Vinpearl, central Vietnam and Laos!

Hey Guys its Ben the angry bird dude again.

One morning we woke up all very excited. We were going to a fun park/water park called Vinpearl land! We got there on a cable car across water that took 12 mins. (3k.) First we went to a animal show and saw monkeys walking tightropes blind folded, with cute costumes on. At the end they rode bikes and one was riding a rickshaw. But they weren't treated very well.

Jas excited about going to Vinpearl while we are on the cable car

The monkey show

Daddy & Jas on the roller coaster

Next we went to this big indoor games centre. It had lots of video games and it was all free!! We had great fun running around and playing video games. It also had a 4D movie cinema. It also had dodgems. Next we had lunch. Then we went to an indoor aquarium, it was amazing.

After we went to the water park. We went on a multi slide that everyone could go on together. We went to all these different types of water slides, there was one that we could all go on in this massive round tube. Mum and I had fun together floating down a river while Dad and Jazzie did the big slides.

The family slide - Daddy, me (hidden by spray) & Jas

Sunset from Vinpearl

We then got changed and had dinner. We had a great view of the nice city Nha Trang. After we went to a water laser fountain show. We caught the cable car back and had ice-cream. It was a fantastic day.

Enjoying my time away but missing my dog who is getting fat from our grandparents! See you all soon.

Now Rich blogging as Ben has had enough! Have a bit to catch up on as we have covered some ground over the last 10 or so days.

Have to say how much fun we had at Vinpearl. Was great they had everything there in the one fun park and we were all very tired by the end as we were there from 10am until 9pm! The kids loved it and we went on some great rides. Jas was very brave and went on a ride with me that left us hanging upside down spinning around... took her about 30mins to stop shaking after that one!

Jasmin's favourite new ride - we upside down in this one!

Also enjoyed the last of our beach time in Nha Trang. The beach was pretty good and was nice to have a final beach day relaxing and swimming.

From there we went up the coast of Vietnam and really enjoyed Hoi An, it's such a beautiful city. Had a great couple of days there exploring the old city and seeing the sights. We also hired mopeds one day and took ourselves to marble mountain and China beach. Marble Mountain was very impressive with the various caves and in one of them there were some amazing buddha's that have been built. Clarissa loved it and we spent a bit of time in there enjoying the quiet.

Hoi An - the Japanese old bridge

Marble Mountain cave which was massive

Unfortunately had to keep moving as there is more to see and we are running out of time. From Hoi An we  went to Hue and wandered around the citadel and old city. Only had the one night there as we wanted to head to Laos.

As with lots of developing countries the bus trips tend to be an adventure themselves. From Hue we went across the border into Laos and this trip took about 10 hours. Stayed the night in a place called Savannakhet (not much there) and left early the next day for Vientiane which was another 10hr bus trip. This one was more of a local bus and at one stage there were people sitting all the way down the aisle, there were chickens, Ben was sharing his seat with a local kid and the lady in front of us was being sick every 15mins.

Still, we made it and it wasn't as bad as it seems and the kids were great both days.

Vientiane was nice enough but a big city and we were keen to get to some of the smaller cities in the north of Laos. So back on the bus the next day at 2pm for the 4 hr trip to Vang Vieng. We have found a quiet place to stay which has great views of the surrounding mountains. It's great little town and even though there are lots of backpackers it is easy to avoid the party places.

Hired bikes and had a great ride (about 60mins) through the country to see more caves and a lagoon which we swam in. The water was a beautiful blue colour and there was a tree we were able to jump off. Was a great way to spend the afternoon.

Ben jumping off the tree at the 'Blue Lagoon'

It was great passing through a couple of local villages on the ride and seeing the local kids. Jas made the comment "today has really opened my eyes." We stopped off on the way there and had a drink in this quiet place in the middle of nowhere and had a great chat to the man who lived there. That's one of the joys of travelling, chatting to locals and other travellers and hearing their stories on life, travelling etc.

Vang Vieng

Today was another great adventure day. Did a trekking, caving with tubes, kayaking and swimming day with a group. We all loved it and the cave was awesome, floating through on tubes with headlights on. Came across a couple of small local villages again and was great to the kids all smiling and they loved seeing Jas and Ben.

Jas kayaking in Vang Vieng

The kayaking was great fun and not too strenuous. We passed through where all the backpackers go and drink, party etc and it is easy to see how some of the accidents can happen. Happy to pass through although one of the slides did look pretty good. I later found out that it was called 'the death slide'.

Anyway, a great day and we have really enjoyed this place. Heading to Luang Prabang this morning where we will stay for 4 or so days and then head further north. All looking forward to Luang Prabang as we have heard great things about the place.

Transport in Laos!

Not long to go now till we get home!

The joys of travelling! :)

Hi it's Jas again on blogging duties, I hope you enjoy my blog!! ;)

After our time in Ho Chi Min we caught a bus to a place on the coast called Mui Ne. We had a nice place to stay right on the beach and a nice pool. We had some nice dinners out.

