NYE, flashlights, explosions, AK47s + best city ever

so it continues..

after a quick dip we trudged back to the port of DA Nang to catch a ferry to the mainlaind. Richie was too hung over so we had to catch a taxi for the 200m ride, the guy tooted every second of the way! While on the back of the taxi I got a pic of one of those creepy guys i told you about in my last post...

Minor story that may be of interest to you...While on the bus trip back to Bangkok for NYE, we pulled over for a quick toilet stop. Rich went to the toilet, and I went after. When I went a guy pointed to the toilet I must go to, I assumed he was the 'toilet man.' Instead, he came shoulder to shoulder with me a stared at my phallis from start to finish. I'm not saying that it is worth staring at, or that it isn't for that matter, but it was minorly disconcerting. Anyway returning to the bus Richie shared with me the same experience with the man matching that description. Maybe he wanted an eye for an eye. Bad.

Anyway we got to Bangkok, grabed a bite, bought some long necks and headed for the roof top. Beautiful view, about 30 degree night and a very chilled, now tanned two lads. Here is the skyline from the rooftop.

We then taxied into the city to Khao Sanh Rd in another death defying cab trip, sweet fun. While on transport, I have had these cravings to buy an old car and drive everywhere. A car or a motorbike, mum and richie's mum - we wont, but I would love to! Maybe in a couple of years (motorbikes on the streets of Hanoi going for $50 US!). We met up with Watto, Clemo and the local man with the thai tongue Sammy Leso. We had a great time, sunk a bucket or two, enjoyed the company of one another and missed the countdown. That's a good new year!! Richie was keen to shake his groove thing after becoming re-acquanted with some fems from Denmark he met on Koh Samet, so we proceeded into a club, 'The Club.' Barracaded by the skinnier-than-me-bouncers we were told to go home.

A PA announcement was on loop in the packed street, "There is nothing for you here now, please get off the street, please go home." The street filled up with military bracing their AK47s off child lock. The local Sammy thought it was a bit weird, but after some deliberation we obeyed the PA man and fought some Poms for a taxi. We said goodbyes, crashed, and woke up the next morning, thankfully. We later learned that the reason for the unusual PA announcement was because of the 6 bombings that took place post Saddam hanging. One of them was just off the street where we stayed, unbeknown to us!! A bit scary in hindsight, but no wuckas at the time!

Up early again, we taxied to the airport to catch our 10.20 flight to Hanoi. Both of us feeling like poo, the cab driver taught us some dirty thai words and reminded us of our heritage - Steve Erwin and Mark Viduka. We caught the flight to Hanoi after a 1.5 hr delay, and flew North East to the great french influence Vietnamese metropolis.

I loved this place as soon as we arrived. Houses with heavy french colonial influence contrast the rice fields adjacent with field workers and water buffalo busy at work and graze. Motorbikes dart in between cars and other motorbikes in a state of anarchy whilst grandma cyclists carry 50kg bananas over their shoulders and join the sea of petrol guzzling fish! I love this place instantly! It seems that everything is disordly and chaotic but manages to be harmonious at the same time. It is a stark contrast to the grids and cross-hairs of melbourne.

We find a place, with Richie as the Vietnamese tour guide (his heavy Russian communist influence forming an instant bond with communist Vietnam), for $3 USD a night. Quaint, two beds, own bathroom, awesome house keeper who tries to teach me vietnamese and free internet (hence the long blog!).

After a quick bite richie goes on the net and i decide to get lost in the city. I wander around, greeting some of the locals with the latest vocab and dart across the chaotic 'roads'. The city is beautiful and amazing and I love it! After I finally get my bearings, I get back here and write this. Off to dinner now, something delicious no doubt!!

Happy New Year!!