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Fiji: extracts from paradise (first part)

Saturday August 8 - After you change trains in Brisbane, and somewhat groggy because we spent the night flying from Hong Kong, I write these lines in the plane that takes us to Fiji .

Although we had not clearly destined to start the trip, we decided it was a good time (logistic and "spiritual") to take a break of 2 weeks to hand of kings. We were told that Fiji had become a favorite destination of backpackers tacky "for if, even among backpackers there are classes, and one of them are hippie-pijis veintipocoañeros with little money for certain things but apparently not so little for others, and are able to travel for many months distant destinations (who had been at her age!) and then delivered to the party without end. No objection to the fun, I'm not exactly demure me from those wonderful years ;-), but possibly from experience is that many do not make good companions of accommodation you are looking for other things (relax, conversations with substance, etc.). . However, we reported a little more in depth, and apparently it is possible montartelo otherwise and avoid the hooligans. Will report results at the end of the trip.

So here we go, one of the recognized paradise rest of the world, and how could it be otherwise ... Today is Saturday :-)

In anticipation that these two short week the live at a pace quite different, cambiare also temporarily literary style of the blog, and try and record every few days short excerpts of our feelings when they are still fresh almost like a diary. We are not yet there, and I already noticed :-) influenced by

parariso

Thursday, 13 August - Fiji Today it rains. Because if it appears that in the earthly paradise (Fiji is just one of many that abound in this area of \u200b\u200bthe world) are not always given the "optimal conditions of pressure and temperature." As the letter small scientific experiment, the tourist brochures should warn the naive traveler something. But today we do not care.

After two intense days of sun, sand and sea, hardly take off the glasses and the tube rather than to eat (we are concerned that, after weeks on end so, make permanent the glasses ;-) Yesterday, change of place to spend two days in a beachfront bungalow, in which there is not much to do. We have taken a kayak a couple of hours, taking advantage of the high tides because the floor is to drag 500 meters to find water, and the rest of the day we will see it move from a roof by the sea, while listening to the crashing equally waves on the reef and the tinkle of rain on our "hut." Oh, and birds.

speak so much as going to consider me a geek of the birds, and I'm not ... not for lack of motivation on my part, but because there are more corners counted where the songbirds prevail over any other sound (and no, the chirping of caged canary does not count, sorry). But it is, for example, more vivid memories I have of when we were in the South Island of New Zealand: we were where we were, at any time of day, we always hear birds singing. And if that were not enough, also had some amazing songs, precious. So far in Fiji so far comes close. And I think, hopefully, it will be so in all South Pacific islands. It's relaxing and encouraging to hear again after several months when, in many places, the horn was the predominant noise. Let's see if we carry these sites. For me, listening to birds singing is an essential condition in paradise.

call us to come together to you with free rolls offered at the hotel. If it stops raining, then descend to a little beach volleyball and a swim at sunset. And if not for, nor do we care.

Sunday August 16th - is our second day in the Yasawas, a tiny archipelago northwest of the main island Fiji, where we will spend 7 nights in 3 different islands.

Outside the two large islands that is Fiji, where the majority of its population, the archetype of Fijian vacation is "practice" in any of the other 300 islands of the country. The main island of Fiji (Viti Levu call), which spent the first 5 days, reminded us in many ways to Mauritius, with its diverse mix of Fijians, Hindus and expatriates worldwide. Even in his political tensions (Hindus against Fijians) are treated. But Fiji is much less densely populated. And as I say, the popular imagination Fiji live in other islands where the inhabitants are exclusively Fijian. Where can only be reached by boat plying turquoise waters of a nearly impossible, or by helicopter or seaplane. Where there is no single road, hardly any road between towns. And where the most frequent cause of death is that you drop a coconut on the head, a death far more likely among the tourists who spend the long hours on the beach in the shade of a palm tree.

And the other half of the day, you spend in the water. Oh, and yes, let the rain, and enjoyed a splendid day since the previous extract (knock on wood, of course, coconut). Eva is one of those rogue constipated "stupid" in midsummer, you have to thank the chutes of Hong Kong air conditioning, so we are not able to dive. But frankly, the nivelazo snorkeling from the beach is brutal, plus you can do hours and hours, 0 euros, so do not hurt so much bad luck. Locals also spend much of the day on the water, though fewer than wet (except for fishing) and more than guiris transfer by boat from here to there.

