Two days in Dalat

Yesterday: did the country trip around Dalat. Saw a lot: Silk factories, beehives, great waterfalls (the elephant falls), the crazy house, coffee growing fields (don't know the correct English way to describe that), some incredible embroidery (yes, you read that right; Google it!!), greenhouses with about a billion flowers, enormous Buddha statues, temples, and some more... Nice group of people too. Especially Nicolai from Russia and from Brazil. I will see them again in Na Thrang. At night i met Paul and Heyley again. Great conversations as usual and a night that passes in a blink of an eye. See them in Na Thrang again as well i guess, since they left today.
Today: had a bicycle day again. Great views of the mountains that surround this town. Back in my hotel: saw the women final of the Aussie Open, did a stroll and updating my blog right now. Tomorrow it's off to Na Thrang, where I'm supposed to meet lots of friends. Even Vanni may be among them. Tell you more about it later.

Jan.

Dalat, up in the mountains

Yesterday: left Mui Ne. Had a good week there, but one week between russian tourists is enough. Forgot to mention the beautifull biketrips i did to the fishermansvillages close to Mui Ne. Great to be away from the tourist area.
Anyway, the bus trip to Dalat went all right. Found a very luxurious hotel for 8$. Paul and Heyley were on the same bus, so they're here too. Haven't met them yet though.
Datal is a small town, in the highlands of Vietnam, meaning temperatures are like 20+ degrees during the day and only a few degrees above freezing during night time, so... sleeping under blankets, wearing my jumper and jacket... feels homish...
In the eveing found "peace cafe" (famous cafe (according to the lonely planet)) where i had a nice conversation with John, from Holland, who's biking here for a couple of months. Went to sleep early.
Today: orientated in the town and near surroundings, planing to do a countryside trip tomorrow and some biking the day after. Tell you all about it later. All in all: i quit like this place.

See ya,
Jan.

Last days in Mui Ne

Tomorrow: off to Dalat, to see the country side (site?).
As far as Mui Ne is concerned: met this really nice couple from London (Paul and Hayley), still play guitar at Joe's (tonight for the last time) and eh... well had a great week here.
One strange thing about this place: 80% of the tourists are Russian and they're loaded with money (the nouveau rich from Russia so to speak). And there are some really expensive luxurious hotels here, all owned by Russians, where you never see a guest. Russian mafia, covering up some illegal money? I really start thinking so. Well just a thought.

Catch you laterz,
Jan.

Still in Mui Ne

Days pass by. Cam and Tara left. What's left: sunshine, beaches, books, good food, Joe's (where i play live on a regular basis now (i.e. every night)), lots of good conversations with interesting people (there's Rene from Canada, Paul from London, Jayem from the Philippines (the guy who introduced me on stage to play (his) guitar)).
To go short: gonna spend a week here and then (reluctantly) off to Dalat (on the 27th that is). Travel with Parina has changed as well, so i can stay a little longer in Vietnam. Good!!

Later more,
Jan.

PS: Am i brown skinned? I guess so!

Sunny Mui Ne

Been here for two days now. History repeats his self, since the same daily routine occurs as in Sihanoukville: getting up at 9 (ish), breakfast, doing the household things (laundry, internet, shower, shopping), lunch (like rise, curry & chicken for 1.5 us$), long walks along the beach, swimming, sunbathing, reading books, listening to music, etc), run, shower, food (really good food), talks, beers, etc. Yesterday night i even played live in "Joe's" (a very nice bar or better: cultural center), where most nights is live music; i spoke to one of the guitar-players and he invited me on stage. Great experience after all those years of not having played and it was really appreciated (Harry Sacksioni in Vietnam, Lol). Well, i go on living this life for a couple of days more and then... Dalat i think, after that: Hue (or return to this little paradise.. don't konw for sure yet). I
I"ll let you all know.

Laterz,
Jan.

Rain, lots of it...

Last day in Saigon: rain. It's exceptional, considering that this is the dry season. But since i wanted to visit the war-museum it wasn't much of a problem. The war-museum itself was depressing as to be expected. Man, how can things like that happen? Can anybody tell me? After the museum: my daily running (which went quit all right in the rain) and that evening i was sitting on a small terrace and guess who came walking by? Vanni! That was so nice. Of course we chatted the evening away over some drinks. Too bad he arrived while i was about to go away. Still...
Today: bustrip to Mui Ne. 5 hours and there he was: Cameron Steele, the guy i met in 2003 in India and who happens to travel here as well. I booked in the same guesthouse where he (and Tara, his gf) are and we got some food (really good food and even cheaper than in Saigon). Unpacked, took a nap, ran, update this weblog. Later: a burger and some chatting with Cam & Tara. PS: I am here in this great beach resort but, it still rains! Bummer! Let's see how it is tomorrow. I'll let you know.

Laterz,
Jan.

