Snap back to reality

Saturday 29^th August 2015

This morning I left Vietnam! I woke up early and checked out. Annoyingly the breakfast wasn’t ready even though it was supposed to start at 6.30am so all I got was bananas.

I shared a taxi to the airport with another girl and checked in straight in and walked about the airport where I bumped into a guy I met in Cambodia we caught up for a while then I went and boarded my plane.

I slept most of the three hour flight but woke up to a swollen throbbing arm I had to wait for everyone to get off the plane as everyone was in a rush to get moving.

I got out of the airport and got on the bus into kl Sentral along the way we stopped a few times to watch the Bersih protest at the station I got the LRT (train) to Pasar Seni and came out in the midst of the protest and had to navigate my way to the hostel.

I checked in and was upset to find I had been allocated a top bunk and also that there was 6% GST on the cost as well making it more expensive. So I had to go out for more cash.

I found some food and chilled in the common area for a bit before going to bed to watch a movie.

Sunday 30^th August 2015

Today was a really lazy day I woke up and waited for ages hoping someone else would wake up so that I could get down from the top bunk without smashing my face. Unfortunately no one got up so I had to brave it and successfully landed on my feet.

I got ready for the day and then went down for breakfast and ended up chatting to a girl for several hours. Eventually I had to go back upstairs to move beds and ended up having a nap for a while when I came down I went out to get some food but it was a struggle to find anything vegetarian.

On the way back to the hostel I picked up some cookies and sat drinking tea and munching all evening whilst watching big hero six.

At about 10.30pm I went out and got some food and watched the end of the Bersih protest and the countdown to Merdeka which was an amazing experience it was like a carnival atmosphere which was really interesting. We spent some time talking to a really lovely family who explained everything and translated things the crowd was chanting etc.

By the time we got back I was exhausted and fell into bed tired.

Monday 31^st August 2015

This morning I woke up needing the bathroom and thinking it was the middle of the night so was surprised when I came out and it was really light and it was actually 8am so I got up.

I had a shower and had some breakfast and then around 10am went to the Merdeka (Independence Day) parade but it was mostly over which was a shame but we saw some huge balloons and lots of people cheering.

I walked through the central market to the train station and got a train to KLCC where I walked around and killed a few hours having a picnic for one in the park.

Back at the hostel I sorted the last of my Vietnam photos and chilled out for a while in the evening I went for dinner in Chinatown then watched a movie in the hostel.

Tuesday 1^st September 2015

I had a last lazy morning sitting around watching CNN news but began to feel a little depressed by all of the stupidity and doom and gloom of the media so headed out.

I got the train to KL Sentral with another girl and we had amazing pancakes at a place in the mall before walking to little India.

We spent the late afternoon strolling along looking in the many shops and chatting to people who stopped me to comment on my tattoo (and take loads of photos)

We weren’t really hungry but a really nice woman recommended a vegetarian Indian restaurant so we had an early dinner before continuing on our way. While we were eating it started to rain heavily and was still drizzling as we walked back to the train station.

Back at the hostel we sat about for a bit then walked to Chinatown to get some fruit then chilled out till it was time to seep.

Wednesday 2^nd September 2015

For some unknown reason I booked a haircut for 11am so had to actually get up and moving. I had a shower and some breakfast then got the train to KL Sentral and found the salon. The result wasn’t exactly what I had in mind but hopefully after a wash I can fix it how I want as currently it’s very sleek.

After the cut I walked around the mall a bit and then went back to the hostel to watch a movie. I sat in the common area and streamed a couple of movies interspersed with occasional conversation with other people hanging about.

In the evening a friend and I went to the mall at KL Sentral to get some food we ended up at a burger bar right next to Celebrity Fitness and stuffed our faces whilst watching spin and Zumba. I’m not sure I’d be happy to exercise while people stared through the windows some people were even filming the Zumba class on their phones…

We felt pretty stuffed so when we got back we took a walk around Chinatown arriving back at the hostel just in time to farewell another friend. I watched a bit of a movie on the TV in the common room and then retreated to bed.