And when they do that, you say your only other occupation is singing. As they like, they are singing! The chorus of each hotel receives you when you arrive, you fire the go, and softened every meal. And Sunday, we experienced a mass Fijian, mainly to enjoy its spectacular also a capella voices but without the guitar. It's been great, beautiful chants and even the rather emotional all Fijian ceremony ... until the priest, in deference to international visitors has fallen into the classic sermon in English. And as he has begun to understand, that has lost its meaning. That stuff!

Wednesday August 19 - late afternoon in the second of the Yasawa Islands we visited.

If you have prepared so well, and your hotel is well located, after the "tumbing" and snorkeling, admire the sunsets over the sea is the third of sports in popularity. For fans of the sunset as we know, there is surprising that this hobby does not have a lot more pull, especially on sites like these where everything around you conspires to wear it to the egg. If not a holiday where relaxation dominates are able to clear your mind and concentrate solely to absorb all the beauty of this dizzying final sprint of the sun on your commute, and the explosion of color that follows ... if not in these circumstances you get 20 or 30 minutejos of brain-as I say, wonders how many other less obvious you pass unnoticed in your life, do not you think?

For we are having to work too hard to find our piece of secluded beach where fire every day. We pleased, obviously, but such is our fascination with that magical moment that there must be some powerful reason to see us as little seconded. And soon we discovered, in most hotels, this time of day coincides with the happy hour at the bar, which therefore is petadito. The "cannneeee" is weak, and vice can be more than the spirituality of the moment.

So, watch the sunset is relegated to fourth place in the ranking of major sports in Fiji, ousted by the 2x1 enjoy alcohol: - /

Saturday August 22 - Son just over 8 in the morning, and I'm so busted swim.

Breathing through the tube is becoming so natural that I should easily take 10 minutes without removing the head of the water, and I also realize that a while ago I did not make eye contact with Eva. Suddenly something touched me back. Although the feeling was different, I gather that some of the other 18 divers who were with us on the boat gives flight has given me, at last raised his head above water and looked back ... but no one close enough (¿?). However, I am not alone, I notice it perfectly but I fail to decipher. So simply put your head in the sea, just in time to understand this strange tingling sensation created by a stream under my feet, the blanket (another blanket, not wearing a good time to follow closely) is happening to me just below , and is so big and is so about that for a moment I see only black beneath me. Finally, complete your overtaking the submarine, and the turquoise water surround again. I do not think I had to get some air in the 20 or 30 seconds-long episode, which I'm still processing, so you get your head back, looked back, and there's the rest of the group swam frantically toward me, then surrounding me and ahead in hot pursuit of the blanket.

The only head up is that of Eva, I finally explained what was running out of understanding, while still engrossed in one of the blankets, private dance after she and I "played" the rest of the group Another reached behind me and passed me under, almost na! We're all pretty tired, so not much duraremos 4 spectacular swimming with these animals, we have endured around while feeding in the current generated only at high tide (hence the hour so late.) Perhaps driven by what we think is a quasi-religious experience, on several occasions Eva and I have endured more than anyone else beside the majestic rays, and we have found themselves, amazed by how effortlessly flapping his body several feet slim. But towards the end gives us the best parting gift, when 3 of them and grouped around us in a hurry, at times swimming vertically, allowing us to see their belly in all its splendor, open mouth and gills butt to maximize your particular feed by filtering. I think we go with that image a long time, it will be difficult to live in short something so unique that deserves to replace the memory.

The guides called us to return to the boat, it's our turn to eat breakfast. And rarely have done so awake and yet so silent. Along with food, digest the incredible start of the day, our last day in Fiji. That is more cojonuda leave of paradise!

Sunday August 23 - Fifteen days later, I write again on the plane, this time back.

We have spent a great day, enjoying and using the sun, sand and sea to the limit sometimes. One day, draining the last bit of snorkeling while waiting the boat that we could remove the island, we had to practically pull out of the water pipe and almost missed the boat as we were absorbed with undersea life. Not all days were perfect time, but if the sea was not desirable could be combined with excursions on foot to admire the island from the top, cultural visits to nearby towns, or warm chats with many interesting people we met. In addition, the scraping time in Vietnam to investigate the best way to enjoy Fiji has borne fruit, and there has been little shabby backpacker trail, without having to pay much more for it.

In fact, Fiji is advisable because, being expensive, is not exclusive and only suitable for more baggy pockets. Apparently, that exclusivity is what we find in our second (and last) Pacific paradise, Tahiti and French Polynesia. As we read, it will be so expensive that we conform better to "stay in New Zealand" the previous weeks, instead of flying to another island. Anyway, two months of "just beach" are too much for our taste, so we'll fit the brackets (one week in Australia and three in New Zealand), before flying to Tahiti.

to the next delivery, BULA from Fiji!

