Well, it's been tough to find the time to update this blog and add pictures. The last town we were in didn't allow us to download any programs (such as Picasa) so I wasn't able to upload any pictures.
Here's a link to the most recent pictures...
Pictures hurrrr
I've left comments on the pictures instead of writing them here. It's counter productive I think.
After the beach in Nha Trang and a bit of thinking, we decided to head North so that we could eventually land in Vang Vien, Laos. We hadn't initially planned on heading north, but we learned that we could go hit up some rope swings and zip lines into a major river in the middle of Laos.
So we headed off to Hoi An and made the best of it. Ryan spent his life savings on suits and clothing while Carder, Matt, and I spent money on food and beer. It was a small little town but was enjoyable due to us finding a plaza to watch the world cup soccer. The plaza was an interesting place to be as we were the only foreigners who showed up.
We made the most of it and had our fair of fun by betting on karaoke in between the matches. The locals would get up and sing and be scored by a computer based on their tone, rhythm, and something else we couldn't quite decipher.
They were awarded a percentage at the end and Carder and I would bet against Matt and Ryan who would provide the over one round, and then we would switch. The locals got a kick out of us screaming at the score for getting higher and higher.
After Hoi An we moved onto Vientianne, Laos. This was a killer bus ride. Around 30 hours later we arrived and were on our way....
More to come tomorrow. We have some time to kill here tomorrow before we catch the train in the evening to Bangkok.
Take care.
6/25/10
6/20/10
30 hours later
After 30 hours of bus riding we're in Laos. Will have to write more tomorrow after we get up to Vang Vien.
I have a ton of pictures to upload, just no time tonight. 4 hour bus ride up into the middle of Laos tomorrow to an area to go tubing all day long.
When we get finish I'll hopefully be able to write a real update and spend time updating pictures. I just didn't really feel like it tonight after only sleeping 2 of those 30 hours.
See you all tomorrow.
I have a ton of pictures to upload, just no time tonight. 4 hour bus ride up into the middle of Laos tomorrow to an area to go tubing all day long.
When we get finish I'll hopefully be able to write a real update and spend time updating pictures. I just didn't really feel like it tonight after only sleeping 2 of those 30 hours.
See you all tomorrow.
6/15/10
Lots of pictures
All the pictures so far...
All the pics...
Matt and Ryan headed off to Hoi An tonight.
Carder and I were going to go with them but Carder has had a stomach bug for the past
18 hours or so. I stuck around to go with him once he feels better. He's looking a lot better already actually. I gotta run and go wake him up to see if he wants to get out of the room for a bit.
Talk to you all soon.
All the pics...
Matt and Ryan headed off to Hoi An tonight.
Carder and I were going to go with them but Carder has had a stomach bug for the past
18 hours or so. I stuck around to go with him once he feels better. He's looking a lot better already actually. I gotta run and go wake him up to see if he wants to get out of the room for a bit.
Talk to you all soon.
6/12/10
Lots and Lots
Been a few days since I updated. Matt and Carder got in and taught us how to leave the hotel room.
We have headed from Saigon to Nha Trang. The bus ride was 11 hours long and was on a bus that they have designated as a "sleeper" bus. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and for $7 or $8 it certainly wasn't bad at all. Ended up being an 11 hour bus ride in all.
The coast was quite beautiful minus the trash. People here don't bother to throw things away. I'm not quite sure if that's because they don't have a centralized collection system or if it's because they just don't know any better. The beaches along the way to Nha Trang were always littered with trash.
When we finally arrived in Nha Trang Ryan and I got a room for $8 total. $4 a piece.
We had air conditioning, tv, shower, private bath.. etc. Quite a steal eh?
We met up with Matt and Carder shortly afterwards and had some dinner. The place looked nice and the beer was cheap. The other 3 ordered food while I declined. It seems that whenever I arrive in a new place, I lose my appetite. Probably a good thing. Hahaha. I could certainly stand to shed 25 of these 225 lbs. I'm big. You so big baby, you so big.
We hit the beach where I neglected to take my camera, will take one tomorrow. I was dubbed "Big Buddha" by the local teen who was trying relentlessly to sell us completely unnecessary items. Ryan was suckered into buying 2 packs of cigarettes...he uh, doesn't even smoke.
