Tag: travel

Monday 14th – Wednesday 23rd October.

Leaving Hanoi and Vietnam was a little sad, it also ended up being a little hair raising as I appear to have had Lewis Hamilton driving my taxi!! 

Lewis Hamilton mixed with a bit of Del Boy, as he was also trying to get me to buy his dodgy looking US dollars from him, I politely declined. 

The road to the airport is a 4 lane highway and my driver was driving pretty fast whilst looking at both a music video on the dashboard, what looked and sounded like a Vietnamese soap opera on one phone and then chatting on another phone! There are people crossing the highway, cows grazing on the central reservation, trucks, cars, mopeds, buses, not really the time to be catching up on the latest episode of Corrie! 😱

Luckily I arrived in one piece at the airport and opted not to give the driver a tip!! 

I’m so glad I arrived just over 2hrs early for my flight as the queues were mad, I finally got checked in, my fault for forgetting to check in on line, the ‘bag drop’ queue was tiny! 

Once checked in and after a a bit of a discussion with the Vietnam Airways personnel re my seat allocation, which did not match what I’d been told when I booked the seats at Da Nang, I decided I would sort it out during my wait at Ho Chi MinhCity, I barely had time to have a wee before we boarded. 

The flight from Hanoi to HCMC takes approximately 90mins and during that time we were given a bottle of water and a meal of chicken noodles, which were very tasty, I was impressed. 👍

We were delayed on landing due to a huge storm over the airport which was still going when we landed after circling for 15mins. 

Upon landing I had to go from the domestic to the International Terminal, luckily they are close enough and there was a covered walkway as it was chucking it down! 

I was looking forward to a little break before the next flight as I wanted to video call the lovely Jenna for her Birthday 🎈and possibly have a drink and a chill before the next flight. 

This was not to be the case. The various delays had eaten into the stopover time and even though I was just transiting through HCMC myself and a few others needed to go through passport control and security again. This would have been ok, except the queues were horrendous! Even our attractive ‘Transit’ sticky badges didn’t seem to grant us any sort of fast track. Eventually we got through with again just enough time for a wee, no time to call Jenna and no time to sort out my seating issues, but Hey Ho, I’d just have to suck it up in a window seat (😩) it was only a 6 hour flight! 🤦‍♀️

I boarded last and found my seat, then a fabulous thing happened, the captain did his ‘crew close doors for takeoff’ speech and I had 2 empty seats next to me….😀😀 Bloody marvellous. 

The flight was fine, I was able to lie down a bit, unfortunately all three of the screens didn’t work, so no movies, the food was a bit pants but all in all not a terrible flight. 

I arrived back in Perth at 11.40pm passport control was a breeze. 

I then made the mistake of declaring some goods on my immigration card. I had bought some lovely peppercorns in Kampot, Cambodia, as well as some pickled peppercorns. I had put these on my declaration, I think because I have watched to many episodes of ‘Border Force’! 😂 

Stupidly I hadn’t put them in my backpack. The immigration staff in the main, were friendly and pleasant except the sour faced, miserable, rude old bag that I got! She was seriously unimpressed by my futile attempts to locate the small package of peppercorns in my case. After rummaging for what felt like hours I finally found them, hoicked them out triumphantly, presented them to her, she looked, pulled a face, waved dismissively and stomped off! 

Welcome to Australia! 😂 

I managed to contact my hotel and arrange for the shuttle to collect me. (This was more complicated than one would think!)

I arrived at the hotel just before 1am, I was a little tired and hungry. The hotel was clean, functional and pretty basic but it did have a welcome pack which consisted of a 1/2 bottle of good Red Wine, crisps, water and 2 Kit Kats!! How bloody marvellous 🤩 A much nicer Welcome! 

After a small glass of wine, a packet of crisps and a shower I was ready for my bed! 

My lovely Rebecca came and collected me the next morning, after a few detours due to dodgy phone charging and no internet, she was eventually shown where the hotel was by an old Italian Gentleman who got in the truck and directed her then said he’d walk back. How sweet. 

It was fabulous to see my girl again. 😍❤️

We headed into Perth for some Brunch and to collect my watch which I had left behind to have a new battery fitted. 

My watch is from Tiffany and I’ve had it for just over 20 years. When I’ve had the battery changed before or had anything done to it, it always gets cleaned and comes back looking like new. 

When we went to the store to collect it, the young girl retrieved it from the safe, it was in a little plastic bag, not in a beautiful blue box as it should have been! It also looked very dull, not shiny & new at all. 

I was a little disappointed but wasn’t sure if I should say anything for fear of seeming like a Karen (sorry Karen Clynes!) but in the end I did point out that this was well below their usual standard, she said that on the note it states that they couldn’t polish it due to the sort of watch it was. I explained that this was not correct. She was very sweet and then she called her manager, Russell, who I had dealt with before. He was very put out that the watch hadn’t been cleaned and polished so he said he would send it back and wouldn’t charge me for the cleaning or the battery! 😂😍 Happy Days. 

I have spent the last week or so just resting my legs, glutes, whatever it was that was hurting! And spending time with Rebecca, Chris & Curly the Cat, who did remember me! 😍

I have rejoined the Sports Centre and started swimming again. I didn’t really get as much swimming in on this trip, due in most part to the weather or not having access to a pool. I also get to use the spa which I’m hoping will help with my aches! 

I need to start thinking about and planning my next trip. 

I have said before that the plan had been to go to Japan & South Korea after Vietnam. I have looked into this in more detail while I’ve been here and I spoke to a lovely guy at the travel agents. It is looking likely that this trip will not happen at the moment. The costs are prohibitive, getting there isn’t too bad but the costs while there are very high. It would end up costing me for 3 weeks almost 1/2 of what I’ve just spent for 3 months! 😳 At this stage of my travels I can’t justify that expense. I’m a little disappointed, but also trying to be pragmatic. 

So I’m now looking at what and where to go next. 

I’m also looking forward to spending time here in Australia and our little trip away to Esperence in December with the fabulous Anita!! Then Christmas 🎄 Which will be weird to be in the heat and on the beach on Christmas Day and not in a Kitchin drinking champagne whilst cooking a roast! 

Rebecca and I are also heading down to Margaret River next week for a a night and a winery trip! 🍷🥰❤️😍

The weather here in Bunbury is really lovely, it’s Spring, so it’s getting warmer, but still not boiling. All the flowers and trees are blooming and it smells lush! 

I had a bit of a wobble at the end of last week, on Friday 18th when the Beautiful Laura married her fabulous Mark. 🎊❤️ 

Laura had sent a link for me to watch but unfortunately it stopped working just as they started to say their vows!  

I was absolutely gutted to have not been home for this wonderful wedding and to share in the love & excitement. I’ve seen lots of the photos and it looked like it was, as I knew it would be, a fantastic and amazing day. Everyone looked Gorgeous, especially Laura! Dress of Dreams! 🩷🎊🍾🩷🎊🍾

It made me feel very homesick and I realised how much I miss everyone. 

I’ve been away from home for 5 months and haven’t seen my Grantley for 6 months. I’m not expecting any sympathy, it’s my choice, but it can be difficult at times. 

That’s it for now people. 

Any suggestions for places to visit or books to read let me know!

Have a great week, enjoy Half Term. 

Love and hugs. 

🩷🩵💚❤️🤎🧡🤍❤️

Books Read.

The Book of Beginnings. Sally Page. Really good, I love this author. I feel like theses are proper ‘Stories’ (not sure if I’ve already put this one) 

Not a Happy Family. Shari Lapena. OK. Did its job. Not great, not bad. 

Never Lie. Frieda McFadden. OK, a little convoluted and improbable. 

The Dream Home. T.M Logan. Quite Good. 

Day One. Abigail Dean. Good. 

Thursday 10th – Monday 14th October 2024.

My flight to Hanoi was pretty straightforward & uneventful. I did my usual thing of arriving very early, this wouldn’t be an issue accept that the airport is very small and pretty basics so not really anywhere to go and sit while a wait for check in to open! 

After check in a find a little cafe and chill, with a coffee. The flight only takes an hour, and I know I’ve tried to avoid flights where possible but the thought of doing a 12 – who knows! Long bus journey was too much! 😳

I’ve arranged with the hotel to pick me up, it’s around the same price as a cab or Grab and it’s just lots simpler. 

I arrive at my hotel around 5pm. I’m greeted by the amazing William, who is just so attentive, helpful and kind. He explains all the attractions to me, goes through the map, then he also gives me a link to a website he is designing for tourists in Hanoi. I have to say it is fabulous! Not quite finished but so good..  www.hanoimystery.com 

I book a city tour for Saturday, check out my room, large, comfy but no windows, TBF in this instance I don’t mind at all. I am staying right in the heart of the Old Quarter and it’s so built up, my room is at the back and probably overlooks other peoples homes. 

I venture out, being mindful of the traffic. I’ve had lots of warnings about how mad it is! I think it’s busy but no worse than HCM or Phnom Penh. The key is to just slowly walk out into the traffic and the mopeds and cars go around you, you can’t go fast as that’s when they’ll hit you. So far I’m handling it like a local! 😂🤞🤞 

It’s so busy and vibrant! I love it. I have a walk around by the hotel, then find a nice rooftop Bar to have a drink, it’s a lovely bar, Cloud Sky Bar, but it’s a little expensive but then it is on top of a posh hotel! 

I have a couple of Margarita’s and then order some veg fried rice. Lovely William had recommended a place to eat but it’s a bit of a trek, perhaps tomorrow.

On the walk back to the hotel I stop at a sidewalk bar/cafe, there are loads. I sit next to a nice couple from Bristol and we have a great chat and sip our beer watching the world speed past! All these little pavement places have very low stools and tables, I’m pleased to say that I managed to both sit down and more impressively get back up without incident! 😳😂😂

Thankfully the weather in Hanoi is warm and sunny, it is Autum and a busy time here in part because the weather is milder than during the summer when it gets up into the 40s! 🥵

I’m going to go for a wander and make my way to the large lake nearby, Hoàn Kiém Lake. 

Just as I arrive in the lobby a procession is going past, lots of drumming, costumes, flowers and celebrations! It’s fabulous. It’s a celebration for the local temple which is just around the corner. The people in the procession look a little serious until I notice that the locals are waving and smiling at them, I try this and am rewarded with lots of enthusiastic waving and huge smiles! 😍💛❤️ It is a wonderful start to my day. ❤️

William has given me a map, which I’m trying to follow, but it isn’t very detailed and the scale is way off, so everything looks like it’s far away. I give up and just go with my instincts and magically make it to the Lake.

There is a beautiful Temple on the lake, Ngoc Son Temple which I wanted to see. 

The lake is a very popular place for Hanoians and especially for ladies wearing their ‘Ao Dai’ the modernised Vietnamese National Dress and taking part in the custom of dressing up and taking pictures at important, historic or beautiful places. The whole area around the lake is a sea of colour and beauty. The Ao Dais are stunning, and everyone looks gorgeous, it’s quite a spectacle. 