Juan and Eva

------------------------------------- ----------

Who know (worth mentioning)

in Fiji are socialized much. The relaxed life in the beach resorts, with communal meals and such rotation of people, gives to many new, though fleeting, friendships. And it has not stopped surprising the amount of good people we have met in just 2 weeks, there were some black sheep, of course, but it has the feeling that in Fiji they break the statistics of good vibes. :-) That will

Another curious fact is que nunca habiamos congeniado con semejante densidad de parejas multiculturales. Empezando por Faustino y Birgitta, ejemplo patente de que las suecas todavia deben estar ojo avizor en sus vacaciones en España, por mucho tiempo que haya pasado desde aquellos maravillosos años 70 :-) Ciudadanos del mundo, como nosotros, sintonizamos enseguida y ya todo fue darle a la lengua durante dos dias ininterrumpidos. Su planteamiento inicial de un año de viaje se habia quedado, de momento, en solo dos meses... asi que espero que les acabasemos de meter el gusanillo en el cuerpo. ¡Animaos, no os arrepentireis!

Tambien compartimos muchas horas de playa y de snorkel con Caroline y Marcelo, inglesa e italiano, tambien in her eighth month of travel (although almost everything had happened in Australia ... which is not bad, hey.) And in one of the hotels we agree with two pairs of American "majos" (which is when an American is nice, very nice, but also the opposite happens and it usually break records :-/). pedorro Both were on their honeymoon, and although all were born in the USA, only one (Pam) was what is commonly called "white Anglo-Saxon" and the rest were of Jamaican descent (Don, Pam's husband), Asian (Amanda ), and Eastern Europe (Jeremy). So, as I said, a half full of inter-racial very, very well run.

But there not just because in Fiji have enjoyed our second experience as "squatters sofa" (CouchSurfers). And we fell in the house of Diana and Paul, of course, also an exotic mix of Irish and Fijian, and both fully involved with to accommodate passengers (in the loose three nights we spent with them were never the only) ... clear that households in Fiji live in close to the African share the concept of "extended family", and the houses of brothers, brothers, cousins, etc. are a "common fund" for everyone. Used, then, that his door is always open, boarded the difficult art of making us feel at home. A shame that they made a tortilla that night was a disaster (

inadequate tools

:-(

Finally, re-reading the extracts I realize that the backpackers veintipocoañeros mention has been generally sound a bit derogatory, and nothing further from my intention. Not all are mindless hiperhormonados wasting their savings (or potato) getting drunk in exotic countries of which 90% are lost, and we have enjoyed in recent months the contagious energy of many of them (rightly mentioned in this section .) In Fiji, the best representative was Roos, a Dutch multi-language like many of his countrymen (who is jealous of country!), Which in its 25 springs had lived in Spain for a year (and it had traveled extensively, with passion: - ) and another in Australia, and had already traveled by many other world regions. And all while finishing his law studies and working in winter as a ski instructor. An earthquake of women, we laugh a lot with it, and may our paths cross again below because I planned a month in New Zealand ... We love to see you again, Rose of Holland!

Errata - With direct problems we had in the last entry, I had an unforgettable neglect and I forgot to mention our personal guide in Hong Kong. Master Charmeine was fellow at Stanford's our friend Jaime, who first contacted us, and since we landed at our first stop there (early June on his way to Vietnam from Nepal) was a true delight. Not only was left with all our winter clothes as he toured the warm Indochina, but we had an expert guide and took us out to dinner a few nights to local sites, which hardly would have found ourselves. He says he would love to learn English ... And we return your hospitality if you ever dare to travel to Spain, Charmeine!

Can Scabies Symptoms Get Worse After Treatment?

Asia - Laos

And so we, dear readers, the second of the four continental epilogue that will have this blog. However, not chronologically comes just half of the trip, because we had divided the continent equally, if we set aside 3 months for Africa and South America, at the beginning and end of the year respectively, but decided to use 4 months in Asia and only 2 in Oceania. Mainly because, with all that Asia has to see, we had never encouraged to come by here (except for a scale of one day in Singapore), while we already knew enough of Australia and New Zealand. So in Oceania us "conformabamos" to visit some of the South Pacific islands, along with Papua New Guinea which has finally fallen on the itinerary.