Anyhow, yesterday and today we rented scooters for $6 a day. We drove up and down along the coast until we finally came across a place called "Long Beach"..
As you can see, my helmet did not fit. That doesn't matter here though. I haven't seen a policeman yet. There are also very few traffic lights in this town. You just slow down in the intersection, look all around, and pray.
At the petrol station..
Some random beach along the way...
Random pictures through the day since I'm being rushed. Beach, hotel and the likes. We're going to eat in a bit.
We're having a lovely time and I've finally loosened up and come out of my shell shock. Will talk to you all soon. Take care.
Love live the USA.
We have headed from Saigon to Nha Trang. The bus ride was 11 hours long and was on a bus that they have designated as a "sleeper" bus. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and for $7 or $8 it certainly wasn't bad at all. Ended up being an 11 hour bus ride in all.
The coast was quite beautiful minus the trash. People here don't bother to throw things away. I'm not quite sure if that's because they don't have a centralized collection system or if it's because they just don't know any better. The beaches along the way to Nha Trang were always littered with trash.
When we finally arrived in Nha Trang Ryan and I got a room for $8 total. $4 a piece.
We had air conditioning, tv, shower, private bath.. etc. Quite a steal eh?
We met up with Matt and Carder shortly afterwards and had some dinner. The place looked nice and the beer was cheap. The other 3 ordered food while I declined. It seems that whenever I arrive in a new place, I lose my appetite. Probably a good thing. Hahaha. I could certainly stand to shed 25 of these 225 lbs. I'm big. You so big baby, you so big.
We hit the beach where I neglected to take my camera, will take one tomorrow. I was dubbed "Big Buddha" by the local teen who was trying relentlessly to sell us completely unnecessary items. Ryan was suckered into buying 2 packs of cigarettes...he uh, doesn't even smoke.
Anyhow, yesterday and today we rented scooters for $6 a day. We drove up and down along the coast until we finally came across a place called "Long Beach"..
As you can see, my helmet did not fit. That doesn't matter here though. I haven't seen a policeman yet. There are also very few traffic lights in this town. You just slow down in the intersection, look all around, and pray.
At the petrol station..
Some random beach along the way...
Random pictures through the day since I'm being rushed. Beach, hotel and the likes. We're going to eat in a bit.
We're having a lovely time and I've finally loosened up and come out of my shell shock. Will talk to you all soon. Take care.
Love live the USA.
6/8/10
Cu Chi tunnels and more of Saigon
I don't have much time to update photos and such.Matt and Jeremy will be here in a few hours. We're heading to Nha Trang tomorrow. I imagine we will be there for a couple days and I will have a couple free hours to update.
It costs 4,000 dong to use a computer/internet for an hour.
That is less than $0.25. This is a huge win.
I have lots of pictures from the Cu Chi tunnels and from other things to put up.
See you in a couple days.
It costs 4,000 dong to use a computer/internet for an hour.
That is less than $0.25. This is a huge win.
I have lots of pictures from the Cu Chi tunnels and from other things to put up.
See you in a couple days.
6/5/10
Saigon
I'm a bit overwhelmed by all of this. The city is just absolutely jam packed with people and scooters as far as anyone can see. The air is very dirty and seem to make me feel sick to my stomach after a few hours. That might be why I only ate once yesterday. But that could also be due to the fact that after our first venture out, we cam back around 1230 to clean up a bit and take a little break. I laid down for a 30 minute nap. 1230pm here is equal to 130am in Charleston.
Well, I laid down for that nap, Ryan apparently followed suit and we didn't get up until 10 hours later. Slept through the whole day. Apparently I wasn't over my jet lag like I thought I was. We ended up watching TV and reading from 12am to 6am which is when I came down here to type this.
Today we're going to try and haggle for a better price on our hotel, get some tickets or make it to the Cu Chi tunnels and then get a bus ride out to a resort town on the beach for tomorrow. I think we're gonna post up there for a few days until Matt and Jeremy arrive. I don't really have much of a desire to stay in the city too long. I'd like some fresh air I believe. Anyhow, here are some pictures from the day.
LAX
747-400 We flew to Seoul on.
Ryan in LAX at our gate
In flight meal #1. I obviously didn't choose the healthy Asian food.
International departure in Seoul South Korea.
View from the top of our building that we are staying in for now.
