Heidi Taylor

A quick look at Bangkok

heiditaylor — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:32:35 +0000

I’m still trying to wrap my head around this city. Everyone seems to have on opinion on it – but I’ve mostly heard it called a dump. While I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be that bad, I wasn’t expecting this amazing, vibrant, colourful city. And, even though the guidebooks say that there are plenty of temples – I wasn’t expecting them to be so spectacular. All in all, I love this city and I can’t wait to come back after visiting the rest of Thailand.

Due to my general over stimulation, I couldn’t really focus on anything in particular so more and better photographs will have to wait until I come back in a few weeks.

Wat Arun I

Wat Arun II

Wat Arun close-up I

Wat Arun close-up II

Wat Arun close-up III

River taxi pier

Khoa San Road I

Khoa San Road II

(It absolutely lives up to its backpacker, hippie, guru stereotype…)

Mekong Delta

heiditaylor — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:55:27 +0000

Buying coffee at the floating market.

Rice paper factory in Can Tho. Each sheet is made by hand, which is kind of crazy when I think that I’ve had at least two a day over the last month.

Saigon streets….

heiditaylor — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:43:20 +0000

I spent the last few days wondering around Saigon. Other than the War Remnants Museum, I didn’t visit any attractions. The streets are really the big attraction here. Like everywhere else in Vietnam there is so much happening in the streets – especially at night. I’m looking forward to seeing street culture in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos…

Saigon

heiditaylor — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:38:21 +0000

So far I’ve avoided taking photos of garbage… but sadly its everywhere…

Note the earbuds… there always so easy to spot….

In Hio An I nearly bumped into power lines hanging about 5 feet from the ground – at least in Saigon there much higher.

Seriously….

The War Remnants Museum had very few artifacts on display. Most of their stories were told through photographs, which is interesting as most westerners know the history of the war through photographs and films. There were photographs from many different sources but I found it a little ironic that an entire exhibit was told through a Life Magazine photo-essay.

Chuc Mung Nam Moi!

heiditaylor — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 14:36:50 +0000

more beach time in Nha Trang….

New Year’s Eve with Tammy and Rachael.

Mui Ne

heiditaylor — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:03:32 +0000

My morning walk to the beach….

Mui Ne was perfect – the sand was soft, the water warm and it was only a few steps from my guesthouse room!

Where I spent most of my time….

There wasn’t much to see in Mui Ne. There wasn’t really a town – just hotels and restaurants on the beach. Even though it was very “resort-like” it had a really cool vibe.

Beach I

Beach II

Beach III

Kitesurfing – the big attraction in Mui Ne…

Sand dunes – Mui Ne’s other big attraction

Every morning groups of round fishing boats worked up and down the beach. weird…

Hoi An

heiditaylor — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 09:11:00 +0000

I absolutely loved Hoi An! It was the most charming place I’ve visited so far….

Apparently, the eyes painted on the front of the boat are to scare away sea monsters.

Scooter ferry

Pretty lanterns made Hoi An even more charming at night.

Com (rice)

On a market tour before starting a cooking class.

Lots of fresh, yummy salads at the Hoi An market.

Banana flower – it kinda has the texture of cabbage and doesn’t taste like bananas at all.

Learning how to cook at the Red Bridge cooking school.

My first homemade fresh spring roll – I even made the rice paper wrapper!

The cooking school’s herb garden.

Christmas Eve with Tammy, Kyra and Rachael!

Mes noveaux amis français – Julien et Sylvain.

It could be because of all the tailors in Hoi An but most of the restaurants and cafes were super cute.

Rice field (I think)

Hue

heiditaylor — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:06:39 +0000

Hue’s big attraction is its imperial history. I also really enjoyed all the “green” space throughout the city.

Kinh Thanh (imperial city)

“Perfume River” – Not sure if that name is so suitable.

Ha Long Bay

heiditaylor — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:54:46 +0000

I spent the last 3 days touring around Ha Long Bay, which is about a three hour drive from Hanoi. The bay is filled with thousands of limestone islands that pop out of the sea. Ha Long means “falling dragon” - the islands were apparently created when a dragon splashed down into the bay.

I spent one night on a similar junk (chinese sail boat).

Even though it was foggy when I arrived it was still incredibly beautiful.

Aboard the boat.

There are several fishing villages in Ha Long Bay where people live year round. This village had a school and some medical facilities. The people who live here earn a living by farming fish and selling fish to nearby Ha Long City and Cat Ba Island.

Oyster farm.

Enroute to the fishing village from the boat.

On the second day, we kayaked around the bay.

really, really, really beautiful lagoon!

Another fish farm

Limestone close-up I

Limestone close-up II

XE OM

heiditaylor — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:50:11 +0000

Standard Hanoi street filled with scooters (xe om) – it’s not even rush hour yet!

Getting ready to cross the street.

It never slows down.

Scooter care I

Scooter care II

Scooters in the rain.

About 2 minutes after the rain started all the scooter stopped on the bridge and put on ponchos!