I’ve seen this in other places in Vietnam, but this is on a different level! 😍 Several ladies drag me into their photos, which is fun, I’m also surrounded by a bevy of beauties whilst sitting in a bench! I think they liked my colourful glasses and my mad hair!!  It was so much fun. 🤩 

I then went in to the Temple, which was beautiful. Inside there was an older Vietnamese man doing calligraphy on scrolls. I stood and watched for a while, it’s amazing. Eventually I decide that I’m going to have one done. I chose my words and the scroll and watch as he writes it. It’s really gorgeous. I chose the Words Brave & Strong. 🩵

I end up spending quite a bit of time by the lake. Then I see they have hop on hop off buses and as it’s now quite hot, I decide to do this. I want to go to one particular place, The Women’s Museum, which the bus stops at. The lady at the kiosk says it’s too far to walk.

I get on the bus and opt not to sit upstairs in the bright sunshine. Then a woman sits next to me and proceeds to have a full on argument with someone on her phone which is on speaker 🔈! FFS 🤦‍♀️. It’s so loud! Even the staff on the bus look shocked and smile at me sympathetically! Eventually, after about 10 mins she shuts up, I wouldn’t mind but I can’t understand what the arguments about, so I can’t even be nosy! 😂

The rest of the bus ride is good, a great commentary. 

A lot of the places we go past I’m going back to tomorrow on my tour. 

The museum is fascinating. So inspiring to have a museum celebrating Women and their contribution to the country, its culture and its freedom. I’m really glad I visited. 

Once I’m here I realise that it’s actually not that far to walk from the lake, so I walk back. 

Down by the lake and in fact all over Hanoi there are Vietnamese flags everywhere. This is because on the 10th October, the day I arrived, they celebrated 70 years of the liberation of Hanoi from the French. 

You can really feel the sense of celebration in the city, lots of the women’s Ao Dais are red, the flags, the flowers. They are rightfully proud of their independence. 🇻🇳 

On the way back I have another place I want to visit, Giang Cafè. This is where in 1946 they first made Egg Coffee, due to the shortage of milk someone had the idea to use egg yolk, whisked to form a creamy accompaniment to the coffee. 

Tracey had tried it and said it was yummy. I have held out until I got to Hanoi. 

I eventually find the Café, which is small and not that easy to spot. It is packed, I find a small stool and order my Egg Coffee with Rum! (I feel I’ve earned it!) I’m really a not sure what to expect. 

It arrives and it looks delicious, smells delicious, and wow, it tastes delicious as well! Kind of like butterscotch, honeycomb, caramel, sweet and fluffy. It is honestly so good!! 😋😋😋 I will be having this again! 

By the time I get back to the hotel it’s only 2.30pm, but I’m going to have a rest and cool off. Before going back out later. 

I seem to have done something to a muscle or tendon on my hip/glute area on the left side, after walking for a while it starts Twinging, and feels like my leg is going to give out! Not ideal. 🙁 After a rest it’s usually ok.

After a nice rest and a shower I head back out. There is another Rooftop bar I’d like to visit, mainly because they offer such great views! 

This one, Midnight Sky Bar proves to be a little elusive, I eventually spot the small sign with the help of a backpacker from the hostel across the road! 😂

The bar is sweet, but completely empty, the guy comes up in the lift with me to open up and make the drinks. 

I don’t mind it being empty, I have a great catch up with Rebecca whilst watching the sun go down, sipping a Long Island Iced Tea! ❤️

I wander back towards the hotel and find a place next door to eat. It does a nice vegetarian menu, it’s also right next door to the hotel, which my legs are grateful for! I’ve done over 20,000 steps today. 

My city tour starts OK, the bus arrives pretty much when they said 8.10, I’m ready and waiting in the lobby. 

However I then spend another 65 mins sat on the bus while it picks other people up, I don’t mind the pick ups what I do have a huge problem with is people not being ready! The pick ups should have taken around 15 mins the rest of the time we are just waiting for people to appear! So bloody annoying! Then they get on the bus brazen as you like! 

There are a couple of guys who are very arrogant and entitled. One of them is the designated leader of his little posse, they are only doing a half day tour and he wants the bus to drop them all of at his chosen Restaurant for lunch, even though this is completely out of the way! Luckily the guide says no. They are late returning to the bus after each activity and he pushes in front of me in line twice! What an absolute knobhead! 

There are new people joining the tour in the afternoon, which means another hour wasted waiting for people to turn up! 😠 Altogether nearly 2 hours of the day are wasted just waiting. For someone who is always on time, if not early this is really fucking annoying! 

Anyway, rant over! 😠😂 

The Tour. We start with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. What I hadn’t realised when booking the tour is that the Mausoleum is only open for viewing inside on Saturday & Sunday, luckily for me I booked a Saturday! 

The queues to get in are mad! As is the level of security. Almost stricter than airport security! There are lots of military personnel about, some armed and also lots of police. 

There is no photography allowed near or inside the tomb. The whole viewing was very intense. 

Ho Chi Minh or Uncle Ho is a most beloved and revered person in Vietnam especially in the north. 

He died in 1969 aged 79. Russia sent specialists to Vietnam to show them how to preserve his body and build the Mausoleum. 

I’m glad I got to experience the Mausoleum even though it’s a weird feeling seeing a preserved body.

After the Mausoleum our next stop was the Museum of Ethnology, which was very interesting looking at the 54 officially recognised ethnic groups within Vietnam. 

Once all the people bothered to return to the bus we headed to a place showing you how Lacquer work is made and giving you the opportunity to purchase some work. 

Then the painful process of picking up and dropping people off before we could go for a much needed lunch. 

I think I really needed my lunch as I was feeling a little cranky! 😂

After lunch we visited the Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake, the largest lake in Hanoi. 

Next stop was The Temple of literature, Văn Miêu. 

This was the first university in Vietnam. It was founded in 1070 under the Ly Thanh Tong’s dynasty to honour Confucius. 

It’s a beautiful temple with lovely grounds and students still come here to pray for luck in their exams and their studies. 

I really enjoyed this part of the trip, the area felt calm and peaceful. 

Our last stop was Hoa Lo Prison or as it was called by the US POWs, The Hanoi Hilton. 

This prison complex was built by the French in 1896 and housed Vietnamese political prisoners until the mid 1950s they used a guillotine to behead prisoners and placed the heads outside to instil fear and intimidation. 

American POWs were also held here during the Vietnam war, including Senator John McCain who was shot down over Hanoi. 

Another interesting place to visit, albeit a little gruesome.

All in all a good day seeing some key sites in and around Hanoi. 

I then get dropped off first! Hallelujah! 🙌 although it’s been a fair amount of sitting on the bus I’ve still managed 15,000 steps! 

I’m hungry, thirsty and a little tired. I spotted a great little local place up the road doing Pho! So I go there for my dinner, it’s a little early and I’m the only person there, but  hey Ho! My Pho is bloody delicious 🤤 pho Pho is essentially a variation of chicken noddle soup. If you don’t like coriander, then it’s not for you! 

Home, via the little ice cream place next door. Where an ice cream cone is 10,000 dong, about 60p! Sadly I only have 9,000 or a 100,000 note, so he lets me off the 1,000! 😍😍 

My last full day in Hanoi! It’s seems to have gone by quite quickly. 

I’m going to try and not go mad with the walking as my glute is still not right. 

I start with a nice slow breakfast, aided by the ever present and helpful William. 

It’s another sunny day so I’m going to take a slow walk down towards the Lake and visit St Joseph’s Cathedral, it’s in an area that looks busy and bustling. 

It is very busy! Loads of local people about on foot and on the ever present mopeds! 

The road around the lake is closed too traffic on weekends making it a pleasant place to stroll around. Lots of families having a day out, eating ice creams and dressed in their best clothes! 

I make sure today that I’m taking breaks, I have one by the lake over a refreshing Peach Iced Tea, then another wander and another stop for a beer! More wandering and a stop for a coffee! 

I grab a Banh Mai for lunch which I have back at the hotel and have a good chat to Tracey. ❤️

I go out pretty early evening to grab a beer and sit and watch Hanoi go by. I end up getting chatting to a very funny & entertaining English guy called Simon. He lives in Kuala Lumpur with his very beautiful wife, who is off getting a foot massage. He was great fun to chat with and we had a proper laugh! I then had my last meal, vegetable fried rice, obviously! 

A lovely last evening in Vietnam. 

I’ve absolutely loved my time here in Vietnam, it’s been so interesting and diverse and Hanoi has been a highlight! 

So I’ve traveled across 4 countries and now I need a little bit of R & R! 

Heading back to Australia today, fingers crossed the flights all time out ok, my first leg has already been delayed for an hour, but that’s good as it cuts my waiting time in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Have a great week everyone.

Happy Birthday to my beautiful friend Jenna. Have the best day. 🎉❤️🎉❤️

Books read.

Grave Talk by Nick Spalding. I enjoyed this, a bit of easy reading. 

The House of Mirrors. Erin Kelly. I started it, but was struggling to be interested. So gave it up! Might try again at some point. 

Sunday 6th – Thursday 10th October 2024

After some confusion about which hotel I was staying at, my bus eventually picked me up at 10am. Again, a really spacious and comfortable ride, the driver pointed out we even had massage chairs!! 😂 I didn’t get this ride all to myself, in fact it was full of a mixture of tourists and locals, some of whom I think had a deal with the driver independently as he picked them up and dropped then off at random places. The journey took around 3.5 hours and was overall pretty good. 

Hue, seems nice, wide streets, nice old buildings, not mad busy. 

My hotel is pretty central, and nice, quite big and seems to have a fair number of Australian tour guests. Once I’m checked in and booked a couple of tours with the hotel I head out to explore. Taking my trusty knackered umbrella as it’s drizzling! 

I walk down towards the river, The Perfume River, apparently it used to smell very lovely, sadly not anymore. There are some nice gardens alongside the river and I spot an art gallery, which I’ll go back to. 

I end up down in the centre where all the bars and restaurants are. Tracey had told me to check out a bar called “The DMZ” which I came across almost straight away. It looked busy and lively, so I thought I’d pop in for a beer. 

It was ‘very’ lively, full of Aussies all here to watch the National Final of the Australian Rugby League, NRL. I arrived just as the match started. 😂🏈🏈

I settled in to watch! It was a good game, with the Penrith Panthers beating the Melbourne Storm. The Panthers were wearing pink kits which I liked! 🩷 I ended up staying for a couple of beers, then a couple of margaritas, having a dance to ‘Country Roads’ with a very happy Penrith supporter! 😂 all in all an unexpectedly fun afternoon/evening😍

I have booked a half day tour to visit the Imperial Palace, the Pagoda and a short boat trip. The trip was a full day but the afternoon activities didn’t appeal, so I opted to finish just before they do lunch. 

The weather is less than ideal! Absolutely torrential rain, I feel my little brolly isn’t up to the task, so borrow a larger more sturdy one from the hotel. 

Our first stop is the Thien Mu Pagoda. This Pagoda was built in 1601 and it is beautiful, as are the gardens surrounding it. Lots of amazing Bonsai. Unfortunately on the short walk from the Minibus to the Pagoda I get completely soaked! Huge puddles everywhere, soak my shoes, the rain soaks the bottom of my trousers, trying to protect my bag, which has my phone (my camera) in means that my back gets soaked. I am literally soaked through! Luckily it is warm rain, but it is a little uncomfortable 😳 

But, it is what it is, nothing I can do about it, my clothes will dry, eventually! 