The largest dong of them all.
Hotel roof.
Scooters
Notre Dame Cathedral
Reunification Palace
Well, I laid down for that nap, Ryan apparently followed suit and we didn't get up until 10 hours later. Slept through the whole day. Apparently I wasn't over my jet lag like I thought I was. We ended up watching TV and reading from 12am to 6am which is when I came down here to type this.
Today we're going to try and haggle for a better price on our hotel, get some tickets or make it to the Cu Chi tunnels and then get a bus ride out to a resort town on the beach for tomorrow. I think we're gonna post up there for a few days until Matt and Jeremy arrive. I don't really have much of a desire to stay in the city too long. I'd like some fresh air I believe. Anyhow, here are some pictures from the day.
LAX
747-400 We flew to Seoul on.
Ryan in LAX at our gate
In flight meal #1. I obviously didn't choose the healthy Asian food.
International departure in Seoul South Korea.
View from the top of our building that we are staying in for now.
The largest dong of them all.
Hotel roof.
Scooters
Notre Dame Cathedral
Reunification Palace
6/4/10
We've arrived
Just now got into our hotel. I think I've been awake some where around 30 hours. I don't sleep on planes.
Both plane rides went good. I have pictures and such that I will upload tomorrow when I get the time.
Saigon is just an incredibly overwhelming city so far. We got in at 2230 on Friday night. Walking out of the airport there were literally hundreds of people waiting for their family to arrive. I mean, I just don't even know.
It is without a doubt the dirtiest place I've ever been. I'm using dirty here as a description and not so much an insult. If you check out youtube videos of this place, you'll see all the people wearing masks and such while driving their scooters. I definitely understand why now. It was making my eyes burn just driving to the hotel.
Anyhow, I'll send some pictures along tomorrow morning. I'm not sure what Ryan and I are going to do tonight. We may just stay in. It's a bit intimidating to go out currently. Can't understand a word of what people are saying and there are a whole lot of them just hanging out with their shirts off on the corners. I've also spotted several lady boys.
Me love you long time.
See ya'll tomorow.
Both plane rides went good. I have pictures and such that I will upload tomorrow when I get the time.
Saigon is just an incredibly overwhelming city so far. We got in at 2230 on Friday night. Walking out of the airport there were literally hundreds of people waiting for their family to arrive. I mean, I just don't even know.
It is without a doubt the dirtiest place I've ever been. I'm using dirty here as a description and not so much an insult. If you check out youtube videos of this place, you'll see all the people wearing masks and such while driving their scooters. I definitely understand why now. It was making my eyes burn just driving to the hotel.
Anyhow, I'll send some pictures along tomorrow morning. I'm not sure what Ryan and I are going to do tonight. We may just stay in. It's a bit intimidating to go out currently. Can't understand a word of what people are saying and there are a whole lot of them just hanging out with their shirts off on the corners. I've also spotted several lady boys.
Me love you long time.
See ya'll tomorow.
6/3/10
Time to lose some weight.
I woke up at 5 here in LA. Internal time clock is still out of wack.
I also just realized while looking at the Korean Air food selection that I'm going to be very hungry over the next 2 months.
I also just realized while looking at the Korean Air food selection that I'm going to be very hungry over the next 2 months.
6/2/10
CHS to DFW to LA
Charleston
I got to the airport with the weather getting nastier and nastier. I figured we'd be ok though, as there wasn't too much wind gusting around. Take off was smooth with a 25 or so degree bank to the left around 5k feet. I took a couple pictures of the clouds while listening to the old Rach 3. Turned out to be a smooth flight with no real complications. The clouds were magnificent and a joy to look at.
It had been quite awhile since I had listened to Rachmaninoff's (or nov's) 3rd piano concerto. I can say with quite certainty that it still moves me like it did so many years ago when I first discovered it. I've seen it performed live numerous times and I'm always able to close my eyes and visualize the artists tackling this pieces.
I have to say that I was quite elated when the pilot came on and said we would be landing at 1410. I looked at my watch and it was 1315. We had only been in the air about an hour. For a 3 hour flight, we must have really had a strong tailwind.. lol.
