Sunday, 12 January 2020

Goodbye Vietnam, Hello Philippines

And just like that, the Vietnam chapter of our trip draws to a close. Three weeks in Hoi An was just about right - in the last few days, Tamar and the girls visited some ruins and historical houses, and the -girls splashed farewell in the pool while we drank fizzy mocktails. 

On our last night, I interviewed the girls to collect a few last raw impressions:

AURORA

1 - What did you like best about Vietnam?

The beach: it’s nice to play at and the water’s nice 

The cafes: Dingo Deli has a little playground and Mot is cosy and has really good drinks 

The banh mi: because it’s really good, especially from the place near Banh Mi 304

2 - What did you like least about Vietnam?

The motorcycles: because they’re noisy and loud and go fast and break all the rules and make a lot of pollution 

3 - What is one thing you learned from Vietnam?

They catch fish with big cones that they plow through the water so the fish can’t get out

4 - What’s one thing other countries should do that we saw in Vietnam?

There’s a mystery trail through Old Town that two children set up

5 - Describe Vietnam in three words

Polluted, nice, playgroundless 

SOPHIA

1 - What did you like best about Vietnam?

The swimming pool: because it was nice and the drinks were good

Gymnastics: it’s always one of my favourite things

2 - What did you like least about Vietnam?

There’s so much garbage everywhere, it can get blown by the wind into the sea where turtles swallow it and then they die 

3 - What is one thing you learned from Vietnam?

In some places you can’t drink tap water

4 - What’s one thing other countries should do that we saw in Vietnam?

Buffalo rides where people tame buffaloes and ride them

5 - Describe Vietnam in three words

A nice place

TOVA

1 - What did you like best about Vietnam?

Mini-baguettes: because they were really good

The swimming pool: because it was hotter than other ones

The playground: because it had exercise things and we could make good shows

2 - What did you like least about Vietnam?

The bad mosquitos: because they could kill us

It was dirty: because wires scratched me

The hot milk: because it tasted different. But I liked the cold milk that tasted different

3 - What is one thing you learned from Vietnam?

I learned how to do 5 chin ups really fast, I pull up and try not to stop on the way down

4 - What’s one thing other countries should do that we saw in Vietnam?

They sell mini baguettes everywhere

5 - Describe Vietnam in three words

That Vietnam has a bit more bug spray, and that it has an old town, and that it has a wedding swimming pool. 

And there you have it. Anyway, we’ve now made it to the slightly random town of Camalig, in Albay in the Philippines, after a looong journey including a protracted 3am hotel checkin with a drunken attendant. We are bumped up against the most beautiful volcano we’ve ever seen, and are still coming to grips with this new corner of the world. 

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