By starting this asian with a headline summary very, very general, could be said to have met our expectations with reasonable accuracy. And I mean that if at the beginning of the journey you ask me which is the region of the world think you'll like very least, he said Asia. It is true that has been somewhat mixed. Even while in Asia, Nepal was our most sought after destinations globally, and left us speechless, return safely, and do not take long. Laos has been a pleasant surprise, a small oasis of calm and authenticity, but we travel in some detail and I have not been the itch to come back soon. You know very well the little disappointment that we get to India, and in this second stage in Vietnam is likely to have accused some wear with their way of being ... and the little while of this region. And, also as an important part of this overview, we must say that we had not passed in our lives as hot as these 4 months (excluding days on the mountain in Nepal ... and not all :-/). People (the number of people, I mean his way of being ... in some places, too), and extreme heat, do something more logically durillo the trip, and we had plates full of both over the 4 months old.

So, as I said, is likely to meet our initial feeling, and when we finish the year we see in Asia, a region in which we really enjoyed, although less than in the other 3. But does not seem fair as compared with the continents to which we have not yet arrived (although we know from before), making this final reflection I tried to simply compare with Africa, to find that our feelings so different in either site.

In an effort to distill and synthesize the maximum, I think what attracts us is the underdevelopment of Africa primitive, a kind of "original poverty" that is as embedded and assumed. Even as the cradle of humanity, I think the wheel of progress over hundreds of years there has simply turned more slowly. And everything is there another rhythm, time passes more languidly (what they call "African time"). In Asia, much more densely populated, lower development of many of these countries gives the feeling of being the result most of its troubled history, which has slowed them every now and again have had to take a run, rather than their way of being or lack of entrepreneurial spirit. In general, Asia curran long and hard, and that's just a matter of time that all these countries are placed at our level, and some we brought forward without regard (does anyone doubt that China will be the first world power in a few years?) . Always, of course, that his political situation remains more or less stable, regardless of the color you have (and is that red is not what it was

:-) And how does this translate that Africa wins the departure for us? Well, that is like a diamond in the rough, hypnotic beauty despite (or because of) their patents imperfections. Asian diamond is discovered and polished rather than "to our liking" (That of a majority of tourists, foreigners but also local), is no less precious, as I have enjoyed it much, but has not attracted the fascination about Africa animal that made us feel.

Finally, of course this is a huge generalization and, especially, is very personal . We "semos asin", and in the same way that (thankfully) not everyone frequents the nudist beach just 10 km from Valencia and others prefer a thousand times "acclimated" beaches, it is perfectly possible (and normal) than for other Asia win by a landslide. For us it was worth, was a new experience that we wanted to have, Nepal and we fall in love again, and the rest we enjoyed almost daily perhaps something less than daily in India. But, as even before this trip, Asia is likely to continue without being a destination of choice in our future choices of vacation destinations.

That said, I would add that each time I am more conscious of the fact that a trip like this can take some of the assessments to transfer to the blog. While it is true that sometimes I find myself striving to be objective ... in the background is absurd, I pour everything here is totally subjective and so must be (this is not a newspaper). But it is fair to include some qualifications, it is easy to keep the excitement level and the ability to enjoy any kitchen for 3 or 4 weeks (the duration of a typical trip), including several more, but several months will inevitably go through phases in your state of mind as is any other year. Well of course it is not "like any other year," but I understand :-)

So Far, I have already told in previous posts some unwanted effects (and also unexpected) of a trip like this, one year continuously. We are importing or the least that more than one has asked us, each day sleeping on a site and thus lead the pack ... Well, this last if you get lazy: - / But in the same way that sometimes a destination is negatively influenced by another recent destination, and with which it is impossible not to compare, on other occasions current target is affected by later. "Ein? How we manage that trick in the time? It turns out that, in general, we need not do a lot of prior preparation, we bought the guide of the country following a few days before arrival and arrange everything on the fly, with very few exceptions (some have rental car booked in advance The first hotel in a new country, things like that). But in the last month we have been forced to anticipate and prepare for some destinations much later (Fiji, Tahiti, to investigate whether we want to see some other South Pacific island ... even Chile, at the end of our year!), Or for various reasons we made and we could see problems on these sites once (Without accommodation, without transport, both). This planning in advance is normal, and that's what we've done so many times ... also constitute a first step pre-trip we have always enjoyed. Of course, when you do in your spare time at home, but scratching hours your current destination, the conflict of interest is ... Terrible! It's great to start dreaming of that country to which we will shortly, but sucks a lot to do at the expense of sacrificing some other things in today, because you can not always connect to the Internet late in the evening when you will be advisable. Finally, it is paradoxical, a tad stressful, and in short is not cool ... but sometimes no other choice, and this last stage as we walked Vietnam have had enough of this for our taste. What are the things!

