I had originally planned on posting about this trip as often as we had internet and free time and just posted the best of the photos from that week or outing or whatever. However, do to the various events, changes of plans, lack of reliable internet, and lack of interest in going through my photos (and, at this point, even shooting), that plan has changed.
I have seen many things and had many experiences while on this trip and I am not even to sure how to convey some of them to people. I have decided that at the end of this trip I will compile the month in the forms of lists, metaphors, photos (obviously), short stories, and (in the future) a novel. At the moment, I am even considering a day by day retrospective including the "plans" on the itinerary, my journal entries, photos, and a reflection of what happened.
We have 5 more days here, all of which will be spent in Hoi Chi Min city. I will be back on the States on the 4th and, as wonderful and wild as this trip has been, I am very much looking forward to the comforts of home.
Check back in a week for the being of the retrospective.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Some Vietnam Photos
This is just a sampling of the past week. The mountains, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, cattle, puppies, beaches, etc. These are some of the best so far. Enjoy!
-a
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
so we climbed a really big f---ing mountain....
I have made it to day 10 of this epic trip to Vietnam and it has been quite the ride. I have been documenting almost everyday via journal entries (actual, written ones) and through the 1000+ photos I have taken over the past week. I have not even begun to critically make my way through the photos and, to be honest, it is a task I am dreading. It is going to take a very, very long time.
We have been able to see and experience so many amazing things, I hardly know where to start. This country is so beautiful and amazing and different, I can hardly believe it. From the fast paced cities to the scenic country, everything is a new adventure. Over the past 6 days, we have traveled a significant distance and seen more than our brains can handle. The food here a absolutely incredible. I don't even know how I can eat in the states. It's so rich and fresh, so many noodles and rice. I have also taken a great liking to chopsticks and may continue using them on a more regular basis.
To give a quick recap: We left Hanoi by van to begin our hike through the northern mountains, where we could shot the massive amount of rice fields that made up the landscape, pass through various villages, sleep on the floors of stilt houses and climb up the most ridiculous freaking mountain ever. The people in the village are able to complete sustain themselves based on what surrounds them, making all the food that much healthier and more delicous. We were told that animals, chickens and pigs, are free to roam and eat as the please and that the people enjoy smaller chickens, as they are free of hormones and other various nonsense we Westerns feed our food. We used holes in the ground for toilets and were dirty for a week. The mountain was nothing sort of a great adventure: excited, muddy and dangerous. It was a hike no one was actually prepared for and I still don't know how to accuartely describe the experience to anyone. However, after going through it, I feel I can do anything. It was a 5-7 hour hike that should have taken 2hours, 2 groups travel it a year, it was steep, raining, muddy, we were carrying heavy packs of photo gear, and crawling through the Vietnamese jungle, grabbing the ground and rocks for dear life. I ended up treated the mountain as my own personal slip and slide. I still don't think that explaination does it justice, but I have no other words to explain it.
After 3 days of pretty serious roughing it, we had 2 nights to relax and clean up at the hotel in Ha Long City. From there, we boarded a boat, were to cruised around the bay and spent the night. It was a very drastic departure from our prior activities, as the boat felt more like a luxuary cruise and we were waited on like mad. We also ate a lot of seafood, which was very tasty. We then spent another night as a homestay, only this time we were all split up amoug 4 homes. It was very challenging, considering that they did not speak English and we do not speak Vietnamese. However, after a few cups of rice wine, everything got a little easier.
Today was arrived back in Hanoi, to our large duffel bags and our computers. Again, it feels nice to be showered and clean and have my own soft bed to sleep in for the next 2 nights. I also got a skype with Ben for the first time since I've left; it was so good to see his wonderful, cute face! As much fun as this trip is, I do miss my cuddler.
Okay, I am going to try to find a photo or two to add to this and then go to sleep. We have a whole day of visiting musems tomorrow and I have had a hard enough time sleeping since we've been here. Good night, and until next time!
