April 21- Nha Trang, Vietnam

Today Jessie and I had one of our best travelling days.  We arrived at Nha Trang, Vietnam early in the morning and soon departed for a day filled with touring.  In Nha Trang, we had to get ashore via tender so we grabbed our tender tickets and were soon making our way onto the mainland. 

Our first stop was just on the pier… the market.  Jessie and I spent some time shopping and looking around at the local goods.  We (of course) bought some more pearls because they’re so cheap and beautiful here.  Another interesting product most vendors sell is different liquors and wines which are infused with snakes, scorpions, sea horses and other creepy creatures.  They’re pretty neat to look at but I wouldn’t try to bring them over the border. 

The temperature in Nha Trang was a whopping 34 degrees and it didn’t take long for sweat to start pouring off of my body.  Luckily we found some charming fans and bought a couple… they were a godsend and kept us relatively cool for the rest of the day. 

After we had our fill of shopping, Jessie and I walked up the pier to a nearby aquarium.  The entrance fees were about 70 cents each so I think it’ll probably be the cheapest aquarium I ever visit.  The aquarium itself wasn’t too exquisite.  Many of the tanks were cloudy and growing copious amounts of algae.  I felt slightly bad for the fish, but I guess life’s harder out in the ocean.  Later we came across a cage with two seals.  The seals were so cute, but the cage was terribly small.  I likened it to Jessie and I being trapped in our ship staterooms for our lives…. I’d go insane. 

The aquarium had it’s good points too.  There were quite a few large sea turtles which were really nice to watch.  There were also tiny tanks holding many different species of fish (typical aquarium stuff) but then we came across a whale skeleton and a preserved ______.   The aquarium is also a marine biology school so we were able to walk through an area that held thousands of different bottles preserving various forms of aquatic life.  It was pretty neat to see.

Around noon, Jessie and I decided to go back to the ship to grab lunch.  We were close to the pier and thought that it would be better to eat free ship food than food that might have questionable sanitation levels.  We scarfed down a quick meal, dropped off all of our goods and then made our way back out to the pier where we were picked up for our tour. 

Our tour was called the Cham Tower, Rive Cruise and Rural Village tour.  We began with a scenic drive along the beach that lead us to the Cham Towers.  These towers are a collection of temples and gardens that overlook the Cai River.  It was interesting to look around the area because there were many Vietnamese people who were using the temples to worship and to be an observer was very neat.  The gardens were also quite beautiful and being able to look out at the various fishing boats on the river also added a nice touch. 

Next, we went on a small boat for a river cruise along the Cai River.  Our tour guide, Tom was able to give us a wealth of knowledge about Vietnamese life and culture.  Along the way, we saw several boats taking sand from the bottom of the river.  This is actually illegal, but there’s decent money in it and apparently police can be paid off.

Our first stop on the river cruise was a clay oven workshop.  This is a family business and the ovens are small and made by hand.  The Vietnamese people believe that there is a kitchen god that lives in the ovens.  Today, many houses have gas range ovens, but every family still keeps a clay oven so that the god of the kitchen can be present in their home.  The ovens range from $1-$3 and are purchased by everyone at the beginning of each year.   It’s good luck to smash your old oven at the Lunar New Year. 

We got back into the boat and soon arrived at another destination.  We were greeted by a family who served us fresh coconuts.  There were things for sale and also a few monkeys in a nearby tree.  Jessie and I enjoyed sitting back in the garden and watching the monkeys. 

As we journeyed along the river, we came across a narrow, bamboo bridge.  We were told that the citizens couldn’t afford to build a big cement bridge to get across the river, so they constructed the bridge out of bamboo.  It breaks at least once a year, but the people always build it up again.  It was neat to see how people can improvise here and make things work with what little they have.

Our last stop was to a rural village where we went into a ____ year old house and were able to see how people lived in Vietnam.  Here, we were served a plate of various fruits including pineapple, watermelon, bananas, dragonfruit and rambutans.  There was also live music being played.  Jessie and I spotted four young boys who were playing on the property.  We went over and presented them with some Canadian souvineres that we carry along with us.  They were so excited to receive them. 

