which had more prawns, crab, squid and a tonne of veg.
Seriously. The pile of mixed vegetables that came with the hot pot was HUGE. And when Thanh (my cousin's assistant, our very own guide to Da Nang) found out that I liked kang kong (dammit I forgot the Vietnamese name for it. Mui ree or something hahahaha), he ordered more and another huge pile of kang kong came.
Walked by the beach after dinner. Apparently the beach spans 30 something km, and dotted all over were little stalls that had tables and chairs laid out where people could sit down and have a drink or two. Very chill. The sand was powdery soft and the sea seemed to go on forever (unlike in Singapore where you can see the ships anchored. Yawn.). The moon was almost full and it shone so brightly in the night sky.
Very nice.
Finally made our way to this bar called the Seventeen Saloon. There was a fantastic Filipino band that was performing there- and I was so happy during their second set when they started playing Guns N' Roses and Queen. (Oh-oh-oh sweet child of mine!!! Yes yes, I know. Have to let my inner mina out once in a while. Lol.) Had a couple of drinks there and then made our way back when the bar closed for the evening.
The best part of the trip so far has to be our mode of transportation. Motorbike! It's really quite fun to sit on one, just don't let my dad find out that's what I've been doing. Lol.
Alright, time to go to sleep. The plan for tomorrow is to go to the Marble Mountain. Sweet!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Bunny Loves My Laptop
I'm having my lunch at the Soup Spoon at the airport and so glad that I have my laptop to help me kill some time. There are two people seated at the table next to me, a girl and a guy.
The whole time, the girl has been yakking away. Yak yak yak yak yak. Non stop! Suddenly, she looks at the guy's bowl and says, "Woah, how come you finish eating so fast?"
Let's see. Could it be because you've been talking all this while and he had nothing to do but listen and eat? Lol.
Anyway, have about 2 hours to kill. Lucky I brought my laptop with me. I love MSN. I love Facebook. I love blogging. *grin*
The whole time, the girl has been yakking away. Yak yak yak yak yak. Non stop! Suddenly, she looks at the guy's bowl and says, "Woah, how come you finish eating so fast?"
Let's see. Could it be because you've been talking all this while and he had nothing to do but listen and eat? Lol.
Anyway, have about 2 hours to kill. Lucky I brought my laptop with me. I love MSN. I love Facebook. I love blogging. *grin*
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