|
Post by chech on Jan 18, 2015 9:06:59 GMT
No prob. If you thought that pic was interesting, just wait until I get some video of the traffic up. I could pull up a chair at a major intersection and sit there all day and watch. It's amazing. We call crossing the street "the scooter dance."
|
|
|
Post by 1jhwks on Jan 18, 2015 16:24:58 GMT
That's a lot of flying for one day! We flew on the Dreamliner the last two years to Taiwan. First time, thought it was a cool plane, especially the usb outlet next to the entertainment console. Charged my iPhone on the way over. Both times were on United. They have a little more leg room in coach. Looking forward to reading about your tour and seeing your photos, something to look forward to for the next couple of weeks.
|
|
|
Post by purvis on Jan 18, 2015 17:17:19 GMT
Nice pictures. Hotels look very modern. I guess like all countries even Communist countries have to have fine hotels to welcome the tourists. I loved the pictures of the people stopping on the bridge even though there is a sign asking them not to.
|
|
|
Post by Oz-T on Jan 18, 2015 23:43:56 GMT
Xin chào, Chech! You'll soon pick up a tiny bit of the Vietnamese language. Say that (pronounced "Sin Yow") to your TD and he/she will smile in appreciation. Great to see you've made it over to my sort of longitude, Chech. Now you're only 4 hours behind! It's also good that you've now tried Korean Air - we flew with them to Seoul and then onto Europe (& return) back in 2010 and they were a superb airline. It's a shame that you weren't in the right part of Incheon Airport to visit the cafe there.... Looking forward to hearing what happens next.
|
|
|
Post by Oz-T on Jan 18, 2015 23:54:48 GMT
Chech: Is it common to see people in Korea in ceremonial dress as the ones you had in your photo at the airport.? Of course it's common, Purvis. When I was there four years ago, you should've seen what my hotel doorman looked like.... (only kidding). This was the ceremonial guard at Gyeongun-gung Palace, Seoul. The locals dress in western clothing.
|
|
|
Post by Tulips on Jan 19, 2015 22:23:17 GMT
Great start, Chech!
I'm actually surprised you didn't fly to Vancouver the first day and overnight there.
|
|
|
Post by Oz-T on Jan 20, 2015 0:23:49 GMT
SPOILER ALERT FOR CHECH:The two teams contesting the XLIX Superbowl are: Versus I hope I didn't give too much away there....
|
|
|
Post by purvis on Jan 20, 2015 3:48:41 GMT
I couldn't care less who wins the Superbowl because there will be another one next year and another one the year after that so on and so on what does interest me is that Chech has not sent any info on her tour to "COMMUNIST" Vietnam. I'm starting to wonder if there is a block on tourist info to the outside world as is often the case in such regimes. The last info and pictures came from Korea (south) which makes me worried about her ability to post. Purvis
|
|
|
Post by Oz-T on Jan 20, 2015 4:17:44 GMT
Don't be worried, Purvis. Chech is busy touring Vietnam and probably hasn't been able to post further comments here. I've seen from her Flickr photos that she's been touring Hanoi (I recognise the photo of Ho Chi Minh's house). And also the mausoleum and the One Pillar Pagoda (which I've read about and want to see one day). If I have properly understood the tour itinerary, Chech has been cruising Halong Bay and probably doesn't have a reliable internet connection from her cabin. Hang in there.... the extra photos and commentary will be forthcoming soon, I'm sure.
|
|
|
Post by purvis on Jan 20, 2015 5:34:41 GMT
Oz: Sure hope you're right. Have been anxiously awaiting her posts and have been concerned that she was blocked from posting. Purvis
|
|
|
Post by Tulips on Jan 20, 2015 9:16:57 GMT
She has been in touch. I think the reason she isn't posting is to avoid hearing the results of the football until she can watch the games. I imagine she hasn't had a lot of time to watch while she has been touring.