After the Pagoda it’s a boat journey down the Perfume River. I will admit to being a little nervous about getting on & off the boat, my track record on this isn’t great, especially in the rain. But, I bossed it! 😎 

The journey was pretty uneventful. The river isn’t used for trade, or even fishing, so there’s not a lot going on. 

From the river we make our way to the Imperial Palace and Citadel. 

Hue used to be the Imperial Capital of Vietnam. The Citadel contains the palaces that housed the imperial family as well as offices of state, gardens and buildings used for other important functions. 

After the end of the monarchy in 1945 the buildings suffered heavy damage and neglect during the Indochina wars from between 1945 – 1980. The grounds are undergoing restoration, the Kings Palace has been fully restored. 

It was a very Imposing site and I absolutely loved the grounds, especially the beautiful gardens. As impressive as the restored Palace was, it wasn’t my favourite bit, a little too shiny. 

I had started to dry out a little, which was nice! It was still raining but not heavily. After the Imperial Palace the next stop was the large central market. To be honest this was a bit of a waste of time, I’ve been to so many markets that this held nothing new. I left the tour at this point and had a nice stroll back across the river, during a dry spell. I stopped for a coffee and just as I sat down inside the heavens opened again!  

When the rain is heavy here, it’s next level heavy!! 

I simply sat, enjoying my coffee and reading my book! 📕💦🌧️💧

By late afternoon the rain has finally stopped so I head out into town for some early dinner. The area with all the bars and restaurants is an easy walk from the hotel and I’m sure it gets busy later, when I’m tucked up in bed! I’m back in my room by 6.30pm! I have a lovely catch up with Nikki and finish my book, which I’m loving. I have a big tour the next day so try and get an early night, but it just isn’t happening! I’m still awake thinking/over thinking 🤨 at 1.30am!  I must eventually go off as I’m in a lovely deep sleep when my alarm goes off at 6am!! 😫

Today’s tour is to the DMZ or Demilitarised Zone. This is the area that divided Vietnam into North & South and also the area that saw some of the worst fighting during the Vietnam War. 

There is a lovely couple from my hotel going on the trip as well, Jody & Dilesh who are from the Netherlands. There are also a few more Dutch people on the trip, as well as an Aussie guy, a Kiwi and his Vietnamese friend. It’s a really nice group. Our guide is called Hoa (pronounced qua) She is absolutely fantastic, so incredibly knowledgeable about everything. It’s quite a long drive to and between sites, but Hoa uses this time to explain the history behind the Indochina Wars, all 3. She also explains everything from a neutral perspective, but this is somewhat different to the perspective we usually get which is definitely biased towards the West, USA and non communist sensitivities. 

She also plays some interesting songs that are about Vietnam or anti war songs. Universal Solider, Born in the USA, Have you ever seen the Rain, Ken Sanh Song. This all adds to the mood. 

Our first stop is Quang Tri Citadel. This is the site of the a battle called Lam Som 72 the goal was for the Americans to capture or retake the Citadel, an area of only 2,000 square meters fighting went on for 81 days and the USA dropped 328,000 tons of bombs on the area. The site is now a memorial to the thousands of Vietnamese soldiers that died defending the site and whose remains were destroyed with the buildings. 

From here we drive alongside the Cam Lo river on Road 9, an important route that goes to Loas. This is also where large parts of the Hoh Chi Minh Trail are. 

Our next stop is at Khe Sanh Combat Base. This was a US Marine Corps outpost. It was built in 1962 and used until 1975. It’s not far from the border between Vietnam & Laos. 

Khe Sanh and whole area around here saw some of the most brutal combat of the War claiming lots of casualties on both sides. They still have old helicopters, Hueys, Chinooks and cargo planes & tanks at the base. 

It’s interesting to hear about the Vietnamese soldiers, the Viet Cong, NFL or LA from a different perspective. America poured huge amounts of $ into the war and used massive amounts of bombs and arms. The Vietnamese had less money so they fought back in a much more low tech way, making use of the terrain, collecting and repairing abandoned US equipment. When you see the area on a rainy day with the rivers flowing fast and thick mud everywhere I can’t begin to imagine how it felt for a young American boy to arrive and be expected to fight an unknown enemy in a completely alien environment for some vague political reasons! 

The more I see, hear & understand about the Vietnam War the more tragic and hideous it becomes for all of those involved. 

The weather on the trip was very changeable! We were so lucky that every time we arrived at a destination, the weather cleared!

When we arrived at Khe Sanh you could barely see anything, there was mist and cloud covering the whole site, this miraculously cleared and you got to see the mountains surrounding the site. 

From Khe Sanh we travelled up into the DMZ and the bridge that crosses the Ben Hai River. Half of which was in North Vietnam, painted blue and half in South Vietnam, painted yellow. 

The flag pole on the north side still remains but the one on the south side has been taken down! The flag is huge! During the conflict the flag poles were used to make a point, getting higher and higher, until the one of the North side reached 38 metres. 

It’s an interesting place to visit, It just didn’t feel very well looked after. 

From here it was a short drive to the Vinh Moc Tunnels. 

These tunnels were made by the villagers, to protect them from the ariel bombing. There are 100s of these tunnels all over the region. 

They are on 3 levels, 8 – 10 meters, then 12 – 15 meters the third level is 20 – 23 meters. Inside the tunnels they had a meeting rooms, a surgery room, a nursery, kitchens and toilets. 

In total 17 babies were born in the tunnels, 15 of whom are still alive today. The tunnels were used between 1966 – 1971 the villagers would go into the tunnels during bombing, in total 9,000 tons of bombs were dropped in the Vinh Moc tunnel area. 

The height and width have been expanded since then to accommodate us larger tourists! But it’s still pretty poky and very hot 🥵 I can’t imagine being down there for days on end, but people were, it’s what saved their lives. 

The excavated earth was transported during the night to be dumped into the sea, or placed into bomb craters to hide any evidence of the tunnels construction. 

It was fascinating to visit, I can’t say I enjoyed being in the tunnels, but glad that I did it. The photos from inside aren’t great, as I was holding an umbrella, using my phone as a light and trying not to slip or hit my head! 

The whole day was incredibly interesting and I learnt a lot. 

It was also lovely chatting to and getting to know Jody & Delish. Jody is a little claustrophobic and she managed to do the whole tunnel tour! Kudos to her. 👍❤️

By the time I got back I was thirsty and hungry. I decided to just go to the hotel restaurant, but when I got there they had a big party of people and not many staff, so I figured I might be better off heading out, which I did, much to the dismay of my aching feet! 😃

I had a celebration cocktail to mark the 1 year anniversary of my meeting with a Rosemary Bush! 😂 which involved a child’s party, Prosecco, Jack Daniels (or possibly not!) and a strategically placed Rosemary bush! 🤪💚😂 I blame Stephanie!! 😂

I spent my last full day in Hue just mooching about. I had a nice leisurely breakfast (not the best I’ve had) and started writing my blog, which always takes longer than I think! 

It was raining, surprise, surprise ! 😳 I waited until it stopped then made my way across the bridge to the Central Market. I knew that upstairs they had lots of ladies making clothes and I needed my favourite trousers repaired. They have elasticated bottoms and the it had gone in one leg, plus one of the seams was coming loose. 

It made a change to be walking in the sunshine, even if it was only for 10 mins! 

On the way I popped back into the Gallery that I’d seen on my first day.

Once I got to the market I made my way to the second floor and spoke to one of the ladies, I explained what I needed, after convincing her I didn’t need a new dress, a new jacket or any trousers, even if she did have then in a ‘Big Size’! 😂 she took my hand and led me through the many many stalls and pointed down the stairs and told me to go down then out! 

I did as she said, asked another older lady, who also took me by the hand and led me outside the building, along the path then through an old doorway and up some dark and dodgy stairs into a room full of people sewing! 

Another lady came over, I again explained and showed her what I needed, for some reason she seemed thrilled about this! She gave my trousers to a nice gentleman who wasn’t sewing anything and told me it would be 50,000 dong (approx £2) she then hugged me, twirled me round hugged me again, grabbed my hand and led me back down the stairs! 😂😂 it was all very odd but very funny!! 

I so wanted to get a photo of the room with all the sewers in but I felt it would be rude. I returned in an hour to collect my perfectly repaired trousers, I paid him 100,000 and everyone then all started saying bye and waving at me! 😍❤️❤️

After this I walked back across the river, grabbed a coffee, a delicious Cafè Moui, sat out a brief downpour then returned once again to the hotel to finish writing and to book my next accommodation.

For my last evening in Hue, I’m going to have a ride on a Cyclo. 

There is an old guy outside the hotel who has asked me if I want a ride at least twice a day since I arrived, so today I’m going say yes! 

When I get outside there are 3 guys, the lovely old guy and 2 younger guys. I ask for him, he looks very pleased. 

After a lot of discussion, Google Translate and help from the concierge we finally figure out where I’m going and how much! 😂 I’m literally just going down the road but even then I feel guilty being ferried around by a guy who looks 112! 😳 But he’s happy, it’s fun so I just enjoy it and when we arrive I pay him double, which is still only £3! 

So, I’m leaving Hue tomorrow and going to Hanoi for 4 nights. 

I thought I might go from Hanoi to Japan or possibly somewhere else, Chiang Mai, Phuket, for a couple of weeks of chilling. However the weather in SE Asia is pretty wet in most places and I have far too much stuff to take to Japan. 

So my decision is to return to Australia and stay at Rebecca & Chris’s for a little while and then plan a Japanese trip, with less luggage! And my onward travel from there. 

I think it might also be nice to stay in one place for a couple of weeks! 😍 And I get to see my beautiful daughter. ❤️

That’s it for now guys. 

Have a great week. 

💛🤎🧡💛❤️🤎🧡❤️

🎉 🩷A very Happy 5th Birthday to the Beautiful Clementine! 🎉🩷

Books read:

Random Acts of Heroic Love. Danny Scheinmann. An excellent book. I loved everything about it. 

Thank you Jane for a great recommendation! ❤️❤️

Please keep your book recommendations coming. 

Thursday 1st – Sunday 6th

Having arrived in Hoi An my original plan was to eat at the hotel then begin exploring tomorrow. Unfortunately there was no restaurant at the hotel, so I decided to walk into the old town for some food. 

Hoi An Od Town is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. I can understand why, it’s beautiful. 

The Old Town is built alongside the river, Thu Bõn River, at night there are beautiful small boats all lit up with lanterns gliding along the river, all the stores have lanterns, it’s so colourful and pretty. 

I was a little knackered so stopped at one of the first restaurants I came to, which was a Pho & Noddle place. I then had my first Pho! 

For those that don’t know this is a traditional Vietnamese dish of rice noddles, meat or seafood in a delicious broth. I opted for a chicken Pho. It was lovely, the broth is very thin but super tasty. 

My plan was to then head back, but I ended up walking almost through the entire Old Town! 

It’s very busy in Hoi An in the evening, lots of tours come in from Da Nang to see the beautiful lantern boats and float candles in the river. 

I eventually headed back and got a good nights sleep. 