Luckily, although we play there also be more hours than we wanted on the Internet, Asia ended with a small pearl: Hong Kong. In total we spent 3 days in this city, which deserves special mention is intersantisima. It's one of those "new" Asian metropolis, in the line of Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and the most devoted itself as Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing ... we know only Singapore and Hong Kong now, but I would bet that they all have many similarities. Especially one, the cult of modernity and consumerism in these cities minimally nothing "old" remains standing, and what replaces it is unlikely to be an office building or shopping center. Or both at once. This means that housing is not expensive, expensive! (To laugh at the prices of Madrid, really). But those who get to live in these cities enjoy more pointers services, also much better than we have in large Western cities. Without going any further, the Hong Kong public transportation is disbelief, especially the metro. And among that is fast, expansive and modern, and also very cheap, it's wonderful to see a city as crowded as Hong Kong has virtually no traffic jams ... Everyone take public transportation! And to think that a "clothed themselves" too simple to apply get almost nowhere :-(

Logistics

Honestly, there is little to say on this subject in this part of the world. Unlike Africa, for here there is little adventure possible, especially if you are confined to more routes classic. Along with South America (though possibly more), is the backpacker area of \u200b\u200bthe world but, for ease of travel independently and, above all, by their prices. Now I have given some examples but for that you see more concrete idea in these 4 months we will have spent on average about 25 euros a day each. Yes, everything including, without bracelet :-)

The most "difficult" in these countries may be just what you least expect , due to very different standards of beauty, it is curious as the dark here is not seen as something beautiful but quite the contrary ... Eve so that the saw and wanted them to find moisturizers that have similar or bleach! But come on, was of the few things that although not in the supermarkets, do not got. And they are so insistent offering you just about everything, every hour on the street, some shirts that sold totally hit the nail on the head. In India and Nepal had a few in which he read a string like "tuk-tuk No, no taxi, no tiger balm, no marijuana, no shopping, no dollar", to try to "avoid" having to repeat "no" to so many colorful offerings. And there was another Indochina a mythical phrase that area, "SAME SAME BUT DIFFERENT ..." which is what I told you to match what you are looking for what they have, in most of the time even remotely similar ... Hence the irony of the tagline: - /

we eat (and drink)

I'm not doing a review of the cuisine in these last 4 months, but if it had targeted a couple of curiosities about meals .

For example, since we arrived in Asia, we realized that there do not take the menu lists the ingredients of each dish to the letter, if one or several things that have not, you exchange it for other or bring it to you without it and as hot dogs, though the dish may no longer have much to do with the original. Without exception has occurred in India, Nepal, Vietnam and Laos in've read somewhere they do not like "disappointed" and tell you not have certain thing, so as closely as possible. In short, no longer merely anecdotal and smiled when the approach is rather symbolic, while the dish is still edible. Or not as exaggerated as a site of Nepal, in which I asked apple pie and, as they had not brought me directly (this time telling me ... but according to their own criteria) ... Rice pudding! And see you were right :-) And in Nepal

us peculiar not something we ate, but the site itself. It was a typical Nepali restaurant, relatively "Fisna" to what was usual for there, 'and a pair of swallows had nested inside. Well, without thinking twice, the owners had adopted without hesitation, even though they had upholstered poop most of the walls (which is also cleaned, it was like an eschatological coated) and threw some good fly low over the diners during dinner. We loved. That is to integrate nature and the rest talk :-) That



read a while since I went over the best that we have eaten, because if we read two at a good pace. Although, as usual, lately I'm over Eve, but with some advantage, we have had many hours of bus, and I do not get dizzy reading :-)

Leaving India, wanted to read some of Gandhi. But the only thing I could find (in the thrift stores) turned out to be about, not written by him, and was more of a Toston. "Instead," fell into our hands another book whose characters were Muslims, although this time unfolding in Afghanistan, and were not immigrants as "Maps for Lost Lovers." "A Thousand Splendid Suns" is a bestseller written by an Afghan refugee in the U.S. during the Russian invasion of his country, and the harshness with which the story of two women living in that country over the last, terrible 30 years , is shocking. Fiction, but I fear that too many doses of reality, a lot of fabric! Also

to make your hair stand on end, but in another completely different line, is "Into thin air." Of course, after Annapurna, I wanted to read any book of mountaineering, and this is possibly the most famous (Eva and I had read when it came out 13 years ago), on an expedition to Everest that left rather frog. I still shudder to remember it, but if you animais thou mayest not release until the end ... As I removed was keen to draw a eight thousand, but most of us we had neither the agenda, "ein? =: -0

