Culture of a different kind

It's been a while since I posted, mainly due to laziness and being bogged down (literally) by what I presume was food poisoning. The symptoms began on night one of the two day slow boat journey from Luang Prabang, Laos to Chiang Kong, Thailand. The idea is that you spend 8 hours each day on the slow boat with recycled car seats and one night in a small village half way. I ended up there for two nights and visiting the medecins sans frontiers clinic to check I wasn't dying. Fortunately the check up and medications were free, though I did make a donation. The village is very remote and apparently the hospital there is of very poor quality.

Dosed up on anti-everything medication, I was able to continue the journey to Thailand and spent a couple of days each in Chiang Kong and Chiang Mai...doing not very much at all.

A week into the sickness, when I gave into getting antibiotics, a very kind missionary family from my hometown church took me in for a few days in Chiang Mai to recover. Chiang Mai is a beautiful city, with the old town being walled and surrounded by a moat. There is also a lovely mountain called Doi Suthep where the Royal Family has their summer palace and wonderful views of the national park can be seen.

If you're wondering what caused the food poisoning aside from my own stupidity, well, that would be the cold vegetarian buffet at the night market which had probably been prepared about 4 hours prior. Interestingly there was a perfectly good cafe beside which served a vegan burger but I opted for culture...and ended with cultures of quite a different kind!

Recovered, I headed to Bangkok on a comfortable overnight bus and spent 2 days there. Bangkok is an interesting city, some call the old town the Venice of the East. The river boats which act like buses were very handy to reach the old temples (called Wats) and famous roads. The BTS and MRT 'skytrain' system is a great and cheap way to get around the newer parts, much like the London Underground...but above ground.

And now for some rest and relaxation on a Thai island and a Malaysian island.

Ho Chi Minh City

Departure 23rd 12noon Belfast, 6 hours in Gatwick, 7 hour flight to Dubai and 7 hour flight to Ho Chi Minh - arrival 1930 on 24th Oct.

Pictured below is the view from my dorm room and surprisingly even though my dorm mates went out last night I actually slept quite well! No jet lag so far. I didn't get my phone out anywhere else - due to reports of theft from most I've spoken to! I used the trusty money belt my mum gave me, to wear under my top.

Although, speaking about theft I did see a tourist carrying a DSLR with massive lens. I hope she manages to keep it. What apparently happens is that one of the many motorbikers fly by and whisk whatever they can see.

I'm staying in tonight - the main reason being that I'm waiting to see if my backpack arrives from the airport! Apparently it got left in Dubai. Just as well I brought 'travel clothes wash leaves' and toiletries in my hand baggage!

This afternoon I walked to the War Remnants Museum - guided by a German girl called Jana who also leant me her Birkenstocks as it was too hot for my hiking boots which is all I have right now.

Whilst in the War Remnants Museum torrential rain and a thunderstorm began. A bit surreal maybe being surrounded by old guns and rocket launchers when hearing the loudest thunder bangs I've ever heard! Some very sad, but moreso very shocking stories and photos in the museum. The effects of the US Agent Orange are still causing birth defects abd disabilities. Have to admit I don't fully understand how the war started and it didnt seem to explain - or really does any one know why a war starts?

I have begun to master the art of crossing the road - apparently you just have to walk and they'll swerve and beep. On the way back I decided to find my way back through a small park. There were kids chatting in the shelters. I didn't think how the rain may create little rivers instead of paths. I ended up walking along the curbstones leaping, which seemed to become a maze surrounded by water!

Lastly I had a tasty meal at a wee cafe where I got steamed rice and tofu for about £1.17 (pictured)! A very touristy street, lots of ladies with conical (and comical) hats, fruit on two baskets on a long stick over her shoulder and people wafting menus in your face (view out of the cafe pictured last - I took my camera out of hiking sock  briefly!) They had tofu and aubergines too - I may return tomorrow!

In 10 weeks I will have just arrived in Vietnam. I have a lot of planning still to do!
Here is my route starting from Belfast: