The Cube

Penned this down 2 years back. Happen to locate it when I was housekeeping my files. Oh well, since I meant to blog it down then, but due to unknown reason why I did not, so there...


My sister went to Labuan for hols and it suddenly strike me that she might be able to get miniature liquor there. So I called her on the phone...

*Dial number*
Someone picked up the phone but not my sis. I put it as stranger

Stranger: Hello? Me busy now.

Me: Hello? Mmmm.. sorry
*Hung up* (Dont know why keep on have this image of a malay guy walking around in Puduraya, must be cos the background sound very noisy*

*Redial number and this time got my sis, talked to her on the liquor*
*Got new email prompt*

Verb sent email asking me why I call him.
Oh oh... hehe.. the stranger is Verb. :P
Subconsciously I ter-dial Verb's number and didnt realise. -__-"


Side note: My turn to feel like a slug...

The thing about making a buy online is you don't get to see, touch, smell, whatever. However there's no stopping one from trying to find out more by a few clicks. Read about a review here and it is enough for me to decide not to opt for it.

However as you read it in my previous post, I had a laptop with the glossy truelife screen. I've finally decide that I would go through the hassle of changing it to a matte screen rather than living with the glossy one and probably curse and kick myself in the future days.

Initially I was told that they would treat it as a new order whereby I'll have to send back the laptop they send to me earlier and they would deliver a new one for me... and of course I'll have to wait for another 2 weeks probably. With my pc monitor not in very good condition currently, I'll probably left laptop/pc-less but I guess I could live with it. Anyway, it was decided later that they would send their engineer to change it for me as I ordered a printer together. Reason being if I need to send back the laptop, it has to go together with the printer.

Anyway, I had the screen changed just this evening... and I am so glad that I changed it. No doubt the colour was sharper with truelife but the matte one wasn't all that bad. And yes, I would rather pick a less sharper colour but WITHOUT all the reflection. It's annoying that I could see myself everytime I visit a dark colour blog or website, regardless if I pin my hair up, didn't comb my hair or whatsoever... I'm not pretty ok, I don't need to see myself so often to remind myself about it.

Or the irritation every single time my mother pulled off the curtain to go to the balcony during daytime. Of course, you could argue that I could learn to train myself not to get distracted with all the reflection but why should I when there is another better choice? Also yes, I could move myself away from my usual place in front of the tv, next to the door and sit at another spot but... why should I? Why should I compromise for the screen when I just love to sit in front of the tv when I work on my pc?

Having said all that, for the feel of it. This is how my dell truelife looks like... I took a few pictures of it before I had it changed.


And this is from the same angle, purposely making it to face the door as well... on a non truelife screen.


Well... anyhow it's all up to one's preference. I think the truelife does makes the colour looks sharper but personally to me, I don't see it as very significant. Instead, I am truly happy with this matte screen :D


Side note: Hungry... weird

歌手：S.H.E

为什么只和你能聊一整夜
为什么才道别就又想见面
在朋友里面就数你最特别
总让我觉得很亲很贴
为什么你在意谁陪我逛街
为什么你担心谁对我放电
你说你对我,比别人多一些
却又不说是多哪一些
友达以上恋人未满
甜蜜心烦,愉悦混乱
我们以后会变怎样
我迫不及待想知道答案
再靠近一点就让你牵手
再勇敢一点我就跟你走
你还等什么时间已经不多
再下去只好只作朋友
再向前一点点我就会点头
再冲动一点点我就不闪躲
不过三个字别犹豫这么久
只要你说出口你就能拥有我
为什么你寂寞只想要我陪
为什么我难过只肯让你安慰
我们心里面明明都有感觉
为什么不敢面对
我不相信
都动了感情却到不了爱情
那么贴心却进不了心底
你能不能快一点决定
对我说我爱你


Side note: Everytime I watch HK drama, I feel like going to HK...

This is how my pc monitor look like now currently...


Was told to unplug and plug the monitor again but it doesnt seem to work. Perhaps the monitor has finally reached it's lifespan. Am now typing on my new lappie but I'm a little dissatisfied with the glossy screen.