The view from our hotel in Mui Ne

Me in our cool pool in Mui Ne

One of the days we had to get up a quarter past 4 in the morning!! We got up to go see sunrise over the sand dunes, fishing market and walking thru a pine forest canyon. The sand dunes were cool and watching the sunrise was amazing!!

We went to try sliding down the dunes but it didn't really work out because it was a piece of plastic. But we still had lots of fun. The fishing market was a lot of boats really. Walking thru the canyon was incredible, there was a little stream which you walked in, it was really nice.

After a lovely morning we got on a bus to a place called Dalat, which everyone said was lovely. On the bus ride it was very windy, hot and we were going up a mountain. Then at one stage the bus stops and everyone's thinking what is happening, we realise that the bus has broken down!! I met a really nice girl named Laura who met someone called Peter and was travelling with him for a while. Ben and I played cards with Laura. We had to wait two hours till another bus came!! It took another hour and a half till we got to Dalat. We were all very tired when we got to Dalat. We had a nice dinner and fell asleep.

Dad and our broken down bus on our way to Dalat

Sunset on the bus to Dalat once we got going again!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLAUDIA for the 1st March!! :) We all hope Claudia had a great day. We spent the day exploring the cute little city. We found some nice little restaurants and went to place called Crazy house. Crazy house is a place a Vietnamese lady made. Every thing is crazy there it was cool. We really enjoyed the day and had a nice dinner at a restaurant called Peace cafe. The cafe turned out to be where Laura & Peter were staying. So we planned to go canyoning with them.

The crazy house

What a crazy house

The next day we had a nice breakfast and got in the van with Laura and Peter to go canyoning. Everyone was very excited. When we got out of the van we looked around the scenery was beautiful. So everyone put on the safety equipment. We all looked quite funny. Our guides names were Roy, Yung and Thung. They were all very friendly. We walked down to a practise spot just to get a feeling. We did that a couple of times. Then we stared hiking to our first abseil, 15 metres high. I was a bit wobbly and hit the wall when I climbed down! But everyone thought it was great fun, even Benny did it!!

Me the abseiler

Ben abseiling down the cliff

Ben getting a ride from Roy, one of our guides!

After that we started making our way to water slides down these tiny waterfalls. The first one you went feet first. The second one we went backwards head first! At first we thought our guide was joking!! I hit my foot on the one backwards and sprained my ankle. Although it only really hurt after the day of canyoning.

Me going down the "waterslide"! 

Ben's turn down the "waterslide"

We went to the biggest abseil (25 meters). Dad went first down the big waterfall and at the end you jumped into the water off the rock. Mum was really scared as she is not good with heights but she did it and loved it. Ben and I didn't do it as it was to big, slippery and it was our first time.

Dad going down the 25m waterfall

Mummy abseiling down the waterfall - go Mummy!

Mummy going down backwards head first - even me & Ben did this!

When everyone was at the bottom of the waterfall we had a really good lunch. With baguettes and you could put stuff in the baguette. They had a delicious fruit and banana bread. Next to a waterfall it was awesome!! :) The group after us went down the waterfall and we were really glad that we went with our tour because the other group was not as safe. One of guides ended up helping the other group and when he said jump they looked at him funny, it was very enjoyable to watch.  Then they would jump into the water and come out smiling.

Dad, Mum, Ben, me, Laura & Peter at the waterfall they abseiled down

After lunch we started walking to our next stop. Ben and I probably enjoyed it the most. Where you jumped into the water from a high rock. Daddy went first, then I went. Every time I went I screamed but didn't mean to because you would jump and look down and realise how high you were. (it was 7 metres but there was a higher place where you could jump) It was great fun, mum and Ben also did it. Ben, Dad and I did it 3 times.

Daddy jumping off the cliff

Ben happy but tired at the end of the day!

When we finished we started hiking towards our last thing. Along the way we went walking through little streams and one time we got to float down a stream it was really cool. We then went went up the ginormous hill to get to the top. Very tiring! Then the van took us back to our hotel and we had a nice warm shower. Every one had a good sleep that night.

My family after a great day canyoning

The next day we did a motorbike tour. It was loads of fun. We saw different things, a pagoda, silk factory, a house that got bombed in the war, a big flower centre, waterfall, happy Buddha, broom making place, coffee farm, rice wine making place. It was lots of fun riding around looking at all the cool sights. We had a big lunch and a chat to our drivers. We all really enjoyed it!

Dad & Ben with their motorbike driver - Ben loved sitting at the front

The happy Buddha 

Pretty flowers

On our last day we wandered around the big markets and saw lots of animals in a not very nice way and all this meat. We had a nice lunch at our favourite restaurant at Da Lat Chocolate! We had some delicious espreskis and a really nice meal then we got on a bus to go to Nha Trang which is on the coast.