|
|
|
Post by californian on Jan 20, 2015 15:59:07 GMT
Purvis, it's a very busy tour, lots of places, with airports and flights within Vietnam, she had mentioned probably would not have time to post, and wants to watch the games Tuesday or Wednesday, so it will take a while for her to reconnect with us. Lets keep checking flicker...She posted today in facebook, Trafalgar page, she spent the night on a Junk (boat?)in Halong Bay. Hope she doesn't mind if I copy her picture here, what a fabulous view:
|
|
|
Post by Oz-T on Jan 20, 2015 21:41:15 GMT
Oz: Sure hope you're right. Have been anxiously awaiting her posts and have been concerned that she was blocked from posting. Purvis All is fine, Purvis. I keep looking at the activity list on this forum (some of which is only visible to Administrators) and Chech constantly appears as having logged in within the past 24 hours. And I bet that her internet connection is part of the problem.... I went on a Nile cruise in 2009 and paid for internet access, only to find that it was next to useless - uploading one photo took nearly an hour and used up my entire allowance.
|
|
|
Post by chech on Jan 21, 2015 0:01:45 GMT
Yup. Exactly right. The wifi was spotty. When you could get it, you got it good. But the pinnacles made reception too spotty to bother. I'm in Hue now after surviving the hardest landing I've ever experienced. Internet at the Imperial is so slow, I can't get my games downloaded! Argh! LOL And I have free time tonight! And no games to watch. This country is communist in name only and the fact it is still is a one party system. Other than that, it's completely free....free market, free media and everyone is free to travel. Our guide has been all over the world. My tale for the last few days is done. I just have to sit down this evening and post them...so you'll likely get a few days fast...unless I can download the games for tonight. LOL And yes...feel free to post my TT pics here if you want. Oh...just found a faster connection...LOL..
|
|
|
Post by 1jhwks on Jan 21, 2015 0:25:39 GMT
So, Californian and I finally talk about the games here?
|
|
|
Post by californian on Jan 21, 2015 0:46:46 GMT
Nooooooooo, 1jhwks. out of the question!!
|
|
|
Post by Oz-T on Jan 21, 2015 2:00:28 GMT
Yup. Exactly right. The wifi was spotty. When you could get it, you got it good. ..... .... it had to be an internet reason.
|
|
|
Post by Oz-T on Jan 21, 2015 2:06:27 GMT
This country is communist in name only and the fact it is still is a one party system. Other than that, it's completely free....free market, free media and everyone is free to travel. Yes, you're 99% right on that one, Chech. Just don't ever say or write anything critical about Ho Chi Minh while you're in Vietnam. You might want to quietly ask your TD for the reasons, and I'll happily discuss it publicly, but only after you've left there.
|
|
|
Post by purvis on Jan 21, 2015 3:44:30 GMT
Chech: I'm so happy to hear that your posts were because of the internet problems and not because of other reasons. Being much older than all of the others on this website I have more fears of what has happened over the years with repressive governments . I grew up during the second world war and the Korean War and thus am more suspicious of foreign governments and their repressive controls on their people and those who chose to travel in their countries. I guess that makes me paranoid. So looking forward to your posts. Purvis
|
|
|
Post by tiffany on Jan 21, 2015 12:44:43 GMT
Purvis, it's a very busy tour, lots of places, with airports and flights within Vietnam, she had mentioned probably would not have time to post, and wants to watch the games Tuesday or Wednesday, so it will take a while for her to reconnect with us. Lets keep checking flicker...She posted today in facebook, Trafalgar page, she spent the night on a Junk (boat?)in Halong Bay. Hope she doesn't mind if I copy her picture here, what a fabulous view: What a beautiful picture. I never check Facebook’s Trafalgar page, but maybe I should!
|
|
|
Post by chech on Jan 21, 2015 14:53:27 GMT
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! Now I can start reading the internet again!
|
|
|
Post by californian on Jan 21, 2015 15:16:15 GMT
Did you watch both games, Chech? Did you watch the heart-stopping GB Packers-Seahawks? Wow!, for the ages! (It was not easy to keep it a secret, believe me!) Now, the NE Patriots were caught cheating again? shame on them! Have another great day in Vietnam! Looking forward to the tale and learning about the country. Interesting video!
