Ho Chi Minh

29 March 2012

Every year, my family from the mother’s side would spend a short vacation together. For the past couple of years, I haven’t been able to join the annual vacation but this year, my schedule (or my lack of a schedule) permitted me to join them. And this year, we all went to the former capital of Vietnam… formerly known as Saigon… Ho Chi Minh City.

When we arrived, the first thing everyone noticed was that Facebook was blocked. Haha!  After we have settled in, our tour guide Nguyen suggested that we have lunch at Pho 2000. US President Bill Clinton once visited this restaurant and you could see a photo of him with the restaurant staff mounted on the wall, inside the restaurant.

Pho 2000 restaurant

One thing distinct about Vietnam is its traffic, which was mainly composed of motorcycles.  As we rode the tour bus around the city, I noticed all sort of Vietnamese iin motorcycles: women in business attires, men carrying bulky items and a family of 3 in one motorcycle. Their helmets look like hats, some with cute designs, with not a lot of padding in it.

Vietnamese Traffic

Our hotel, the Blue Diamond Hotel, was conveniently located a few blocks away from one of Vietnam’s market, Cho Bến Thành. From flowers and fruits to fake bags and local clothes, you can find all these in the market. Cheaper goods sold wholesale can be found at another market, Cho Bình Tây at the Chinatown. Fake but relatively good quality bags are supposedly cheap in Vietnam. However, I don’t know much about bags or shopping so I can’t verify that.

Cho Ben Thanh

Cho Binh Tay

Our second day started with the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. The tour brought us to the complex underground tunnels. Some of the entrances and exits were so small that you have to be quite skinny to fit into them. There were also different sorts of hidden traps that look like they were from a horror movie.

Secret entrance to the tunnels

A rolling trap

After the Cu Chi Tunnels, we spent an hour at the War Remnants Museum (Bảo tàng chứng tích chiến tranh). The museum exhibits documentary photos during the Vietnam wars. It shows the sad consequences of the war: innocent civilians mutilated by chemical weapons and malnourished prisoners. A number of photos were quite grotesque; they tell the stirring stories of the victims.

War Remnants Museum

Our last destination for the day was at the Independence Palace (Di Tích Lịch Sử Dinh Độc Lập), which used to be South Vietnam’s presidential palace. Today, it’s a historical relic and a venue for government events. I find the basement the most interesting part of the palace. There, you can find the President’s war room, vintage telephones, radios and typewriters. 

Independence Palace / Reunification Palace

On our third day in Vietnam, we had a half day tour at Mekong Delta. Before reaching the green and muddy village of Mekong, we rode a motorized boat along the Mekong River. The village was quite tourist oriented. Tropical fruits and drinks were served, there was a Vietnamese lady singing in costume and local souvenirs. My favorite part at Mekong was riding a small boat at the river, manually paddled by women wearing nón lá hats, the Vietnamese conical hat.

Riding a boat at the Mekong River

The Vietnam war had made a poignant affect to the country. Vietnam was the first communist country I've been to. Ho Chi Minh may not have the amazing temples of Bangkok or the amazing beach of Boracay, but it is in a country where you can easily be a millionaire (1 Million VND≈  50 USD). 
 



29 March 2012 ETD 07:15 ETA 08:55
01 April 2012 ETD 15:30 ETA 19:10

Bataan and Corregidor: A Road through history

3 hours by bus from the bustling city of Manila, Philippines is the quiet province of Bataan. Together with some friends, we spent a weekend at historic sites brought upon by World War II.

Every 9^th of April, Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) is celebrated in the Philippines to commemorate the Fall of Bataan during the Second World War. Today, at the summit of Mount Samat, in the province of Bataan, is the Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor). Inside this historic memorial cross, a lift could bring up to the viewing deck, which offers a breathtaking view of the leafy surrounding mountains. 

Memorial Cross

At the Viewing deck

View from the top deck

30 minutes from Bataan, we travelled by boat to the island fortress of Corregidor, known as The Rock. It is also accessible from Manila by taking an hour-long boat ride.  This island is strategically situated at the entrance of Manila Bay and was used by the Allied Forces as a military bastion. Today, Corregidor’s big guns and ruins from World War II are a tourist sight.

Battery Hearn

Battery Way

We traversed the 835 feet long passage of the Malinta Tunnel, which showcased the laterals of the Fort Mills Hospital in this bomb-proof shelter.  In 1941, President Manuel L. Quezon and Vice President Sergio Osmena were inaugurated into their second term at the west entrance of the Malinta Tunnel.

