Today has been a good day. We have enjoyed the sunshine for the first time since being in Vietnam. Being in the sun all day felt nice, but we are feeling it now as we have settled down for the night.
One thing for sure is that we are continually hungry. The food is really good, but not filling. Rice and everything made out of rice doesn't last long in a hungry stomach that is walking all day long. We have managed to save a lot of money by walking everywhere and never taking a cab unless we absolutely need it. We lucked out this morning when we arrived in Nha Trang. We were told that the bus ride from Hoi An to Nha Trang takes about 12-13 hours. Our bus left Hoi An last night at 7pm so we weren't anticipating to arrive in Nha Trang until about 7am. Then, aboard the sleeper bus, the driver stops, flips on the lights, and yells, "Nha Trang". Shelley and I looked at each other startled because we were just woken up and what he yelled. It's 5am and we are here. We gathered our stuff and got off the bus. Luckily, we turned the corner to find what street we were on and our hotel was starring at us. We checked in early and took a shower.
We spent the day walking around and seeing different districts of the city after spending a few hours on the beach. Nha Trang is a hot spot for Russians. The signs around town all have Russian writing on them and this computer continually tries to translate my English typing to Russian. I apologize for any typos.
Today's post will be short. We love you all! Thanks for your love and support.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Friday, January 17, 2014
Beautiful Hoi An
We just woke up in beautiful Hoi An, Vietnam.
Yesterday was a good day also. We left on a bus from Hue to Hoi An. The bus ride was interesting. We were told that the bus leaves at 8am. The shuttle to take us to the bus didnt pick us up until 8:30am and we sat at the bus station for about an hour until the shuttle had finished picking everyone else up. We departed from Hue on a 3.5 hour bus ride. The ride included going through a huge tunnel that must have been an engineering feat for this country.
In Hoi An, it took some effort, but we were able to find our hotel. It is a cute little hotel on a dirt road. It is called the Vesper Homestay and we got it for $14 a night! We scored a great deal on this one. We highly recommened this hotel. We think the family that owns this place lives here also. The room actually feels really clean and the people are super nice. Last night we just walked every where, like usual, but today we are going to rent bikes from the hotel to cruise around on.
Just to give you a little insight on money exchange here. Currently the exchange rate is roughly $1 = 21000 VND (Vietnamese Dong). Water usually cost anywhere from 10000 VND to 30000 VND depending on where you buy it. The bikes we are renting for the day cost 30000 VND per bike. Thats about $3 for us to rent the bikes for the day. Not a baf deal. Last night our dinner at a famous restaurant in town was 158000 VND which is roughly $8.
Here is a sample of some fun pictures from last night.
Yesterday was a good day also. We left on a bus from Hue to Hoi An. The bus ride was interesting. We were told that the bus leaves at 8am. The shuttle to take us to the bus didnt pick us up until 8:30am and we sat at the bus station for about an hour until the shuttle had finished picking everyone else up. We departed from Hue on a 3.5 hour bus ride. The ride included going through a huge tunnel that must have been an engineering feat for this country.
In Hoi An, it took some effort, but we were able to find our hotel. It is a cute little hotel on a dirt road. It is called the Vesper Homestay and we got it for $14 a night! We scored a great deal on this one. We highly recommened this hotel. We think the family that owns this place lives here also. The room actually feels really clean and the people are super nice. Last night we just walked every where, like usual, but today we are going to rent bikes from the hotel to cruise around on.
Just to give you a little insight on money exchange here. Currently the exchange rate is roughly $1 = 21000 VND (Vietnamese Dong). Water usually cost anywhere from 10000 VND to 30000 VND depending on where you buy it. The bikes we are renting for the day cost 30000 VND per bike. Thats about $3 for us to rent the bikes for the day. Not a baf deal. Last night our dinner at a famous restaurant in town was 158000 VND which is roughly $8.