Days in Saigon

First full day: exploring the city (it's huge and extremely busy), nice food, found a nice park to do my daily jogging, and met Ed from Alaska. First night: Ed & I discussed politics meaning: too many beers and too little sleep. Great night tough. Next day: Coffee with Ed, brought him to the river (from where his boat left for some beach place, i forgot the name of), recovering from last night, running and a long night sleep to catch up for today:
Trip to the Mekong delta: fantastic! Great bus ride (good rural scenery), met Raman (great bloke from Vladiwostoc), nice boat trips on the Mekong, visited two islands (where we saw: all kind of coconuts being made, a big python (brr), boat trip through the canals of the islands). All in all a great day. 7 PM back in Saigon, a shower an a quick bite, updating this weblog and now... find a nice restaurant for a relaxing drink.

See ya all later,
Jan.

Saigon (as they stil call it here...)

Goodbye Cambodia. Had a good time there and i think i will be back one day. Some last summarizing (good english?) conclusions:
Very friendley people, trying very hard to earn a dollar, which sometimes is annoying, but hey... they try to make a living.
Police has no authority what so ever. If they ask you to put your car or motor to the side just ignore them. You get away with it.
Pyama's are normal clothes to wear, during the day. At least the women and children do.
The streets in Phnom Penh are numbered (in stead of named), which should be done every where. It's so convenient. Never have to search and you always know (about) how far you have to go.
Cambodian kids are sooo cute. They don't cry, they always smile, they always (seem to be) happy, they're NOT spoiled and they are beautiful to see. I got fatherly (good english?) feelings. Seriously.

And then... a long, long bustrip, which went all right though, but it was tiring. Good thing i made a reservation here (yellow guesthouse, 2 luxury days (airco, fridge, tv, breakfast, 9 euro/night)). Just came back from a first stroll through town. Yesterday late i went out for a short while: it's hectic, extremely hectic. About a billion mopeds, loud music, loads of people, bars, nightclubs, etc.
Had a good night sleep after that (despite diarrhea).

Catch you all later,
Jan.

Last day in Sihanoukville

Loved it here. Had some very relaxing days. Vanni has gone to Kampot yesterday, so... on my own again. Preparing for Ho Chi Min City, were i will go tomorrow. It will be a long, long bustrip: first (back) to Phnom Penh and from there to Ho Chi Min City (Saigon).

See you there, Jan.

Stung and Sunburned

As the days pass, doing my daily routines... a couple of noticable things happened:
Did a great ride on a rented bike. Far away from the tourist area, which is kind of relief every now and then. Saw the harbour, had coffee inside an a russian hotel, with a aeroplane (big one) inside; all in all a great day.
Vanni and I (and a few scandinavians) did a boattrip yesterday. Very nice although: bad snorkeling (bad views), i got sting by a seaurchin (for the dutch: zeeegel; ik moest het zelf ook opzoeken). Didn't bother me too much and by now the pain has almost gone. The stung was not deep and unpoissened. And i got a terrible sunburn. Man, am i reddish brown. Had a good night sleep though, only to be awakened by a rainshower, although it's not the time of the year. Anyway, im still doing fine. Got my visa and ticket for Vietnam, where i will go on friday (long, long bustrip). Untill that time: some more relaxing days at the beach and recovering from stings and burns.

See ya, Jan.

Days at the beach in Sihanoukville

Found a more or less daily routine here: Wake up around 8.30, have a coffee and do the internet, get breakfast at the beach, read the Cambodia Daily or the Phom Penh Post, get the swimming gear and a few dolars (the most used currency here, although "riels" (actual Cambodian money) is accepted as well), a good book and spend the afternoon, swimming, sipping fruitshakes, reading and talking with Vanni (Italian bloke i met on the bus to here). Go to my room at 5 PM, run for 20-30 minutes, have a cold bottle of water, see the sunset, shower and have dinner (mostly with Vanni), to be ended with a couple of beers at the beach. Sounds terrible dosn't it? Well, i'll try to hold on for a week more or so. Wish me luck. Lol.

Laterz, Jan.

Sihanukville, south coast of Cambodia

And it's beautiful. Man, what a suprise, what a beaches, clean air, well... let me tell you...
Yesterday (3-1, computer mixed up all dates due to being at a different place in the world i guess) i left Phnom Penh, met this italian guy (Vanni), who was also heading for the south coast, long bustrip to here and 2 nice motorbike blokes brought us to this really cheap, but clean and comfortable guesthouse. First impression of this area: Wow, wow and wow. Nice beaches, great sunsets, excellent seagood, really cheap prices, nice people and clean air (after all the big cities i have been so far this is paradise). So, i think i might stick here for 10 days or so. If you never see me again in Holland.. you know where i am. Lol. This is the beginning of the first full day. Gonna pack my stuff (money, swimming gear and a good book) and beach, here i come. How about you there in Holland? Freezing your asses off? (Gni...)

Laterz, Jan.

Floating villages on the mekong river.

Yesterday went as planned. Long walk (found the royal palace closed), got the ticket for Sihanoukville (that's how you spell that), did a very nice boattrip on the Mekong river (floating villages (literally!, people build their house on floaters), beautiful sunset), and a movie about the outrageous acts of Pol Pot. Said goodbye to banking Peter, who is off to Ho Chi Min City now. For today: no plans, so... long walks and some shopping for the trip tomorrow to Sihanoukville.
Now, a look at the news in Holland, Breakfast and the Phnom Penh Post to read.

Laterz, Jan.