Hysterically Brave

I'm sitting here in the shivering cold of my lounge room trying to piece together the day by day experiences of the trip that was, as well as the more moving, more permanent, more dominant thoughts of what Vietnam has meant to me.

When I left Australia only 2 weeks ago, I was shy, withdrawn, negative and scared senseless of not only everything that was going on around me, but of this massive, yet frightening step of booking such a trip in the first place. Now, I don't even feel as though I'm the same person. Things that were so comfortable in my little world now don't seem to fit, and each step I've taken since I walked off that plane is making me nervous. People told me it would be life changing, but I wasn't prepared for this. And if I don't fit here, in the 5km circle I've fenced myself into for so many years, then where do I fit? Where will I find those footholds to navigate my way up this mountain? And where does it lead to anyway? I could ask questions ad infinitum...theres not going to be any short term answers though, are there? This is all part of the process.

The internet is really really great.....

Have a spare couple of minutes, so I thought I'd update for you guys.

ATM we're in Hue which is famous for its perfume river and temples and pagodas. The river actually does have a faint scent to it, and its a lot cleaner than any other bodyof water we've been on. We had a 2 hour cruise along it today, stopping off at 2 beautiful places, both temples, along the way. The views were spekky, but it's overcast as today and humid as and just not great for photography. Hope some of the shots come out okay tho.

A few of the quieter people shared a nice lunch and we were SUPPOSED to go for a bike ride this arvo, but I fell asleep, so missed out. Kind of lucky in a way, coz my doorbell rang and FMD...I had flowers delivered for Mother's Day. Thank you beautiful angels, it's made my day, coz I'm feeling a bit flat and anxious to catch up with all of my special people. It's been such a great experience having my eyes opened in so many ways, but I'm ready to come home. (Now I know what you meant Meggie

We had a massive day yesterday and were on the road for most of it. After visiting the Marble Mountains in Da Nang (which were amazing!!!!!) (Bhuddist Temples, gardens, peaceful, lovely) we drove the infamous stretch of road that I think may be called the Hai Van Pass or something like that. Felt narrower that puffing Billy's track in places, with more corners than the road to Falls creek, plus busses galore, landslides and general falling rock...I must have toughened up on this trip, coz I wasn't even scared by it, just clicked away merrily enjoying the coast to coast views with maybe a bit of snoozing in between

The afternoon was spent checking out the imperial palace, which raised the hair on the back of my neck. The history, the architecture, the colours...you'll have to wait for the pics of course (which I hate to tell you all I've taken HUNDREDS). By the end of the day, our heels and bottom lips were dragging on the ground. The group was stuffed. Lyn and I had a seriously early night after a quick room service dinner and caught up on much needed rest (old age)

This is our last night in Hue. We're doing something very special tonight...dinner at the Imperial Palace. We dress in traditional costume and have a traditional feast in the courtyard thats lit by lanterns, with a vietnamese quartet...all for the bargain price of $200,000 dong...which is about $15.

Everything here is cheaper than cheap. A bottle of water is $5,000 Dong. A beer is $15,000. A rice or noodle dish is $20,000. T-Shirts are about $50,000 unless you buy in bulk then they get way cheaper. Haven't seen any electrical goods or better quality stuff tho. It's all very basic and touristy. Everywhere you go there are touts...locals trying to sell you things. If you make eye contact you're stuffed!!! When the bus pulls up somewhere, they all spring into action...you buy water lady...pineapple... They pull your clothes, grab your arm, and won't take no for an answer unless you make a brushing away type movement. Sometimes it works in your favour, coz water from the first little shack is always the dearest, and you can barter for anything here. If you go to walk away to the next shack, they pull you back and make you a better offer. One guy today paid 3 times what I did for a bottle of water!!!! Thats the bookkeeper coming out in me.

Tomorrow we have an 8.30am flight to Ha Noi where we check out the temple of Literature (their first university) and other great places. Pics dont do these sights justice. The detail they go to in their construction is incredible. We spend one night in Ha Noi, then have an overnight cruise on a brand new and apparently very swish junk, then back to Ha Noi for our final night and farewell dinner.

not long now....

Oh...I forgot to say hello to my wife in my last post (sorry darling) and I wonder how my little puppy is getting on without me, or more to the point, how tara is coping with my little puppy!!! What if she doesn't remember me???? Bella, not tara

Peace out everyone
from a very very tired Reinsey.

happy mothers day Mum.

Thank you both so very very much for the flowers little people

Our last day in hoi An, and what a shame that is. Beautiful beautiful place. We woke up super early (well Lyn did, then woke me up by jumping on my bed) for a swim, and walked the 2km into town by 7.30 which meant we were the first people at the markets. Aparently the Vietnamese are very keen to make a sale early in the day coz it means they will have a lucky day....BONUS!!!

A few hours of bartering wears a pair of Aussie girls out, so it was beer O'Clock at 9.30am...over-looking the Hoi An river with little old ladies in their conical hats with baskets of produce overflowing after their market trips walking by. I'm going to bore you all senseless with pics of this area coz its just one big postcard.