|
|
|
Post by chech on Jan 21, 2015 15:44:16 GMT
LOL. Yeah, I watched both games. Always thought the Packers were a little over rated. I'm just hearing about this deflate thing but I don't think anything will come of it. The funny thing was that when I finished watching, I thought....time to check out the sports sites to see what kind of crap they'll come up with the distract the Pats (like they did with the Walsh affair in 07 and the Moss fiasco in 11). And the other funny thing that came out of the Walsh affair was proof that there was no "cheating" in spygate after all (though it wasn't in the headlines like the original accusations were). Most think they were fined for filming the defensive signals - but that was totally legal. The only thing they did wrong was that the camera was on the sideline and not in the booth above. The booth ensures the film isn't accessed during half time when an advantage might be possible. The Walsh affair proved that Belichick never accessed those tapes. There was also film showing the Jets with their own cameraman on the sidelines during the exact same game. It's unfortunate the Pats have been the source of so much discrediting that isn't deserved. Goodall was new at his job and jumped on the spygate thing without doing a proper investigation. Had he done so, he would have found out the tapes were not accessed and therefore no advantage was gained. They broke a rule...no different than the Broncos broke the salary cap rule when they acquired Elway and the running back that won them two Super Bowls. In the end, the Colts were simply not good enough. The Pats have not only beaten Luck 4 times now...they've defeated him soundly. Guess his Luck just ran out. Ha!
|
|
|
Post by chech on Jan 21, 2015 15:45:28 GMT
Oh...Day One is up. Time to snooze.
|
|
|
Post by californian on Jan 21, 2015 15:57:26 GMT
Well, I don't much about the Patriots, only what I heard. Now, I don't think the packers are overrated, they did stop playing at the end, but the Hawks win was nothing short of a miracle almost, forgot if they were 4 or 5 interceptions now, but they have never played so bad. At the end, I am very happy, my daughter is spending big $$$$ but going to the Super Bowl! She bought not refundable air tickets earlier, and now have to shell out for the game tickets, she thinks is worth it! hoping to win the lottery and get them cheap. Hurry home, Chech! And go to bed now.
|
|
|
Post by chech on Jan 21, 2015 15:59:51 GMT
How hard is it to get tickets?
|
|
|
Post by purvis on Jan 21, 2015 18:50:22 GMT
Nice to see your post. Am looking forward to reading about the rest of the tour. Hope you have good weather . By the way how many on your tour and are there any from Canada or the US?. As long as there is KFC and McDonald's it sounds like you won't go hungry. I have been laughed at many times on tours for my need to get to a McDs. but maybe that's a Canadian thing. Purvis
|
|
|
Post by 1jhwks on Jan 21, 2015 21:08:52 GMT
At least Californian and I don't have to wait soooo long to talk about Super Bowl!!!! Have you try pho yet, Chech?
|
|
|
Post by Oz-T on Jan 21, 2015 21:43:04 GMT
Well, Day One seems to have passed without you having any great mishaps, Chech. Like running into a scooter, or worse, a scooter running into you. Or fumbling with your chopsticks and having to extract them from your nasal cavity. And it does seem rather improper that they don't provide helmets for the children. ... or certain other passengers on scooters.
|
|
|
Post by Oz-T on Jan 21, 2015 22:20:14 GMT
.... Have you try pho yet, Chech? I doubt that Chech will get through a tour of Vietnam without a Pho dish put in front of her, jhwks. Noodle soup won't be too challenging as it usually contains chicken or beef and not seafood, cat or dog. Here in Australia, we're sort of a part of Asia and Asian cuisine is easy to find. Many Vietnamese war refugees escaped to Australia and we often eat Viet-style meals at home or at restaurants. Vietnamese food is actually one of the healthiest because it focuses on herbs and vegetables, with a minimum of oil. Most Vietnamese meals will be fine to eat, although many use shrimp or fish sauce for flavouring. That's fine with me but maybe not for someone avoiding seafood. The main meats will be chicken, beef and pork. They do a lot of dumplings, soups and noodle type meals. If you see the word 'bánh' that implies it's a cake or bread-based meal. The word Gỏi indicates a salad. And if you haven't tried pitaya (dragonfruit), by all means try it - it's definitely a fruit worth taking a photo of. Just don't order the Bún ốc - unless you like snails, that is.
|
|