Here is a sample of some fun pictures from last night.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Train to Hue
We spent another long day traveling. The 4 hour bus ride from Ha Long bay was followed by an overnight train ride from Hanoi to Hue. We spent the night in a sleeper car with two friends. One guy was from Germany and the other was from Nepal. They became friends when the German visited Nepal and they met there. They were super nice and funny. The guy from Nepal was really nice to talk to. He had informed us that the trek to the Annapurna Base Camp actually takes about 14-17 days so needless to say, we wont be doing that trek. However, he told us of a few other hikes to go on that would work with our time table. We will have to figure out a new game plan for Nepal.
Hue has been nice. It is more quiet than Hanoi, which is nice. We were able to visit the Training and Vocational Center Spike's Grandparents have helped to be a part of with Choice Humanitarian. There were girls learning how to sew and it was fun to see the place Spike has heard many stories about. It has been a great day.
Hue has been nice. It is more quiet than Hanoi, which is nice. We were able to visit the Training and Vocational Center Spike's Grandparents have helped to be a part of with Choice Humanitarian. There were girls learning how to sew and it was fun to see the place Spike has heard many stories about. It has been a great day.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
A morning we'd like to forget (read with a grain of salt)
On Monday morning Shelley woke up at 3am not doing so hot. She hurried to the bathroom and I begin to hear her trying to ralph in the toilet (ralph = throw up). This wasn't good and didn't give me much hope, knowing that we'd eaten at the same places. For about an hour, Shelley was continually on and off the toilet. Then about at 5am, the poop hit the fan (figuratively and literally). It was my turn for the bathroom party.
This sickness is fairly ironic because the safest place we've eaten at since being here is the Senior Missionaries apartment and that was our last place we had eaten. We don't know exactly where the sickness can from, but we have an idea.
This sickness could not have come at a better time either. Today was the only day when we could not hang out at our hotel. We needed to check out at 8am and a shuttle picked us up for the longest ride of my life. We rode to Ha Long Bay, but the 4 hour ride became increasing hard as we got closer to Ha Long Bay. First, we didn't know if our bowels could make it, and to rub salt in the wound, the already bumpy road (because all of Vietnam's roads are bumpy) was under construction for about 1/3 of the ride. We did the usual weaving in and out of traffic, but now it occurred on gravel with big bumps. In elementary school I loved sitting in the back because it would bounce the most. Now I hate it because I almost had to clean up a very nasty mess.
We boarded the Golden Lotus to take us around Ha Long Bay. Ha Long Bay is beautiful! The clouds and fog lifted briefly and that was the first time since being here we have seen the sun.
The crew was very nice and we saw some amazing land formations. We are now staying on the island of Cat Ba for a night. Our hotel is very nice, which is nice for two people recovering from sickness and now sunburns also. Bad combo.
Hope you enjoy the pictures.
This sickness is fairly ironic because the safest place we've eaten at since being here is the Senior Missionaries apartment and that was our last place we had eaten. We don't know exactly where the sickness can from, but we have an idea.
This sickness could not have come at a better time either. Today was the only day when we could not hang out at our hotel. We needed to check out at 8am and a shuttle picked us up for the longest ride of my life. We rode to Ha Long Bay, but the 4 hour ride became increasing hard as we got closer to Ha Long Bay. First, we didn't know if our bowels could make it, and to rub salt in the wound, the already bumpy road (because all of Vietnam's roads are bumpy) was under construction for about 1/3 of the ride. We did the usual weaving in and out of traffic, but now it occurred on gravel with big bumps. In elementary school I loved sitting in the back because it would bounce the most. Now I hate it because I almost had to clean up a very nasty mess.
We boarded the Golden Lotus to take us around Ha Long Bay. Ha Long Bay is beautiful! The clouds and fog lifted briefly and that was the first time since being here we have seen the sun.
The crew was very nice and we saw some amazing land formations. We are now staying on the island of Cat Ba for a night. Our hotel is very nice, which is nice for two people recovering from sickness and now sunburns also. Bad combo.