Driving back to the ship, Jessie and I were both impressed by the tour.  We had a fantastic time and were able to experience a glimpse of Vietnamese life.  We arrived at the pier late, and the crew were urgently ushering us to the tender.  After we arrived on board, the captain made an announcement and we departed.  Next stop- Hong Kong!

Apr 20- Ho Chi Min, Vietnam

Today Jessie and I enlisted in the ‘Do It Yourself City Tour’ run through the ship.  The tour was just basically transportation for the 2 ½ hr drive to Ho Chi Min city (also known as Saigon), then we made our way around sightseeing at our own pace. 

During the drive to the city, we were on a bus and there was a young family behind Jessie and I.  The mother was talking to her son, who was about 6 years old.  He was very smart, but extremely talkative.  For the entire 2 ½ hours, he talked.  He wanted to know how cement was made, if he could have a pet alligator, why the days of the week had their certain names… the list goes on.  Throughout this I was bordering insanity… Jessie and I discussed whether mothers have an innate ability to tolerate their own children or perhaps I just shouldn’t have kids.  I would NEVER have the patience to answer one question after another EVERY minute of the day… it would not happen!

Anyways, once we arrived in Ho Chi Min city, it was time to go off exploring.  Jessie and I went along various streets stopping into shops along the way.  Jessie bought a new set of calligraphy brushes and ink (that I successfully bartered for).  Eventually we came to the market where we were bombarded with sellers wanting us to buy. 

The day was extremely hot, measuring 33degrees and very humid.  The market was swarming with people and air-conditioning was nowhere to be found.  It didn’t take long for me to announce that I’d be ready to leave whenever Jessie had had enough.  We ended up shopping for a little bit more (I bought a very nice candle holder) and then decided to break for lunch.

We were warned about food safety in Vietnam, so we decided to try a recommended restaurant chain called Pho24.  Jessie and I were very impressed by the food:  fresh spring rolls and delicious beef pho.  Soon after, we decided to keep on trekking. 

Eventually we arrived at the Vietnamese war memorial museum.  This was highly recommended by people who’ve been to Ho Chi Min before so Jessie and I decided it was a must on our things to do.   Now, I’ve never really taken a strong interest in history and can admit that I don’t know very much about the Vietnam war, so I wasn’t sure what to expect when we went into the museum. 

The first floor was very tame.  There was an area where local school children draw pictures of peace and unification which was very nice.  I really wasn’t ready for what was to come on the 2^nd and 3^rd floor.  The images, descriptions and photographs of the brutality inflicted in the war were so intense that I couldn’t go through the whole exhibit.  There were graphic pictures of children being cut up, people being tortured and abused… it was too much. 

Next we learned about the chemical warfare, including phosphorous gas and Agent Orange.  This just disgusted me.  To see that generations of these people have been hugely affected by the toxins that have infected all of their resources is devastating.  There were photographs of numerous deformed babies and adults all reportedly due to the chemical warfare.   It made me sick.

Jessie and I discussed the rational for having such a museum open for public education.  Personally, I did not enjoy my time touring the museum, and overall it made me quite depressed and disgusted with mankind.  I do see that education is a great tool and that people need to understand the past but perhaps I’m just a little too comfortable in my happy bubble. 

Looking back on the day now, I guess it’s never a bad thing to learn about the realities in life, it just forces us to grow out of the childish mindset that the world is a decent place and accept the fact that there’s pain and suffering everywhere, even if we’re not in the middle of it. 

Touring the museum didn’t leave that much extra time in our day.  Jessie and I took a quick walk back to the bus and were able to snap a few pictures of the Notre Dame Cathedral which was beautiful.  Due to the depressing museum, my mood was a bit of a downer, but it was soon uplifted when the little boy on the bus behind me continued with his array of random questions to his father.  I spent the rest of the ride listening to this patient man answering question after question of this little boy.   By the time we returned to the ship, I was pleasantly charmed by the simplicities and innocence of young minds. 

Apr 18- Pattaya, Thailand

Wednesday was a great day for Jessie and I.  The ship was docked in Thailand and most of the passengers were heading to Bangkok for the day.  The ride to Bangkok would be about 2 ½ hours depending on traffic.  The idea of sitting on a bus for 5 hours didn’t exactly appeal to us and since we’d already been there for 5 days, it wasn’t necessary. 