Story is like this... has been intended to get the matte screen, but as it was PC Fair and the sales agent who served me, taking it into his hands and help me "upgrade" it to the glossy one. Me bad anyway, didnt realise it till it was too late. By the time I called to change it, it was already too late. The sales agent who called me informed me that I could opt to change it for a fee if I still to decide that I dislike it within 14 days. So now... I'm in the midst of contemplating if I should change it. If I change it, any hidden charges aside from the one quoted to me? How long does it take? Do they send the technician over? Or do I send back via courier? If via courier, do I need to pay for delivery? How do I pay them? Haha... yes, I think too much.

Of course, I could kill all the questions with a phone call to query. But unfortunately, today is a Saturday. I could only call on Monday, at 9 am. Oh well, can't blame me. I'm a INTP. I'm a thinker. I think too much. Period.

Don't mind me. I just had a dose of alcohol, on the advise of a friend. This friend has the tendency of suggesting me to have a cuppa whenever I feel restless and he didnt want to entertain me. Tsk tsk.

Umm.... likewise the title... I'm just rambling.


Side note: It would be nice if I have a blender... then I can make more cocktail :)

Despite all the scares, we were blessed to have met good Samaritans along the way. Likewise having scares in about every stop we made, we met good and kind locals in the stops as well.

I called up an old colleague in Hanoi. Dr Bui patiently waited for us outside the theater where we caught the Water Puppet show while we trying to secure the local tour to Halong Bay before hurrying our way to meet him. He brought us to try a local dessert and accompanied us back to the guesthouse to pick up our baggage. Not to mentioned helped us contact a cab and negotiated a good price for us for the ride from Old Quarter to the train station.

On the train to Lao Cai, met a group of talented and nice young Vietnamese. Not only we were directed to the correct berth as the train tickets were all in Vietnamese words. We were very lucky to also bump into this same young people who saved us from the agony of fearing that we were given the wrong tickets and not able to get back to Hanoi. To top it, we were invited to join them for a birthday celebration. Ah... as to why I said they were talented. The birthday boy was blessed with birthday songs in different languages - English (of course), French, Italian, Russian and Mandarin. They did not speak all the 5 languages but everyone of them masters at least 2 languages, the very least - Vietnamese Language and another foreigner language. We joined one of them and sang birthday song in Mandarin. :)

Or in Hue, a nice train master who even personally came to inform us when it reached the station we wanted to go. In Danang, we met the very kind receptionist of a Hotel, the lady who brought us to cross the road, the uncle who doesn't speak English trying to tell us where can board the bus by "sign language".

All the way to Hoi An, the uncle who sold pastries and backpack to us in very, very reasonable price. To note that foreigners are always charged a higher price but this uncle charged us the same price as fellow Vietnamese. Not only that, when we returned to buy more pastries, he gave us discount without us requesting for it. With needing to bargain and negotiate in everything include food and bus rides, it felt really warm to know that we were given such good deal without having to bargain till the cows come home.

Despite all the warnings of scams given in guide books and the scares that befell us, I am glad to say that all the good people that we met has made up for all that. If I am a little too subtle in expressing, I can tell you that I love Vietnam, it's a great place :)


Side note: Aiyak... ppl chase dy...

First post Vietnam 2008 Next post Vietnam 2008

I quote from my Form 6 Chemistry teacher, "If my heart is any weaker, I'll have heart attack." Oh well, he said that upon reading our unbelievable answers in the school exam. In my case, it's the scare more than half the times when we booked the tickets in Vietnam.


Scare #1:
Sapa - Requested for the guesthouse to arrange a van to pick us from the Lao Cai station to Sapa. The van did not turn up and the rest of the vans only willing to pick up guests who made booking with their hotel. The rest charge 50k dong more than the usual price. We were almost left stranded in Lao Cai.

Scare #2:Lao Cai - train tickets back from Lao Cai to Hanoi. The destination was Long Bien instead of Hanoi and there was only a separate sheet of paper attached over an expired ticket. If it was a wrong ticket, we would not have make it in time for the Halong Bay trip.

