Hanging out in Hanoi.

So far my travels in Vietnam have included Hanoi, Cat Ba, and Hue. Today, we just arrived in Hoi An after two busses and about 4 1/2 hrs of travel time from Hue. Along most of the trip, the second bus was honking his rather loud horn. It’s what they do here. When passing vehicles, there is always honking involve. Trouble is… there is always passing involved. The horn may as well of been hooked up to a intermittent switch such as windshield wipers are. Oh well. At least I was not spending 21 hours on a sleeping bus such as my new friend, Fernan, was doing to get to Laos.

Each place has it’s merits but so far, I think Cat Ba is the place that I’ve had the most fun. It’s the place that I would choose to return to someday. I did put the camera to use on occasion but I was having too much fun “being part of the story” rather than “telling the story”. I was being the tourist with my camera not the artist. When I get home to review the images, I may have some regrets about that. However, I did collect some great memories.

The story of this trip to date is about the connections that we have made with other travellers(back packers). I suppose it’s a natural thing to happen since English language and travel is our common denominators. We tend to gravitate towards each other for that reason. We end up swapping travel tales and travel advice.

Now, I know it may be politically incorrect to say this but I think we travellers trust advice from other travellers, rather than the locals. The locals are usually “on the take” with high pressure sales techniques, at least in the touristic areas. So, getting non-biased advice on places to stay or places to eat… I trust the traveller who has been in the area a while. That is another catalyst that draws other travellers together. Trust.

Don’t get me wrong, I DO want to make connections with local people but it’s proven very difficult with the language barrier. However, I did meet one waiter on the tourist side Hue that wasn’t “on the take”. It was refreshing. We had a pleasant conversation after we ate the dinner he served us. Loung was a university student studying English. He told us that the food was cheaper where the locals lived. Of course, he was right. We went for a long walk around the local’s side of town after visiting the citadel. It was a relief to be able to walk without somebody trying to sell me silk paintings or motorbike ride. There is never any English on the local’s side of any town so hand gestures and smiles are used to communicate.

Anyways, we have made connections with many other travellers. There are too many to type about. It’s been kinda like being part of a community at times with the main community hall being a Hostel or bar in the back packer part of town. Hostels are always lively and have a great vibe.We swap stories and experiences over beer or dinner. On occasion, we would choose to travel a leg of a journey together. Chatting to somebody on a boat, bus, or train always makes the journey shorter. Sometimes travellers are heading in the same direction and will re-connect in the following city.

Hearing stories from people from other parts of the world are always interesting. When hearing their stories and backgrounds, there seems to be a common theme. Travellers seem to have a “live for the moment” attitude more so than the regular 9-5 people who worry about how much pension that they have built up. Trust me, I am one of those people. Luckily, my occupation allows me a lot of time off to take a journey on occasion.

On a final note, I have known some people who think about travelling abroad for a period of time but are afraid to because they don’t have a companion to share the experience. I suggest to them: Go anyways! You will meet tons of people along your journey. You may end up travelling with several other people. Meeting people while traveling seems so much easier than at home where the rat race rules our lives. It’s kinda sad really. We rarely make new connections at home but abroad they seem to fall into your lap. Anyways, for those people who have considered traveling… don’t be afraid to go alone. Just GO! You will connect with many people and create many memories.

Well, here we are one day till departure for Vietnam. I have everything pretty much packed. This time I have managed to get my necessary items into two carry-on bags… no checked baggage! The red pack is a MEC Pangea 40 for my clothes, toiletries, and lap top with a few other electronic related items. I am not taking much in the way of clothes but they are squeezed into a compression sack to save room. Everything fits with a bit of extra room.

The orange pack is a Lowepro Photo Sport Sling AW 100. It’s a sling pack with side access to the camera body. There’s enough room for two lenses and a few other accessories. I was drawn to this camera bag because of it’s “sling” access and because it doesn’t look like a camera bag. I also like the fact that I can tote it around without worrying about rain too much. If the rain does get heavy, there is a rain cover for it. The Photo Sport is also very comfortable to wear. It’s a one strap backpack but as there is not a ton of weight in it, it’s very easy to carry.