Finally, in an exchange several bands with the 6 that we are in northern Laos, we play the second part of "The Pillars of the Earth" in Spain entitled "World Without End ". Literature and entertaining easy, as the first, so that is 1200 pages fly by. Highly recommended for those seeking a fun book to disconnect, beach vacation :-) --------------------------

For this and a biscuit, we have a light snack Asia and we are in the eighth month of sabbatical =: -0 You can imagine what we would like, in a few weeks crossing the International Date Line Change Date, we jump back not a day but many more.

Finally, in the absence of a time machine, by all means try to imbue the "island pace" that pride themselves on our next destination (like Fiji, where we publish this.) At the moment, promises.

Hasta la vista, Asia! Juan and Eva



PS: With the previous post we went back to have a few "direct problems," as we came up with some frequency in Africa (a continent less connected to the internet), but I already had forgotten since I stepped on the India. In the end, that was not gone much longer publish a hurry that he had, and after a couple of times I have edited and expanded what I wrote in his day ... if you want to read it again.

Church Anniversar Themes

epilogue (last throes), Cambodia and Vietnam II: trampling (with the bike, of course) I outdated stereotypes

Xin chao! "Hello" from Vietnam!

Well, well ... they are passing on Saturday, and we are in August! This time of year in which there much more likely that our stories cause travelers envious little less (healthy:) in you, dear readers. Is not the same reading us from the office on Monday, a Monday (or any other day) summer from where I caught your vacation retreat, what not? And up here is that it shows that it is summer arrives in the West, and met with many groups of Americans and Europeans (and lots of English, of course).

Well wherever it is that you have decided to spend the summer, I wish that you should rest it deserves a few days, at first ... and then, to have fun because life is short :-)

And if you have no business looking forward, not despair; is not worrisome, as it does not become a permanent attitude. Happens in the best families. In our case, culminating Laos with the highest note, we spent 2 nights in some islands in the Mekong river, practically on the border with Cambodia. Although I have found the wellspring of tourism in the background are sites with nothing more (and no less) to make Bike ride (very little ones), while the locals say hello, or lie down in a hammock and let yourself be hypnotized by the river flow. In the second island we slept in a log cabin super cuca, hanging over the river and a large terrace from which we pass, languidly, our last hours in the quiet country. And as much icing on the cake, a sunset of colors impossible. All this, € 2.5 night. Little more could you want.

going out of Laos, something wakes you up from your slumber and then you are fully aware that you leave behind the calm: a cell phone rings. And the first time in Cambodia as you check here, as in virtually every country that we have (with few exceptions, such as Laos, where they are a step below), the phone is a "stop" widespread. In Cambodia we have been less than a week to see the fundamental (the ruins of Angkor), so we could not go too much or too get an accurate picture of the country (the resorts are never more representative). From the capital, Phnom Penh, as could not be otherwise, we returned to Cambodia and into Vietnam by boat on the Mekong. A river has been with us thousands of miles, from northern Laos to see it almost lead to his enrevesadisimo delta, southern Vietnam. And from the Mekong Delta, we walked the lanky Vietnam from south to north to fill in Hanoi, 2 months after starting the tour of Indochina.


To summarize our feelings in this circuit, we have enjoyed over the first half (I described in the previous post) that this second. How much will influence which, after a month in the area, the novelty is over and the pace of the amazing things you see is reduced? It is quite likely, in my opinion. We liked most northern Vietnam to the south, but there if I think that we have not lost their objectivity, because that feeling was reinforced in these last days that we have returned to the north (after almost 2 months in the region and behind us.) However, we certainly enjoyed the Mekong Delta but if we had so recently all previous river kilometers, much more "wild" (no exaggeration) and bucolic. And in the same way inside the center of Vietnam probably would have filled us much more if our subconscious is betraying us by comparing it to Laos. Anyway, this is one of the dangers of such a journey: you become too demanding on the level of developments with which you'll find. If you find yourself thinking more and more occasions, "this is more of the same", he plays a change of scenery, or do not do justice to the sites you visit.