Scare #3:
Halong Bay - Reached Hanoi safely from Lao Cai with help from a few good Samaritans. Took a cab to the tour agency where we book our local tour to Halong Bay with. Ahem... the shop was not opened yet when we were informed to wait there around 8.15 - 8.30 am. I could imagine the 100 USD flying away as we saw vans after vans already started their journey. Anyway, after a while we note that the PIC to open up the shop is sitting next door enjoying her breakkie = ="

Scare #4:
Hue - We informed the reception to help us get 2 motorcycles to transport us to the railway station. As the time ticking closer to the train departure time, the bikes were yet to arrive. We had to ask a couple of times and lucky they decide not to wait for the bikes anymore and got a van to send us there. *Phew

Scare #5:
Hoi An - Were told bus will leave the town at 8.30 am. We were still waiting in front of the guesthouse at 9.00 am and the receptionist didnt want to help us call the agent as we did not book from them. I tried to sms, only to receive reply to wait for the bus after awhile. In the end, bus came at 9.30 am.

The only other booking we made that did not scare us was in Saigon. We booked a local tour to Mekong Delta and crossed over to Phnom Penh with Sinh Cafe. That was the only booking that didnt left us worry. But oh well... things went ok thereafter cos there are kind locals to assist :)


Side note: One dell laptop is more expensive than my whole 2 weeks of Vietnam trip...

First post Vietnam 2008 Next post Vietnam 2008

Phnom Penh. 4 years ago, it was part of the plan when we saw the magnificent Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, we came home earlier and chopped off PP from the itinerary.

Around Phnom Penh

We love Siem Reap. The sights were great, the people were kind, the food were good, the experiences were cool. Hence there were hopes of seeing Phnom Penh, after all, both the places are in The Kingdom of Cambodia.

Maybe it was the timing, maybe it the booming of tourism. Shrug. After all it has been 4 years since we stepped in Cambodia. Also that Siem Reap is a much smaller town. However I regret to say that I prefer Siem Reap a lot more.

Anyway, we were only in PP for only about a day, probably too soon to make a conclusion. Actually the only place we wanted to see is the Royal Palace. However unlikely that we would spend the whole day in the palace, and the Russian Market seem like quite an interesting place to stop by, we decided that if there is time, we would drop by there as well. However, that was optional.

The next morning after had our breakfast, we walked to the Royal Palace.

The Royal Palace - The throne hall

A huge area of the place was deem as no entry for visitors. Also no pictures are allowed inside the main buildings like The Throne Hall and the Silver Pagoda (so named due to the silver tiles though currently covered by carpet).

After finishing rounding the palace, we still have enough time to drop by the Russian Market. From the surrounding of the Royal Palace, we got on a tuk tuk which cost us 5,000 Riel to Russian Market.

Quite a reasonable place to hunt for souvenirs

We left the Russian Market after having our lunch at about 10 minutes after 1 pm. Did not anticipant that it could be rather hard to flag down a tuk tuk with reasonable price. Travelling from the Royal Palace to the Russian Market is about 2 times the distance from the Russian Market back to the guesthouse but we were charged 2 USD (equivalent to 8,000 Riel). The max that we could bargain was to 6,000 Riel which still doesnt really make much sense as we only paid for 5,000 Riel for about twice the distance.

We decided to walk and try to get a tuk tuk along the way. Wrong move. Somehow due to unknown reason, the nearer we were to the guesthouse, we were quoted an even higher price. Weird. There was one tuk tuk driver who doesn't know the way and after we showed him the map, he asked for 5 USD. = ="
Grumble. Taught him how to go and he charged even more expensive that the fella at the Russian Market.

To cut the story short, we walked all the way back to the guesthouse. We could tolerate the walk and the distance, it was just that we already make a booking with a tuk tuk driver to pick us up at the guesthouse at 2 pm to go to the airport. We didn't want to be late nor wanting him to wait for us. Anyway, we make it in time.

Bike with extension

This was the last stop. We flew back from PP to KL, reaching KL at about 8+ pm. Then my sis drove us to Subang and had a fulfilling dinner of bak kut teh. :P


Side note: Brilliant idea from sis for me to transform my bike to a tuk tuk and can tuk tuk-pool to work, and for some extra income, suggested that I give day tour = ="
P/S: PC dying... probably won't blog so often already, unless can find some substitute to go online.