Me, Dad & Ben enjoying our Espreskis  

The joy of travelling!!! ;)

Amazing view of the country near Dalat on our motorbike trip

Clarissa's Birthday in HCMC

I could not have asked for a better Birthday. After a great day in a little wooden boat cruising along the Meekong Delta to see floating markets, a rice noodle factory (with pigs and piglets just born out the back) and a guide who made us all amazing items out of palm frond leaves with a very funny sense of humour, singing Kayoke with Ben and Jas at lunch, we ended up on an Island in a homestay accommodation for the night. After settling in and a cycle around the island we were served an amazing meal of fresh fish to make our own rice paper rolls, fried spring rolls, chicken, soup, rice and pineapple for dessert. We could not eat it all but had happy and full bellies. Then it was a roll into the hammocks for a read before bed.

At the rice noodle factory and this is rice paper which takes about 6 hours to dry.

The new little piglets

Ben enjoying our little boat trip on the Mekong.

Beats going to the shops for fruit and veg

The floating markets

The items on the poles let boats know what they are selling  

We all slept like babies and I woke up at 4am to the sound of many roosters. I did not mind as it was my birthday and there I was in a house on an island in the Meekong Delta, Vietnam. I lay there relaxed, listening and dozed in and out of sleep.

The many colours of Vietnam

My birhday at the homestay, where's my cake?

Up and down the River , standard card game on our travels

Lady preparing dinner at our homestay. How do they squat like that all the time?

Do not look Nannie and Nana!

After some reading, relaxing in the hammock and a good breakfast we all packed up, hopped on 3 moto's between us (backpacks and all) and onto the ferry back to the mainland. We were shortly then on a bus and  heading for HCMC.

In "the big smoke"

I got dibs on the iPod as it was my birthday and loved tuning out to some music(different to the Asian television singing show on the bus) and pondered about life, our trip and what this year will mean for me. We had heard a few negative comments about HCMC and still remained positive about exploring this busy city. I have to say as I write this to you on our 4th and last night here that we have loved this city and the people.

The buzz of traffic and yes I crossed the road many times with locals helping us  once or twice  when we looked nervous.

After checking into our nice hotel (a little step up) in a great location and down a cute French influenced alley, we showered, dressed up, found two rickshaws to take us thru the motorbike maze and the buzz of it all (we had not seen a big city for a few months) to the Sheraton. Up onto the roof top bar for cocktails and watch the sunset over HCMC. Incredible view and great way to celebrate my birthday. Out for dinner in a beautiful French/Vietnamese style restaurant with local ladies playing authentic live Vietnamese music.

Beautiful Saigon 3, our hotel in HCMC

The next day we took the kids to a water park for some fun - thanks Jane & Bill for the tip! The kids have been so fantastic with lots of aspects of this trip and we felt they deserved a day of kid stuff, us big kids loved it too! We spent 5 hours there and never got bored. It was huge, lots of fun, a few sore muscles, a ripped hole in the bottom of my swimmers (lucky I brought another pair with us), waterlogged and big smiles at the end of the day.

Rich about to take on the Kamikaze!

Sooo much fun and difficult to choose which one to go on first.

The next day we explored the city, its sights and some shopping. We really enjoyed the tour thru the Palace and learning about its history, kids too! We could not believe it when we discovered a big shopping mall and we could not help but go inside after  2 months of markets and street stalls. We went in initially to find food and found a world of western type foods, had been craving a simple sandwich and got it! Ben was so excited to find a Leggo store, Jazzy and Rich found something in Zara and I found some new Birkenstocks.

Rich and I went to the War museum that afternoon, found it very interesting, shocking and sad. Left us with a lot to think about and contemplate. I have to say after my small time here in Asia I feel I have learnt a lot about the culture and people. It confuses me as to why Government powers in History have not had respect or acceptance for the country they invade to help. I understand the museum would have been biased against the Americans but it surprised me the force and aggression the American army showed and the destruction (from illegal chemical sprays) they caused and left behind - 3 generations later and children are still being born with deformities.

Our last day we woke early and took a tour to the Co Chi Tunnels. For those who do not know these were underground tunnels, dug by hand, and facilitated the Viet Cong control of a large rural area 30km from HCMC/Saigon. It was an interesting day although slightly disappointing as our guides english was pretty poor. We all went in the tunnels, I only went in the shortest one, 15m and glad I am small. Rich came out all hot and sweaty after only 100m.

Rich was very brave to do this one, I was not game!

The kids in the tunnels

Disguised air holes for the tunnels, very clever.

We were back by the afternoon, went to Converse for the kids (half price) and had a wander in our neighbourhood thru little alleys where locals lived. Dinner was a beautiful Japanese restaurant and a delicious Tepanyaki meal. Kids thought it was fun throwing eggs and we all LOVED the Australian lamb, steak, salmon and prawns!! After dinner we wandered the markets, bought 10 pairs of Calvin undies and ended up in Baskin Robbins for ice cream, a great day and end to our time in the "big smoke".

Last night in HCMC at the Tepanyaki restaurant.

Go Benny!

For my Facebook friends I have not been able to access the site in Vietnam. At first I thought it was my phone and after a thought and remembering this is a communist country realised why. Mum said I had a lot of Birthday messages and unfortunately I did not receive them and I look forward to it when I get to Laos hopefully. Thank you for thinking of me. I want to wish my beautiful friend Michelle in Tassy a very Happy Birthday for the 16th March and sorry I do not have your address or email.