Instead of taking a tour into Bangkok, Jessie and I decided to hop onto a complimentary shuttle and go to the city of Pattaya for the day.  This was only about a 25 minute journey and was an opportunity to stretch our legs after being on the ship for 3 (wonderful and relaxing) days. 

Upon the shuttle, we were given a map and a guide told us that today was a very special day for the Thai people.  We learned that today was their New Years day and they celebrate by throwing and spraying water throughout the streets.  We were warned that we’d get very wet.  Jessie and I were both very excited about this because we had been told about it during our time traveling previously in Thailand, and we’d been sad that we would miss it…. What a lucky day!  Many of the old senior citizens sitting around us were anything but happy about this special day. 

When we arrived in Pattaya, Jessie and I quickly mailed some letters that we’d neglected to do for about a month and then set off exploring.  As soon as we got down to the main road we experienced our first taste of Thai New Year.  People were standing around with buckets of water and water guns, spraying everything within reach.  Jessie and I welcomed the shower because it was unbearably hot out and this served as a nice refreshment. 

We think that the water symbolizes a type of cleansing and starts the New Year off fresh for the people of Thailand.  It’s a great idea especially considering the climate.  And it seems like it really brings a sense of unity and cohesiveness to the citizens, while they’re all out drenching each other. 

Throughout the afternoon we did a bit of shopping and bought a few final souviners, as this would be our last time in Thailand.  We also had a fantastic new experience: Fish Spa!  Jessie and I found a little spa that consisted of several tanks filled with fish.  For less than $5, we were able to sit for 25 minutes and let the fish nibble away at all of the dead skin on our feet and toes.  I’m sure this sounds a little ridiculous but these spas have been all over Asia and we’ve wanted to try them, so this seemed to be a great opportunity to do so. 

I had heard that it can be quite ticklish but I had no idea how unbearable it was until I tried it.  Imagine 200 fish sucking on every inch of flesh on your feet… it tickles beyond belief!  Jessie and I both sat in our tanks squirming and giggling uncontrollably until eventually I had to take my feet out… I couldn’t handle it. 

The owner was very nice and tried to convince me to put my feet back in but it just wasn’t a feeling I was too fond of.  Jessie toughed it out and kept hers in for almost the whole length of time.  All in all, I was glad that I finally experienced the fish spa but it’s not something I’ll be craving to do again. 

A little while later we took the shuttle back to the ship, where we attended a Thai traditional performance.  The show was spectacular and combined dancing with traditional music to illustrate Thailand’s history and culture.  The performers did a great job and Jessie and I were thoroughly entertained. At the very end of the show, the dancers rounded up some of the audience to join them on the stage and try out some traditional thai moves. Jessie and I were called upon and we had fun as our guide on stage tried to make us replicate more and more difficult moves.   

April 15— Boarding the Diamond Princess

Today was the day that Jessie and I would end our land travels and begin our sea travels on our luxury 5 star cruise ship The Diamond Princess.  This was fairly bitter sweet for me because although I was excited to get on the ship, it meant that a large portion of our travels were already over.  I had spent so much time planning and getting excited for this trip (over an entire year), and now it’s going by so fast. 

The upgrade to cruise ship living wasn’t something I was dreading at all.  Over the past two months, Jessie and I have had our share of budget hotel/hostel rooms with cockroaches, ants, bugs, bad odours, and uncleanliness, so I was really looking forward to a bit of upscale living.  I was also really excited for the food on the ship.  We’ve stuck to a fairly strict budget over the past 2 months which usually meant we were eating at some of the cheapest places we could find.  Now, these places weren’t bad, but they definitely weren’t as good as a 5-course meal in a fancy dining room looking out at the ocean. 

Our cruise didn’t start boarding passengers until 1pm, but Jessie and I decided to aim to be there a bit earlier, at 12:15.  This was a really good idea because the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre was already quite full when we arrived.  It turns out that they do take passengers before 1pm.  Jessie and I made our way in to the check in procedures quite easily.  All around us, there were old, white people grumbling about how long the wait was, but I thought that the crew did quite a good job and kept people moving at a very reasonable pace.  Jessie and I were fully checked in and arrived by shuttle to our ship within one hour.  This is definitely faster than other cruises I’ve been on. 