I have breakfast included in my hotel and it’s a small affair but tasty and in this family run hotel everyone is so friendly and helpful. 

I need to go to a ATM today, which I hate doing, I’m always convinced the machine is going to take my card! It’s also tricky as the currency is in big denominations, so I’m always panicking about exactly how many zeros are in a million? 😳😂

I find a machine and manage to successfully withdraw the required amount!!  I then buy a ticket for the Old Town. The ticket is really cheap but it then allows you to enter all the historical sites within the Old Town, the money goes towards the upkeep and restoration of the site. 

The Old Town is very different in the mornings, not as many people, more locals going about their day. It is still gorgeous, the lanterns and flowers everywhere are stunning. 

Hoi An is known for its tailors, so lots of people get bespoke clothing made here, they also have lots of leather shops with more bespoke services. The leather work looks fabulous, so many cowboy boots in every conceivable colour, bags in all colours and designs! 😍 I am seriously tempted, but I simply don’t have capacity for anything else. (Let’s see if this remains the case over the coming 4 days!) 

There are street vendors everywhere, selling beautiful 3d cards, bookmarks, fridge magnets, also ladies selling cones of coconut biscuits, peanuts & crystallised ginger. Although they are keen to sell but they aren’t too pushy. 

I end up seeing the same lady a few times and promise if I see her again I’ll buy something.

I do try the biscuits and ginger, which is great  but the ginger is strong! 

I have a look around the Old covered Japanese Bridge, and some of the other historical sites.  But mostly I just ambled around looking at everything.

I walked back along the river which is a much prettier and quieter than the road! 

It’s hot & humid here so I cool off in the pool, which is nice and cold! 

A couple from Canada, the Yukon, are also in the pool and we get chatting. Evi & Donald are great. 

I’m going to to walk back into the Old Town for dinner as I’ve seen a place that Tracey & Jaques have recommended, called ‘Morning Glory’ it’s an old, well established Vietnamese restaurant with fabulous reviews! 

Just before dinner I stop for a cheeky cocktail in a bar above the Old Market, another recommendation from Tracey & Jaques! It’s has great views across the river. The cocktail I choose is a rum based one, they focus on Gin mostly. It’s pinkish and looks sweet, but isn’t and is delicious! 

I am super impressed to see that it arrives with some very fancy ‘Bally Ice’ which is even more fancy as it’s got flowers in! Shabazz would be so proud! I’m definitely not a ‘Povo’ 😂😂 (you need to check out Shabazz 

on Instagram, very funny!) 

Morning Glory lives up to its reviews, fast efficient, friendly service and delicious food. I opted for Hoi A Chicken Rice, which is pretty much what it says, Chicken, Rice, herbs and a side of yummy broth. It was light and so flavourful. The atmosphere inside is also great, really buzzy. 

I head back after dinner along the river, which is quiet but not deserted so feels safe. 

I think so far Hoi An has been fantastic. Easy to navigate on foot, pretty, colourful, easy to get great Vietnamese food, culturally and historically interesting and fun! 

I’ve booked myself onto a 1/2 day tour to visit a site called ‘My Son’. Which means, Beautiful Mountain.

This is a cultural site with the remains of up to 70 Hindu temples built between the 4th – 13th century by the kings of Champa Kimgdom and the Cham People. The temples are dedicated to Shiva. 

The whole site was extensively damaged by US bombing during the Vietnam War. Various international groups, have helped towards its restoration including India, Italy, The Netherlands but excluding the USA! 

Our tour group was interesting, it included a lone Korean guy, 2 French couples, a Swiss couple, a Malaysian couple and an Australian group, Nan, Grandad, Son and 8 month old baby! 

The difficulty came not from the delightful 8 month old Oscar, who was an Angel but from the Malaysian couple, the husband got on the bus drunk and drinking beer, playing his music very loudly on his phone, obviously he sat next to me! And one of the french couples kept us waiting for nearly 30 mins! In my opinion if you are not at your pick up point at the allotted time you forfeit your place. (Harsh but fair I feel!) 

Anyway, the group were ok, we didn’t really bond..😂 However our guide Misa was amazing, so informative. 

The actual construction of the temples is fascinating. The bricks they made are aerated and they don’t allow moss or lichen to grown on them, they gaps between the bricks is tiny. All of these things can’t be replicated by modern day construction. Groups have tried to replicate this but so far they have failed. They believe that the bricks have a layer of either honey or resin between them and that they were then coated in something to prevent organic growth. When you see the temples the original bricks look new and the new ones look old! It amazing to think that with all our technology we are unable to produce something as effective as people did in the 4th Century! 😳😳

I’m so glad I made this trip as it was so interesting. We leave the site and head back towards Hoi An, seating arrangements had changed and I was no longer sitting next to Mr Beer drinker, who had consumed a few more drinks during the trip! 🤪

The last part of our journey is on a boat along the river. We also had snacks on the boat, everyone got a Banh Mai, another Vietnamese staple of a crispy baguette with salad, pate and pork, I opted for egg! It was my first Banh Mai and it was yummy. 😋 

I spent my last couple of days in Hoi A simply wandering and enjoying the beautiful surroundings. It’s so peaceful to be in the Old Town early in the morning before the crowds come, watching the locals setting up, fishing, chatting and going about their lives. 

I also booked myself onto a Lantern making workshop. Hoi An is synonymous with Lanterns, they are everywhere. So I felt it was only right to have one, and to be able to make it myself is great. 

It was actually trickier than I’d thought. I had 2 options: 1. Use their ready prepared frame or 2. make the frame as well as covering it. I went for option 2! This involved bending the bamboo, quite a bit of dexterity fitting it all together, then same sewing the hold the frame rigid, but also collapsible! Then you put the material on the frame, this is also pretty difficult, especially if you want your lantern to look nice! Apparently I was a very good student and did a surprisingly good job. 🥰🥰 I did surprise myself at how well it turned out. A fabulous way to spend a morning. 🩵💙

I’ve been chatting to Evi & Donald some more and we also enjoyed a drink together on my last night. 

They are in Vietnam for their Grandsons wedding. They are such a lovely couple, Donald is an artist and Film set builder he also used to be part of a Canadian Snow sculpting team! Evi is a beautiful soul. I’m definitely going to visit them in Whitehorse Canada! 

This hotel has been a fabulous place to spend time, busy and people are friendly, the staff are fabulous. They gave me a gorgeous embroidered purse as a gift at my last breakfast this morning. ❤️

Hoi An met all of my expectations. If you’re in Vietnam, don’t miss it! 

Next I’m off to Hue. Taking another bus, as it’s only 3 hours. I’m using the same company that took me from Dalat to Nha Trang, so fingers crossed it will be as good. 

Update. 

I resisted buying cowboy boots or a bag! I did however have a dress made! Just a summer floaty one. I also did bump into the lovely seller again! 😂 And now have several bookmarks and fridge magnets! 😍😍

All in all a wonderful 5 days. 

Books read.

The Last Dance. Mark Billingham. Good. 

I’m sure I’ve read more than 1 book! 🤷‍♀️

Have a fabulous Sunday.

🩵💙🩷❤️💛

Tuesday 17th – Monday 23rd September 2024.

Wow, so it’s been a while since my last blog! Don’t really know why I’ve been so lax, strap in, I think it might be a long one! 

One of the reasons I write my blog regularly is so I don’t forget where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing! It’s easy to lose track when you’re moving about. 

The last blog ended in Kampot. I’m pleased to say that my bus wasn’t rescheduled and left promptly at 8.30. After a pretty uneventful journey we arrived back into Phnom Penh around lunchtime. I grabbed a Tuk Tuk to the hotel, I’m staying back at the same place, The White Mansion, mainly as it’s central, good value and the bus picks up from here! 

I was welcomed back like a long lost relative! 😍 So lovely and they had given me a larger room! I didn’t do much for the rest of the day, swam, read and just relaxed. The weather in the afternoons is usually pretty unpredictable and rainy. A relaxing day and an early night! 

On my list of things to do in Phnom Penh had been to do the river walk, just a nice little promenade area down along the riverside. 

With the weather looking promising after breakfast I set off. I walked down towards the large Independence Monument, which is impressive. This area also had some trees for shade. I eventually made it to the riverbank, after dodging traffic (I’m a pro at this now😁) and sweating buckets! 

The area I arrived at is the spot where the Tonle Sap river and the Mekong River meet, flowing in different directions. 

The rivers are very high due to the season and quite wide. It’s surprisingly quiet on this part of the river. 

I stop in a cafe for a drink, as I stupidly came out without my water! 

As I sit there I can see the rain clouds gathering, so decide to head back. 

You can see all the locals covering their stalls and people heading for cover. The wind picks up quite a bit, then the rain comes in a sudden heavy burst! My little umbrella gets turned inside out, spokes are buckled but luckily for me it still works! ☔️ I walk back through the rain, I’m so pleased that Phnom Penh has non slippery paving! Absolute live saver, literally. 😳😀

I stop at a nice little coffee shop on the way,  have a coffee and read my book while the rain pours down outside. 

When I get back to the hotel it’s still raining, so I decide to do some planning for Vietnam. 

Looking for buses from Ho Chi Minh City is a little confusing, so many to choose from and some sites not in English, so many recommendations! In the end I decide to wait until I get to my hotel in HCM and ask them for advice. 

I pack up my stuff, go out for a last dinner in Cambodia. Which is obviously going to be Vegetable fried rice!! 😂

My bus is due to arrive at 9.45 so once again I do as instructed and am ready to go at 8.45, luckily, as the driver appears at 9am! What actually happens is the company send a small bus to collect passengers from various hotels and takes them to the main coach in the centre of town, which now makes sense of the flexibility on collecting times! 

The coach is great, I have a single seat by the window, it’s pretty busy but everything is looking good! 

It’s a 7+ hour trip to Ho Chi Minh City, which includes the border crossing. 

I’d like to say it was a good trip and in the most part it was, the coach, drivers, host and the border crossing were all brilliant. 

The problem came from the totally obnoxious areshole sitting behind me. 

He was simply vile, rude, ignorant and loud! 

Every time the lovely host/helper spoke to us about anything, welcoming us aboard, explaining about toilet breaks, information about the border procedure he would make noises (loud enough for everyone to hear) the whole way through the talk! He pushed his way to the front whenever we stopped, complained about the water, the wifi, he was unbelievably rude to the poor host. He then made huffing, snorting noises for no apparent reason, played his phone loudly and listened to a podcast or something which could have been by Andrew Tate it was so misogynistic! A total wanker. 

We eventually arrived in Ho Chi Minh City around 5.30. By then I was tired, and I had a headache. I got into a cab to the hotel. I asked the driver how much, having shown him the address, he said it was on a meter, that’s great, so it should be a regulated fare. Sadly not! The twatty driver refused to take me to the actual hotel, dropping me off down the road, then told me it would be 400,000 Vietnamese Dong, which is $20! Which is a total rip off. Unfortunately I was locked in the back of the cab, with my case in the boot and it was either pay him or be stuck in the bloody cab! I paid, told him he was an arsehole, and then walked to my hotel! 🤬

All in all not my best journey so far! 