First post Vietnam 2008 Next post Vietnam 2008

*Ponder. Maybe I shouldn't put that as the title. It make it sound like I was at some land not own by anyone. Anyways, we got on the boat to bring us to the border alright.

But very the unfortunate, my bladder was kind of full ever since we were in the Cham Village but there wasnt any WC to be seen. I thought we would be brought back to the shore after visiting the village instead of waiting for the boat in the middle of the water and climb over from the rowing boat to the other one. What I didn't expect also was that the journey from Chau Doc to Vinh Xuong was soooo long. Imagine denying nature calls for almost 2 hours. To add salt to that, upon reaching Vinh Xuong, we couldn't run to the toilet but must carry that over-10kg-backpack off the boat first. = ="

The toilet at the immigration is the public toilet that rescue me from further possibility of getting urinary disorder.

We got off the boat and have our lunch. When we were there, all the rest of the travellers required visa to cross to Cambodia. The processing took about 2 hours. This is also where you'll see after satisfying the growling tummy, people would fish out their travel guidebooks on Cambodia and read.


We barely have enough time to digest the Vietnam one before departure (but lucky we got 2 books on that), hence we didnt have much info on Cambodia. We looked (around for it, cant read some as were in German or French), borrowed, read (with speed), took pictures (of the map) and returned the book (in case the owner wants to continue reading).

The guide came back to inform us once the visa processing was done and we went through the custom - stamped out of Vietnam, and in Cambodia via Kaam Samnor.


Then we boarded another boat.


This boat looks better from the outside than the inside. We endured a 2 hours windless ride. Lucky the boat wasn't full. Only a handful of people. Otherwise would probably had a few casulties due to the heat.

There were also a money changer in the boat, for you to change from dong to riel. However, it is more advisable to change your dong to USD when in Vietnam. USD is widely accepted in Cambodia (4,000 Riel = 1 USD). The exchange rate in the boat is not very competitive.

When the boat reaches the port, we were sent to Phnom Penh via a van. By the time we reached Phnom Penh, it was almost 5 pm. Almost time for dinner again ;)


Side note: Goodbye Vietnam. I miss the food already. Wanted to try the Vietnamese food in Pavillion food court the other day, but the choice selection is far too limited. :(

First post Vietnam 2008 Next post Vietnam 2008

Chau Doc is the nearest town to the border to Cambodia. It was rather obvious as our xin lo driver was willing to accept the normal USD or Vietnamese dong, even Cambodian riel. Aside from that, there are more Kh'mer people around this town.

Except for My Tho, one should be prepared to take the ferry crossing from town to town in the delta. Hence a ferry crossing is required from Vinh Long to Chau Doc. It reminds me of the ferry crossing from Butterworth to Penang Island. However this ferry is much smaller.


Cars and motorcycles were placed in the same lower deck. I'm not too sure if it is part of the tour package or that it was due to we were in a bus, we were told to hop down the bus and enter the bus as pedestrian. The bus were transported via another ferry but we did see some vans and there were passengers inside. Pedestrians could opt to stay at the same level as the transports or could go up the narrow stairs to the upper deck. There wasn't any shed at the upper deck so it was a little hot but the journey was rather short and the view was worth it anyway.

taken from ferry

After the ferry crossing, we boarded the bus again. We reached Chau Doc after about 1 hour. It was over 7 pm then. We were transported to a hotel, by far one of the best hotels we stayed over since touched down in Vietnam - with 2 double beds and air con that wasnt too cool or too warm.

We had a good dinner and retired to bed. Unfortunately we can't recall what time to have breakfast before departure the next day. So in order not to be too late, we actually woke up a little too early. Anyway, it wasn't a bad thing as we finished breakfast earlier, we got a little time left to roam the market.


And the view overlooking the delta was great.


Little did we know, in store for us after breakfast was rowing boat ride to the Cham village for the itinery only mentioned boat ride. We thought it was similar to the many rides we had yesterday.


