Aisling Travels 2013

Hoi An 9-11th April - Favourite Place Yet

ashbyrne — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:35:00 GMT

Oh my god, this is such a pretty town and I would definately stayed longer if i had the time on my visa. Although spent enough money there as it was so probably a good thing I only had a few days. Girls you would love this place, seriously you can get anything you want made for you and it like takes a couple of days! Its crazy!!

First stop when we got settled in hotel/guest house was to a shoe shop where i got comfy sandals made (unfortunately only lasted to the end of vietnam :( Then headed to Kimmys tailors where I got two dresses made and a blazer. Thinking one of the dresses will be for the big wedding in september. It turned out really nice and its currently on the way to Ireland via sea mail along with a lot of my clothes and a load of presents! but no one gets them until im home :)

Hoi An has over 300 tailors in an area of the size of kiltimagh its totally crazy but the colours everywhere is amazing. Its such a pretty town with loads of boats along the harbour and lots of laterns everywhere. Very pretty place.

We did alot of wandering around the place taking pics and haggling for presents. Also met a girl Katie who Id met in Hue, she came out to dinner with myself and Dan. We then went for a few cocktails which were very nice.

Hoi An was the last stop for Dan so we said our goodbyes although neither of us are very huggy or anthing. Hopefully we will meet up when i get to new york in the summer.

Hue - 6-9th April

ashbyrne — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:17:00 GMT

Hi guys, gotten a bit behind with the blog but heres the one for the few days in Hue

Hue is a pretty city, a lot quieter than Hanoi which is a nice thing. Arrived at 7pm in the evening and hopped in a taxi to the backpackers hostel which was very busy hostel. Got room sorted and headed for some dinner. Got lovely fried rice that came in a pineapple which was pretty cool, unfortunately didnt have the camera with me for a photo.

Dan went off with camera and i chilled out in the hostel ended up meeting a guy Danny from London and we headed down to the bar in the hostel for a few drinks. So met up with a few english girls as well. Fun few drinks

Plan was to leave the next evening but turned out more difficult than anticapated sorting Hoi An so we booked a second night in the backpackers.

We then went to check out the city. We went to the Citadel which is old town surrounded by a river and moats. Very nice and got plenty of photos. Its quite big and they are re-building some of it as alot was bombed during the war. The stuff that has been rebuilt looks fab.

After the Citadel went to look at the national Pagoda. Agter a few misturns we finally made it there. We had a random encounter with a Vietnamese-American guy there. It was his first time back to Vietnam since he was 10. Interesting prescpective on Vietnam.

That evening took a walk down by the river to look at the markets after we went to dinner in a lovely restaurant. All the food on the trip has been very good. Love the fresh spring rolls. Had an early night as bus to Hoi An was pretty early. All in all a very enjoyable few days in Hue.

Hoi An next!

Phong Ne National Park

ashbyrne — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:34:00 GMT

Hi guys

So currently in Nha Trang but have started to keep a journal so will fill ye in on all the places i've been when i get the chance to type it up!

Prob end up being a few weeks behind. Firstly went to Phong Ne with is a national park and a must see if your ever in Vietnam. It isn't majorly on the tourist track and a lot of people skip it.

Got an overnight train to Dong Hoi which suprisingly wasn't to bad at all. Then got taxi to Phong Ne and got a hotel room. We then decided to look for the Phong Ne cave. The area has loads of caves. The biggest cave in the room has just been discovered in the last year although it isn't open to the public yet. But the two that we did see were fab. The first one we got boat trip into the cave. The scenery in the place is just awesome and will get some pics up on facebook soon. The cave itself was good and overall and enjoyable afternoon.

The next day we wanted to go to Paradise Cave and the best way to get there is to rent motorbikes so we did. This was absolutely class. Loved every minute of it. Takes about hour to get to the caves by motorbike and the again the scenery is breathtaking on the trip plus they are so much fun to drive. Paradise cave is one of the biggest caves in the world and it is crazy how big it is. You really dont expect it when your climbing up to it. Have taken lots of pics but because of the lighting it doesn't do it justice you really need to see it for yourself.