We shopped on until about midday, walked back to our fav restaurant where the owner wants to give Lynn a bit of extra service, and had a very quiet meal of fried rice and spring rolls. then the crazy bitch says to me "Lets hire a motorbike and cruise the countryside". We're out booking it when the owner of the restaurant tells us we can borrow his for free. personlly i think it was just so he could check out her rack for a couple of extra minutes

So here we were....mixing it with the locals on the back of a bike......OMG...what a blast!!! I swam in the South china Sea today. Can you believe that????? We missed our hotel on the way back and ended up back in town...picked up all of the things I had made )shoes and a few clothes) and man was everyone jealous!!!

Today we probably spent 3 hours all up in coversation with locals. funny as. their english is pretty good but broken, and you have to speak very slowly and with hand signals to back up what you're saying.

Well...thats all for now, and i don't know if I will get back on before we head home. Big day on the road tomorrow. We have to be loaded in the bus by 7.30am, and we all know how I am in the morning!!!!!

Meggie.......I hope that horrible Ruigrok boy treats you well. but I really do hate his dad Kick ass in the final for me coz I'd love you to go out with a premmie.

merky....hope all your 18 teams get thru this weekend

mummy....I really miss you. glad I know that you're reading this and you know I'm safe.

Miff and Di - if you're reading this, i hope merky's not giving you the shits too much...ha ha ha

Damo - doubt you are coz ur so busy...but i can see you as a missionary in a place like this. Thanks for giving me the confidence to travel like this!

loz - I miss you most of all. We should talk when I get home

Till next time...or when I see you...peace out niggers!

hello all my special people. Hope ur all having fun over there and not missing me too much!!!

We left ho chi minh city yesterday on a very suspect Vietnam Airlines flight to da nang. i was in a cold sweat the whole time. they showed the pilot's view on the screens during take off - OMG mate - scary as!!!

We're now in hoi an which is the MOST wonderful place on the planet. our resort defies description...but i'll give it a go. It's like sopmething from a movie. a big open foyer with dark shutters open to the breeze. tin shades with stars cut out to let the filteres light through. the foyer looks out upon the pool area that is surrounded by white lillies and tropical type trees, terraced pathways, more tin shades, little white swings placed under the shade of trees, arbours, little eating nooks with dark furniture and crisp white linen topped with a vase of freshly cut flowefrs. And the rooms themselves are breathtaking. 4 poster beds with white linen and mosquito netting. Shutters on the windows and huge heavy wide doors with traditional motives carved into them. more tin shades. White shutters above the bath. A massive foyer with pebbles inlaid to form a path. man...it's bEAUTIFUL!!!! Would be a wonderful place for a honeymoon

My roomy, Lynn, is simply divine. We will be friends for life. Some nights we stay awake and talk til 4 in the morning. She's like a sister. We laugh, we cry, but mostly we laugh! but we're not in each others laps either. We still socialise with the wider group and then are in hysterics each night as we relay our stories gained from others through out the day. great people watchers we are. Who wants to get with who. but you know what...I'm in viETNam!!!

Today was insane. I did something stupid and became separated from the group and was totally by myself in Hoi An. OMG! AND I had THE worst case of the runs you could imagine (over-share). So I had to try to find a toilet - and fast - with no idea of where I was or where I should be. Scary as. but I'm so darn proud of myself. i sorted it all out and even went to have a pedicure and massage before making my own way back to our resort. Not before ordering some hand made shoes and matching bag plus some clothes and doing a little bartering. the shoes should be ready tomorrow morning...how cool!!!

This arvo we went on a bike ride around the back streets and country paths. AMAZING. hot as hell, but amazing.

theres an old saying that the vietnmese people teach their children from very early on. the wise old grandfather gives his grandchild a chopstick and tells him to snap it in half. as it's so thin, it snaps easily. the the grandfather gives him a whole stack of chopsticks and asks him to break them in half too. Of course he cant. So the moral of the story is that strength comes in numbers and by having the support of others around you. i love these people. they're truly special. they have very little, yet are happy just to be. People said this trip would be life changing...but I wasn't prepared for this.

Till next time my chopsticks
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

I think today is Sunday! I only think that coz I've barely slept since I left. It's THE biggest partay ever. The group is fantastic. Eveyone is out for the experience and it's just piss funny pretty much all of the time. This place is INCREDIBLE. The people are so unbelievably friendly, and curious about us vanilla faces. It's a blast trying to communicate with them. they love it, we love it, it's great.

Do you guys get the impression that I'm enjoying myself????

Seriously, it is THE best thing I've ever done (other than you 2 little miracles of course).

Can't type for long. Had a MASSIVE night last...we pulled an allnighter after karaoke til 4 then we all decided to watch the sun rise over the mekong delta. Speachless. just hope the pics get within 10% of how amazing it was.

Most meals we eat in a big group. Everyone orders things and we all dip in. Great fun trying the new things. Last night there was sauted snake, grilled rat (I didnt try that one!) quite possibly dog (sorry Bella) and a heck of a lot of beer.

Loz, I've only taken 1,000 pics so far. the whole place is a postcard. I could just snap away the entire time.

Meggie...hope you girls won your final tonight...I've been sending you happy thoughts

Mummy...happy birthday for Saturday. I sang the song for you yesterday...hope you had a good day

All the work peoples......miss you all...but i don't miss work. Hope it's not too busy.

I'll type soon - must sleep