On the way to the Cham Village



Cham girls selling waffles and some tidbits.


We were told Cham people are Muslim but a little different from our Malaysian Muslim. The elderly and the youngs need not to fast and performing the haj is not necessary.

As we travelled together with other tourists who joined the 3 days 2 nights Delta Mekong, we were to wait for the boat to transport us to the border while the rest back to shore, continuing their journey to Can Tho.

Food were shared while waiting under the sun

Chau Doc was our last stop in Vietnam, excluding Vinh Xuong where we stop for lunch while waiting for visas to be processed despite we do not need one.


Side note: So many to do, so little time...

First post Vietnam 2008 Next post Vietnam 2008

We chose to go through Mekong Delta and cross the Kaam Samnor/Vinh Xuong border to enter Cambodia. Of course, there is a shorter route, via a 8 hour bus ride, straight from HCMC to Phnom Penh (PP). Crossing Mekong Delta means we would need to allocate additional day as compared to taking the bus, however that would also mean we would miss the nation's "rice basket" (Mekong Delta is the largest rice producer in Vietnam).

However in fear that we might not secure the right timing from taking the bus from HCMC to Chau Doc (the nearest town to the border crossing) and booking of the boat from Chau Doc over to Cambodia. A local tour is the answer. I suppose quite a number of tourists opt to have a glimpse of the fame Mekong Delta and take the opportunity of not turning back to HCMC. And so, we signed up for a Mekong Delta-Exit to Phnom Penh tour.

We left HCMC at about 8 in the morning by bus and reached Vinh Long about 12 pm. Took this picture from the bus, the little kid was waving to me upon seeing me taking pictures of them. :)


We also saw this super high aerials shooting out from the houses along the road.


Upon reaching Vinh Long, we were transfer to a boat and visited the Cai Be Floating Market.


And there is a Catholic cathedral on the riverside.


and we were brought to a candy-rice paper-rice cracker producing place.


The pandan-coconut candy. The one in blue shirt is the tour guide, explaining on how they make the candy. The lady was cutting the candy using a plastic plate.


The lady is making the rice paper. Longan shells are burn together in the fire when making the rice paper. On her right, was the tour guide again, about to try the rice paper, dipped in soy sauce.

Thereafter we were shipped to lunch. The boat ride was quite a long one, about an hour or so. From there, upon reaching land, we were off to Chau Doc. This time, via bus.


Side note: Set mental note to self, its time to clear that income tax form again...

First post Vietnam 2008 Next post Vietnam 2008

My sister hasn't been sleeping well the 2 weeks we were in Vietnam. But that was not the case with me. I dozed off easily every night even when we were on train, despite waking up every now and then as worried that I forgot to get down from the train, but I got my quality sleep. The only time I dare not sleep (Read: I dare not sleep, not cannot sleep) was on this SE3, hard sleeper from Danang to Saigon.

The journey to Saigon itself was uneventful. It was by far the longest train ride we had, boarding at around 1 pm and reached the next day at 4 am but that was the fastest train available as the rest of the trains had more stops. We shared the 6 beds carriage with another 5 person - 4 adults and a 6 years old looking kid. To keep the story short, the reason I dare not sleep was... a lady (the mother to the kid) let her son peed into this 500 ml mineral water bottle and kept it on her bed. Of course its her side of the bed, I couldnt complain. The problem was this little kid would try to get hold of THAT 500 ml bottle and open it. I didnt want to risk to have ammonia-smell-yellow-liquid sprinkled on myself when I was sleeping. Hence the only time safe to sleep was when the little kid went to bed. = ="

We were relieved to leave the train as soon as it pulled in the HCMC Railway Station. The walking tour in Saigon only started after we left the station and found a place to stay over the night. As the walking tour in Hoi An was good, we decide to follow the walking tour recommended by LP for Saigon as well. We found a room in Duong Co Bac. From there, we walked to Pham Ngu Lao as the starting point.

Unlike Hoi An the cozy old town, Saigon is huge and with the sun shining with all its might, we were sweating in no time. Walking from Pham Ngu Lao to Pho 2000 for a bowl of pho took quite a fair bit of time. Opposite Pho 2000, was the status of Tran Nguyen Hai.