Hope you enjoy the pictures.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Welcome, Welcome Sabbath Morning
We had a great day today! We played the lazy card during the morning time, then went to lunch. We sought after a dish that our little waitress girl recommended. This dish was called Bun Ba Nam Bo. This was another great local dish. After lunch, we flagged down a taxi and went to church. The pictures below are of the church building.
Our time at church was amazing. It started out by meeting the missionaries. Elder Pham and Elder Hue we the two assigned there. However, they cannot proselyte, so their title was to be a branch builder instead of being a missionary. Crazy enough, Elder Pham went to Alta High School and knows Marlee Matta (Spike's Cousin). The Senior Missionaries showed up shortly later. Elder amd Sister Jones are 71, had riden over 6000 miles on their bikes since being in Vietnam, and are from Idaho. Crazy enough again, they live near Rigby and know the Cammacks (Shelley's Cousins). The church service was a lot of fun. We had to wear the translation headphones as a young man translated for us. The talks were fairly short. The Branch President needed to fill in some time, but did very well. The church was located right next to a karaoke bar, so there was super loud music and bad singing penetrating the thin walls of the church. Also, we witnessed one young boy thump another kid on the head with a thick lesson manual.
We went to Sunday School with the youth. Those kids did so good talking about how to invite others to come to church. Everyone participated and they even role played. It was a great lesson. Below is a picture of Shelley with all the kids and their American teacher Anita. Anita works for furniture company in Vietnam amd China that supplies to the US market.
In Priesthod I learned that one of the 19 year old youth that was translating for us is also the Young Mens President. Crazy eh?!? A young man named Vuong was a great friend to sit by. He just wanted to talk and better his English. He was baptized 5 months ago and is the only member in his family. He is studying communication at "university". Very nice guy.
There was also a baptism today after church. The water was cold and contained within a portable font. It was a fun experience. After the baptism, Elder and Sister Jones invited us to their apartment for dinner. They are service missionaries who find and work on humanitarian projects the entire two years they are here. Dinner and talking with them was awesome because they have been to every country in Southeast Asia and had so many exciting stories to share. They told us of things to do I Cambodia, Thailand, Nepal and the Philippines. We had a great night amd experience at church today.
Our time at church was amazing. It started out by meeting the missionaries. Elder Pham and Elder Hue we the two assigned there. However, they cannot proselyte, so their title was to be a branch builder instead of being a missionary. Crazy enough, Elder Pham went to Alta High School and knows Marlee Matta (Spike's Cousin). The Senior Missionaries showed up shortly later. Elder amd Sister Jones are 71, had riden over 6000 miles on their bikes since being in Vietnam, and are from Idaho. Crazy enough again, they live near Rigby and know the Cammacks (Shelley's Cousins). The church service was a lot of fun. We had to wear the translation headphones as a young man translated for us. The talks were fairly short. The Branch President needed to fill in some time, but did very well. The church was located right next to a karaoke bar, so there was super loud music and bad singing penetrating the thin walls of the church. Also, we witnessed one young boy thump another kid on the head with a thick lesson manual.
We went to Sunday School with the youth. Those kids did so good talking about how to invite others to come to church. Everyone participated and they even role played. It was a great lesson. Below is a picture of Shelley with all the kids and their American teacher Anita. Anita works for furniture company in Vietnam amd China that supplies to the US market.
In Priesthod I learned that one of the 19 year old youth that was translating for us is also the Young Mens President. Crazy eh?!? A young man named Vuong was a great friend to sit by. He just wanted to talk and better his English. He was baptized 5 months ago and is the only member in his family. He is studying communication at "university". Very nice guy.
There was also a baptism today after church. The water was cold and contained within a portable font. It was a fun experience. After the baptism, Elder and Sister Jones invited us to their apartment for dinner. They are service missionaries who find and work on humanitarian projects the entire two years they are here. Dinner and talking with them was awesome because they have been to every country in Southeast Asia and had so many exciting stories to share. They told us of things to do I Cambodia, Thailand, Nepal and the Philippines. We had a great night amd experience at church today.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
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