Budget SE Asia trip, Summer 2016 Updated real-time - Page 11 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Sounds like you're having a great time!
I know what you mean about traveling solo--after doing that then hitting the parks with other people, I realized that being with others means every. single. activity. is a compromise and takes much longer to decide on!
This is my third time trying to update here today! The iphone at my post the first 2 tries, so now I'm on the netbook. Wish me luck!!!
We're at a place called Hoi An. It's a very relaxed tourist-centered beach town. It's simple to get away from it all, chill on a beach lounger, and relax. Here's some stock photos from the web. It's like this only less crowded with people. I would say that only 1 out of every 10 beach chairs are being used.
DS is loving the beach, the sand, and the other English-speaking kids to play with. The water is heavenly till the jellyfish stings start. It's definitely worth putting up with them for a few short-lived swims. Not much to see for fish, but some amazing jellyfish viewing and a few little sand-and-yellow colored tropical fish here and there.
Tonight we will head into the old town to take in the lanterns that the town is so proud of.
I'm really sad to leave this place, but it would cost a lot to change our plans at this point. We leave tomorrow for this place:
Ben Tre on the Mekong Delta-water coconut plantations galore
We'll see how it goes. We're booked in for 3 nights, it seems like this a very LONG time to stay in this region. Most folks do only a day trip, but we thought it might be nice to settle in and just enjoy country life. We'll see how it goes. For 3 nights, how bad can it be?
On another thread, Ginger mentioned the food experience of being in Asia. There has been a LOT of noodle soup. DS loves it, so it has been our go-to food. In Hong Kong, it was plain chicken broth with noodles and some meat. Here in Vietnam, they put a big focus on fresh herbs like basil, mint, chives, and cilantro. They use these liberally along with fish sauce, peanuts, and lemon grass, sugar, and chilis to achieve that distinct Vietnamese flavor. Overall, I love the food but hate worrying about getting sick from it. Refrigeration and US-standard sanitation is by-and-large absent in most areas we've been, so we've avoided fresh fruits, fresh veggies, and to a great extent, meat. Sigh...but what I have eaten, I've enjoyed.
Vietnam is also know for it's French bakeries, a relic left from the days of French Colonialism. We've had croissants and other treats to rival any we had in Europe.
We also had an excellent Indian dinner last night at a restaurant aimed at tourists. We got out for $28 for 4 adults and a child, and we didn't hold back. We had aps, drinks, bread, rice, and entres for that price. Whee!
Health update: My gut has had a little of the travelers complaints, but nothing significant. DS has been fine. DH more like myself. Today I noticed I had a small pimple on my boob (yes, TMI) that had developed some red streaking coming from it. I'm an RN, so I'm using my head and trying not to freak out. I'm not sick, no fever, it's not particularly tender or hot. So, I've cleaned the area well and put some antibacterial ointment on it. I've researched the oral meds I would want if it worsens over the next 24 hrs or doesn't improve in 48 hrs, there is one that should work well that I'm already travelling with. I'm not going to wear a bra or anything tight fitting till it's better. I'm taking pictures to help monitor improvement. Don't worry, no plans to share them here!
Ah, the joys of travel in tropical developing nations. No freaking out. Right? RIGHT?!?!?
Pixies wouldn't hurt.
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Themed environment junkie
Last edited by KimmyAnn1147; 07-06-2016 at 04:57 AM..
DDinLaw did one of her 4th year rotations through Vietnam. She, too, was concerned with the sanitation and lack of refrigeration but got through the time without getting sick. I am old and my parents practiced many of the same storage ideas (leaving food out all day, etc.) While the hospitals are far from American standards, they are not so primitive they could not treat a standard infection.
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PassPorter Guide Author PassPorter Guide Community Rank: Navigator
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Sounds great! for your health!
Looks like you're handling the different foods just fine. I lived in South Korea for a year (where I met my husband. as we were both stationed at Osan), and I enjoyed rice and bulgogi, and even handled chopsticks quite well, but no kimchi! We had American food on base, so I could have hamburgers and spaghetti whenever I wanted.
Thanks for following along, guys! I'm having fun staying connected to my PP buddies while I'm on this trip!
Ginger-I love kimchi! But I've only ever had it in the US. They have kimchi flavored potato chips here, as well as seaweed flavored. Haven't tried kimchi yet but seaweed tastes pretty much like regular chips.
Huntermom-haven't had bahn mi yet, though I've had the bread. Too sketched out, the sandwiches are always sold from a greasy roadside stand...I'm just not ready to take the leap.
Cheryl-thanks! Did a tour in the coconut swamp today, it was awesome!
Cam and Maci-yup, it's still fun. My infection is well on it's way to being healed, thank goodness.
Here's a copy of the letter I sent booking.com today about our homestay reservation. I think the letter speaks for itself. We found something in town for even cheaper so I'm happy. It really wasn't too stressful, as DH and I were in email contact the whole time and we weren't about to get nailed. The homestay now is not accepting emails from me, and I think they may have somehow resulted in an email security breech. Fingers crossed on that one...
I have refused this property and I am refusing payment for my reservation for the following reasons:
1. Location on map is not accurate. I intended to book a property within walking distance to the town of Ben Tre (listed as 2 km from center along main thoroughfare). When I attempted to go to the location as mapped on booking.com, the property was not there. When I called them, they said it was the fault of inaccurate GPS placement of their property, yet when they emailed me prior to my stay, they did not inform me that the location on booking.com was not correct.
2. A fellow traveler's review indicated severely abusive business practices, including changing the cost of the property, overcharging for meals as compared to local standard, isolated location without access to public transportation and refusal to assist with transportation to other meal options as initially agreed upon.
I arrived in Ben Tre to the situation listed above, with my husband and 8 year old son waiting for me at the supposed location of the homestay (but with no property existing at the location), as they had traveled to the city 2 hrs earlier. We do not have phones in Vietnam and the situation was stressful and difficult. I was 4km away, communicating with them by email about whether we should go ahead with staying with Mai's house or not. Because of the above concerns, we felt we had no option but to refuse to go with the proprietors of Mai's Homestay and hope for the best in finding affordable available lodging on our own in Ben Tre for the night. Happily, we were able to do so but it was stressful and inconvenient.
I beleive this property is engaged in false advertising and usurious business practices. I encourage booking.com to consider removing their property from it's listings.
I will be forwarding this email to Mai's house homestay as well. Thank you for understanding.
We had the best pho soup of our entire trip tonight, from a roadside place, but a pretty nice one. Mmm, so tasty!!!
Yup. I sure hope booking.com backs us I this. If not, wel have to go with a different option, but booking seems like the most comprehensive here in Asia.
Email seems ok this far. Whee!!!!
I've been reading Tom Bricker's TR of DL Shanghai over on disneytouristblog.com and I'm feeling really sold on making the trip. That castle, while weird, is incredibly photogenic!!!! If you don't read Tom's blog, I highly recommend it.
Mods: whoever change the title of the thread to "updated in real time", Thanks!!!
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Sounds like you're having a great time!
I don't blame you refusing to pay after all that...
I'm glad you found something else, but what a nightmare to deal with in a foreign country.
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