Chris and I with Caterina and Thao
Before we left in September, Chris signed us both up for something called Couchsurfing - which is an online website which allows you to stay with a local, in varying degrees of comfort, basically for free. There is also an option if you want to find out more about a specific city, to meet someone for a coffee and a chat...
from the website Couchsurfing state: CouchSurfing isn't about the furniture- it's not just about finding free accommodations around the world- it's about participating in creating a better world. We strive to make a better world by opening our homes, our hearts, and our lives. .. CouchSurfing wants to change not only the way we travel, but how we relate to the world!
I was a little sceptical in participating at all. But without having any experience of this new surfing world, I was talked into meeting up with the local Couchsurfing ambassador in Hue, a lovely girl called Thao. We met, were shown round a lot of the less touristy parts of Hue and were also introduced to another Couchsurfer who was in Hue for only a day. After the whole experience I feel a lot more confortable with the idea of surfing etc... and I may well be talked into actually staying in someone's home - who we have only met online, in the next few months.
Chris at the Imperial Palace, Hue (inside the Cidetal)
After a tour of Hue, Chris and I headed down along the coast to a beautiful part of Vietnam called Hoi An. It was an area which was originally on the 'to see' list, but we were going to miss it out, and I am so pleased that we didn't. Not only because I got a lovely pair of shoes made and also got a lovely dress made to fit too, but more importantly, we managed to catch up with a long time friend and fellow work colleague Elaine.
Ellie and Elaine
Elaine has been travelling since Feb '08 and is on the final few weeks of her journey. It was lovely catching up with her and finding out all about the places she has been to etc... some which we will be heading to, so it's great for a 'heads up'. We met up in Hoi An, making sure we stayed at the same hotel, and had a lovely afternoon and evening together. It was strange having more than one Northern Irish accent at the table! (Elaine met a girl called Ellie from Norn Iron too!!).
So with the wallet a little lighter - one day in Hoi An and I'm pleased we didn't have more time for shopping (this place is certainly somewhere we're coming back to) we boarded our plane to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and arrived in the heart of backpacker district at 8:30pm tonight.
We're here for a few days so we'll have a look at the museums etc.
from the website Couchsurfing state: CouchSurfing isn't about the furniture- it's not just about finding free accommodations around the world- it's about participating in creating a better world. We strive to make a better world by opening our homes, our hearts, and our lives. .. CouchSurfing wants to change not only the way we travel, but how we relate to the world!
I was a little sceptical in participating at all. But without having any experience of this new surfing world, I was talked into meeting up with the local Couchsurfing ambassador in Hue, a lovely girl called Thao. We met, were shown round a lot of the less touristy parts of Hue and were also introduced to another Couchsurfer who was in Hue for only a day. After the whole experience I feel a lot more confortable with the idea of surfing etc... and I may well be talked into actually staying in someone's home - who we have only met online, in the next few months.
Chris at the Imperial Palace, Hue (inside the Cidetal)After a tour of Hue, Chris and I headed down along the coast to a beautiful part of Vietnam called Hoi An. It was an area which was originally on the 'to see' list, but we were going to miss it out, and I am so pleased that we didn't. Not only because I got a lovely pair of shoes made and also got a lovely dress made to fit too, but more importantly, we managed to catch up with a long time friend and fellow work colleague Elaine.
Ellie and Elaine
So with the wallet a little lighter - one day in Hoi An and I'm pleased we didn't have more time for shopping (this place is certainly somewhere we're coming back to) we boarded our plane to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and arrived in the heart of backpacker district at 8:30pm tonight.We're here for a few days so we'll have a look at the museums etc.
No comments:
Post a Comment