March - Halong Bay and An Lac

ashbyrne — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:23:00 GMT

Hi guys, been ages since ive done a blog so thought it was time for an update. So since tet, i've moved house, the company has now split the teachers and the volunteers into to separate houses. The volunteer house is about 5/10 min from the old house and its nice. Over the last month we have had about 10 volunteers living there. Most from england. We've had lots of card games, nice dinners and a few nights drinking in the old quarter. We've all gotten on really well most of the time!

The volunteering is going good. Mostly playing with the kids who are very cute. Will get some pics of them on facebook but will leave it until i've finished which is this friday, cant believe the time is gone already but im ready to do some traveling now so hopefully will have plenty of pictures for you all to be jealous of!!

Last week was a busy one wet on two trips one to Halong Bay and the other to An Lac, both were really good but shattered today.

Halong Bay with Maddy, Jem and Charlie - it was an early start, had to leave the volunteer house at 6.45 to get into the old quarter and find the travel agaents where the bus was going to collect us. Que had organised a taxi for us to the old quarter. Had a bit of a problem finding the travel agents but eventually found it and made it to the starting point. We paid up and our tour guide Binh collected us and brought us to our air conditioned bus thankfully. From there drove around collected people from hostels and hotels and finally headed off on the 3 hour bus journey to halong bay. Half way we stopped off for tea, coffee and toilet as the tour guide liked to say. It was a bit strange, they were selling buddahs as well as refreshements along with a bit of everything really. Finally arrived to Halong Bay, it was pretty hot but unfortunately very cloudy so not much sun to be seen but the views were amazing. We had a tour of 16 people, some from australia, canada, china and the uk so quite a bunch of people all of them friendly. The food was great. We went all around the bay, stopped off for some kayaking around floating fishing village, went to Ti Top island where we climbed up 450 steps to an amazing view of Halong Bay. Then went swimming and finally back on the boat where we stayed over night. Had a lovely dinner and some entertaining karoke (there mad for it in Vietnam). We slept on the boat and next morning it was up for breakfast at 7.30 for some yummy toast and egg (its been a while since ive had any toast so it was very good) Then off to the suprising cave for a look around then another sail around the bay until we made our way back to Hanoi. All in all a very worthwhile trip. Had an amazing time.

An Lac with CSDS - This is a tour set up by the company who organises the volunteering. Its only very new and we were kinda the guinnea pigs for western tourists. Its a commune 4 hours outside Hanoi, bus journey was pretty long and quite bumpy but well worth the trip. It was to an authentic village where the people depend mostly on agriculture to earn a living. Theres no toilets in most of the houses or showers but fortunately the one we were at had recently invested in western toilets so we were lucky. We stayed with a homestay family who cooked our meals which were authentic vietnamese dishes, tried snails - not that gone on them - but the spring rolls were yum. We went to a waterfall in the forest beautiful and had a nice swim in the lake really needed it as it was quite hot at that time. We then planted a peach tree where the tour guide is going to take care of until we come back in a few years so theres an aisling tree growing in vietnam lol

In the evening we went to a school where they put on a cultural performance, women sang vietnamese songs and played musical insturments. Our group then sand a vietnamese song which Thuy reports went down well. They could understand us apperently which is always good! We then had a bonfire and some games before heading back to the homestay for some much needed sleep.

It was an early start Sunday, up at 6.30 for breakfast, met up with the rest of the group where we headed off into the forest where we went to a lake. We then did some treking through the forest which was very hot and sweaty but good fun. The views were amazing but unfortunately my camera battery died the 1st day so dont have many pictures but will put what i have up on fb at some stage.