This is a roundabout

At another side of Pho 2000, located the famous Ben Thanh Market.


We had to cross this busy road to get to the statue of Tran Nguyen Hai (read: the roundabout) to get a clearer picture of the statue and from there, a better view of Ben Thanh Market as well.

To avoid we spend too much time in the market and missed the rest of the place, we decided not to go in yet, but to return later.

Next building in line is this Hotel de Ville.


Currently home to the local People's Committee

This picture above is taken from another angle. If you take 90 degrees from the front, Uncle Ho is there greeting you.


Nearby is the Opera House

Notre Dame Cathedral

Reunification Palace

It was 12++ pm, the palace is closed for lunch and will only reopen at 1 pm. Figure the 2 travellers were contemplating if they should wait or go off. Oh well, they took a couple of pictures and left. How I know? We were shooting while sitting in shade under a tree :P

That was our last stop. Of course the original walking tour is much longer and covers more places but some were seriously a little too far to walk especially under the hot sun. If you notice, the pictures are all getting a little nicer colour. Yes, its because of the hot sun.

From there, we retrace our steps back to Ben Thanh Market and got the famous Vietnamese coffee. On the way, we stopped for this superb sinh to (fruit shake). I still miss it now.



Side note: *Yawn... sleepy. Good night :)

First post Vietnam 2008 Next post Vietnam 2008

Hoi An Old Town is listed as a Unesco World Heritage site. Several buildings of historical and cultural significance are open for public viewing subject to purchase of a ticket at the cost of 75,000 vnd per person. Hoi An is pedestrian-friendly, I don't recall seeing a car in the Old Town. Only motorcycles and bicycles. The admission fee goes to funding the conservation of the place.

"Hoi An Legendary Night" takes place on the 14th day of every lunar month (full moon) from 5.30 pm to 10 pm. At that day, streets will be lit with lantern. Before leaving for Vietnam, no matter how I count, we cant seem to coincide with the day. Reason being we left for Vietnam on the 29th, 1st month and return on the 12th of the 2nd month according to the lunar calendar. We were not there on 14th of either month. So, can kill the idea.

Hoi An gives me the feeling of cozy. It reminded me of Merbok, which is a small town in Kedah where my grandfather used to stay. The old wooden houses, the few or no cars on the streets...


Back to the ticket to visit certain sights in Hoi An Old Town. One ticket entitles you to visit a museum, an assembly hall, an old houses, Hoi An handicraft workshop and a choice between Quan Cong's Temple or the temple within the Japanese Covered Bridge. Mind you that there are 4 old houses, 4 museums and 3 assembly halls to choose from. Which only translates to, if you want to visit it all, you would need to purchase 4 tickets. Hehe.

Armed with Lonely Planet on Vietnam courtesy from a friend, we decided to follow what was recommended - Musuem of Trading Ceramics, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Tan Ky House and Quan Cong's Temple. The Japanese Covered Bridge is free of charge.

Japanese Covered Bridge at night

A view from Museum of Trading Ceramic

The display items in the museum doesn't interest us as much as the building itself.

Phuc Kien Assembly Hall. I don't even recall seeing an assembly hall this grand in KL

Tan Ky House

Backdoor  of Tan Ky Old House overlooks the Hoai River

This is probably also the reason that Tan Ky Old House was affected by floods during rainy seasons. However, this old house is well-preserved.

Quan Cong's Temple

And the final stop - Hoi An Handicraft Workshop. There is folk music performance daily at 10.15 am and 3.15 pm except Monday. After watching the 20 minutes show, we walked around the Handicraft Workshop.



Aside from sightseeing, Hoi An has contributed much to our heavy backpacks. We didnt buy any of the above, but this small old town is where I added to my load a daypack, a blazer and pants, some souvenirs and the most heavy of all, Banh Dau Xanh, a famous cookie from Hoi An. Not only it's weight cannot be disregard, we had to hand carry to ensure that it is not smashed. My sis also added quite a number of things to her load, including a 30 litre backpack. Should I stayed longer in this cozy old town, I fear I might not be able to lift and carry my backpack :P


They have this kind of shops around town, also shoe shops where your order will be ready within one day. All you need to do is pick a design, the one on display or whatever that you have in mind, convey your message and then pick the materials. The measuring will then start and your clothes/shoes will be ready by evening.