The hotel reception staff were lovely and made me feel lots better, my room was gorgeous with double windows looking over the city. I unpacked, drank a ton of water and took a paracetamol for my headache then ventured out to have a look around the hotel and find some dinner. 

I ended up at the rooftop bar, which has fabulous views. It was happy hour so I had a cheeky cocktail, more water then headed down to the restaurant for dinner. The menu was good, with lots of western dishes and Asian dishes, I opted for rice, no surprise. Then It was off to bed, as the whole day had been exhausting! My bed is enormous, comfy and with the best feather pillows, pure heaven! 😌😴😴

I slept really well and was feeling rested, positive and ready to start my Vietnam adventure! 

First breakfast! 

It’s a buffet style breakfast but the staff are so attentive and can’t seem to do enough for you, which is lovely but also a bit disconcerting! 

After breakfast I headed downstairs to speak to the concierge about where to get a SIM card and booking a bus to my next stop, Dalat. 

The concierge, Luck, was amazing. He is from Dalat and travels there often. He said I had a couple of options. I could get a private car, which he then contacted a company to get a price. I could fly, or I could get the bus. The private car was going to cost $160 a flight would be the quickest, but also a little expensive, as I was booking last minute. The bus, which Luck uses all the time takes approximately 5 -6 hours and costs $12! I went with the bus. Luck then organised all the booking for me! He sorted out a Spa treatment at a Spa outside the hotel, went over the map with me and highlighted all the places I could go including the phone shop for my Sim! He was a total legend. 

So off I went. Phone shop first, easy. New sim fitted and working. Then I made my way to the War Remnants Museum. 

I got there just as the heavens opened! 

The museum is another difficult place to go, but also an important one. It takes you through the Vietnamese history and most specifically the Vietnam War. I knew most of the history, but not all of the facts and statistics, which are shocking. 

I also didn’t really appreciate how devastating the use of chemical weapons, such as Agent Orange, has been for Vietnam and its people. They have such hideous long term effects. 

A sobering experience. 

When I’d finished in the museum it was still chucking it down but what can you do! I got out my trusty, bent up brolly and off I went! 

Ho Chi Minh City also has fairly non slip paving, thank god! 

I eventually came to one of the buildings I wanted to visit; The Central Post Office. It’s a beautiful old building and right beside a cathedral I wanted to see. Unfortunately the Cathedral is closed for renovation. 

Next to the Post Office I found a fabulous little street full of bookshops!! 😍 It would have been better if it wasn’t still chucking it down! 

I ambled back to the hotel, once it stops raining I go up to the rooftop bar and treat myself to a glass of wine!! 

I end up sitting next to an American guy called Nicholas from Kansas. He is great company, easy to talk to and the time and the wine go down very nicely! 🍷🍷

He is then joined by his friend and travel buddy, Patrick also very nice to chat too. 

After a few glasses I decide, rather sensibly to go and get some dinner, then head to bed. 

As I’m sure you are all aware by now it was my birthday! 

I’ll be honest I was dreading spending the day on my own, it’s always a mixed feelings day, as it’s also my Wedding Anniversary. 

The day turned out to be absolutely fabulous! I was very very spoilt by my beautiful children, Rebecca, Georgia & Grantley and by all my lovely friends! So many treats, messages, wine, cakes, videos! 

I’d decided to do very little all day and that’s exactly what I did, which was lucky as the weather was terrible! 

I got presented with the most glorious bouquet of flowers at my Champagne breakfast! 🍾💐 Then lots of people wishing me Happy Birthday! The kids had arranged for me to have a Spa treatment. 

The lovely Luck, organised and booked it and then sorted out the Grab, which was not easy due to the horrendous weather! 

My spa treatment was an amazing herbal massage which involved hot oil and hot stones. It was fantastic and afterwards my back and neck felt the best they have for ages! Then I had a cheeky pedicure, also amazing. 

When everything was finished I went through to reception and they bought me over a chair to sit on while I put my shoes on. Unfortunately it was a tricky little wheeled office type chair, I went to sit on it, it moved back and I ended up falling onto the floor! 😳🫣🫢 in front of a room full of people! FFS! 🤦‍♀️ I was OK, a little surprised and the worst of it was I jarred my neck…again!! It’s funny because you end up doing the very British thing of assuring everyone that you’re “Fine” but inside you want to cry! 😢 

I headed back to the hotel and was determined this was not spoiling my day, so I took an ibuprofen and cracked on with things!! 👍😍

I took myself to the rooftop bar ordered a glass of my favourite Whispering Angel wine 😇 and had a fabulous evening. I chatted again to Nicholas & Patrick and also a beautiful English couple, Dom & Grace who had just got engaged! ❤️ 

The staff presented me with a personalised Vietnamese Hat and the whole bar sang Happy Birthday 🥳😚 Then I  went to bed, watched rubbish on Netflix and eat birthday cake! All in all a wonderful day! 

Thank to everyone who made it so fabulous. 🩷💚🩵❤️

To my surprise I woke the next day feeling ok, neck is sore but not too bad. It’s also not raining! Yeah! 

I set out to explore a little more. As it’s Sunday everyone is out and about, sitting in the park with friends, drinking coffee, visiting places. I walk to the Independence Palace, it’s a really interesting place to visit, and very busy! 

As I arrive I spot an older man on his own, he keeps looking over at me and eventually asks me if I’m on my own, he explains that he is and it’s his first visit to the Palace. He asks if we can look around together, I say no problem. I think he wanted me to take some photos of him in the palace, which I did. He was very sweet. He didn’t want to look around the whole place so we parted ways after I took lots of pics of him! 😍 I didn’t get a pic of us together 🤦‍♀️ Imdid get one of him walking away! 

It’s started to rain a little so I go off for a wander through the park and the local area. It’s great to just walk and observe life going on. 

I decide I need a coffee and opt to go back to the Book street as I’d seen a lovely little cafe there. 

I have to say the Vietnamese take their coffee very seriously! Every other building is a coffee shop, and they are all full! 

The book street is nice and busy as is the Cafe. I try my first Vietnamese Coffee, made with condensed milk….delicious! 😋 I’m sitting enjoying my coffee reading my book when a family sit down beside me. Then the young lad with them scoots his chair over and asks me where I’m from. This leads to myself and Quan having an hour long conversation about all sorts, books, his favourite is Diary of a Whimpy Kid! School, my children, my travels, his friends, Vietnam history, food…..all of this in English and Quan is 8!! He was amazing, such a chatty, clever thing. Neither of his parents spoke English, he said he learns from YouTube, books and online! Quan & I were then joined by another young lad, Pep, who is 14. He was also very smart and spoke great English. 

It was such a wonderful, unexpected encounter and I loved it. 

As Quan and his family were leaving they gave me a beautiful canvas bag (that the dad had run over the road to purchase) as a gift! 💝🥰 How beautiful is that! 

Back at the hotel I go for my first swim in the rooftop pool, as it’s not raining. The pool is bloody freezing! 🥶 Invigorating but bloody cold! 

Needless to say I’m the only nutter in there! 

This is followed by a beautiful foot massage at the hotel spa, which was one of the best I’ve had! So wonderful. Thank you gorgeous Tracey & Haley.❤️❤️

I opt to go out for dinner, so have a mooch around by the hotel. I go into a very cute little place that looks very Instagram inspired, flowers, pastel colours, teddy bears everywhere and full of beautiful young people. 

I would have loved to stay but didn’t want a coffee and the menu was limited in terms of what I wanted. I then tried another 3 places. I was looking for noddles or rice but without meat or seafood! Honestly harder than finding someone with an IQ at a Trump Rally! 

Eventually I find a little food stall in a Fabulous market across from the hotel who was prepared to make me rice with just vegetables 🌽🥒. 

I do think I’m going to struggle a bit in terms of food, as I don’t really eat seafood or pork, which are the stable ingredient in lots of dishes. I’m sure I will figure it out! 

I have enjoyed my time in Ho Chi Minh City, I would like to come back at some point and explore more around the area, I just didn’t have the time, the weather or the energy this time. 

Some observations so far. The city is very modern but with traditional stuff here and there. The young people are super stylish and very beautiful. Everyone I’ve met so far has been kind and helpful (apart from the taxi driver, but he’s an aberration!)  Coffee is serious business, they are very proud of their country and their culture. 

Today I’m heading by bus to a place inland, Dalat. It’ll be interesting to see how the Vietnamese buses are! 

As a little side note. I am due to be traveling through Vietnam heading northwards. Unfortunately the country is suffering with a really bad Typhoon season, and things up north in Hoi An, Hanoi and Sapa are pretty bad. They were hit a week ago by a huge storm, called Nagi and there has been a great deal of damage, flooding and landslides. 

Travel advice at present is not to travel to these areas, particularly Hanoi and Sapa. I will keep a watch on things and if I need to, will change my plans accordingly. 

That’s it for now my lovelies. 

Books read.

The Secret of Flowers. Sally Page. Another lovely one by this author. Really enjoyed it. 

That’s it! Bit slow on the reading front at the moment! 

Have a great week everyone.

Love and hugs. 

🩵💚❤️🩷💝

Friday 13th – Monday 16th September 2024

My last full day in Phnom Penh was Friday, I only realised later it was Friday 13th!! 

I was planning on having a quiet day but also wanted to see a bit more of the City. I messaged Mr Lucky and he said he was free and we could do a small city tour. 

This sounded fine to me as my back was definitely a bit sore. 

Mr Lucky is a funny thing who unfortunately he doesn’t live up to his name! 

He arrived and informed me that overnight someone had unscrewed and stolen his wing mirrors! ☹️😬 Awful for him and less than ideal to be driving around a mad busy city with no mirrors! But, Hey Ho! 

We set off to have a drive by the river and to see the Grand Palace, again.

Two rivers join in Phnom Penh, The Tonle Sap river, which flows down from the huge Tonle Sap Lake this then becomes the mighty Mekong River which flows into the into and through the Mekong Delta. 

I would have really liked to do a small Mekong Delta Cruise on one of the old wood and steal boats but I didn’t book in advance and the timings wouldn’t work with my bookings in Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City they were also incredibly expensive for what you get. I’ll save my money for Halong Bay in Vietnam. 

The roads around the river seem particularly busy, with all manner of vehicles carrying a bewildering array of goods! As we are sat in traffic Mr Lucky starts pointing at his dash board where there is a flashing red light, he mentions petrol! At this point the traffic is barely moving, I have no idea where he’s going to get petrol so have visions of us grinding to a halt further slowing down the traffic and making a spectacle of ourselves!! 😃 As the traffic clears I spot a petrol station ahead….Phew. 

But, No, we go sailing past the petrol station then head off the main road into the winding back streets before pulling up into a random building/garage/lockup!? Where someone starts to fill up the Tuk Tuk. Mr Lucky then asks to borrow $5 to pay for the petrol! 😂😂😂

From here we go through the city to a Large Temple called Wat Phnom Daun Penh. It’s in a nice park and it looks relatively large but I’m just not in the mood to look around so instead I have a quiet stroll around it through the shady park! 

Our next stop is The Central Market. My main reason for visiting is the building itself rather than the shopping. The building is a beautiful Art Deco Structure opened in 1937 and built by the French during their colonial rule. 

