While our wedding was many moons ago, my in-laws gave us two round-trip tickets to anywhere in the world. Major life changes (e.g. picking up and moving half-way across the state) delayed us from plotting out this magnificent opportunity. This past spring we realized we needed to get a move on as 1) the in-laws were forgetting about their gift 2) life is only going to get more busy!
So off we go to Vietnam. Everyone keeps asking "Why Vietnam?" Here was our criteria:
1) We want to go to a place that is a true cultural 'leap'
2) We need to go to a place where it is cheap to travel
3) We want to go to a place that neither one of us have ever been to --> A true challenge as the Hubby has gone on all sorts of world tours and whatnot
This criteria pointed us in the direction of southeast asia. We did not want to do Thailand as it sounds like it is the Disneyland of southeast asia tourism. We came upon Vietnam as there is enough tourism infrastructure to support us gringos but it shouldn't be a fuckfest of tourists. It has an incredible history and rich cultural heritage. Lastly, it could be completed transformed by global warming and could disappear (morbid, I know).
Once we selected Vietnam and purchased the airline tickets, I dove into planning. The Hubby has taken an odd backseat to all of it. I am not sure if I am annoyed or psyched that I can plan out everything the way I want it. I have told him that I am fine creating our itinerary and making all of the arrangements but, if he does not want to be involved, at no point in the trip can he bitch or complain. I have a verbal commitment.....
We will fly into Hanoi and stay there for a few days before visit Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage Site*, via a Chinese Junk boat (picture at left). We will then make our way south to visit another World Heritage Site, the town of Hoi An (picture below). From Hoi An, we'll fly to Ho Chi Min City (aka HCMC or Saigon) to visit and then leave for a bicycle tour of the Me Kong Delta.
While I have traveled and lived abroad, this is the first time I have traveled and had this wonderful thing called Internet chat rooms. People who are sitting in a cafe in Hanoi are chatting about their hotels, who they took a tour with and what place has a the best beer. All of this is incredible information that goes miles beyond our paperback Lonely Planet book. Travelers are sharing their itineraries and others chime in with suggestions. Its absolutely fabulous. It also is a bit overwhelming. Whereas before I would just defer to my book, I now get online and hit the key listservs. Hours disappear.
It took me ages to finalize an itinerary as it is hard to figure out what to do in two weeks when there seems to be a never-ending list of places and things to do. Now I am working to make and confirm reservations with hotels, domestic flights and tour companies. Once again, the power of the Internet amazes me. I am having email 'conversations' with the tour guides. I am negotiating hotel rooms. Weird. However, all of this channels the organizing and planning freak inside of me. I have spreadsheets and folders and subfolders...delicious.
More Vietnam updates to come!
* a site designated by UNESCO as being of special historical, cultural or natural importance
1 comment:
"I have spreadsheets and fgolders and subfolders... delicious." This is why we are friends. I am actually kind of as jealous of your vacation planning as I am of your actual vacation.
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