We have one dSLR and one rugged/waterproof compact camera for the beach and snorkelling. Both camera’s shoot video in HD so that will be handy as I have been requested to bring back more video by my brother in-law. Carrying a compact camera is also handy for the times that I don’t want to lug around the dSLR. So, I think we have are camera needs met.

This time I will NOT leave behind my Polaroid Pogo printer. It’s a great little portable printer that can print directly from the camera. It’s about the size of an iPhone. It’s not always about taking image. Sometimes, it’s about leaving an image.

Camera Gear List

• Nikon D7000
• Nikon AW100
• 50mm 1.4
• 18-200mm
• small tripod
• various ND filters by SinghRay
• SB-800 Speedlight
• Polaroid Pogo-compact printer

Anyways, I will be posting images and blogging as much as I can. Of course, it will all depend on internet access.

Ok, here is an update and mainly a little rant. First of all, I have neglected this blog as I have been working(my day job) a lot during the last 6 months. Sorry about that but gotta pay the bills somehow. Anyways, I am done my day job for a while which frees up time for me to get behind the camera as well as the keyboard. So, expect to hear from me more often for the next few months. BTW. The photo was taken in Lopburi, Thailand in 2008. 

The biggest news of my life right now is my trip to Vietnam quickly approaching. Of course, since booking of the airline tickets a few months ago… the topic of vacation and Vietnam come up on occasion with co-workers and others. I must admit that I am getting a little miffed at the fact that many non-photographers ASSUME that I am going there for the young girls! Many times I have told somebody that I am going to Vietnam and their reply is usually something along the lines of “why?”. Or, other gutter minded people make comment about the young girls there.  Even my Doctor had said, “Why, is it easy to meet girls there?”. As if I were going there for one reason and one reason only! I am a happily married man to a wonderful woman who met me when I was broke. So, I don’t have to worry about her loving my wallet. She loves ME!

Still some others ask “why” as in “Why don’t you go to an all-inclusive in Mexico or gamble in Las Vegas?” I am getting a little sick of that reaction as well. Soon my reply will be, “If I have to explain, you wouldn’t understand.” I guess my idea of a vacation is different from most others. I am looking for a little adventure. I am looking to see things I would not see in an all-inclusive or Las Vegas. For instance, seeing a town over run with Macaque monkies in Lopburi, Thailand is not something that I could see in the “other” type of vacation. Maybe vacation is the wrong word to describe my time away from my home. Maybe I should call it something like  ”adventure-ation” or “va-venture”. What I am looking for new stimulus for my eyes and soul NOT my private parts!

On the job that I had just finished, I did met a few people who did GET IT. One guy had been to Thailand several times both as a single and as a married man. Mik and I had great conversations about travel NOT about the sex tourism and girls. We talked about crazy shit we saw. Also, Mik had also gotten a tattoo done by Big in Ko Phangan. We talked about his experience with the tattoo and places and people. Our minds did not equate Thailand or any other Asian country for that fact, to sex tourism. I don’t deny it doesn’t exist but that is not why I go to these countries.

Also, a little info on the photo above. It was shot in Lopburi, Thailand. We wanted to visit there to see the Monkey Temple. It’s a temple that is over-run with Macaque monkies. Actually, the whole town was infested with monkies. It’s crazy shit like that I don’t see in Las Vegas or some jail, er I mean,  all-inclusive. Anyways, the rain had started so Trish(my wife) and I took cover in a bar. Don’t get me wrong, the girls here are pretty but the REASON that I took the photo is because where I am from we only have one maybe two people on a scooter… NOT FOUR!

The reason I desire to go to these types of places is, not in any particular order:

• Meet people
• See different scenery
• Curiosity
• History
• Live adventurously
• See crazy shit

Anyways, we leave for Vietnam in four days. There is still packing and errands to do. Hopefully, I can get a “What gear I am taking” post up for your amusement before we leave.