I've been very slack in recent weeks at updating the blog.

After Hoi An I traveled further north through Hue, Hanoi and Halong Bay. I'm sure all of these places would have been incredible (especially Halong Bay) but unfortunately it was bloody freezing so I rushed through.

From Hanoi I got the night bus (30 hours!) across the border into Laos. As soon as I got here I was so happy. Its lovely to be back in the sun, away from big cities and traffic. Our first stop was the capital, Vientiane. Vientiane must be the smallest, calmest capital in the world. It about as hectic as your average village in the UK and a welcome break after Hanoi.

Following this first stop was Vang Vieng, the birthplace of tubing. I was really excited because I came here a couple of years ago with Claw on holiday. Vang Vieng is focused on an activity called tubing. Essentially this involved hiring a big rubber ring, floating down the river, drinking whiskey buckets and doing massssive rope swings. i.e. a massively cultural experience.

I spent 5 days partying, hanging out with Jess from Africa and generally having the time of my life. On the 6th day I woke up and knew I had to make a decision. Either I leave and get on with some proper travelling or stay and get a job....

I had already been approached by a couple of bars to see if i wanted to stay so I decided to stay. So now I'm "working" here for a couple of weeks. I use the term "working" very loosely in this context because Its the easiest job I've ever had. I get to work at 11.30 on the river. Hand out free shots, do some body painting, a couple of rope swings (trying to perfect a flip) and play beer pong for 3 hours. Then in the evening I go to a bar in town and spend a couple of hours behind the bar until the music gets good and then I'm free to partayyyyyy.

Some pictures of tubing.... more to follow x

Trekking for Gorillas

Night bus chaos

Hoi An is a little quaint town on the coast famous for tailoring.

cute dog

Hoi An old town

Hoi An old town

Hoi An by night

I could have spent longer here but I had to leave because I couldn't stop spending money. I got 2 pairs of shoes made and 3 new work dresses tailored all to the Carver dimensions (i.e. Chicken legs and a beer gut).

I went to the bakery and had tea and cake at least 3 times a day. When I wasn't shopping or eating cake I was cycling around with my new Dutch friend Margreet. We went out one day and found a completely empty beach all to ourselves. I heart Hoi An.

Me and Margreet on our secret beach

written by  lizziecarver on March 3, 2011 from Hoi An, Vietnam
from the travel blog: Backpacking... it's not as fun as Insurance
Send a Compliment

---

2 comments...

Ankor Wat

recipe for disaster

Me and Stan on the buy 1 get 2 frees

Because I'm a right nan I could only hack 2 days before having to go somewhere to get over it. I found a place on the internet which sounded quite cool. It turned out to be a hippy commune/homestay on an empty beach about and hour away from [[Vietnam/Nha-Trang]]. I spent a couple of days reading books, eating incredible food and going to bed before midnight.

Hippy beach

dog friend

written by  lizziecarver on February 26, 2011 from Nha Trang, Vietnam
from the travel blog: Backpacking... it's not as fun as Insurance
Send a Compliment

---

2 comments...

kite surfers paradise

The other activity on offer was visiting some sand dunes (just as windy but with lots of sand around)...

cole and me loving the sand

sunset at the sand dunes

...and drinking which we resorted to due to the lack of other activities in the area

written by  lizziecarver on February 25, 2011 from Mui Ne, Vietnam
from the travel blog: Backpacking... it's not as fun as Insurance
Send a Compliment

---

2 comments...

I was meeting Collman and Matt who are here working as spies but pretending to teach English. Its sooo nice to see people from home. Hopefully we are going to the beach together tomorrow!

Today I went to the Cu Chi Tunnels which are the tunnels used by in the Vietnam War. The highlight was a very scary trip down the tunnels. We hadn't really prepared for how small and hot they actually were. If anyone had farted it would have been fatal.

Ricky in the tunnel

I could have been in Nam

Felix leading the way like a gentleman

Cu Chi Tunnel entrance

What budget...? cocktails all night yes pleeease.

Twin Towers

The biggest Jagerbombs I have ever encountered

I would have loved to stay longer but I was working to a deadline to meet Laura 'Cole the Mole' Collman and Matt in Ho Chi Min City.

written by  lizziecarver on February 19, 2011 from Kampot, Cambodia
from the travel blog: Backpacking... it's not as fun as Insurance
Send a Compliment

---

1 comment...

I had such a nice couple of days there. I found a cheap bed in a dorm owned by a diveschool on the mainland where the divemasters stay. After being ill for ages I finally got my appetite back, ate incredible food and read 3 books.

deserted beaches do still exist in SE Asia

smmmmmmuggggggg

My private beach on Koh Kong

Bad wine and rehydration salts

After my pampering in PP I decided I hadn't had quite enough so we all decided to get our legs threaded. After which the beach lady accused me of having hairy armpits, so that had to go as well. This slippery slope continued until I had a small Cambodian lady in between my legs threading my bikini line....

Getting threaded on the beach

Laaaadies

Karen the burns victim

A day on the beach

written by  lizziecarver on February 14, 2011 from Sihanokville, Cambodia
from the travel blog: Backpacking... it's not as fun as Insurance
Send a Compliment

---

comment on this...