A Newborn Pastime

           

                         ...starting a new endeavor is the hardest part of it... (Proverb)

I have been eyeing to do this thing they called blog, yet I’m just too lazy to get it started. I must admit I am an avid blog reader, and I blog-hop every time I see myself in front of a computer. They just fascinate me, the way they tell their out-of-this-world stories, their experiences, even their lives. And to show how much they influence me, here I am. Trying my best to do one blog at a time. Actually, this is my first time ever. Oh, well, I did some blogging before when Friendster still on the peak of its career. But it was more of a literary thing. Poems. Short stories. Nothing really serious.

But I’m not serious with this one as well. Let’s just call this a payback. You see, I’ve been to some adventures lately. And it’s a buy-product of reading travel blogs, in particular. This time, I just want to share my piece, with hopes that it can help and influence others to believe that travelling is fun, is cheap… and yes it can be done SOLO.

This marks my first post, for my first official blog, about my first backpacking experience of my first solo travel… so please, bear with me… hahaha...

SOLO BACKPACKING VIETNAM-CAMBODIA



The idea of travelling solo matured  when I was still planning for our Cebu-Bohol getaway last February, I was in the midst of researching about Cebu and Bohol when I encountered this blog … and got caught of her stories about South East Asia backpacking.

Since then, I had this in mind, that when an airline offers a seat sale, I know where my next destination will be.

Fast forward. It was never easy researching and planning for a solo travel. Once I purchased my tickets thru Cebu Pacific, there was never a day that I never checked and researched for more information for my itinerary.  And so the day has come.

06.29.2011, 2300H

I boarded Cebu Pacific flight to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Vietnam. Why Vietnam? Simply because according to my research, it’s a cheap place. And the Immigration isn’t strict.

TOUCHDOWN – Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

I arrived HCMC  ten minutes past midnight. After I recovered my backpack, I exchange some dollars to Vietnam Dong and become an instant millionaire. My first mistake for this trip: I should’ve exchange more USD in the airport 1USD = 20, 800 VND, a lot better compared to any other forex in the city that ranges from 20, 200 to 20, 500 VND to a dollar.

 

credits to HCMCAirport.com

Just imagine how many hundred of thousands of dongs i have. After I pocketed my millions, I alighted to the waiting area just outside the airport. BUS 13 area to be exact, because it’s where I have to ride for my next destination – Ben Thanh Market. Apparently, the next available bus will arrive in the morning, so I have to stay for a couple of hours in the airport. It was then that I realized, yes, I am already here… I’m really doing this alone… and I’m not even scared. Hahaha…

my borrowed baackpack

 

June 30, 2011 0630H

Day 1

It was already 630 in the morning, and I see no sign of  any bus going to Ben Thanh market. I started to panic. I asked a couple of local Vietnamese which most do not understand nor speak English, but  they’re trying to converse that the bus will arrive by 7am. But I need to catch my bus to Mui Ne by 8am. I know it’s less than an hour travel from the airport to the city centre, but I just want to be early, because I still have to locate my travel agency.  So fifteen minutes before 7am, I decided to take a cab going to  to Pham Ngu Lao, the backpackers area in Saigon.  According to my research, as much as possible never ride a taxi in Saigon, because it’s gonna cost your budget. True indeed.  Price for a metered taxi from the airport to Ben Thanh market or Pham Ngu Lao  normally is just around 140,000-160,000 VND (php), but I was charged for 200,000. I’m in a hurry and wasn’t able to bargain so this  marked  my first unwanted expenditure for the day.

The taxi driver drop me off along Pham Ngu Lao and De Tham streets. Just the right place for my first ‘tawid’ in the very controversial busy streets of Saigon. It wasn’t hard crossing the streets of Vietnam, as claimed by others.

As I was trying to locate my travel agency in one of the busiest streets of Saigon, I saw the famous Sinh Café office. As per my research, it’s one of the cheapest travel agency in the country. Could be true, as I saw a lot , as in a whole lot of foreigners --- in the office.

So instead of looking further for my travel agency which is nowhere to be found, I decided to just enter Sinh café office and asked for a bus ticket to Mui Ne, which I know will be leaving at 815am. One way ticket to Mui Ne costs 130, 000 VND, that’s transpo with complimentary bottled water. Atleast, that’s a savings for an 8 000VND water.