Overall have had a really good month. This is my last week in Hanoi. Heading to Hue Tuesday night 2nd April so will hopefully do a bit of blogging after that. A night train from Hanoi to Hue should be interesting anywyay. Hope everyone is well at home. Miss ye all :)

Tet Holiday

ashbyrne — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:40:00 GMT

So its been a while since i have written anything, mainly due to the fact that my laptop keyboard isn't working and makes it kinda hard to write. Currently in the autisim centre so thought id fill ye in on the last few weeks while everyone else is sleeping (everyone goes for a nap for 2 hours every afternoon!)

Can't believe its the end of Feb already! The few weeks have been fairly busy. Tet (Vietnam New Year) i was off for 2 weeks so decided to do some travelling down south to where it is hot and sunny :) Firstly went to Ho chi minh city (HCMC) where I met up with Jan. Got a flight with Jetstar and if you think Ryanair is bad for legroom you have no idea. Unfortunately i ended up in the middle seat aswell so I litterely couldn't move for the 2 hour flight. My knees were sticking into the back of the person in front of me, i wouldn't want to be any taller than i am and have no idea how any tall men would manage!

Made it to the hostel, pretty basic but in a good location and everything i needed. Heading off into the sun and heat and went on a tour of the city. Everything within walking distance and as everywhere was decorated with flowers and lanterns for tet it was very pretty and seen loads. Went through a market and the amount of motorbikes was unreal. The traffic in HCMC is worse than Hanoi and it seems to be faster!

Went to the War museum the next morning whice was very interesting but also horrific and all i can say is im very glad not to be american, how people can do the stuff that was done is just unimaginable. Definately worth a visit though and got some good pics with the helicopters, planes and tanks. :)

Did a bit of shopping of course and did a bit of haggling, getting the hang of it but i still prefer to just know the price rather than trying to haggle. Got some nice braclets and couple of t shirts etc. so was productive day!

The next day flew out to Phu Quoc Islands, totally fabulous, sun shinning, white sandy beach and gorgeous sea to swim in. Had a great 4 days relaxing and catching some rays. Went on a snorkelling tour which as included a bit of fishing and managed to catch one although it was pretty tiny lol Awesome day. The islands are nice and quiet, lots of development going on and id say will be fairly built up in the next 5 years or so. Definately worth the trip and might even go back after the volunteering is finished.

few weeks in....

ashbyrne — Tue, 5 Feb 2013 23:58:00 GMT

have been here a few weeks now and feeling more settled. the volunteering is going ok. I am going to get some pic up of the two cetres and the children. I am bascially helping out the teachers, helping to feed the kids and also teaching the teachers english aswell. Also there is a boy who only speaks english so i have been doing individual session with him set out by Dr Ha. This is going good and is interesting and feel that you are making a small difference.

Everyone in the two centres are very friendly. Its coming up to the Vietnam new year and there is lots of excitment around it. Its called Tet and is there major holiday. Alot like the Chinese new year. so 2013 is the year of the snake.

Off to Ho Chi Minh tomorrow so im sure i'll have more pics and tales to tell when i get back

1week done

ashbyrne — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 17:00:00 GMT

May have been the most surreal week every, taking a lot to get used to a new way of living. everything is very loud and hectic - definitely no quiet places to chill in Hanoi anyway

the food is okay, the food out is nice but the everyday food is a bit bland and rice twice a day everyday is probably going to get to be tootoo much but at the moment still liking rice!

Have had a full week volunteering and feeling I'm getting into more as the week goes go. the language is still the biggest barrier and it's not an easy language to pick up at all, told something and gone out of my head nearly immediately

all the kids are very cute and starting to get into the routine

did some more sightseeing at the weekend, went into centre to see ho chi Minh, he was the 1st president of Vietnam after the American war, they have renamed Saigon after him! this is a bit weird as they have frozen his body and its kept in the mausoleum and people from all over go to see him. they are very strict about clothing, no pictures and while your in there no talking or showing emotion, the whole thing was just strange but it was an experience, was half eexpecting him to sit up or open his eyes or something!

Volunteering 1st Day

ashbyrne — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:26:00 GMT

First day volunteering yesterday and was a bit aprehensive about what I was going to be doing, how I was getting there and pretty much everything about it! appently everyone has very little english and was starting to dread it a small bit.

