BẠCH MÃ (WHITE HORSE) NATIONAL PARKS – AN AMAZING “NO PLAN” JOURNEY

No more time after coming back from Ly Son on my first week I’m feeling of my crazy legs, so you borrow the car guy to make one trip to help addicts near neighborhood.

My hometown in Quang Tri so far away from that as much sea and so must aim point on the forest to go, so Bach Hue is envisaged close fit just recently pristine mountain (guess?).

Romance 1 from Danang friend ran out, comes from Quang Tri alone at 4am ran 5.30 to Hue City, rest drink coffee too, then run to Bach, to place their views 7h not remember anything .

This ride rolls her learn how to go and plan how, so that went well, so when there is an entrance just a few of you sitting there asking

“You can ride to the top graft and sisters ko”, his answer was chảnh dog “Kids walk up labor” =)))

Then he told the 16km downhill this is not you have to go, I turned out not stupid people out as I’d originally thought 1600m range, which turned out to be high compared to sea level peaks of Bach, world is to tone down one too, moving from state to state lemon stupid face =)))

“Yes hire car out there how much he”

“I … I go 900 K guys”

“Yes 2”

“His delegation 4 people, plus 2 more of 6, is one of about 150k rứa”

This Annex begins relieved then, start screen please nick facebook interaction types, in union with two sisters from Hue, 2 siblings go by motorbike through Vietnam from Hanoi.

Due to delay his buddies should start truss is 1 car of tour companies on the island café, car 12 persons, but only 1 client, 1 he guides and drivers, too delicious rice transplantation application immediately. Cost is drawn from 900 K to 500K / 6 people that is 1 person 80k range, but often travels Oh my gosh its NO PLAN whole lucky ko, make eating in there hihi virtue.

Reach nearly 9 cars start running on top, the way to the top of Bach Ma is quite crooked and steep, as you get higher mountain scenery super nice out, I began to see and lethargy. Just head out sightseeing idiot ko ah.

Driving range 45 minutes to peak near Vong Hai Dai parking, the car began to walk out, Vong Hai Dai is the highest point Bach Hue, from here you can see Lang Co Bay, Lake Truoi, overlooking hills same identical mountain in sight I just wished the large lens machine to remove all scenes here about showing everyone.

After admire the beauty vs shooting at Vong Hai Dai finished, we both have the car running 5km to go down that way Lakes and Waterfalls Rhododendron.

To go to the Sleeping Lake 2km range, walk in the woods over the next 30 minutes, on the way to sleep with natural lake green snake soup that long filenames located in the road, to get worse in the group with its first bite you because not notice.

Sleeping lake is a collection of 5 lakes in 5 different high points, the 3rd most beautiful lake so we rested for lunch, bathing there. The water in the lake and super in super cold, we both bought beer up to down drink cold beer waiting lake always out to take rock, on the lake with a waterfall to look pretty ecstatic, the bath is through eating a rest before starting Do Quyen waterfall go.

From the Great Lakes waterfall Rhododendron quite far away, the road should also not feel tired cool, about 1 hour, then go to Waterfall.

Do Quyen waterfall 300 meters high level, because unions can not leave early to walk down waterfalls are (unfortunately seats), above, all see waterfalls overlooking rolling mountains, and Ma Pi Leng akin, both sides of the falls rhododendron flower, rhododendron flowers in March, the two sides both white forbid, I hope to come here is to buy flowers bloom to see the awesome scenes.

So do not stay, and right down to his car early in the calendar of the Group, so his group could not visit us more interesting, if you have time to make all these trails go in Bach to explore more places.

At about the beginning I thought, why there are points near his home so beautiful that I did not go right in the past, must have a plan to go out spots around her new home.

Bach Hue Goodbye to add 4 new friends, her two siblings go Skids go through Vietnam Cu Lao Cham has always, at first during the day to go on alone vs travel to Hue alone, they give rise to 2 days 2 nights go tut sea Cu Lao Cham island, which is the pros and cons of NO PLAN.

HOCHIMINH CITY

Ho Chi Minh City, with its seven million inhabitant, It’s  about 8% of the Vietnamese population, the largest city in the country. In addition, live here many unregistered contract workers and a large number of illegal immigrants is estimated that 1/3 of the population. Previously, the city was known as Saigon, a name that dates from the period of French occupation. Until 1975 it was the capital of the country. In the 17th century this area was part of neighboring Cambodia.

As in many big cities, one also has to contend here with heavy pollution. Which is not surprising when you know you are driving around 3.5 million mopeds in the city. To avoid the daily traffic problems, it is currently working on the construction of a metro, but it will be some time before it is put into use.

The city is located on the west bank of the Saigon River and has some beautiful buildings in neoclassical style. During the Vietnam war there was massive prostitution, to please the American soldiers, this is now greatly weakened, but still clearly present.

We arrive in town around 2:00 you at night and marvel at the deserted streets. After all the stories about the very busy Vietnam, we expected masses scooters here … until we realize that the middle of the night. We will have to wait until tomorrow … The taxi drops us into a narrow alley, where only at night sipping a car to pass through … Here we reserved a hotel (what we normally rarely do), to make sure this night not closed doors stand and to spend on the streets.

Our first day in Vietnam is one of discoveries …

We actually end up in a nest of mopeds – that are clearly in the majority in the street – between them by seeking cyclists, cars, taxis and buses to make their way. Despite the crowds, we can appreciate the city quickly, thanks to the many wide boulevards that give it an airy feel. And crossing the streets … we are already that practiced by our visit to Indonesia, where a vast number of mopeds driving, so the move is not too big. Slowly move the message and show no hesitation, mopeds are very agile and navigate to the pedestrians around. Cars and taxis are another story, here we are trying out the trick that they taught us in Yogyakarta, we stabbing our hand in the direction of the vehicle as if we want to stop it and steps into the street, the vehicle slows down and we can quietly crossing. It also works here! The buses we try it anyway no matter …

What we also like good are the remains of the French period … bakeries with delicious pastries and baguettes. They hunger after a six-odd months traveling through Asia.

