I must confess that when we planned this trip, in spite of the copious research done in advance ( mostly by Marci), and all the guide books read, and online searching, I arrived in Asia mostly unprepared for things.
I know it would be hot. And humid. But - wow- this is a whole 'nother kind of heat....I wrote earlier that Bangkok was unrelenting in the oppressive weather, but I stopped sharing that, because, really, who wants to hear me complain....especially when you have 4" of snow to deal with.....
But Chaing Mai was also hell-like.....Laos was better at night, but heated up daytime.
Cambodia was not much better either. But perhaps we just got used to 2 showers a day, and surrendered to the sweat.
It wasn't until we got to Saigon that we had really pleasant evening temps, and only 'normal' daytime temps of 85 to 90...
I had no idea about the motorbikes...stupid me. It is without question the only way to get around in these countries. It is because cars cost a fortune, gas is expensive, and motor bikes are almost reasonably priced
( about $2,000) that make them popular. But really, it's all about the traffic...on a motorbike you don't have to follow any rules at all on the road - you can drive the wrong direction in the street, go down the sidewalk, go through red lights....it looks terrifying....and it seems you only need to be old enough to reach the pedals to drive one.
I had no idea about the paper products. Or lack of them. As I'd spent a good portion of my working life in the manufacture, sale, and distribution of disposable paper products, it was extra weird for me to see what passes for normal here.
Like no napkins, most places. In Hong Kong you are expected to bring your own. You buy a pack of Tempo and bring it with you. These are most like the packs of tissues you bought your kids for school when they were 6 years old... In other places, you are issued one napkin, like it's very special - these are the quality of what we call 'luncheon napkins', the square ones you get at the store for your home, or picnics.
I have asked for a napkin, and been brought new, wrapped moist towlettes, like you get on an airplane...only to find that 2 napkins have now been added to my bill along with the food and drink - surprise!
In public restrooms, there are almost never paper towels, of any kind. In Laos, they mount a JRT ( jumbo roll tissue - the giant roll of toilet paper we use in airports & stadiums) right next to the sink...you are then expected to dry your hands on a few feet of toilet paper. I guess this cuts down on pilferage. Contrast this with the airport in Siem Reap, Cambodia, which is brand new, and has restrooms nicer than anyplace I've been in the USA. With modern slick lighting, signage, and 'Blade' hand dryers from Dyson ( well, actually a knock-off of the Dyson).
I expected the 2 Communist counties, Laos & Vietnam, to be somewhat backwards, forbidding, and totalitarian - I couldn't have been more wrong. They are both interesting, progressive places with not much Communism on view ( I expect that to be different in Hanoi)...My hotel in Saigon was across the street from the Saigon Center, a super-upscale place full of thousands of shoppers. Within 1 block of my hotel were the fanciest stores in the world ( Gucci, Dior, Hermes, etc. ) where I can't shop even if I had wanted to - Welcome, Comrade, to the new Communism...
The food we have been eating has been consistently very good, and in a few places spectacular. It has almost never been very spicy, which is what I had expected - perhaps I'm being given tamer, foreigner-style portions. And even after 5 different countries, each with a slightly different food style, it all seems very familiar, which I suppose is a byproduct of living all my life in a big city on the East Coast and eating Asian food my whole life - it is very much the same.
Marci will be writing a wrap-up report of our time here in Phu Quoc, Vietnam - it is a fabulous resort we are staying at, on a sleepy (for now) island in the Sea of Thailand.
Thanks for reading....Steve
PS - Why so many LIMES, and NO LEMONS....anywhere????
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| Our crew onboard the cruise boat - I would have adopted any one of them - all great! |
I know it would be hot. And humid. But - wow- this is a whole 'nother kind of heat....I wrote earlier that Bangkok was unrelenting in the oppressive weather, but I stopped sharing that, because, really, who wants to hear me complain....especially when you have 4" of snow to deal with.....
But Chaing Mai was also hell-like.....Laos was better at night, but heated up daytime.
Cambodia was not much better either. But perhaps we just got used to 2 showers a day, and surrendered to the sweat.
 |
| Marci, fading in the heat |
It wasn't until we got to Saigon that we had really pleasant evening temps, and only 'normal' daytime temps of 85 to 90...
I had no idea about the motorbikes...stupid me. It is without question the only way to get around in these countries. It is because cars cost a fortune, gas is expensive, and motor bikes are almost reasonably priced
( about $2,000) that make them popular. But really, it's all about the traffic...on a motorbike you don't have to follow any rules at all on the road - you can drive the wrong direction in the street, go down the sidewalk, go through red lights....it looks terrifying....and it seems you only need to be old enough to reach the pedals to drive one.
I had no idea about the paper products. Or lack of them. As I'd spent a good portion of my working life in the manufacture, sale, and distribution of disposable paper products, it was extra weird for me to see what passes for normal here.
Like no napkins, most places. In Hong Kong you are expected to bring your own. You buy a pack of Tempo and bring it with you. These are most like the packs of tissues you bought your kids for school when they were 6 years old... In other places, you are issued one napkin, like it's very special - these are the quality of what we call 'luncheon napkins', the square ones you get at the store for your home, or picnics.
I have asked for a napkin, and been brought new, wrapped moist towlettes, like you get on an airplane...only to find that 2 napkins have now been added to my bill along with the food and drink - surprise!
 |
| Guess how you flush this toilet....and I hope you brought your own TP |
I expected the 2 Communist counties, Laos & Vietnam, to be somewhat backwards, forbidding, and totalitarian - I couldn't have been more wrong. They are both interesting, progressive places with not much Communism on view ( I expect that to be different in Hanoi)...My hotel in Saigon was across the street from the Saigon Center, a super-upscale place full of thousands of shoppers. Within 1 block of my hotel were the fanciest stores in the world ( Gucci, Dior, Hermes, etc. ) where I can't shop even if I had wanted to - Welcome, Comrade, to the new Communism...
The food we have been eating has been consistently very good, and in a few places spectacular. It has almost never been very spicy, which is what I had expected - perhaps I'm being given tamer, foreigner-style portions. And even after 5 different countries, each with a slightly different food style, it all seems very familiar, which I suppose is a byproduct of living all my life in a big city on the East Coast and eating Asian food my whole life - it is very much the same.
Marci will be writing a wrap-up report of our time here in Phu Quoc, Vietnam - it is a fabulous resort we are staying at, on a sleepy (for now) island in the Sea of Thailand.
 |
Ho Chi Min - I now consider him the George Washington of Vietnam.
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PS - Why so many LIMES, and NO LEMONS....anywhere????
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