Doug's Travel Blog

 Good Morning, Wow, I just looked back and I haven't event completed the posts from Da Nang Day 1 or 2 yet and here I am starting a post for day 3. It actually takes a bit of time to write and add pictures in the blog. So not having time to update the blog is a good thing. It means I am too busy being out of the home stay and actually doing and seeing things. This morning I was experimenting and practicing with my Obsbot Tail Air, trying to get to the point that I could set it up and actually have it do what I want it to on the first try. I am not there yet. I rented a motor scooter yesterday afternoon, it is not due back until 2 pm today, so I have time to buzz around alittle this morning.... The morning is slipping away quickly, it is already 11:30.  There is no breakfast where I am staying so the first stop was to get something to eat. I decided on a street restaurant that I ate at a couple days ago. Right across from the beach so I have a great view and slight breeze off t...

 No Power! Woke up this am and noticed the AC was off, then realized the power was not working.  Not a problem. I checked at the desk to see what time my electric motor scooter was due back. Not until 10 am. That gave me time to go find a place for breakfast and coffee. I found a roadside noodle shop and coffee stand next to each other. After ordering my coffee, I started to go the noodle side when a Vietnamese guy signalled to me to try the noodles. I didn't need the extra encouragement because I was already ready to order, but it was nice to get the extra recommendation from a local. I went back to get my coffee and he (Thak) invited me to share his table but also added unless the seats are too short. They were to short for me. If I sat down I might not have been able to get back up. But, I noticed some taller stools close to the coffee vendor. I collected a taller stool and joined Thak at his table.  I learned that Thak was a tour guide, but he wasn't trying to sell me...

 Good Morning! For the first time on my trip, I am staying at a place that does not offer breakfast. Luckily it does a very small kitchenette. I brought both coffee and rooibos tea with me so I was able to make coffee and tea to drink while checking the web and updating this blog. Da Nang is strict about renting and driving motor bikes. It is not legal to rent or drive motorbikes with over a 50 cc engine. But, electiric scooters are readily available to rent and can be driven without a Vietnamese license. I have arranged to rent one for today and possibly tomorrow. I consulted with Chatgbt to recommend a travel route for day. I ordered a motor scooter from the place I am staying. These electric scooters are made in Vietnam.  Vietnam is very proud of there electric vehicle industry. The company is called Vinfast. They make a variety of electric cars as well as several models of motor scooters. Most the Grab taxis I book are electric. Grab also has gas vehicle options. I often t...

 Good Morning, If only the "early to bed and early to rise" actually worked! Finally I tried the pancakes withs fruit here at the homestay. I had been getting eggs. They offer many toppings including chocolate and fresh fruits. I am a fan of passion fruit so I got the pancakes with fresh passion fruit and honey topping. Very tasty. Yesterday, I went walking in a new direction. That took me through a street of fruit and vegetable markets, then further into the neighborhood to look for a barber shop.  I heard I could get a hair cut for under $1 usd. I just stopped in the first shop I saw, the haircut was more expensive, $1.60 usd. Definitely a close cut. She left the top longer and then tapered in the sides around my baldness. Why? I have no idea. On the way back, I came across what I think is a pretty famous coffee shop. I ordered an salted egg coffee. This is the second time I had egg coffee. This one was delicious, had a bit of a caramel flavor. I wandered around several str...

 Good Morning!  Up early again, checking mail and news. I also had a few updates to the do for the library website today. Yesterday afternoon after the Imperial City tour, I made a train reservation for my next destination, Danang. I am a cheapy, I have taken buses for all my travels in Vietnam so far. Even booking on sleeper VIP buses the tickets are less than soft seats on the train. The Danang trip is short, less than 3 hours, so I will take a train there to get my train fix. It leaves at 9:40 am giving me time to shower and eat breakfast before going to the train station. I will probably go via Grab electric car. Later in the day I went back the restaurant I ate at the day before. This time I got the fried fish. It came with vegetables, a small piece of egg omelette, squash soup, a little chili water on the side and rice. 30,000 dong ($1.25 usd). I really like being able to get less expensive, no, let's tell it like it is, "cheap" meals and accomodations. It lets me s...

 Good Morning, I got up early as usual. I was woken partly because someone had turned on and turned down the AC to 68 degrees farhenheit. My legs were a little cold, but mostly my feet. I gathered my laptop etc and headed downstairs to the big dining table to journal.  Breakfast is included with my stay so I was served a tomato omelette  with a french type roll. The same rolls they use here to make banh mi, but no butter or jam, and coffee. The coffee served in Vietnam is very strong, like expresso. Served in small cups. I have started adding a little sweetened condensed milk to mellow it out a bit. I was surprised to see George come down so early, he got back later last night then spent an hour washing cloths. We were soon joined by Yuni a young lady from Pedang, Indonesia. She is also traveling solo. She has a couple children but left them back home with her mother while she came on vacation for a couple weeks.  I was planning to leave early to go visit the Imperia...

 Good Morning, I arrived in  Huế (pronounced like "hey" if you were to add a w after the h) yesterday morning after a not too unpleasant 9 hour sleeper bus trip from Ninh Binh.  For my departure from Ninh Binh, however, I was able to add a touch of drama. I caught an earlier shuttle bus from Tam Coc to the HK bus office in Ninh Binh. I realized I didn't have my cell phone charger or any of my cables, including the special charging adapter for my watch. After searching through all my bags 3 times I decided to check the the home stay to see if I had left it there. I still had plenty of time, over 1 1/2 until the bus was scheduled to leave. I also messaged the travel agent office in Tam Coc where I was hanging out to see if I had left my charger and cords there. The agent was very responsive. Within minutes they checked around and also reviewed the security camera to see if my stuff was there. Nothing. The homestay was a bit different. Only after multiple messages, the last ...

Good Morning! Today will be my last day here is Ninh Binh, Tam Coc. I have a reservation for a night sleeper bus to Hue late tonight.  I have been working on my travel itinerary for the rest of my time in Vietnam before flying to Bangkok on April 20. I think I have it all planned out now. First stop Hue at the Nam Dalat doesn't show on the map, it is up the mountain west of Na Tran) Phuong Riverside Villa, the on March 29 to Danang, followed by Quy Nhon on April 2, Up the mountain a little to Dalat on April 8 (, then finally to Ho Chi Min City (Saigon) on April 15 for a few days before flying to Bangkok on April 20. After hearing and digesting travel stories I hear from fellow travelers, I spend hours hunched over my laptop researching to see how I can fit destinations into my travel itinerary. This illustration is a railway map and although all my travel to date has been via bus, I hope to schedule some trips by rail while still here in Vietnam. Yesterday was a pretty relaxed day....