Thursday 3^rd September 2015

So today was my last full day travelling and I spent it doing nothing so spectacular. This girl in my room woke up around 5am and spent an age rummaging around her bag and going in and out of the room only to finally take a shower and go back to bed! It was hugely annoying and I couldn’t really get back to sleep.

Eventually I got up and had a long breakfast before sorting through and packing my bags. Once that was done I sat about waiting for things to charge so I would have movies and books for the plane.

Around 2pm I went for a walk just to get some fresh air and ended up walking to Bukit Bintang which is s huge shopping area. The pavilion mall there is huge and I got lost in there searching for something to eat. I ate and then had to search for my way back out and walk back to the hostel. Along the way I encountered (yet another) literal wanker calming jerking himself off on a bench.

I got back to the hostel and chilled out in the cool ac before getting an early dinner the food was pretty good but overpriced and the place lacked atmosphere so we didn’t stick around long.

We walked through Chinatown and picked up some sacks as we were still a bit hungry and then went back to the hostel and spent the evening watching movies.

Friday 4^th September 2015

Last night it was a bit hard to sleep as I knew that today I would be getting on a plane back to the UK. I got up and dressed and went to meet my old KL flatties for breakfast. We were supposed to meet at 9am but due to traffic there was a bit of a hold up.

Emily and I had breakfast and then walked about ten minutes to the bookshop where she works (as she had to be back at work) and we met the others there. Mic arrived with a friend who is staying with her and a bit later Sidney arrived as well.

We walked to another café close by and I had tea while the others ate and we caught up on the last two years! Around 11.30am I had to leave to get back to the hostel in time to pack and check out. I checked out and then had a shower and got all my things together ready to go.

I spent my last few hours willing time to move a bit quicker and drinking endless cups of tea in preparation for England.

Now I have less than an hour before I leave or the airport! The last 291 days (yip that’s how long I’ve been on the road!) have been amazing! Huge thanks to everyone who has been a part of the journey I hope that our paths will cross again somewhere someday! See you all on the other side (of the world!!!) Peace and Love xxxx

Hanoi round two – otherwise known as the time I sat twiddling my thumbs and cursing travel insurance companies as well as cheap airlines…

Sunday 23^rd August 2015

I spent the morning lounging in bed between breakfast and catching the bus. The return journey to Hanoi was much the same but third time was busier and we picked up a ton of locals.

In Hanoi the hostel we wanted to stay at was full and so we had to go elsewhere. We showered and had a bit of food while we waited for the others who didn’t arrive until 10.30pm by which time I was ready for bed but the ac was broken and the room was cooking. After several complaints we ended up in private rooms which was a win!

Monday 24^th August 2015

We got up and had breakfast which was disgusting just like the staff! Not wanting to stay another night we walked to the hostel we stayed in previously and sorted out beds then went back checked out and got our bags.

By the time everyone was in one place and checked in it was about 2pm we went for food and fruit shakes and took a walk around the lake. We sat talking to some students for about an hour as they wanted to improve their English.

Come evening we had one last dinner together and then everyone went out but I went to bed.

Tuesday 25^th August 2015

I got up early to have breakfast with and say goodbye to some more peeps after which I went back to bed. I managed to sleep a little more and when I woke up I spent a stressful morning buying a new flight.

Once that was sorted and I had got ready for the day I went for food and a smoothie and a walk around the lake with some  folks (pretty much the same as yesterday) before sitting sorting out a hostel for KL as well as banking and yet more paperwork for insurance

In the evening a bunch of us went to dinner at a local place and I had an amazing grilled eggplant dish. Once we had eaten we went and chilled in a beautiful little spot called the lantern lounge with seating on the floor and lots of lanterns.

At about 11pm and the boys continued on and I walked back to the hostel and into my bed.

Wednesday 26th August 2015

 Last night I slept horrifically mostly due to three young English girls who have been travelling for four weeks and think they are world wise before they even woke me up they annoyed me with their selfish childish behaviour and when they came back at 3am with a guy in tow turned on all the lights and proceeded to shriek about their night as well as take selfies in their underwear I had enough. Thank goodness they left.

I  got up and a group of us had breakfast and then I went back to bed for a while before getting up to shower and go to a bakery for cake. After cake we said farewell to more of the gang and went and had a cheap lunch and a fruit shake. Back at the hostel it was hot and there was nothing to do so we went to the cinema.