The building is gorgeous, with a big domed area at the centre then 4 branches off from there. 

It’s a huge market but sadly there are very few people in there. 

I’m pretty much done after this, so ask Mr Lucky to take me back to the hotel. 

I have a lovely long, cold swim and read my book. 

I’m going to attempt an early night, as I’m leaving for Kampot in the morning. My bus departure time is 8am from the hotel, but reception has told me I need to be ready and waiting an hour before! Annoying.

I don’t get a great nights sleep, no idea why, I just can’t get to off to sleep. Before I know it it’s 5.45 time to be up and at it! 

I head downstairs at 7am and have a pot of tea while I wait for the bus to turn up. 

Bang on 8am (not 7, or 7.30 or 7.45 but right when my ticket said it would!) a driver appears in the lobby, myself and another guest who is waiting go forwards, he chats a bit to the receptionist. She then informs me that this is the bus for Siem Reap. She then informs me that my bus is late and will now be arriving at 3pm!! WTAF! 😱😳 That’s not late that’s bloody ridiculous!! 7 hours! I am very pissed off. Especially as I’ve checked out of the hotel, I’m packed, I’m very tired!  

The receptionist speaks to the company but it is what it is. 

Interestingly I received a random WhatsApp from Giant Ibis the day before, just saying “Hi it’s Samsung from Giant Ibis” nothing else. I replied back saying Hi. 

It turns out they emailed me the change of plan, but it went to my gmail which I don’t often look at. (That will now change) 

I have a WhatsApp conversation with the company who are happy to refund my money. I manage to get a seat booked on a VET minibus going to Kampot at 12. So I cancel my ticket and get set to leave at the much more respectful time of 12pm! 

Luckily I had booked seat 2, which was the front passenger seat as the mini bus was pretty full of large, slightly drunk Russian men! 😂 

The journey was good, although it took a long time to get out of Phnom Penh. The driver stopped every hour, mainly for the Russian guys to have a smoke!! 😂

We arrived in Kampot at 3.40 and my hotel was just a short Tuk Tuk ride away. 

The hotel is central to the old town and directly opposite the river. 

As it’s the weekend lots of local people are out and about walking along the riverside promenade enjoying the cool air and their weekend. 

It’s great to sit on the hotel terrace and people watch with a beer. 

I am still feeling really tired so I go out earlyish for dinner. I saw a little vegetarian place with good reviews so I walk there. It’s nice but empty, but I’m hungry so I stay and order the Falafel bowel! 😍😘 OMG, so good. The huge salad element is amazing.  

Feeling stuffed and sleepy it’s home to bed! 

There are a few things I’d like to do in Kampot but I wake up to heavy rain and the hills surrounding the town shrouded in cloud! 

I chat to the lovely manager, Pat, he says that a trip up to Bokor Mountain can’t be done in a Tuk Tuk you have to go in a car and the cost for a return trip, plus seeing all the sites is $50 this seems a little high to me in comparison to other trips I’ve taken. But I think I might book one for the next day when hopefully the weather improves!

I borrow a nice big umbrella and go for a walk around the town. 

It’s certainly in much better shape than Battenbang, the roads are surfaced and it doesn’t feel like a dusty ghost town. The buildings are pretty, French Colonial mixed with Art Deco. Starbucks has nabbed a beautiful Art Deco building right by the river! 

I treat myself to a a back massage in the hope of ironing out the kinks from my fall. I’m pretty sure I explained that I wanted just a back massage, but I got a full body one instead, which was fine. My back certainly feels better. 

One of the things Kampot is well known for is its Pepper! Apparently it’s amongst the best in the world, who knew? Well, actually I did know this! A Pepper Farm visit was one of the things I wanted to do, but not in the pouring rain! Luckily for me when I came out from my massage the rain had eased a lot. I was looking around the Pepper Shop and chatting to the manager and she recommended BoTree Pepper Farm, the main one here is Le Plantation, but it’s not owned by Cambodians. Bo tree is owned by a Cambodian & a Scott! 

She pointed out a Tuk Tuk driver who was parked outside she said he was great, spoke good English and would do a return trip for $15. So I said let’s do it! I jumped into Sa’s Tuk Tuk and we set off! 

It’s quite a way out of town and Sa was great and keeping me informed about things as we drove. 

One of the things he pointed out was a large grey half finished building with no windows. 

I’d seen a lot of these dotted about on my bus journeys, but just assumed they were unfinished buildings. They are in fact buildings designed with speakers on the roof and small openings. The speakers play bird sounds, specifically, swallow bird calls. This is to attract more swallows to come and nest inside the building. Once they are nesting their nests are harvested for the Chinese birds nest market! Once Sa had explained this, you start to notice the increased bird noise, then look and there will be one of these buildings. 

As we leave Kampot you can see the changing landscape, lush fields and surrounding hills. 

We came upon a beautiful lake. Whilst the lake looks beautiful its history isn’t.

It is called The Secret Lake and it grows and shrinks with the seasons, it is man made lake. 

It was constructed by prisoners of the Khmer Rouge. The lake was built to provide water for the increased rice production under the Khmer Rouges agricultural policy. Thousands of prisoners died in its construction and are buried in a mass grave beneath the lake. Beautiful and tragic. 

The last part of our drive to the Farm was on an unfinished road, which due to the rain was very muddy and rutted, on one particular section I was convinced we were going to overturn! Luckily we made it! I really didn’t need another mud bath! 

Bo Tree is fabulous. The whole farm is completely organic, and everything is sourced locally, even the crab shells used in their homemade pesticides and the textiles used to tie the vines to the posts! It is also a ‘Workaway’ host. The volunteers who do the ‘Workaway” get board & lodging in exchange for their services. What I really liked about this was that the Volunteers do not do any of the paid work on the farm, that is all done by local people, who need the work. Their job as volunteers is to show the tourists around the farm using their multiple languages. 

It’s a smallish farm and felt really homly, lots of friendly dogs and cats! 

I was shown around by a lovely young woman called Kate, from Bristol! 

She has been staying on the farm for 2 weeks having travelled up through Vietnam. She was very knowledgeable about the growing and production of the pepper. 

I had no idea that pepper is a vine! 😳

So the pepper grows on vines and is actually a berry. Once ready it’s harvested and then the different peppers are created. First the pepper is boiled, red pepper is boiled for the shortest time so it retains more of the berry flavour. The rest is boiled for a longer. The white pepper then has the outer husk removed and the black pepper doesn’t. I can’t remember what happens with the green pepper corns! All the pepper is then dried. 

I did a tasting, even though I’m not a big pepper fan. It was incredible how different they taste and smell. I also tried whole green peppercorns in brine, I tried them with some rice, surprisingly delicious! 😋 

I ended up sitting with Kate for ages chatting about travelling and drinking lovely Pippali pepper tea! 

It was such a lovely experience. It made my day.

I organised with Sa for his friend to take me to Bokor Mountain the following day. 

I popped across the road for dinner, to a much cheaper, busier place. I went for my usual, Veggie Rice but then went a bit off piste and ordered some Garlic bread! 😛 The rice was good the garlic bread was a huge portion which I would never be able to eat. 

Whilst I was eating a very young boy came in to the restaurant begging, the first time I’ve seen this here. I gave him a couple of dollars, once he’d left I realised I could have given him my garlic bread! Luckily he walked past again with his friend and they left with a few slices each, not sure if they’ll like it it’s not exactly a Cambodian stable! But at least it wasn’t wasted. 

I have woken up to a pretty bright sunny, dry morning which is great for my Mountain trip! 

My driver, Sa’s friend Thebm (pronounced Towan) was there waiting at 10am.

I thought he would be driving a car, as Sa had said Tuk Tuks can’t get up the mountain, what he was actually driving was the little enclosed Tuk Tuk 🚙, which was great as it’s much more open, perhaps not as comfortable as a car but hey Ho.

It takes well over an hour to get to the top of the mountain, especially in this vehicle! It’s a really lovely drive up through lush greenery, which smelt really nice and fresh. There are lots of Macaque Monkeys along the way, some of the males looked very big and a little scary!  The views across to the Ocean at Kep are fabulous, with lots of small waterfalls along the way. 

Our first stop is a huge Buddha statue almost at the top. This was a good stop. Then it starts getting a bit weird. 

As you reach the top it kind of levels out for a bit and there are all these huge, grey, half built, depressing buildings everywhere one is supposed to be a hotel, it honestly looks like a gulag! This appearance is enhanced by the mist and cloud cover coming in. There appears to be nobody living in any of the buildings, even the finished ones. 

We drive past all this grimness and visit a beautiful natural big waterfall. It is in full flow due to the rain overnight. Towan says we could walk across a bit to see over the edge! 😂😂😳 I politely decline, I’m 💯% sure I would slip and go right over the Edge! 

The cost of visiting the waterfall is 2,000 riel £2 and includes a bottle of water! Bargin. 

We drive back past the Gulags and then on towards a Temple and monastery. This takes us past a very large dam being constructed and paid for by the Chinese. (Chinese takeover by stealth) then past a huge, ugly building that’s a Casino and Hotel. This was built by a Cambodian Entrepreneur, and Chinese backers apparently but caters to the growing and lucrative Chinese gambling market. 

During Colonial rule from 1863 – 1953 the French would escape to Bokor   Highlands to get out of the heat. They built a small enclave with church’s, shops, post offices and a big hotel. This all fell to ruin during the ensuing civil war, it is this remodeled hotel that now houses the casino. 

There are more abandoned houses nearby, it is all just a little sad! 

By now we are in thick cloud and it’s started to rain. We stop at the Temple and monastery, but seriously, I can’t see a bloody thing! 😂

I think we did remarkably well to reach the top before the cloud and rain came drown! 👍🩵

We decide to head back down the mountain and Towan sets the Tuk Tuk/car to economy mode, which is basically turning of the engine and freewheeling all the way down the mountain!! 😂😂 it’s definitely more peaceful. 

Towan is a lovely guy, a Kampot local who lives here with his family, he speaks excellent English, which also teaches to local children. 

He was great company and a very knowledgable guide. 
He also picked me some flowers, which are called Minkey Cups, but would be better called Penis Plants!! 😂😂

We managed to share a lot of personal history on our freewheel down the Mountain! 😍

All in all another fantastic day. It is a real shame I can’t spend a bit more time here or in nearby Kep, which is by the sea. But I guess I’ll just have to return! 

Things I’ve noticed in Kampot. 

One: It’s  pretty well maintained, which I’ve mentioned. 

Two: I’ve seen a few rats! 🐀 possibly due to being so close to the river. 

Three: It has the largest number of western white men I’ve seen since I arrived in Cambodia. It is definitely a spot that people, or more specifically men, come to retire to. There is an Irish Bar, and yesterday I walked past a restaurant with lots of westerners eating Roast Dinners! 

Four: it also has the largest number of ‘Dance’ and ‘hook up’ bars I’ve seen. I’m sure there were plenty in Phnom Penh, I just didn’t see them. 

I feel there may be a correlation between some of the above! 

I’m sure there is a very different vibe during the dry season when it’s busy, bustling and less damp, overall I like it. 😍

I going back to Phnom Penh tomorrow morning, hopefully 🤞 my bus won’t be “Rescheduled”! 