That the official tourism office we can only give commercial information and draw up rapidly a customized program for our whole visit to Vietnam on the basis of successive tours, hotel and transportation modes, we like a little less. What we ask is just what tips about sites that are worth visiting and some information about the public transport in Vietnam. But this is not awarded to us … tourists are expected to travel here with the luxury vehicles intended for them to participate in the many tours offered … in short, not to deviate from the beaten path. What we did notice is that all organized tours in terms of cost quite easy, you yourself may be cheaper. But whether we like this …

The next day we still try but such a tour, not because we want it so badly, but it would cost us much time to reach the Cao Dai temple on their own. With half a big bus takes us to the temple, our fellow passengers were about 20 Filipinos in party mood and two Western couples. With a guide who teaches us nothing, but the whole time complaining about himself and also like the Filipinos increasingly incite, where it empties with booze and loud music on the bus … can we really call any fun experience. Furthermore the resident feeling getting bigger …

The Caodaism, a religion that developed in the South Vietnamese Tay Ninh came in 1926, with the intention to create the ideal religion by some religions to grow together. It seeks the belief in one God. The result is a colorful mix of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Islam, Spirituality, Christianity, … with more than 3 million followers. On one of the painted scenes’ the three saints Victor Hugo portrayed recognizable.

The Cao Dai temple in Tay Ninh is why we would not travel beyond. We arrive at the pretty pastel-colored temple just before noon so we can have a look around before the service begins at 12:00. The building has the shape of a great classical church. Among the many ornaments are the big globe and the image of the “all-seeing eye” above the altar and the main entrance.

During the service, we may move us into the temple building, but this is limited to the entrance hall and the bovengaanderij around. Thus we have a wonderful view and see how this prayer service takes in all serenity. Behind a strange kind of music is played by a small group of musicians, which creates a very special atmosphere. The faithful sit on their knees and lean forward during prayer. A large number of them are dressed in white, a small group wearing bright red, -blue and -Yellow robes. These colors have meaning. It is truly a unique experience, we are glad to have visited the temple.

After lunch we drove to the Cu Chi tunnels, we follow a very bad road between rubber plantations. Really special we find the views here.

An immense tunnel network was by the opponents of the French domination dug throughout the whole of Vietnam when the French after the 2nd World War again came to power. When America was massively intervened in the conflict between the rebels of South Vietnam (Viet Cong) and the North Vietnamese army, leader Ho Chi Minh gave the order to extend the tunnel network throughout the whole country as protection for both Vietnamese struggle camps. If protection were in the vicinity of the multiple types of inputs are built, so that the hostile intruder had to be stopped.

Our visit to Cu Chi shows us the effect of a number of pitfalls or “people fall,” we can walk a little in one of the tunnels. But most attention from our Filipino tour enjoyed going out to a shooting range, where they can indulge themselves once by shooting at a paper enemy … Personally, we think not worth the visit to Cu Chi, what little there is to see , we can not really fascinate, explanation we did not get. Maybe it’s the guide …

A walk through the city of Ho Chi Minh City will take us to some beautiful buildings, including the opera house, city hall, the post office, the cathedral. A visit to the War Remnants Museum shows us the harrowing facts about the Vietnam War in text and image. We find it interesting to know more about it, that we had during our trip through the country’s people can often understand better.

In the evening we go to a show at the ‘water puppet “theater. This is a typical Vietnamese – somewhat ridiculous -. Form of entertainment, in which a pond is where dolls short sketches are placed for 50 min On both sides are some people making some weird music and the voices of the puppets on stage (in Vietnamese). We are pleased to have seen, however interesting or beautiful we did not find it. It was actually after 10 min. All must cease … some Westerners then leave the room rather quickly.

To it:

boat Puerto Galeras – Batangas: 200 PHP per person for the ticket + 10 PHP per person port fee, 90 min road.

bus Batangas – Manila: 167 PHP per person, 90 min road.

taxi Manila – Airport: 70 PHP, 15 min on the go, always take a taxi with taximeter.!

plane Manila – Ho Chi Minh City: € 82.19 pp, 2 ½ route, direct flight with Cebu Pacific Air, a Philippine low-cost airline with very recent fleet and good service.

taxi Ho Chi Minh City Airport – Hotel: 19 USD, we arrive at night and booked ahead from the Philippines a hotel and the taxi ride there through the Internet, the daytime fare is much cheaper offered by our hotel

Overnights:

Hong Hoa Hotel, 18 USD for a clean and spacious two room with bathroom (hot water), dark room with an indoor window, not really cozy room, air conditioning, TV, refrigerator, free WIFI, old building but very well maintained, centrally located in the city in the backpacker district, 185/28 Pham NGR. Loro street, 250 Dr. Tham Street, District 1, tel (84.8) 383 61 915, hotel@honghoavn.com, www.honghoavn.com, assessment:. 4/5.

Excursions:

Cao Dai temple + Cu Chi Tunnels: 120,000 VND per person for organized day trip without lunch + 80,000 VND per person entrance Cu Chi tunnels

Tip: Compare the price in different booking gently

War Remnants Museum: 15,000 VND per person,

Caution: this museum will close in the afternoon

Water Puppet show: 105,000 VND per person, ticket in advance you should purchase one of the several little booking office, found different prices apply