Actually, this is already what we imagined before we leave, so our schedule is quite varied. In this area we found 15 days more than expected, we have been good or they would have had to run over what we like, or skip Cambodia and something else. But those 2 extra weeks had their little counterproductive, so we'll fit the changing continent.

And beyond this summary of last month, going beyond a putpurri feelings, opinions, experiences and anecdotes, listed haphazardly as is typical of the area :-)

* Vietnam has been a little shock of modernity in our Asian stage. And, among other things, note that they do better in that it is the only country we've seen chubby, mainly children. It is true that nothing has surprised us is that in these countries (with the exception of China, so we have), but especially in Vietnam, the bike is dead. For every one you see, there are a thousand bikes, and it's hard to be a cyclist in these conditions. But given the feeling that, since all my neighbors has a motillo no longer move your ass for nothing, and even across the street caught the bike ... which may influence begins to be chubby. Ah, but as the bike is not what it was funny how in some tourist sites have resurrected the tandem, with great success, pipe pass it! Of course, if a motillo is up four ... you can imagine the balancing act in tandem to make a good time =: -0

Incidentally, as I told the most common public transportation in Vietnam is a coleguilla that rises on his bike, and here called "xe om", whose translation is more or less "Hold on!" =: -0

* On the other hand, it is a pleasure to again be able to use a map and orient easily in the cities, because the streets have names and buildings number (!!!). Does not occur everywhere, but in most, and conversely in the countries leading the streets with name clearly visible had been the exception.

* We had an anecdote of fireworks at a hotel in Vietnam, in which after just registered to no more than 5 minutes, went down to ask for change and the receptionist asked us first if we stay with them. After our face perplexing, we explained that to nothing had been fourth time introducing our data and making it the typical review (where we are, how long in Vietnam, where we will go the next day, etc.), And when half order realizes release us without thinking twice: "Sorry, is that all you seem foreign alike!" So you know, if we difficult to differentiate, to them also happens to us :-)

* We have found very original number of occupations, such as pastor of ducks, a fisherman fishing in the paddy electric, seafood portable moto-taxi driver elephants ...

* We will not mention anything specific this time in the section we eat, has been a bit more of the same as the previous month. That if we have become experts in eating with chopsticks, an interesting invention because either you are handling a machine or force you to eat more slowly (as we should always do, come on).

* This month we have caught many, many buses. And is that Vietnam is looooong, so we spent many hours in the road. Most tourist buses were, but always were mostly local tourists. But we have also taken some other local bus, short haul, and one of those peta and the height: with the collector inside, climbed the reviewer! The balancing act goes not to traverse the bus asking for the ticket to to're world =: -0

What is unfailingly on a bus in Vietnam is bringing TV to full blast, emitting invariably one of two things: videos karaoke, comedians and Vietnamese programs. Either of those options they loved to local ... while tourists threw us the hair with any of them =: -0

* It's funny how in Cambodia on sex tourism and child prostitution are an obvious problem, and there are campaigns by the government and NGOs to educate the tourists. But then cost me god and find someone to help me rapase, because in almost all the hairdressers were just girls and they were offended just thinking about a haircut to a man ;-)

* Do you remember that I told you the peculiar way to say "yes" or "no" to the head that are in India and Nepal? It has caused a good number of anecdotes, until he caught the hang. Well, in Vietnam also is funny as they say "no" by moving the head, which weighs, I better make the same motion but with the hand and half :-) Total expenditure, which does not sing here " 5 wolves "because it would be very negative song, all the while saying no, no, and no hands: - /

* Up to date, and I play a lot of wood, we have been very lucky in that we have not had any mishap worthy of mention. And the truth is that it remains so, but there was one day in Vietnam was almost completely jinxed day: Early morning ride we stick to the train station around to tell us that there were no tickets, we played back to the hotel (the 5 km bike, and in stifling heat), we packed in a hurry because the change in plans we were going that afternoon, then we took the bikes again to cycle through tombs far from the city and we had all kinds of troubles with the bike of Eve (a pedal that came out every now and not a prick ... But two !)... and, to finish, returning to the hotel had forgotten us and we had hired the bus had gone without us: - / Anyway, eventually it all arrangement, but for that we had ourselves a final race, with both mochilones back of a motillo with a kamikaze driving, to catch the bus at the last stop before catching road. Well, at least we finally got on the bus, an overnight sleeper bus which, of course, reaching the last we played the worst sleeper seats in the back, and having a neighbor (Codito with Codito) possibly the only Vietnamese 1.80 goes high. The poor do not spend so apretao good night ... and of course, he moved both nor let us sleep too. And is that such a day could not end well: - /