Couldn't sleep altough that wasn't helped by some housemates up drinking til 3 in the morning as they were off Monday. Due to be leaving house at 8.10am so an early start, Phoung collected me and dropped me at the meeting point with Dr Hang (meeting point was bascially on the side of the motorway!!). Waited there for about 20mins and finally was collected. It appeared they were looking for me on the other road beside it and when they tried ringing me the number wasn't working (Turned out the number on the sim card wasn't the correct number). Hopped in the car and left centre to go out into the countryside about 30km outside Hanoi to the centre called Lucky Duck.

The centre has two aspects, so there is the centre for children with autism and then there is a kindergarten for mainstream children. At present in Vietnam children with special needs are not intergrated into mainstream education and this is something that Dr Ha is trying to achieve. The morning consited of sitting in on a meeting with the head of education and head of kindergarten in Hanoi and Dr Ha. To be honest I hadn't a clue what was going on as most of the time they were all speaking in Vietnamese but I was continuously filled up with Green Tea, then a really nice sweet coffee and more green tea.

The centre is going to be great, mostly finished but there is still some construction going on, will take some pictures next week and add them to this as forgot the camera on Monday. There is a large play area outside with slides and climbing frames etc, inside there are lots of different rooms where different activities take place. They have a classroom where i was informed i could teach english in but will be after tet. That will be interesting as ive never intended to be teaching english but we'll give it a go.

I then met one of the teachers who has some english (thank god) and she explained to me what the different rooms were for etc. We then had some lunch where I was speaking english and letting the teachers practice theres. It was a lot of fun.

The kids are very cute and in the afternoon I attended the drawing and colouring group and one of the kids coloured a picture and gave it to me, was very sweet. The rest of the afternoon was pretty similiar with me teaching the teachers some english and letting them practice pronounciation of different things. They then tried to teach me some Vietnamese that i was able to pronounce but forgot straight away what I had said.

City tour

ashbyrne — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 22:27:00 GMT

trying to keep up the journal

so finding the money a bit strange to use had a bit of an incident in a shop across the road, buying some stuff and it came to about 153,000. I thought i had put 500,000 down but had actually only given them 5,000 thankfully Sarah was with me to sort out the mess with the money! note to self figure out the currency to avoid this in the future

Saturday had the city tour of hanoi. we had two vietnamese students taking us around the place and explaining the history etc. it was a really good day got to see loads and learnt alot about the place. interesting how different one area to another can be! the bikes are albosulte insane and crossing the road each time is like seriously gambling with your own life! The bus in was very crowded and there is no such thing as a maximum person allowance! seen some really cool places, day was a bit misty and foggy and can imagine everywhere looks even more amazing in the sunshine, have taken some pics and will put some up soon.

Places we visted:

Temple of literature

Old Quarter

Opera House

Catherdral

Ho Chi Min Mauseloum

Ate at Street Vendors

Red bridge

All were very interesting but still lots more to see!

orientation

ashbyrne — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:39:00 GMT

17.01.2013 and 18.01.13

up early for me at 9am, gotten used to sleeping in over the last couple of weeks. had orientation in the white house with Que about Vietnamese culture and transport which was interesting. really was a list of dos and donts. learnt shaking hands is the most accepted wag of greeting someone - no hugging and kissing. don't wear a white headband as it's tradition at Vietnamese funerals to be wore therefore people will think someone in your family has died, don't take pictures of pregnant women as they believe baby will have bad luck for life, also don't take a group pic of 3 people as the person in the middle again will have bad luckluck, 1 person on there own is fine also 2 or 4 just not three - strange but interesting fact for you!!