We came out several hours later went to get some dinner during which it started to pour with rain so we had to hang out for a while and wait for it to pass.

Back at the hostel I watched a movie in bed.

Thursday 27th August 2015

I got up and ready to see some sights this morning but it didn’t turn out well. I started off by walking to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Considering the man wanted to have a simple cremation the mausoleum eems a bit ridiculous it’s a huge concrete structure (once voted the 6^th ugliest building in the world in a CNN poll) inside uncle Hos embalmed body lies for eternity. It’s supposed to be open until 11am but when I got there at 10.45am it was already closed. There were heaps of workmen around building temporary structures and cutting the already perfectly manicured grass as its independence day soon I can only assume the surly closure and work is for that.

Next I wanted to see the presidential palace but it proved very difficult to find in my search I found the Ho Chi Minh museum which closed at 12pm for a two hour lunch leaving me 30mins to walk around but on the plus side I got in for free as they overlooked selling me the ticket in their rush to get me inside.

At 12pm I resumed my search for the palace and found out it was closed for the rest of the day so my plans to sight see were scrapped.

I walked back towards the hotel and got a fruit shake and some street food before heading back to the hostel to sit around and twiddle my thumbs in the ac.

In the evening me and another guy walked along to the lantern lounge where we hung out a few nights ago they have a veggie menu which was grand and it’s a cool place to hang out. We got back to the hostel and I wanted to go to bed but two guys in my room had invited about 15 others to drink in there eventually they left but disturbed everyone (in the sense of disturbed sleep as well as mentally disturbed) by coming back and having loud sloppy fake sounding amateur porn sex at about 4am.

Friday 28^th August 2015

Today was my last day in Hanoi so I made the effort to see something and went to the Hoa Lo Prison museum. In typical Vietnamese fashion it was closed from 11.30am- 1.30pm so before I went I got a fruit shake and headed to the post office to post a bunch of scribbles.

It was first used by the French to hold revolutionaries who were beaten, tortured and starved. The place was a tad contradictory first claiming to be one of the more secure facilities of its time and then telling stories of many escapees.

Later during the Vietnam War the prison was used to hold American fighter pilots shot down and arrested. In comparison to how the Vietnamese inmates were treated it sounded as though the Americans were at a summer camp and the many pictures showed the many freedoms they were allowed.

I came out of the museum feeling hungry and hot so I got a snack and then went back to the hostel and ended up chatting with a bunch of people. I left to pack my bag ad when I came back everyone was absolutely wasted which was rather amusing.

Since it was the weekend the streets were closed and the night market was happening. I walked about and watched some Vietnamese dancing and several choirs all strutting their stuff on a small stage set up on the corner. Then I had my last dinner in Vietnam and a chilled evening chatting and saying farewell to new friends

hospitals hospitals hospitals

Friday 14^th August 2015

After a sleepless night I got up with my arm bulging out of my splint and my fingers all looking like fat little sausages they were so swollen. I got myself sorted for the bus to Hue which was three hours of painful bumpy roads I arrived in heaps of pain and hearing all the horrors people were telling me about fucking my arm permanently I was seriously considering moving my flights and coming back to the UK early.

I spoke with my insurance and they needed a full medical report so off I went to the hospital. Thankfully it was only 20mins walk away but it was hard to find the right place and after walking around dazed for a while a security guard picked me up on his scooter and drove me to the right place.

I arrived five minutes before they closed and luckily Dr Hu agreed to see me (he is my new favourite person) he took one look at my x-ray which he declared crap then said the splint was crap (and was mortified a Dr gave it to me)

Soon enough I was having more x-rays which confirmed a radial fracture. After some hideously painful manipulation my arm was wrapped up in a pop cast and will be for the next 8 or so weeks!!!

I headed back to the hostel but had to return in the morning to check the cast and collect my medical report. Once I arrived back I went and got dinner with a few others and then crashed when we got back.

Saturday 15^th August 2015

I was happy that I slept well last night and woke up feeling pretty good. I got dressed which took an age and I couldn’t do up my shorts one handed luckily I don’t care what I look like as I can’t tie up my hair and look like medusa.