-a
-okay, the tubes don't seem to want to upload images. too bad. i guess that will force me to only upload ones of quality. sorry about that. i'll get some up soon, i hope.
We have been able to see and experience so many amazing things, I hardly know where to start. This country is so beautiful and amazing and different, I can hardly believe it. From the fast paced cities to the scenic country, everything is a new adventure. Over the past 6 days, we have traveled a significant distance and seen more than our brains can handle. The food here a absolutely incredible. I don't even know how I can eat in the states. It's so rich and fresh, so many noodles and rice. I have also taken a great liking to chopsticks and may continue using them on a more regular basis.
To give a quick recap: We left Hanoi by van to begin our hike through the northern mountains, where we could shot the massive amount of rice fields that made up the landscape, pass through various villages, sleep on the floors of stilt houses and climb up the most ridiculous freaking mountain ever. The people in the village are able to complete sustain themselves based on what surrounds them, making all the food that much healthier and more delicous. We were told that animals, chickens and pigs, are free to roam and eat as the please and that the people enjoy smaller chickens, as they are free of hormones and other various nonsense we Westerns feed our food. We used holes in the ground for toilets and were dirty for a week. The mountain was nothing sort of a great adventure: excited, muddy and dangerous. It was a hike no one was actually prepared for and I still don't know how to accuartely describe the experience to anyone. However, after going through it, I feel I can do anything. It was a 5-7 hour hike that should have taken 2hours, 2 groups travel it a year, it was steep, raining, muddy, we were carrying heavy packs of photo gear, and crawling through the Vietnamese jungle, grabbing the ground and rocks for dear life. I ended up treated the mountain as my own personal slip and slide. I still don't think that explaination does it justice, but I have no other words to explain it.
After 3 days of pretty serious roughing it, we had 2 nights to relax and clean up at the hotel in Ha Long City. From there, we boarded a boat, were to cruised around the bay and spent the night. It was a very drastic departure from our prior activities, as the boat felt more like a luxuary cruise and we were waited on like mad. We also ate a lot of seafood, which was very tasty. We then spent another night as a homestay, only this time we were all split up amoug 4 homes. It was very challenging, considering that they did not speak English and we do not speak Vietnamese. However, after a few cups of rice wine, everything got a little easier.
Today was arrived back in Hanoi, to our large duffel bags and our computers. Again, it feels nice to be showered and clean and have my own soft bed to sleep in for the next 2 nights. I also got a skype with Ben for the first time since I've left; it was so good to see his wonderful, cute face! As much fun as this trip is, I do miss my cuddler.
Okay, I am going to try to find a photo or two to add to this and then go to sleep. We have a whole day of visiting musems tomorrow and I have had a hard enough time sleeping since we've been here. Good night, and until next time!
-a
-okay, the tubes don't seem to want to upload images. too bad. i guess that will force me to only upload ones of quality. sorry about that. i'll get some up soon, i hope.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Vietnam!
Hello world! I am arrived! Here! in Hanoi, Vietnam.
This is very very exciting.
We got in last night around midnight and have done nothing but see the hotel and sleep so far, but I am ready for the many adventures to come
Today, we are going to meet some VNU film students, get a cyclo tour around the city and see a water puppet show.
And tomorrow, we begin adventuring in the mountains.
As internet access is limited, I will probably only be able to post every few days and most of them will be brief, however, I will do my best to keep things up to date.
keep a lookout for new photos and things!
-a
This is very very exciting.
We got in last night around midnight and have done nothing but see the hotel and sleep so far, but I am ready for the many adventures to come
Today, we are going to meet some VNU film students, get a cyclo tour around the city and see a water puppet show.
And tomorrow, we begin adventuring in the mountains.
As internet access is limited, I will probably only be able to post every few days and most of them will be brief, however, I will do my best to keep things up to date.
keep a lookout for new photos and things!
-a
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