I need to now start looking at planning my journey around Vietnam! 

Anyone who has visited and has any tips, ideas or advice please let me know! 

Sorry it’s another long blog! 😍

Have a great week guys. 

❤️🩵🩷💚

Books Read

Guilty Mothers. Angela Marsons. Book 20 of the DI Kim Stone Series. 

I like this book series, obviously, as I’ve read all 20 so far!! ❤️

Thursday 1st August

Good morning lovely people.❤️

Firstly, apologies for the numerous spelling errors in my last post! 😳 I put this down to trying to type it on the train whilst keeping the blind open and admiring the view! 

I’ve been here in Penang and Georgetown for a couple of days and I love it. 

As I guessed it is much more pedestrian friendly and not as high rise.

It gives me Old Town Phuket vibes. I guess they have a similar colonial and migrant history. 

When I arrived at Butterworth train station my loose plan was to call a Grab as I thought the ferry terminal was further away (there is a road bridge across to the island) however the ferry terminal is linked to the train station, handy. 

So having battled with people to get on the lift (more on this sort of behaviour later 🤨) I followed the signs to the ferry, it was a pretty long walk and involved a fair amount of queuing, I also managed to drop my case on my foot, 🙁 but I made it to the the front of the ticket queue and had to pay for the ticket on a card. So I paid 32p on my credit card (the conversion fee is going to be way more than that!) and boarded the ferry, it didn’t take long. 

I got chatting to a family from Ontario, with 2 early teen children all of whom were travelling with just a very small backpack 🎒Impressive. I thought I was good keeping my case under 18kgs. 😂

My hotel here is lovely, in a beautiful old building and my room is still the original wood, and smells lush (no mouldering fruit smell!) 

The pool is tiny and approx 2inches deep…😂 but enough to submerge and cool off after a hot day. 

My first evening I wandered into the main part of town, about a 15 min walk. I found a bar and grabbed an ice cold beer! 🍺 

The area I’m in has lots of street food stalls, they are all really busy but I’m a bit of a coward and don’t particularly want to try anything. I opt instead for a nice little restaurant. I had a delicious Nasi lemak, rice, chicken satay & and fried egg Yum! 

Then I walked back to the hotel. It’s been a long day. 

My first full day in Georgetown was going to be spent exploring and enjoying the street art and architecture. 

After a tasty breakfast of omelette and Tea. I set off. As I left I could see the very dark clouds and hear some thunder. I walked for about 10 mins before it started to really rain. I had my fetching rain poncho in my bag, but it appears to have been made to fit a small child not an adult with a large bum! 

I ducked into a rather swanky hotel and had more tea whilst 

waiting for the storm to pass.  After about 40 mins it had slowed a little so I figured I’d chance it. I left and bought a small umbrella at a 7/11.

I was trying to orientate myself using a ridiculous map, but was really struggling. I’m normally pretty good at finding my way and directions. Eventually I was able to figure it out! 

I stopped to have a little tour of the Kapitan Keling Mosque, which was beautiful and interesting, by the time I came out it had stopped raining. 😃

I continued my walk and found the street art and the beautiful little streets I’d been searching for. So pretty and also reasonably quiet. I’m sure this area is very busy at night. I continued my walk and by the time I got back to the hotel I’d done around 15,000 steps, I also had a couple of blisters. 

I had a dunk in the pool to cool off and then remembered that the receptionist had mentioned a roof terrace. 

OMG! It’s so perfect. Lots of seating, lots of shade, a beautiful breeze and no people. I will definitely be making use of this in the future.

I thought I’d head back into town for dinner, there was a restaurant that had great reviews, Chinese influenced. The reviews clearly worked because it was rammed and there was also a massive queue. By now I was starving and my feet hurt so I didn’t fancy queuing. The restaurant I’d visited the night before was closed so I had a sit down in a bar with a beer to consider my options. 

Just as I took the first sip of my beer a huge Rat almost ran over my foot.. 😳 Jesus, it made me jump. 🐀😬

I’d passed a good looking place earlier, so I went back. It’s a middle eastern restaurant, it was very pretty inside. I ordered a Chicken Biriyani dish and a lemon iced tea. 

Oh wow! The food was awesome, possibly the best meal so far. The tenderest chicken and the rice and curry side were gorgeous. Not like an Indian Biriyani. 

The bill was less than £8 honestly, it was so good, I’m going back. ❤️

After my delicious dinner I walked back to the hotel on my aching feet. As soon as I got to my room an alert came up on my phone saying I’d used all my data, on my Malaysian Sim. I need the data for ordering Grabs, so asked at reception where the nearest place to top up was, she said literally round the corner. So I took my aching feet and off I went. 

Sadly the shops machine was broken (I’m not convinced seeing as the assistant stood chatting on her phone for 5mins, whilst ignoring, I just don’t think she could be bothered doing it) so I had to walk right back to where I’d had dinner to the 7/11! 😩 

A very helpful young fella did some stuff on my phone and announced that I had 7 days data left! And nothing to pay WTF! Result. 👍

By the time I got back I’d walked just under 21,000 steps my feet were not happy! 

On Thursday due to the blisters and a nice bruise on my foot, I figured I’d have a day with less walking. 

With this in mind I purchased a ticket for Penang Hill. The highest point in Penang with gorgeous views and funicular ride to the top. 

After another lush breakfast of poached eggs on toast and tea. I set off. It took around 20 mins in a taxi to get there. The driver told me the queues were taking around 2hrs…yikes! I did have a fast track ticket but still. Thankfully he was wrong and the queues were minimal.

I was at the front of the queue to board but was pushed aside by a couple from Germany or Switzerland, seriously WTF is wrong with people, you’re not going to get there any faster. Twats. 

The hill and the ride is very steep and I have to be honest I didn’t really like it 😳 Especially when it slowed right down to pull into the station at the top, I just kept imagining it falling backwards…! I swear my worry about heights is getting worse! 

Anyway, it was worth the worry and the shoving. The views were amazing, if a little hazy. It was also fresh and cool and smelt of flowers and trees. So fabulous. 

I saw some stunning and huge butterflies 🦋. I had a walk around and found myself at ‘Penang Habitat’ an attraction I thought was elsewhere on the hill, and had planned to visit tomorrow. 

It’s basically a beautiful rainforest experience. A walk through the forest and the canopy. This was a much more authentic and enjoyable experience than the Eco Park in Kuala Lumpur.

I figured as I was here I might as well do it. 

It was absolutely stunning. So incredibly beautiful and peaceful. I saw more butterflies, a few monkeys, and a rather confused bat. 🦇 

Once you Finish the walk you have the option of walking back to where you started approx 2k or there is a free buggy ride. I opted for the free ride. 😄 The not walking much plan seems to have gone slightly awry! 

The buggy is on a first come first served basis. I know this was going to be challenging from the get go. 

The first buggy arrived and it was a bit of a free for all, but a guide from ‘Habitat’ was there and organised people a little.  We waited for the next buggy to arrive, which it did after about 10 mins, which was fine, it was a lovely place to sit. There were at least 7 of us who had been waiting, but when the buggy arrived a new group of 5 just jumped on. Well, by now I’m hot, I need a cold drink and probably some sugar! So I was like, Hello! No! You have to get off there is a queue and you’re at the back of it! They stared at me, I explained again that they had to get off and wait their turn. Eventually they got off, one older man very reluctantly and giving me evils! But to be honest I’m a little fed up with it! I’ve spoken about this in previous blogs, I always try to be polite, move out of the way, allow people ahead of me etcetera, but I’m done. 

I’ve been pushed, shoved, elbowed and in KL a big guy walking down the street whacked me in the stomach and didn’t even apologise! So that’s it, no more Ms Nice Claire! 😡😂😂

I’m now back at the hotel, sitting writing this on the rooftop with a beer and some crisps! Happiness and order are restored. 😍❤️

No new books yet. 

Again, any recommendations on the book front are gratefully received. 

🩷💚🩵💙

Tuesday 30th July 2024

My time in Kuala Lumpur has come to an end. 

I’m currently writing this whilst sitting on a very nice train heading to Penang, more in this later. 

On Sunday, I’d decided my plan was to head back to Chinatown and the area surrounding it for a closer look. 

I’d woken up to a lovely quiet KL, being Sunday there was very little traffic going past in the freeway, the weather was looking great, dry and sunny, so a great start to the day! 😍

I ordered a Grab, which I have to do once I’m in the lobby, in case the lift waiting & journey takes forever, which it can! 

I got in yesterday to go to the pool, floor 47, the lift was ascending, it went from my level, 31, to level 38, 39, 40, decided to change and descend to level 27, 18, then the ground floor! Then up again stopping at what felt like every floor! 

Anyways, the grabs normally appear within 7-10 mins so easier and less hassle to order once I’m downstairs. 

Although it was still quite early, 9.30ish Chinatown was buzzing! Lots of people lost of stalls, shops, food hawkers. The area has been here for forever and the buildings s are old and a little run down, which adds to the character. 

I wasn’t looking to shop, apart from keeping my eye out for a lovely hand fan.🪭 There was a lady on the bus yesterday who had a beautiful  one with a lacquer handles. I didn’t find exactly what I wanted but did get a small fan that fits in my bag better than the one I have. 

I found myself down at Central Market, which is housed in a lovely old art deco building. I had assumed it was a central food market, but it’s actually an indoor market selling lots of lovely things! This is where I found my new fan. 

I had a mooch around then a wander outside and walked down to the river. This area looked very colonial to me. And it is indeed where the British Colonial administration offices were, in the Sultan Abdul Samad Buikding. This is a beautiful building opposite Merdeka Square. Merdeka Square used to be a cricket pitch and is where Malaysia declared independence on 31st August 1957. 

It was now very hot and sunny so I walked back towards Chinatown and had an ice cold coke! 

I was also pretty hungry so I found a beautiful restaurant called Grandma’s, in a Mall and had a gorgeous Hainanese Chicken, it’s so delicious. 

One of the unfortunate things about traveling alone is not being able to order lots of different dishes to try. I’d love to try some of the other dishes I saw, but hate to waste food! 

After lunch I went back to the room and had a refreshing swim. 

Around 6.30 I heard out, I’m going to check out a rooftop bar in a hotel across town. It is supposed to have great views of the Petronas Towers. 

The bar is great, but not quite what I was expecting. It’s literally next to the hotel pool, I was shown to a sunken seated area by the huge windows and right next to the pool. It was fabulous. My only concern is getting back out of the sunken area and negotiating the narrow wooden walkway after a couple of cocktails!! As those of you who know me, I have a slight propensity for falling!! 😂😂

I’ll worry about it later, for now I’m going to enjoy the magnificent view, the music and the happy hour cocktails! 😍🍹

The Sky Bar at Traders Hotel,is definitely worth a visit if you’re in KL. I also managed to exit the sunken area rather elegantly, having found a little step! 👍

I woke up on Monday morning to heavy rain, which is less than ideal,as I wanted to go to the KL tower and walk around the Eco park. I figured the park in the rain wouldn’t be that bad, so bought myself a fetching plastic rain poncho and headed out.

