Koh Samet

After 4 wonderful days in Vietnam we were off to Thailand. We spent two nights in Bangkok....not doing much and then headed off to Koh Samet. Koh Samet is a small island about 2 hours south of Bangkok. It was warm, sunny and white sand beaches...lovely...

Here is our hotel room from the inside:


Here is where we eat breakfast. It was right on the beach...beautiful way to greet the day...


The view of the ocean from our breakfast table...



We had the best breakfasts everyday...fresh fruit, meat, eggs, pancakes, noodles and more...it was delicious!


This was our own private beach...

Here is the view from the top of the stairs looking down....


and from the stairs looking up...


We would go for walks into the town everyday. Along the street were many lovely and not so lovely sights. View down the street...(yes that is a pig laying on the side of the road)


On the other side of the island was the bigger beach. It was busy and full of people. There were tons of German tourists. This beach was like the "spring break" beach. We spent most of the time at our beach...enjoying the peace and quiet.


The sand was lovely...the water was warm and clear...it was a gorgeous...


Same spot a few hours later. A wonderful sunset...


We spent New Years Eve on the beach. We ate tons of delicious food, watched some traditional dances and toasted in 2009 with a glass of sparkling wine. It was wonderful. All along the beach people were sending off these lanterns. We don't actually know why but they looked like stars in the sky. It was very pretty when many of them were sent off at the same time...

We also watched traditional fire dancing...

and



We went for a walk to try walk down the whole island. We walked for about 4 hours. It was not the most exciting hike as we had to just walk down the dirt street.


There were lots of old shrines that were just dumped on the side our our rode. They were dirty and old but beautiful in their own way...


Along our hike we took in some beautiful scenery...


And we enjoyed it...


Courtney and I have up about 10 km before the end of the island. We were getting sick of the dirt roads but Joe made it...and it was rocky and beautiful...


Courtney and I decided to find a new way home by walking around the outside of the island on the beaches and rocks...dangerous and fun.

We crossed over these rocks...

On our last day we found the GREATEST cocktail place. After our hike, Courtney and I stopped. We brought Joe back later that night. We went on the way to the beach... and then again on the way back...

You can see that the drinks are only 59 Baht. (that was just over $2) yummy....

(ps. mom...sorry for the spelling errors...)

Back in Ho Chi Mihn...last day in Vietnam

We had just half a day to play around Ho Chi Minh. We had places to see and shop! We enjoyed running around the city but I feel we did not see anything...guess I have to go back!

The day started with us watching some Vietnamese TV in the hotel room. There was this strange kids program on. We laughed and then left. However, on the stage outside was the same program live. The park was full of families. We pulled up a seat and watched for a while!


Government buildings....they are pretty but that is about all...


We also wanted to go to the museum...but it was closed. It was lovely from the outside!


We then went shopping at all the right places...like Samuel and Kevin's! Courtney and I wanted a picture here because we both have little brothers named Kevin!!


I also really wanted a discount on a hair cut...I was just a little too tall!


Never at at Lotteria...I think we have them in Japan but you can park
your motorbike right inside the store!


The numbers must have been luck that Sunday because there were weddings everywhere! At this one hotel there were 3 weddings happening simultaneously! The bridesmaids were lined up at three different doors!

Then we are off to the airport to head to Thailand! The halls were so crowded as everyone who was taking a flight and worked at the airport was focused on these two televisions! At first we couldn't understand why there was such a long line for security but then we learned...the soccer match between Vietnam and Thailand was on! Much more important than work!


We enjoyed some Vietnamese M&Ms.
They were a little different but we couldn't figure out why...


Duty free but not guilt free...

Central Highlands of Vietnam...on the back of my hog! (Day 2)

Day 2 was half the time as day one but just as much fun!

There is no better way to wake up than a relaxing ride around the area on the back of an elephant! I was so excited to get to ride an elephant. It was slow and not very exciting but I loved every minute of it!


Our elephant had a mind of his own. He would stop for snacks constantly! We area we saw was beautiful and peaceful.


Maybe these are the "long house people." I think they are...I am getting my minority groups mixed up. Sorry. Either way. This is another ethnic minority group. They live with one family in each house, sometimes including extended family. Every house is built on stilts and all the animals live under the house.

Here is a little kid sitting at the back entrance. We were told that only the men get to use the front entrance and that woman and children entered the home from the back.


There is no sex education (maybe in the schools) and no birth control. Our guide told us the people believe in big families...and by big he meant around 12-15 children. He said this is the reason people are so poor and that they cycle of poverty is never broken.


Here is another "factory." Where bricks are made. This is the firing house.

Here is "one stop" creation shop. There is the clay and the machine that forms the bricks. There were thousands of bricks stacked around the house drying out. They must dry for 3 days before going into the firing house.


Another business is creating cement pots. This young boy is only 16 year old. His job was to form the pots. it was interesting to watch. He just moved that piece around and around until the clay had the perfect shape. (there is sand underneath to form the inside of the pot). He was able to make each pot in about 10 minutes.


This was once a beautiful church. It was bombed and ruined during the Vietnam War. Our guides did not have the greatest things to say about Americans (as they thought we were from Canada). It was an eerie sight.



Our day ended with another wonderful hike to see more waterfalls. These falls were not tall like Elephant falls but wide.

The hike was beautiful. We were the only people on trail most of the time which was wonderful.


First of many falls:


I loved it!


To get to the second set of falls we had to cross two bridges. We felt they were from a movie. The first one was ok but the second one would sway back and forth as we walked. I thought of the movie Shrek while walking and was saying things like "I want to turn back...I know that half the bridge is safe!" (no one found me funny but I laughed!)



But the view at the other side was beautiful!



On the hike back, Courtney made a friend. This is a Vietnamese High School kid. His English was pretty good. We exchanged emails and I still get emails from him every once in a while!

When we got back, our drivers were playing Chinese Chess. We were trying to learn but never totally figured it out. I would still like to learn!


One last farm before we catch the bus! This is a black pepper farm! This was the best pepper I have ever tasted! You can tell by the house that pepper is where the money is! However it is a hard business to start because you cannot sell your crop for 5 years!

Saying good-byes!


Having some Vietnamese coffee while waiting for the bus!


This is how you brew Vietnamese coffee:

The little cup at the bottom has condensed milk in it. The coffee is like syrup and so strong. It was like drinking cough syrup!