I headed to the hospital and got a muffin along the way as the hostel said I couldn’t have the free breakfast because my room was too cheap… I got to the hospital and didn’t have long to wait before the Dr saw ne he was happy with the cast and issued instructions to wriggle my fingers and thumb and to keep an eye out for swelling.

Then I had to wait for more than an hour as the card machine was broken but eventually they had it sorted and I was free to go. I walked back to the hostel via the post office for stamps and then went and got some food before walking around the imperial city.

I didn’t get much out of it as it was superhot and my sling was cutting into my neck so after a couple of hours I retreated back to the hostel.

In the evening I booked a night bus to Ninh Binh for tomorrow and went to an Indian restaurant with some friends

Sunday 16^th August 2015

Today was a write off I pretty much woke up and hung out in the room until checkout then went and ate a long lunch before heading back to the hostel to sit and wait for a bus to Ninh Binh. Whilst I was waiting I received a call from the medical team responsible for accessing my insurance claim. They believe that my arm requires surgery and so I need to cut short my time in Ninh Binh and head to Hanoi for yet another medical assessment.

I got on the bus feeling pretty low about the turn of events and to make things worse I got really travel sick and didn’t really sleep.

Hoi An

 Monday 10^th August 2015

The night bus arrived in about 2.5 hours late but it actually made things better for us to not arrive at 6am we had a hotel transfer which we all piled into only to be taken back to the bus station to pick more people up and eventually get to our hostel. We couldn’t check in until about 11am so I went out to find some food with one of the guys from the bus.

We found a little café in the ancient city and after eating took a walk around for a few hours we didn’t have the ancient city ticket so we couldn’t go inside everywhere but popped our heads through the door and carried on. Around 10.30am we started back to the hostel where we had to hang around for about an hour before we could check in and the staff were super rude about it.

Eventually we could get into the room I dumped my bag and got changed and then went with a couple of other people to rent bikes to cycle the 4km to the beach. The ride was easy it’s a straight flat road so didn’t take much time but when we arrived there seemed to be a bit of a scam to pay to park we did it as it was cheap and that seemed the safest way to ensure our bike didn’t ride away.

We arrived about midday and spent most of the day swimming and sunbathing I took a book from the hostel which kept me occupied and I enjoyed getting a bit more bronzed. Around 4.30pm we set off back to the hostel where I had a shower in a dingy bathroom with a grey towel (this hostel is the worst in Vietnam!!!) and then chilled out a while before dinner.

We went to an India restaurant for dinner which was amazing and the portions were huge and delicious which was just what I needed. After we ate we walked around the ancient city for a while before heading back to the hostel feeling pretty exhausted.

Tuesday 11th August 2015

This morning I woke up and wanted to sleep more but it was one of those days were sleep eluded me and so I got up and had breakfast. It was an all you can eat buffet and I ate all I could eat. After breakfast I booked my next bus and then rented a bike to go to the beach.

We went to Cua Dai Beach which was about 7km away from town and was much smaller than the other one it was a pretty beach but the coastline was clearly suffering from erosion and there was sandbags along long stretches of sand.

We set up a little place on the beach under some trees and spent an enjoyable few hours reading in the sunshine. After a bit a couple of girls I met in Dalat arrived and we sat and talked to them for quite some time before they had to head off and onwards to their next destination.

We stayed sitting on the beach for quite some time and headed back into town around 4pm. After a quick stop at the hostel we went to the ancient town to a café we had been told about at breakfast. It was called reach out café and is run by deaf and speech impaired locals. It’s a silent café and all ordering etc. is done by hand gestures, writing things down and little wooden blocks with words on.

It was a really tranquil place to sit and drink several pots of tea and eat plates of cookies for an hour or so. Afterwards I walked back to the hostel via the post office to post some postcards and then back to the hostel where I had a shower and chilled out before dinner.

This morning at breakfast I had overheard a girl talking about a vegetarian restaurant and had asked her where it was. It was an amazing little place and I had a huge bowl of pumpkin it was so exciting! All the food was Vietnamese but without the stress of making sure it didn’t contain fish so was an absolute win after eating we just headed back to the hostel and I read until late.