Vietnamese not religious but take some things from Buddhism and have an altar in their house which is at the top floor of the househouse, this very scared and to be respected.

impolite not to finish what is put on your plate so good idea not to take to much at a time and yes there is rice at every meal think I'll be sick of it before long but currently it's nice!

transport is mainly ex om which are motorbikes and they are everywhere traffic is mental and don't no how anyone gets anywhere, one of the volunteers Dan cycles to the central and not sure how he does it!! but looking forward to having a go on them! buses are pretty frequent but there is no such thing as a queue apparapparently you push your way on and as long as you keep smiling you should be fine! going to be getting a bus to the centre I'll be volunteering so that is going to be very interesting!!

in the afternoon had a Vietnamese lesson with another volunteer Neela and twee was teaching us! it is not an easy language to learn don't no how I'm going to manage but I suppose some practice and the people may get the most of what I'm saying! I can count which is important for buying stuff in the markets and things and can say hello, the rest will come eventually and as I've been informed no one in the centre speaks English I'm going to have to learn a few words!

rest of the day was free to unpack and chill out a bit and had free morning on Friday to sleep in and try to get over the jetlag taking a bit longer to get into the swing of things!

today just back from the centre, had a meeting with Dr ha (pronunciation not how it's spelt) and Mr son who run the centre for children with autism. in Vietnam children with disabilities don't attend mainstream schooling but this is something Dr ha is trying to accomplish! she also wants to set up English teaching and me and another volunteer Dan are going to help with this. to be honest the whole thing is slightly overwhelming and is going to be difficult as no one to help you with the language! I think a lot of what I'll be doing is playing with the kids and doing some English teaching for young children so if anyone has any ideas on teaching English please give me a shout!

they have just opened a new centre outside Hanoi in the country and going there Monday to see it they have an English teacher there so think I'll be helping out there once a week with the possibility of staying there on a Monday night and coming back on a Tuesday but will see if that happens!

so now back in volunteer house off on a tour of Hanoi tomorrow so will get some pictures then to put up! and will blog again soon xx

off I go

ashbyrne — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:36:00 GMT

Hi everyone

this is the start of the first journal I've ever written so should be interesting. mainly doing it to keep everyone at home informed of whats going on with me while I'm away and so I'll remember what I've done. pictures will go up when internet is up to it and when I've taken some.

so that's pretty much why I'm do Im doing this. it's currently 17th Jan 2013 20.45, I've been in Vietnam for nearly two days so will fill you in on what's been happening so far.

so the journey over was very long but thankfully slept for about half of it. nothing major to report from it. arrived in Vietnam to rain. it's a lot warmer than home but it's wet at the moment and as no where is insulated its kinda cold!! so won't be putting up any pictures of me in a bikini on a beach yet!!

was collected from the airport by twee (how it's pronounced not spelt) and got taxi back to the volunteer house. so the traffic is mental I don't no how people drive doesn't seem to be any right of way and there is lots and lots of motorbikes, they are the main transportation around here so will definitely be on one at some stage!

made it to the house, it's in the west of Hanoi in non tourist part which is good to see. the houad itself is grand, basic enough but fine. sharing a room with a Canadian girl Sarah who seems really nice. so pretty much shattered so went to bed for a couple of hourshours. got up bout 12 to twee seeing I wanted food. was totally disoriented and had no idea where I was! managed to make it downstairs to a roomful of people. totally forgot that they use chopsticks to eat in Asia but they had a fork for me for my 1st meal which was rice with a few different dishes that was nice.

a couple hours later met twee who showed me around the area and got a SIM card for my phone have Vietnamese number now so I won't be answering Irish or English numbers but I'm on viber and what's app that are working. otherwise mam has the number or Facebook me. so the place is very busy with loads of people around! crossing the road is a major challenge you kind walk slowly and hope no one hits you!!! the market has loads of fresh fruitfruit Tec but did see a cooked dog which wasnt pleasant, just hoping I haven't had any for lunch!!

that evening all the volunteers went out for bun ca which is a Vietnamese dish like a noodle soup with meat in it and you add spice andsand stuff to it and had a local beer that yes was 20c and tasted lovely! the whole meal costing about 1.20 in total so not bad at all!!

had an early night to try and get into the right sleeping pattern!