Pertamina

They say you should never go back to places where your memories are held to a high degree. Things will have changed and you'll be disappointed. In the case of revisiting our honeymoon resort this was not totally the case. Yes, the name had changed and the old place may need a coat of paint or two, but she was still standing. So she opted to switch from Pertamina Cottages to  'PATRA JASA' resort and villas. She even had security on the long drive way, checking in our taxi's boot and using a security mirror to check under the car! Mr and Ms X spent some time wandering the grounds, debating where 'the Marwar Grill' was and in which cottage they stayed. Lunch was had in the dining room as the new pool was discussed and Mr X also managed to get concierge to drive the pair back to Seminyak. The old girl is still delivering such great service!

Happy Anniversary

Now there's a lot that is said about Tiger Airlines however they may be slack domestically but give them Terminal 2 at Melbourne Airport and they excel.

Ask for exit row seats at check in  and bingo, you have them. Just ask! AND they were free. 

The flight attendants, lovely! (Although the poor things have to wear cheap dresses that could do with some good old anti-static spray)

They leave on time when they have an international schedule, just not when they have to go to Sydney.

They trust you with carry-on when you are leaving Australia, no weighing. They have other things on their mind.

They also land on time. Perfect.

Staying in a private villa also has its advantages.As well as a private pool you also get the biggest bathroom ever built. When pressed for telling the reception if you are celebrating anything, you casually mention in an email that it is 35 years since you last visited Bali on your honeymoon. You then get this on arrival!

A 'Potato-head' sunset!

Always 'Boffee-time'

Bali Bliss

Thirty five years ago Ms and Mr X went to Bali on their honeymoon. Why did they choose there? They have no idea. Ms X had been right across the wedding plans and it was Mr X who took on the job of organising the holiday. He booked a place called Pertamina Cottages that they both thought was the most luxurious and flash place they had ever been. Despite SO MANY Australians calling Bali their 'local' holiday destination, these two had chosen other places in the world to see.Their trip back in time in their 35 th year of marriage was therefore significant- for them at least!

Vietnam- Land of........

Children's furniture out the front of cafes 

So you can make a quick pack them up and avoid a hefty fine in case the police come along.

bridal shots occurring after dark, even in the middle of a chaotic intersection

 

Unusual fashion. High heeled sneakers, long pants, hoody and a mask. Gotta keep that skin the right shade so you can expect a higher dowry.

Exclusive designer stores .....this is a communist country???? 

Hey, am I in Dubai cos there's nobody in these places.

 sports bars that shows all AFL games live. (Hoi An AND Hanoi)

 

                                               a sparky's nightmare' on every corner 

proud hotel names!!

Street food

                                                                                   and coffee

whatever you think you carry on your bike, then go for it!

Land of old and new

and great people!

Hot and humid in Hanoi

Think hot, very hot and then double it. That was Hanoi for 95% of the time. Think sweat dripping off you and that was Hanoi. Enough about the weather cos I think you've got the picture now.

Hanoi has many reminders of its past as can be seen during a visit to the former prison that housed political prisoners during the French and 'American' wars.

It's a city that is proud of itself as can be seen by its lakes and parks

 A city that tricks you sometimes into feeling like you are in France as you wander through its French Quarter,

however brings you back to reality when you wander through its Old Quarter

A city of c-r-a-z-y traffic

 Where street vendors sell in the middle of all that traffic!

A city that reveres its Uncle Ho Chi Minh and tries to convince everyone constantly that he was a great man, worthy of queueing for a while in the heat in order to see his preserved body.

A place where its 'cousins' have statues erected, giving everyone a gentle reminder that this town has friends in high places!

G'day Mr Lenin! 

A city that is communist yet has a Catholic Cathedral in its centre.

Hmmmm?

A place where food from many places on the globe can be found

yet remembers it's their food, many of its visitors indeed came for.

Oh, did I mention that it was hot? Not quite sure Mr and Ms X have enough water to manage a visit with Uncle Ho!

"Meet the Parents" in Halong Bay!

Mr and Ms X did not need to refer to TripAdvisor to help them choose a Tour Company for the must-see Halong Bay. They had their own trip-advisors in the form of Ms C and Ms A. " you gotta go with Vega Tours" was the message, so the booking was made with Vega.

Advice no. 1. 

Always read the itinerary carefully

Kayaking? I don't think so Ms X was heard to mutter as soon as she set foot on the boat. 

Activities? I don't think so, I don't do activities that require perspiring willingly whilst on holiday, she tried to tell the Tour Leader as he pointed to the luxury boat nearby that sails around and just has its passengers looking at the sights. Ms X soon realised that she was really on the wrong boat. She was born to go cruising in Halong Bay on the very big luxury boat. Too late!

Advice no. 2.

If you want to feel your age, then go with Vega

During the 4 hr bus trip to get to the Halong harbour from Hanoi, it was soon established who was on the bus and what personality traits they brought to the group. The tour leader "Duckie" asked who knew what sign they were according to their birth year. Ms X, always the student who was attentively listening and willing to answer announced that she knew she was born in the year of the monkey. Duckie of course wanted to verify that so asked for her birth year and calculated 1956. Mr X said he was an Aquarian..... Ms X had to explain that he was in the wrong system, and that if she was a monkey then of course he was one too. Monkeys are smart the bus was told as Mr and Ms X nodded with their smug faces. Their smugness soon left as the other 9 members of the group yelled out their birth years. Ok, ok.  Chickens, snakes, Tigers and dogs were identified and all BABY ones as our intrepid tourists soon discovered they were on board with many having a gap year. They were BY FAR THE OLDEST AND OLD ENOUGH TO BE EVERYONE 'S PARENTS!!!!!    

Advice no. 3.

If you want to enjoy yourself, then go with Vega!

So, with 2 Brits, 2 Spaniards, 1 Canadian, 1 Austrian, 1 German and 2 Dutchies, Mr and Ms X had a great time. As the seniors on board, the younger set looked after them, especially when the 2 elderly citizens did not bring any water along on the hike through the 'surprising Caves'. Mr and Ms X have a bad habit of doing this.... Remember Cinque Tera in Italy?? Thank goodness for the Dutchies and the Brit who both looked after the absent minded pair.

Thank goodness for Canadian Trish who partnered up with Mr X who wanted to do the water sports.

Whilst Ms X 'minded the big boat' which was really hard work!

Cooking classes making "Halong Summer Rolls", relaxing on the sundeck whilst the youngen's hiked to the top of a big rock

and watching the picturesque scenery

 were highlights.

 

Having THE BEST tour guide in Asia, Duckie, also assisted in the Adventure- Cruise being such a great experience. His personal anecdotes, dry sense of humour and local knowledge were excellent.

And of course Mr and Ms X had their traditional-kissing-holiday-snap whilst all the backpacking babies looked on and were heard to say " Awwww, aren't they cute" 

Cute? Those seniors could think of worse words to be called.