happens to us over the head
Interestingly
travel to countries that are thee most others, which often have little impact on news from home, for contrast with the fact the particular movie you've done for whatever reason. For me, Cambodia is the best example, as the imagined mired in underdevelopment "few" years after the cruel dictatorship of Pol Pot and his notorious death camps (for the movie "The Killing Fields"). Of course, for my over 25 years of my life have been like a breath does not mean the rest of the world has been frozen meanwhile, and Cambodia is now a vibrant and dynamic country, much more behind the dragons of the region (Thailand and Vietnam) than I imagined. Rather equated it to living in Laos and Myanmar (formerly Burma, for viejales like me), but nothing to see. Although said all that, if Vietnam and Laos amazed us all families of 4 in motillo in Cambodia are 4 adults together and without apparent narrowness =: -0

But back to serious reflection, this again demonstrates, once again, that only bad news is news, and that while "no news, good news" (as the Anglo-Saxon), unconsciously pessimistic bombardment of television news influence you, and are unable to fill information gaps until something (eg a trip) does not force you to upgrade. In this same vein, the interaction we are having with other travelers awaken our interest in countries that, to date, did not (such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Philippines). Just like your day we happened to Laos, and for us it was the pearl of Indochina.

is also very instructive experience first-hand that communism is reflected in these parts. And, predictably, it is clear that here too communism is dead. All these countries (like China) are "dictatorships" one-party propaganda dyed red ... but the politics and the streets are already CAPITALIST with capital letters. All had, throughout its history, any attempt to more or less pure communism, always with disastrous results fairly, but it seems that among the few remnants that are left is a kind of "worship" their revolutionary leader, so his pictures are by everywhere. At least in regard to Vietnam, Uncle Ho Chi Minh

cutie :-) Who know (worth mentioning)

At this end of Indochina tour we shared a couple of stages with Vicky and Peter, both school teachers in Belgium, who are dedicated to make the most of these wonderful vacation they enjoy in their profession. Although ten years more boys (starts to be of concern found so few grandpas like us carrying backpacks in the world), we found it quite easy to make joint decisions on where to stay or how to reach the next destination, and we completed several days of intense tourism with a well regaditas entertaining dinner with local beer (no who does not love a good Belgian beer).

But if someone have to mention is to Yola.

Before I say it's comforting to think that, at our age, can still be many new things to experience. Some, a few, those are off the list on this trip. For example, we had our first experience as a biker, and for two days we rented in Laos a 125cc scooter, with its gears and everything. Juas, as we had! And yet these countries, with their traffic "anything goes" are not exactly the most appropriate site for a motorcycle desvirgarte ... but fitted with the freedom that we wanted to have those two days (compared to offers scheduled tours), and got back without the "brand war" that look around here a good number of tourists (ie, the burning of the tube twin exhaust product of a fall).

Well, Yola is our first cyber-relationship. I already speak some of it because we got in touch before leaving because I found your blog ( http://www.dondeestayola.com/ ) seeking information logistics ... and ends up helping to put on our blog this back as much as "original." Since then, we are in contact cyberspace, because she is also the sabbatical year and both our travel dates as our schedules coincide in bold. But until our last day in Vietnam we failed to realize the physical encounter. It was a typical meeting "English", ie leave their luggage at the hotel, meet ... and not stop until we crack the gambling dens closed in Hanoi. And, as I say, it was not any match, after so many weeks to share our similar but different (or, as they say around here, "same same ... but different") experiences of travelers through the Internet, and In order to dwell on Live. Finally, a brief but intense, keep in touch and following each other's trip to the corner of my eye (and mouse on your computer, of course).

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-------- Well, after our Asian stage, the stage begins possibly more "hard" of our trip: two mesecitos relaxing by the South Pacific. From the outset we anticipated that at this stage of Saturday we could use an area of \u200b\u200bless tourism and more relaxed, contemplative days and little else, and actually so is. Therefore, our next destination as water coming in May: two short week in Fiji, a week in northeastern Australia, three weeks in New Zealand (with possible jump to another nearby island still unspecified), and finally 3 weeks in French Polynesia (Tahiti and so on). Finally we have ruled Papua New Guinea, for several reasons, but other because as I told you we're in this region of the world with the certainty that we apetecera time to go back to Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, etc ... and Papua fit into that journey, with more time than we would have now.

So nothing, not suffer for us if we do not update the blog too often ... of truth that we are well :-)

to the next chapter! Juan & Eva