Technical challengens

It`s been difficult to update the blog lately, and the Pictures are not coming out. I`m still writing, and we have one more month left, so eventually every port we have visited will be presented.


Some updates will also be done on FB.


Right now we are in the Indian Ocean, and Our NeXT stop will be Mauritsius in 2 days.

Laem Chabang, Thailand

March 15 we arrived in Thailand, to another very hot day.

The shuttle bus took those who wanted to Pattaya, which is the closest city, but since we had tickets to go to the Elephant Village we only passed through. We later heard from those who went into Pattaya that they were not impressed by the beach, and in general people were quite disgusted by the number of old western men walking with young Asian girls.

Pairaj Elephant Village opened in 74 as a sanctuary for former working elephants. The retired Asian Elephants they have here seems to have a very good life.

We started with giving the elephants bananas and they can eat up to 200 kg of food a day.

In turns we all went up on the elephants.

This is how we came on and off the elephants.

We watched a show

And how the elephants have their baths

 We did not see too much of Thailand, but we all agreed the day was elefantastic.. On the way back to the ship, the bus mad a stop at what apparently is the world’s biggest jewelry shop

Lots of jewelry and other expensive items such as handbags made of crocodile, ostrich and stingray.

Took some pictures on the way back to the ship

The port is full of cars, ready to be sent out in the world

Next stop, Singapore

Phu My, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

 

March 13 we came to Phu My. Our plan for the day was to go to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon. Again it was a very warm day, and the bus took 1,5 hour from the port to Saigon.

Anna is wearing the same hat as the locals, which was smart of her to avoid some of the heat. Every step we took, somebody was trying to sell us something Mostly wallets, watches, sunglasses and lighters.

Parts of Saigon seems very modern.

Other parts seems very relaxed.

It lives around 8 million people here, and they have more than 5 mill motorbikes, so crossing the street is not easy

And they all seem to park them on the pavement, so walking with trolleys are some places really not easy

It was quite a few people in the street who obviously have a hard life.

We made a short stop at a market, who again was very similar to the other copy markets we been , so we found it more interesting to just walk around in the street. I bought a dress in a shop, and the woman spoke English so I asked her how it is to do business in Vietnam. “Not easy” she said, “you know it is a communist country”. I then told her that I see people everywhere trying to sell everything, but she just shake her head and repeated that it is not easy.

We finished our day in Saigon with a great meal at the Royal Hotel Saigon. They had some very interesting things on the menu like “cooked snake head fish in a large bowl”. I don`t know if it is a fish or a snake, but either way it was not for us. I had a vegetarian dish, that I think was the best in my life.

The bill came on less than  30 USD for all of us

 

I met a German woman at this hotel who had been travelling around in Vietnam for 3 weeks, and she said she really had a great time.

My guess, is that Vietnam will get by far more tourists soon, especially since there are so many other destinations in the world tourists are avoiding (Like Egypt, Tunisia among others). Price level is very low, population is friendly, weather is warm and it is lots to see. 80% of the population are Buddhists, and they are proud of not having any treat from terrorists. Vietnam have a rich history, and many temples and Pagodas that can be visited. Vietnam have some natural resources like oil, they are a huge exporter of rice, and the coffee that Starbucks is selling comes from Vietnam.

I would really like to see more of Vietnam, and also the neighbor countries Laos and Cambodia. I honestly don`t know why, but Saigon turned out to be maybe the most interesting place I have visited so far on our amazing journey Why? For now I`m not able to find the right words, but I would strongly recommend everyone who wants a travel destination different from any other to make a visit.

Next stop Thailand