Archive for October, 2010

October28

Images of Halong Bay, Vietnam

By: JoAnna

On the northern coast of Vietnam is an otherwordly area known as Halong Bay. Halong Bay is nearly 930 square miles in size and features somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000 limestone islands and outcroppings (it can be hard to count all of them, let alone remember which ones have been counted!).

Halong literally means “descending dragon,” and there’s a local legend that says that when the Vietnamese were fighting foreign invaders long ago, the gods sent a family of fighting dragons to help them defend the land. As the dragons descended upon the area, they spit jewels and gems, and when these hit the water, they turned into little islands, which today dot the bay.

As I was traveling through Halong Bay — especially when I was at water level via kayak — I felt like I was immersed in a place that hovered somewhere between Middle Earth (from Lord of the Rings) and the luscious green backdrop of Jurassic Park. Here are a few of the shots that I snapped while I was visiting Halong Bay.


Images of Halong Bay, Vietnam

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Posted in: Photos18 comments

October25

Taking Advantage of the Swiss Travel System

By: JoAnna

Taking Advantage of the Swiss Travel SystemThree good reasons why I like trains:

  1. They are roomier than airplanes (though I still have a thing for flying).
  2. I don’t have to think … I can just sit back and relax.
  3. I love slow travel because I think that the journey can be just as rewarding as the destination.

Add to that three good reasons why I learned to love the Swiss rail system in just one week:

  1. Like the rest of Switzerland, it is ridiculously clean. No curious spots on the floor or sticky seats. It makes it that much easier to sit back and relax.
  2. The network system is so interconnected and thorough throughout the country that you can rely completely on the rail system to get you where you need to go. No vehicles needed.
  3. It is unbelievably punctual. This system is exactly on time 91% of the time, and according to a representative for the rail system, they’re working on improving that number.

I often bemoan the sad state of America’s railway system. It’s no wonder that few people in the United States have really explored their country. It’s big and difficult to get around. In marked contrast, the railroads that run throughout Switzerland consist of hundreds of miles of national and regional lines that reach even the farthest corners of the country. Sure, some of the lines in the farthest reaches of the country have limited hours, but it seems to me that you can pretty much get anywhere you need to go on one of these trains.

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October21

Reading: Hothouse Flower (and Giveaway!)

By: JoAnna

Reading: Hothouse Flower (and Giveaway!)A few months ago, I was invited to take part in a blog tour of the book Hothouse Flower by Margot Berwin. I debated about whether to take part because, though the book is about flowers, I really only wanted to review a book that evoked a sense of place. The book takes place in both New York City and on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, so I decided to give it a go.

Now that I’m finished, I have to say that this book really has to be one of the worst I’ve ever read. I’m sorry, but it’s true.

There, I said it. I’ve been dreading the words, but I have to be honest with you.

Here’s the thing: I can usually tough my way through a book I don’t really care for. But no book has ever literally put me to sleep. Twice.

The story is of a 32-year-old advertising copywriter who gets caught up with a variety of unsavory men in the search for nine valuable plants. I like the idea of the concept — woman pushes herself beyond her sense of comfort to find several interesting plants — but this woman is cliché and obnoxious, the men in the story are intimidating and manipulating, and the storyline is only interesting because of the plants.

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October18

Two Hostels in Vietnam

By: JoAnna

In Vietnam it is possible for budget travelers to travel, eat and stay cheaply. On a recent trip to the country, I had the chance to try out two hostels, one in each of the country’s largest cities: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Here are my thoughts:

Two Hostels in VietnamLittle Hanoi Hostel: Hanoi, Vietnam

I arrived at Little Hanoi Hostel after 10:00 p.m. and was glad I had reserved a bed because I was ready to crash! I stayed in the only downstairs room at the hostel, which is a six-person bunk dorm. The room was comfortable and very dark. For the most part, it was also a quiet room, but in the early morning, people wandered in and out of the room to drop off their backpacks. I’m assuming that, because it’s the only room on the first floor, it becomes a storage area of sorts for backpackers who will be checking in for the next night or for those who are taking a tour through the hostel.

The six-person dorm had a bathroom of it’s own, which was relatively clean. The water was warm and the water pressure was pleasant. Each person was issued a storage cabinet and given a key of their own, though my (smallish) backpack didn’t fit into the storage locker. Each guest was also issued a blanket, pillow and towel.

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Posted in: Stay3 comments

October14

Images of San Antonio’s Missions

By: JoAnna

Though the Alamo gets all the play when it comes to the missions of San Antonio, the other four missions in the area — Mission Espada, Mission San Juan, Mission San José and Mission Concepción — are equally as interesting and picturesque. Churches at many of these missions continue to be used today, but when services are not in session, the grounds tend to be quiet and welcoming to contemplation.

Bees buzz around the yellow bursts of flowers, dusty spider webs cling to window panes. Fabric on the kneelers is worn and ripped.

These are places people still love and cherish … and you’re welcome to peek inside.

(Click on the images to enlarge them.)

Images of San Antonio’s Missions

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October11

Tips for Traveling in Vietnam

By: JoAnna

Tips for Traveling in VietnamHeading off to Vietnam, I really had no idea what to expect. I had browsed a guidebook or two and spent some time reading about Sherry Ott’s experience of living in Vietnam, but like any destination, you have to really be in Vietnam to learn its idiosyncrasies.

I traveled to Vietnam in late August and early September, which is considered the monsoon season, though weather tends to vary throughout the country, so what I learned on my trip may not necessarily apply to other times of the year or in all locations. Nonetheless, during the time I traveled the country, I picked up the following tidbits:

1. Pack a poncho, not a rain jacket. It is hot and wet in Vietnam, and if you wear a rain jacket (even a well-ventilated one), you will be very warm. Sweat + humidity = not pleasant, especially when it’s contained in a rain jacket. The Vietnamese wear ponchos for a good reason — they cover the entire body but are loose enough to allow the body to breathe. Also, if you wear a poncho, you’ll just fit in with the crowd. Wearing a rain jacket marks you as a traveler.

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