 

I still have 30 minutes before I board the bus, so I walked the literally busy street of De Tham. Bought my first Vietnamese sim card and my first Vietnamese bread. I realized, I haven’t eaten my breakfast yet. But I can’t risked my stomach with some real Vietnamese food, I mean, not yet, because I still  have to travel to Mui Ne for six hours. Nevertheless, the bread I bought with some meaty and grassy filling wasn’t that bad at all. I wanted to take pictures for all these details, but I’m too shy to do so, I think I’ll be the only one doing it –  foreigners aren’t much photoholic like us.

So there, I boarded Sinh café bus to Mui Ne.  I got a window seat, and no seat mate – just for my pleasure.

During the trip, I texted my tour guide in Mui Ne,  Mr Binh (an easyrider aka habal habal driver) to inform him about my arrival. He’s gonna pick me up and drop me off to my hostel before heading on to my half day tour.

I arrived Sinh café - Mui Ne branch at around 1pm. After few minutes, I saw this guy in his red-starred shirt, riding his motorbike – then I know, he’s the one. We introduced ourselves, I hopped on the bike and he dropped me off to my hostel  - Saigon Café -  120VND (6usd).

After settling my things in the hostel, I changed clothes and then  tsaran... let’s get  this journey started ..

First stop:

My guide told me it’s best time to visit the village early in the morning where the action is. In the afternoon, fishermen tend to rest in their respective boats. Swimming is allowed in this area, but I don’t think it’s recommended. It’s durrty.



Next stop would be the white sand dunes. It's quite far from the fishing village. I guess it took us an hour motorbike-ride to get to the dunes… but it’s all worth it…
 



  

More than an hour bike ride...

 

uhhm...

Totally speechless...

While enjoying the sand, I also had my first bane reflection of travelling solo: ye, no one can take pictures of me. My tour guide stayed in the nipa hut, and just allowed me to do my thing in the sand alone. Though, there were some tourist in the sand, i was kinda shy to ask them to take pictures of me. So i just let it go, and accept the fact that this is part of the trip. *sigh*

It's freaking hot in the afternoon, so I didn't bother stay long in the open sand. I hopped back in to my guide's bike and went to the red sand dunes. Mr. Binh said the white sand area is a lot better than the red one. It has wider range and pleasant view.

Okay, let me see and let me be the judge.

dessert-ed..but definitely, not lonely..

There are a lot of pushy children in this area. They will force you to slide for a fee. I'm not in the mood for a slide. But this girl, who speaks good English got me in her hello. I remember her name is Touhy. She asked if I wanted to slide, i said no. But she is still following. At one moment when I'm taking photos in the sand, she asked if  i want her to take pictures of me. Who am i to said no? hahaha..

Despite the very hot wather, I managed to secure few jump shots in the sand. Haha. Then I gave girl 30, 000VND. Thanks to her marketing and photographic skills and very good English.

Moving on to our final destination, we went to the fairy stream.  According to my research, it's a place where you leave your flip flops in one area - and pray that street children won't stole it.

I even asked Mr. Binh if I can just carry my new fake havaianas, because I only brought one flip flops and one shoes.  But I realized I will be having a hard time carrying those flip flops and my camera at the same time. So i decided to leave my slippers somewhere safe, with hopes that i will see  it again in few minutes.

 

Mr. Binh explaining why the river is so orangeeee!

We stayed a couple of minutes on top of the hill, and savor the scenic view. Then off we go back to the town.

Before I went back to my guesthouse, I asked my guide to reserve me a seat for tomorrow’s trip back to Saigon. He called some travel agency he’s connected with, but all of them were fully booked. Went back to Sinh Tourist and inquire for some seats, and yes, they still have one. Bought the ticket for 100 000 VND. Then, I paid Mr. Binh for 200 000 VND (10usd) and we call it a day.  Actually, i met one easyrider guide, and he offered me 8USD half day tour, but since, i already committed myself to Mr. Binh, it's fine. Anyway, he's nice naman.

So much for  my first day in Vietnam.  So much for my first entry in the blog. Pardon me big time it this is not as spontaneous as others. I'm not even aware I'm doing this.

home away home

Sinh Tourist freebies

References:

The Sinh Tourist -  http://www.thesinhtourist.vn/

Mr. Binh - http://muine-adventures.com/Mr.Binh/Home.html

Saigon Cafe - 168-170 D Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Mui Ne, Vietnam +84 (062) 847 091