Should anyone decides to visit Vietnam and would travel pass Central Vietnam, this is a place that you should make a stop. Be is to shopping, or relax, or for the history and cultural heritage.
:)


Side note: Despite the luxury of travelling via open bus, I have no regrets going to Hoi An by a public bus with our luggage hog every leg space we have and sitting next to the driver who honks at almost every junction and motorcycles. :)


First post Vietnam 2008 Next post Vietnam 2008

Danang was initially not an intended destination. With Hue at its north and Hoi An south, also Danang being a city, there isn't much sights that are tempting for a stay. It was only a stopover to catch a train to HCMC later on. However as our fellow travellers to Halong Bay highly recommended a train ride from Hue to Danang on the way to Hoi An, we decided to give it a shot. After all, it's either a bus from Hue to Hoi An or we do a detour from Hue to Danang, before heading to Hoi An. The train ride came highly recommended as the railway track skims its way along the beaches, where buses will not passed by. With this trip, we have the opportunity of experiencing the soft sleeper, hard sleeper and soft seats via the Reunification Line. Grin.

Our intended brief stopover at Danang didnt begin well. Due to some miscalculation on the conversion rate, we agreed for a taxi ride from Danang Railway Station to Hoi An. The ironic thing was that both of us miscalculate. As I had this nagging thought, I took out my trusty calculator and start counting in the cab. Darn, it was too expensive. The taxi driver said that he would charge us by the meter but maximum payable is 300k VND. We must've missed the last zero or something that we agreed to it. Upon calculation, it would set us back about RM 75!!! The open bus ticket is only around 5 USD and this was a cab, it wasn't any golden carriage. Upon telling the taxi driver that we wanted to get down or go to the bus station, the taxi driver told us there is no bus station in the city, even after we showed him the map! It was a relief after he finally let us off, we paid him for the distance travelled, of course. We were dropped at Duong Le Loi (Read: the street name are similar in so many towns/cities)

Danang City

With us a bit far off the bus station now as from the map the main bus station is a few hundreds meters behind the railway station, we decided to look for guesthouse to buy the open bus ticket to go to Hoi An. Anyway, an incident led to another, we were taught by a receptionist of a hotel, Queen to take public bus. She didn't even once ask us to buy the open bus ticket which was more expensive. Not only that, she allowed us to deposit our backpacks without any charge despite we were not lodging at their hotel. From the bad experience with the cab driver, there is HOPE in Danang. Not only that, when we were crossing the road, a lady even motioned us to follow her. For the past 7 days in Vietnam, 5 stops, not even once someone took care of us when crossing the road (exception to Dr Bui as he's a friend)

Since transportation to Hoi An was settled, we decided to roam a little in Danang after lunch, also to wait for the Cao Dai Temple to allow visitors. We walked to Han River to kill time have a look.

Han River, picture taken under a shade of a big tree. Central Vietnam is already warm

Thereafter, we make our move back to Cao Dai Temple as it is only open after 3.00 pm.

The main building of Cao Dai Temple

Inside the main building

Note the sign on top? Ok, here's an enlarged one.

From Lonely Planet:
Van Giao Nhat Ly means "All religions have the same
reason"
Behind the letters is the picture of the foundres of five of the
world's great religions - (L-R:) Mohammed, Laotse, Jesus, Buddha and Confucius

An interesting temple, worth a stop in Danang for.

From intended to go straight to Hoi An from the train station to wrong calculation for a cab fee, leading to a longer linger in Danang, meeting kind Samaritan and an interesting Cao Dai Temple. Its a nice surprise indeed. :)


Oh yah, I just have to do this... :P
For the coke collectors, here you are, Coke from Vietnam, all the way from Danang City.



Side note: I wrap my shoes in plastic bag to avoid the rain just now. I felt like a big-feet-rabbit somehow. Maybe cos the plastic bag was in white.

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