I've taken to doing a last summary or a 'greatest hits' review whenever I've completed the final write up of the 'how, why, when and whatever else may have been alcohol related' daily blog series of my most recent excursion. Sticking with tradition therefore and adopting the same template that I've used in the past, see also;
well, I bring to you the 'close out' of the Vietnam-Malaysia experience, Dec'09 - Jan '10.
Vietnam-Malaysia - 'the final'
Favourite places: Hoi An - definitely for it's relaxed vibe, great bars and restaurants, just a really fantastic place to take some time out and immerse yourself in whatever it is that you need/want.
Also, Hanoi - it's chaotic,charming,vibrant, irritating and welcoming, and that's all at the same time. A great place to explore, get lost and get into some unique experiences.
Most Surprising: Hoi An - Basically because it was several places in one, an old Ancient town, a place close to a fantastic beach setting, a shopping mecca. It's everything you want and more.
Coolest place for a night out: I think Hanoi on this one, althought it doesn't beat Hoi An by a great distance. I only base our experience on the small area of bars that we visited in Hanoi but I loved them all.
Favourite Hotel: The Traders Hotel in Kuala Lumpur by a long way, the view of Petronas Towers is something that just couldn't be beaten by anywhere else that we stayed. Although an honourable mention gooes to the Hanoi Elegance chain of hotels, their service was supreme.
Best place to get totally lost: On a night out, it has to be the Old Quarter in Hanoi. Get plastered and try and find your way anywhere after that!
Best place to drink and get totally lost: The Old Quarter in Hanoi is a gem but Hoi An has its winners also, so I'm going to have to let them fight out a draw on this one. Both of them are unique in their own right and comparing totally different elements and characteristics wouldn't do either of them justice.
Coolest Moment: The whole damn trip was one long 'cool moment' - so to pick out a few in chronological order.
* Catching up with Frichot on our first night in KL, getting totalled in the Beatles Bar and then trying to remain lucid enough for the remaining hours of the morning to try and catch our flight out to Hanoi
* Frichot showing us all we he 'really thought of Malaysia' on that initial night. The YouTube footage will be available shortly.
* Any of our nights at the Funky Buddha bar in Hanoi
* Cruising Ha Long Bay
* Karaoke night in Hoi An
* Our 'Messi' night in Hoi An
* Our huge NYE in Skybar at the Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
Uncoolest Moment: This comes down to two. The English git that wanted to take both Frichot and myself outside in order to teach us a 'lesson' as we had queue jumped and we'd left him with an additional five minute wait - KL LCC Terminal, on the morning of our flight from Kuala Lumpur to Hanoi.
Tied with that fruit loop comes the Malay guy in the Chinatown McDonalds in KL on New Year's Day morning. After taking a photo of two girls crashed out on the table this guys eyes filled with rage and he tried to tell us that we had no right to take the photo seeing as though we had not asked permission. Well no my friend, it's a public space, this photo was taken on my camera and is now my personal property! He was a true charmer, although I'm sure both Frichot and I in our moderately jovial and pissed state antagonised him, 'slightly' ;)
Best comeback: Frichot hurling outside of the 7-11 in Kuala Lumpur after our Beatles Bar session. It was a gem of a comeback as I thought that in his state he wouldn't be making it out of the hotel for hours, and we needed to get moving in about 30mins. He made the cab, I don't know how, but he did.
Most random...but still cool event: There's a couple on this list.
* Hoi An karaoke - it appeared out of nowhere but once we were involved it became a great evening.
* Running into our new South African friends a few days after the karaoke experience. My bicycle required maintenance just in front of the cafe that the girls has stopped in at and from there I ended up spending a great afternoon with them, and also acquired an additional drinking session with them to boot.
* Catching Frichot in the customs line at KL LCC Terminal on the flight back from Hanoi to KL. Now this was the epitome of random. In a sea of humanity we just had the feeling that we'd find each other, and 'hey presto', we did.
Best Meal: There's a couple on this list also;
* The three course meal that I had at the River Lounge in Hoi An. It was absolutely fantastic and only cost me $10AUD, inclusive of drinks.
* The evening dinner on the Bhaya, whilst cruising Ha Long Bay
* The random street fair in Hanoi, not the 'best meal' but it became one at the point in time I knew that we'd dodged food poisoning!
Total Flights: 7
Train Rides: 1 (Hanoi - Da Nang)
Total kms covered (air): 18,826kms, an average of 2689kms per flight.
There we have it, Vietnam/Malaysia all wrapped. I look forward to delivering you more when the tour of Morocco-Europe-South America (2010-2011) kicks off on June 24th!
