my new thrill

Everyone here drives a motor scooter.

This is a typical road scene and one way signs are often not followed.  Frank

now takes a GRAB (like Über) scooter when he wants to get downtown.  It is cheap and fast.  A taxi gets bogged down by all the scooters and takes a long time to get anywhere, especially during rush hour.  So I decided it was time for me to try.  Thursday night was Trivia night downtown and a colleague of mine offered to take me via scooter.

It was great.  

Saturday was a fun filled day.  We had a manicure and pedicure and then stopped by a Turkish restaurant to pick up some lunch.  Everything freshly made on the spot - the pitas and the baclava had just come out of the oven.  After a nap we took the bus downtown and just wandered for a while.  Passed the large church and spent some time in a tiny bookstore that was hidden up a small alley and a narrow, dark staircase one flight up.

The bookstore had a fantastic selection of used English books.  Along the way there were interesting little alleyways.  For dinner we went to a Mexican restaurant.  Happy hour and so I had two Margaritas along with home made Nacho chips, lime/tequila chicken and salsa.  So I was in the mood to grab a GRAB motorbike and head home.  A 25 minute ride through downtown on a Saturday night with warm tropical breezes. The only way to go.

Somewhere down this alley is where we found the bookstore.

Sunday was a day to do some shopping.  Despite the modern living arrangements in our district , there are still the rustic sights in the river  that we can see from our balcony.

Da Nang/ Hoi An

We did a last minute trip to Da Nang.  We flew out Friday evening around 9pm.  After a short delay we took our one hour flight. We stayed at a modest hotel - Sofia Hotel in Da Nang.  It is about 400m from the beach and a 30 minute drive to get to Hoi An.

Saturday morning was overcast and so we took the free bikes offered at the hotel and we headed to a huge Female Buddha statue about 5 km along the coast.  It was also refreshing cooler than Saigon.

By noon we were back at the hotel for a great lunch - carmelized fish in clay pot followed by creme brûlée.  After a nap we decided on going to Hoi An, a UNESCO site that is quite beautiful.

First stop - a first rate coffee shop.  

Hoi An is busy with many tourist and it is a shopping Mecca.

Frank bought a hat among other goodies.  We had dinner at an Indian restaurant and were back at the hotel by 10pm.  Sunday morning was overcast again but by noon the sun was out again.  We decided to spend our morning by the beach.

Frank could not resist joining some ladies taking fun photos on the beach. The flight home went smoothly except for the long ride home with Saigon traffic.  It is a one hour flight and a 1.5 hour cab ride home :(

  

Hi ho hi ho

It's off to work I go... So that we can plan another trip:)

Enjoying the 10 hour train ride in Sri Lanka.  

The train would stop at these small track-side eateries.  Their advertisements hanging from the trees.  

We spent the last day of the weekend recuperating and getting ready to head back to school tomorrow.  

last day in Colombo

Yesterday was a day to explore some of Colombo.  I may becoming a  little weary of some of the old colonial aspects of south east Asia.

The waterfront is not particularly inviting.  Also there was a lot of military activity since February 4th is Independence Day and there were many preparations going on.

The Galle Face Hotel is a beautiful hotel in the colonial style.  

Some of the street scenes.

Views from the roof top pool at our hotel the Cinnamon Red Hotel

 Swimming to the edge.

Bar and restaurant where we had dinner - very nice.  Today we have a long day ahead as we prepare to go the airport for an 11pm flight with a stopover in Kuala Lumpur and then back to Ho Chi Minh.  Sunday will be a recuperation day I am sure.

Colombo

It was a 10 hour train ride from Ella to Colombo (the capital) of Sri Lanka.  We booked a first class ticket - $15US per person.  The seats were comfortable but heavily stained, the old air conditioner was still hanging - barely - from the ceiling but a newer  version was trying to keep our car cool, parts of the interior wall was cracked and broken and the fluorescent light above us was on the blink and so was flashing the whole time - yes this was first class.  As some young female med students told us that in Sri Lanka first class is the only way to travel.  I cannot imagine what the other coaches would be like.  We did get 2 curry meals that were good.  The other disconcerting part of the trip was the swaying of the train - at times violently.  I do know how the train stayed on the tracks - especially when we rode over the mountain passes with km long drop offs.  But the scenery was stunning.

Hanging out of the observation deck of our train.

every mountain is covered in tea plants

tea pickers 

We are riding up in the clouds

more Ella

Added another day to our stay in Ella hoping to get some hiking in but the rain has hampered those plans.  We are in a lovely spot and so are enjoying the views and the great curry meals we have been eating.

Before leaving for Ella we managed to get a safari in to see some elephants.  Another rainy day but the jeep drivers enjoyed trying to get across the swollen rivers.  Some did get stuck and the guys were in their element helping each other.  

Coming home from school.  

hiking in Ella

After the rains keeping us from doing some hiking we finally got a beautiful day.  We spent 3 days in Ella. the final 2 days were at Misty Hills Resort.

A view from from our room.  The name 'Misty Hills fits the view for this day.

heading out on our hike to Ella Rock.  Another way of getting around for us and the locals is via the railway tracks.  Everyone uses them as an easy route.

A morning view of Ella Rock where we hiked.

It took us about 2.5 hours to reach the summit and when we arrived an elderly local man was making tea for anyone wanting a cup.

Taking a rest before the walk back down and a hot shower. The vehicles in Sri Lanka- buses, trucks ... are painted and look like they are from the '60 's .

The inside of the buses are just as wild along with flashing coloured lights and all kinds of hanging icons as well as shag carpeting on some of the seats.  Austen Powers would love it.