I, uh, didn't take in the time zone change. I figured that out all on my own when we were still flying at 36k feet at 1430. About 100 miles from the airport we began to make our descent. Landing was solid with a slight gust of wind that pushed us a bit off to the right of center line for landing. As we were taxing to the gate, we passed by a Boeing 777. Those engines are absolutely massive.
DFW
I didn't have much time in DFW so I didn't take any pictures. Only grabbed a personal pan pizza from pizza hut and a Budweiser. It was made very clear to me by the teenager serving me that I was not allowed to leave the diner with the Budweiser in hand. Yes sir...
We left out of DFW in a 757 around 1422 LA time. I was sat in seat 28c next to an older couple who didn't really seem to enjoy the thought of having me there. The gentlemen had already laid claim to the entire armrest making sure to use some of his extra skin to spill over into my seat. Please purchase two seats next time.
The flight was good for the most part except in the beginning after we had passed 10k feet and the seat belt light chimed off, the air coming out of the vents turned to heat. One man two seats up and across the aisle in the aisle seat made sure to send out numerous glares to the flight attendants while simultaneously reaching up with his right hand to feel the hot air. It will be OK bro, it will be ok. He was an older white guy who was wearing white Puma shoes, white low cut socks, Khaki shorts with a blue t-shirt tucked in. He wore no belt. He had brown hair that was beginning to show gray. Small wire glasses framed him face while he used his Iphone and in-ear headphones to watch a movie.
I'm also quite certain that VHS was still being used on this plane, that or the tvs were just that old.
A fraternity "bro" of mine picked me up from the airport. We crashed at his place after having a nice little dinner by the beach. We held hands.
Here's Carlos the dog. He held my hand as well. He also tried to impregnate me.
I tried my hardest to give him a love child, but alas it wasn't meant to be.
I got to the airport with the weather getting nastier and nastier. I figured we'd be ok though, as there wasn't too much wind gusting around. Take off was smooth with a 25 or so degree bank to the left around 5k feet. I took a couple pictures of the clouds while listening to the old Rach 3. Turned out to be a smooth flight with no real complications. The clouds were magnificent and a joy to look at.
It had been quite awhile since I had listened to Rachmaninoff's (or nov's) 3rd piano concerto. I can say with quite certainty that it still moves me like it did so many years ago when I first discovered it. I've seen it performed live numerous times and I'm always able to close my eyes and visualize the artists tackling this pieces.
I have to say that I was quite elated when the pilot came on and said we would be landing at 1410. I looked at my watch and it was 1315. We had only been in the air about an hour. For a 3 hour flight, we must have really had a strong tailwind.. lol.
I, uh, didn't take in the time zone change. I figured that out all on my own when we were still flying at 36k feet at 1430. About 100 miles from the airport we began to make our descent. Landing was solid with a slight gust of wind that pushed us a bit off to the right of center line for landing. As we were taxing to the gate, we passed by a Boeing 777. Those engines are absolutely massive.
DFW
I didn't have much time in DFW so I didn't take any pictures. Only grabbed a personal pan pizza from pizza hut and a Budweiser. It was made very clear to me by the teenager serving me that I was not allowed to leave the diner with the Budweiser in hand. Yes sir...
We left out of DFW in a 757 around 1422 LA time. I was sat in seat 28c next to an older couple who didn't really seem to enjoy the thought of having me there. The gentlemen had already laid claim to the entire armrest making sure to use some of his extra skin to spill over into my seat. Please purchase two seats next time.
The flight was good for the most part except in the beginning after we had passed 10k feet and the seat belt light chimed off, the air coming out of the vents turned to heat. One man two seats up and across the aisle in the aisle seat made sure to send out numerous glares to the flight attendants while simultaneously reaching up with his right hand to feel the hot air. It will be OK bro, it will be ok. He was an older white guy who was wearing white Puma shoes, white low cut socks, Khaki shorts with a blue t-shirt tucked in. He wore no belt. He had brown hair that was beginning to show gray. Small wire glasses framed him face while he used his Iphone and in-ear headphones to watch a movie.
I'm also quite certain that VHS was still being used on this plane, that or the tvs were just that old.
A fraternity "bro" of mine picked me up from the airport. We crashed at his place after having a nice little dinner by the beach. We held hands.
Here's Carlos the dog. He held my hand as well. He also tried to impregnate me.
I tried my hardest to give him a love child, but alas it wasn't meant to be.
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