I’d bought my KL Tower ticket online, through an app. That was fine, but  the app was on my iPad which I didn’t want to take out with me, I tried forwarding the tickets to my phone, no go. So I took a picture.

Apparently this was not acceptable, too blurry apparently, so I had to buy another bloody ticket! 

The KL,Tower is around the same age as the Petronas Towers but seems older, it’s certainly less glam! 

Having bought my second ticket I made my way to the lift. 🤔 not the most inspiring start, the lift looked like it was undergoing some major work, we then stopped at a random floor to let someone off and it was clearly a building site, then the lift just sat there for ages…..😳

Eventually we arrived at the top to walk around the outside viewing platform. There are also 2 Sky boxes with glass floors that hang over the side…..it’s a hard ‘No fucking way’ from me. The signs all said no more than 3 people at a time, but there were at least 5 at one point!! 

Luckily it had stopped raining by the time I reached the tower, so I never got to,wear my fetching poncho! 

I walked down the hill to the Eco Park. There were 2 options, a Jumgle Walk or a Canopy Walk, you can do both. I asked which was the nicest, the guy pointed left, so that’s the way I went. Yeah, OK, not ideal! The walkway was very steep, heading down, and also a little slippery due to the earlier rain. I’ll refer you back to my earlier comment about falling, this also includes Slipping! Nikki can confirm I slipped on a wet drain cover whilst standing still!! Anyway I made my way very gingerly down the step hill, looking like a bloody decrepit old fogey, whilst being bitten by something on my ankles, and sweating like a beast. I made it down without injury and decided not to complete the round trip and instead jumped into an air conditioned Grab and made my way to an air conditioned Mall for something cool to drink and some food. 

I ended up sitting in the park by the Mall for a while just enjoying the peace & tranquility. Surprisingly few birds, not even in the Eco park. I think all the skyscrapers scare them away. 

I eventually had some food at Madam Kwan’s, a very busy place where the food was, again delicious. I had serious food envy looking at everyone’s food! 

I had a pretty quiet evening reading and grabbing a salad from the hotel across the road, where I also managed to finally have a little,chat to Nikki! 😍

I’m leaving today for Penang, an island in Malaysia and I’m staying in the old town, called Georgetown, Georgetown is a UNESCO world heritage site. It looks amazing and also a lot more pedestrian friendly! ❤️

I booked a train ticket online whilst I was in Australia. I have checked and rechecked my ticket, and was certain the train left from KL Sentra Train Station. 

Knowing that the traffic can be crazy I decided to leave early as the station is in the other side of the city. It took 25 mins to get there, and when I arrived I was told I was at the wrong station (I bloody knew this would happen!) 

I was surprisingly calm and asked if there as anything I could do rather than go back to the correct station and there was. I simply purchased an add-on for the grand sum of 20p and I was good to go! 😍

My seat is excellent, forward facing, next to a big window in a nice carriage. 

Had a slight issue earlier when the young girl in the seat in front, who is playing on a tablet, went to pull the blind down! I simply stuck my hand under to stop it, pushed it back up and gave her a look. Now we understand each other! 😂😂

It’s a 4hr ride to Butterworth, the station I need to then get either a ferry or a taxi to Penang and my hotel. 

I’m going to finish this and enjoy the view from my blind free window! 

Happy Tuesday People.

💙🩵❤️💚

Books Read.

Everyone here is Lying. Shari Lapena. A OK thriller, not great, not bad.

Any book recommendations would be gratefully received. ❤️

Saturday 27th July

I arrived safe and sound in Kuala Lumpur. 

The journey was a long one! 

I left Bunbury on Thursday afternoon at 2pm on the bus. I’d decided to get the bus as it’s cheap, convenient and it saved Rebecca or Chris taking time off work or having to drive back alone. 

The bus was fine, a little pungent but not bad. 

For some reason I had terminal 3 & 4 written in my ticket. We arrived in the pouring rain, at Terminals 1 & 2, which looked familiar, but I checked my ticket it definitely said terminals 3 & 4, which I assumed were just along the way a bit. No, Terminals 3 & 4 are on the other side of the runways, so a 15 drive. As we departed I realised I should have got off!  I wasn’t unduly concerned as I had arrived at the airport a Wapping 7hrs early! 😂 Not that I’m that keen, it was down to the bus times! 

Luckily for me there was a handy free shuttle back to the correct terminal and I wasted another 30 mins. Only 6.5 to go! 

I was flying with Air Asia, who are a great cheap airline. The only problem, no early bag drop. 

Perth Airport is very small, the options of things to do before security consists of, 1. Visit the toilet. 2. Buy some toiletries. 3. Buy a mobile phone or SIM card. 4. Sit in the one bar/restaurant. I opted for number 4. I treated myself to a very welcome JD & Coke and settled in for a bit of a wait. 

I was finally able to check in at 9 and I then passed through a speedy, empty security section and onto the Lounge I’d booked. 

The lounge wasn’t really expensive and it was comfy, relaxed and they served a delicious Chenin Blanc! It was also right next to my departure gate. This meant I could see when the plane arrived, when people started boarding, giving me time to really enjoy the wine! 😂

The flight was great, I had a row to myself. Yes! I managed to doze for a bit and landed in Kuala Lumpur 6 hours later. 

I had to fill in a visa on arrival form, digitally…😳 the computers they provided were all in use, with long queues, I had a driver waiting to pick me up and I was already behind schedule, feeling a little anxious I got in the passport control queue and the rather lovely young guy in front of me explained that I could fill it in on my phone using the QR code! 🫨 I couldn’t scan the code properly, so bless him, he literally did the whole thing for me, doing things on my phone that I didn’t even know it did! He was amazing. We got it done just before I reached the front of the queue! I was allowed in so he must have done it right! 😍 

I made it through the various airport levels to the correct spot for my driver and off we went. 

I didn’t realise that the airport was so far from the city, about a 45 min drive. 

I arrived at the place I’m staying at approximately 8.30am and I can’t check in until 3pm so I dumped my bags in left luggage and headed into the city. 

Wow it’s 🥵 around 32 degrees! It’s not far to walk to the Petronas Twin Towers. They really are stunning. 

I was able to get tickets for the tour of the towers for 11.30, there were surprisingly few spaces available. 

This then gave me time to grab a cup of tea, sort out a SIM card and try to find a watch. 

The tea was pretty easy to find and extremely welcome. The SIM card likewise. A very helpful young man sold it to me, fitted it, set it up, all for the princely sum of £12! Absolute Bargin and so easy. 

Finding a watch was proving a little more tricky, perhaps due to being in a high end Shopping Mall and not wanting a watch from Gucci, Cartier, TAG Heuer (actually that’s a lie, I’d love a TAG 😁) but I am trying to be sensible. 🥰 I did try on a rather beautiful one in Swarovski!! It was blue and shiny and so pretty, I was so, so tempted, but I stayed strong. I then literally popped across the aisle into a shop selling lots of things and found 2 watches on a deal for……£8! 😂😂 They are both perfect for what I need and I saved myself a few Bob. Winning!! 🥇😍

Then it was off for my Tower Tour. 

We started with a visit to the Sky Bridge that connects the 2 towers, this is on level 42. It was a little hazy but the views were amazing. 

Spotted a guy outside cleaning the windows….mad. 

Then it was up to the top, floor 86. Where, unbelievably there were more guys in a cleaning gondola!! WTAF! 😳 Absolutely not. 

Work on the towers started in 1993 and they were officially opened in 1999. The design is based on simple Islamic geometric forms of two interlocking squares, creating a shape of an eight-pointed star. Architecturally, these forms represent the important Islamic principles of unity, harmony, stability and rationality. 

I think the Towers are incredibly beautiful, especially at night. 

I enjoyed my tour but by the end I was getting pretty hungry. I tried to grab something in the Mall, but there were long queues. I ended up walking back towards my accommodation and popped into the hotel opposite, The Crowne Plaza! I had a delicious meal of noddles in broth followed by a Nass Gorang and a Tiger Beer! 

Unfortunately, the accommodation I’m in doesn’t have a restaurant or a bar, despite advertising that they do. 🤨 It was one of the reasons I booked that particular place. It’s just easier to stay onsite in the evenings if I’ve had a busy day. 

After lunch it was time to check in. My room is ok, a little tired and with a lingering smell, like sweaty fruit! But it’ll do. It’s clean. 

I checked out the pool which is up on the 47th floor and is great. 👍 

I managed to stay awake till 8.30pm then crashed. I was knackered and I’d walked over 20,000 steps! 

I had a good nights sleep and got up ready for the day. 

I took a Grab Cab, (these are like Ubers, only cheaper 😂) over to the city centre called Bukit Bingtang, where I grabbed tickets for the hop on hop off bus. I think they are a great way to see around a city and decide where you’d like to explore more. 

This area was really busy, lots of people, lots of shopping Malls, lots of food places. 

I found the bus ticket office, but realised I’d made a rookie mistake and left my suncream and my light scarf back at the room! Sitting on an open topped bus for 2 hours around midday in a sleeveless top with no cover, not a great idea, especially with my pale English skin! 

I grabbed a cheap sarong (I needed one anyway) a bottle of iced tea and jumped aboard. 

It was great. A little slow and hot to start but we went through some interesting areas, Chinatown, Little India, the botanical gardens, the bird park and the KL Sentral Station. Handy for me to know where the station is as I’m leaving from there on Tuesday.

The whole route took a couple of hours and was great. It would have been nice to have some commentary on the way explaining things, but it was OK. I think I might go back tomorrow to the area around Chinatown, the central market.

My newly purchased sarong came in very handy! 

Interesting to note that KL is very built up, lots of high rise buildings and more being built all the time. But as we were driving around the coolest areas were near the botanical gardens and the Palace where they is lots of trees and planting. With climate change, we need a radical rethink on the ideas of urban planning. Plant more trees!🌳 🌴 🌲 

I popped into another big Mall afterwards to grab some food and cool off a little! The food court was amazing. So much to choose from, I ended up getting a massive mango & cream cheese pastry, which was sooo good, sweet options are not like me, but I think I needed the sugar boost. 

Shopping Malls are not really my thing, but they are massively popular in South East Asia. Here in KL, many of the Malls are really high end, and the designer shops are busy! The South East Asian Economy is very strong and with comes spending power. 💴💴

Having added my £1.50 to the economy, I headed back to the accommodation and a dip in the pool. 🏊‍♀️ 

I ventured out in the evening to a lovely bar only a short walk away, called the ‘Canopy Lounge’ I arrived around 7pm, luckily, as it started to fill up quickly by 7.30 -8. The bar does food, Cocktails and Hookah Pipes. I stuck to the cocktails! 

My White Sangria, was delicious & refreshing. It looked more like a fruit salad tbh! 😂 

It was a cool, fun vibe. I might go back. 

So far Malaysia has been great. It’s nice to be somewhere warm and to see a new country. 

Another little side note. I’m not sure how keen I am on very tall buildings and being reliant on lifts! (Anne, I have no idea what you’d do!!😳) Whilst the pool here is excellent and offers great views, it also makes me a little anxious 😬 

Books Read

A single act of kindness. Samantha Tonge. Another Prime book. A relaxing fun read. 

I read most of it waiting for my flight!! 

Have a great Sunday people.

Lots of love.