Yay! We arrived!!  Walking onto the ship was a monumental experience… no more cockroaches and smelly rooms!  Everyone greeted us warmly and we made our way to our stateroom: C225.  We’re near the front of the ship, on the 10^th floor.  I’ve learned that it’s best to be in the middle of the ship when rough seas arise, but so far, so good. 

Our stateroom was definitely snug, but quite charming.  Jessie and I both had separate beds separated by two night stands.  The room was furnished with many mirrors to give it a more spacious appearance.  We were able to unpack and store our suitcases under our beds which was so nice… not living out of suitcases was a luxury we haven’t had in 2 months. 

As soon as we arrived in our room, we perused the room service menu.  Of course, we hadn’t eaten since breakfast and so we were ready to gorge ourselves.  Within a short time, we were dining on chicken ceaser salad, cheeseburgers and nachos followed by crème brulè. 

Jessie and I took turns unpacking and showering and soon we made our stateroom into the home it would be for the next 35 days. 

A short while later, we had our mandatory emergency drill, which was quite well organized.  It was fun watching all of the old people because they behave like such children; always doing things the crew tells them not to… like blowing the whistles on their life jackets.  I realized that I could not do this job and handle the passengers on cruise ships… I’d kill them. 

Jessie and I took time to explore the ship after our drill.  It’s a beautiful vessel filled with many things to do.  Due to the fact that there are quite a few sea days on board, the crew fill up every day with various activities to keep the passengers entertained.  There are 6 pools and 8 hot tubs on board.  There’s also golf and virtual golf, a movie theater, a nightclub, casino, shops, stage theater and numerous bars and cafes. 

At around 8:15 that night, Jessie and I went for our first dinner on the ship.  Throughout the past 8 weeks, whenever we ate something bad, we would comfort ourselves by the fact that the cruise food would be outstanding.  It’s fair to say that we had high expectations for this meal.  It’s also fair to say that those expectations were strongly met. 

My first meal consisted of a crab meat salad, pina colada soup and slow roasted beef tenderloin served with a baked potato, corn on the cob and green beans…. AMAZING!!  If that couldn’t get any better for dessert I had a chocolate mousse torte with berry coulis.   Jessie and I were both throrougly impressed by the meal and knew that we’d have to pace ourselves over the next month if we wanted our clothes to still fit by the end of it.

April 12—Birthday Spa Day

Our time in Kuta was very nice.  I spent quite a few days recovering from my “Bali Belly” which meant a lot of time spent in bed and laying around the pool.  It was a nice change in pace because Jessie and I had been fairly tour crazy before that.

One day, we went to Kuta beach and played in the waves.  The water is much rougher than other places we had been to so there were many surfers and surf schools.  Jessie and I decided just to relive our youth and spend the afternoon splashing around in the waves.  It was great fun and we met quite a few nice Indonesian guys (they were quite intent on taking photos with us…odd because there are so many foreigners in Bali). 

Thursday was a special day for Jessie and I.  It was our last day in Bali and it was a day that I had planned last year as an early birthday present for Jessie.  I had booked us into the Bali Green Spa for the Total Body Cleansing package which included an aromatic massage, body scurb, body polish, foot wash and massage, herbal creambath, a rejuvenating facial and a flower petal bath.  This was followed by sweet ginger tea and chocolate cake…. Ahh!

Jessie and I had our own private garden gazebo (very romantic) where we received all of our treatments together.  It was beautifully decorated with waterfalls, birds chirping and a subtle breeze blowing in through the sides of the gazebo.  Both of our masseurs were amazing and did such a great job.  The massage was the best that I received in Asia and I loved the creambath; it made my hair so soft and was so relaxing. 

In total, we were at the spa for just over 4 hours.  It was the best spa experience I have ever had and was one of the nicest things Jessie and I have done together (apart from being totally honeymoonish).  We were taken back to our hotel completely stress free and very rejuvenated.  I wish this spa existed in Canada.