Inside the Malinta Tunnel

Aside from the enormous guns and mortars in the batteries, the island tour also brings you to the ruins of the mile-long barracks; to the Pacific War Memorial, built to honor the Filipinos and Americans that participated in the war; to the ruins of Cine Corregidor, a theater built before the war; and to the Spanish lighthouse where the souvenir shop is also located.

Top-side Mile-Long Barracks

Cine Corregidor Ruins

Spanish Lighthouse

Bataan and Corregidor are destinations that brought us back to the World War II era, where we can see a part of Philippine’s history.

Central Europe in Photos

Photos from Central Europe: 

• Česká republika (Czech Republic)
• Slovensko (Slovakia)
• Magyarország (Hungary)
• Österreich (Austria)

Au revoir, Paris!

English Version

My last day in Europe was spent in Paris. I couldn't have imagined a more perfect way to end my trip.

Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile

I started my day by visiting the Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile, a monument dedicated to the French armies. Situated at the west of Champs- Élysées, the site is accessible by Metro, exiting at Charles de Gaulle- Étoile. The ticket to the top of the Arc de Triomphe is 6€ for a student. When I was there, the lift wasn't available. So, I had to climb the stairs… a climb of 284 steps to the top. The summit offers a panoramic view of Paris. Here, you could see the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and even Sacré Cœur.

I found myself promenading the Champs-Élysées and shopping along the way. Champs-Élysées Avenue is a famous avenue in the 8th district of Paris, with a lot of cafes and shops. After hours of shopping, I treated myself with some chocolate crepes nearby.

East side of Notre Dame de Paris

Then, I took the metro to Notre Dame de Paris. When I visited this cathedral on my first few days in Europe, I only saw the occidental facade of the cathedral. So, I went to see the other sides of the cathedral. I appreciated the flying buttresses and the Gothic architecture of Notre Dame.

Palais du Luxembourg

Walking further along St. Michel, I arrived at Jardin de Luxembourg. I rested a bit in one of the benches before I continued to explore the garden. The garden was created to accompany the Luxembourg Palace, which is the seat of the Senate.

At around 17h00, my camera’s battery was already empty. So, I returned to the hostel to charge. While charging my camera, I met some French Canadians at the hostel and we decided to see the Eiffel Tower during sunset. We spent a few hours at Palais de Chaillot, facing the Eiffel Tower and saw the Eiffel Tower sparkle in the night.

La Tour Eiffel s'illumine

Before midnight, we returned to the hostel and I saw Florent with his friend, Yoan. I didn't want to end my last night in Paris yet. So, with the two Parisians, I enjoyed the night walking around the area, drinking by the Seine river, and talking until morning. 

With all the shopping and all the chocolates that I bought, it took me 2 hours to pack and put all my stuff inside my backpack. Finally, I took the RER to Charles de Gaulle at that concludes my adventure in Europe.

Au revoir, Paris! Au revoir, Europe!

Au revoir Paris!

Read ENGLISH version.

Disclaimer: Mon français est terrible. S'il vous plaît excuser mon écriture.Aidez-moi avec mon français. Je me réjouis de corrections.

Mon dernier jour en Europe à été à Paris. Je n'aurais pas pu imaginer une manière plus parfaite de finir mon voyage.

Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile

J'ai commencé ma journée par visitant de l'Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile. C’est un monument pour des armées françaises. Situé à l’ouest de Champs-Élysées, le site est accessible par la Métro, à la station de Charles de Gaulle-Étoile. Le billet de monter l'Arc de Triomphe est 6€ pour une étudiante. Lorsque j’étais là, l’ascenseur n’été pas disponible. Donc, je devais monter de l'escalier... 284 marches au sommet. Le sommet donne une vue panoramique de Paris. Vous peux voir la Tour Eiffel, le Sacré Cœur, et le Louvre.

Je me suis promené le long des Champs-Élysées et je suis allé faire les courses. L’avenue des Champs-Élysées est une célèbre avenue dans le 8e arrondissement de Paris avec beaucoup des cafés et des magasins. Après passant des heures de shopping, Je me suis offert d'un crêpe au chocolat.

Façade Est de Notre Dame de Paris

Ensuite, J'ai pris le métro à Notre Dame de Paris. Lorsque j'ai visité cette cathédrale sur mes premiers jours en Europe, j'ai vu la façade occidentale de la cathédrale seulement. Donc, je suis allé voir la façade sud et la façade orientale de la cathédrale. J'ai apprécié les arcs-boutants et l'architecture Gothique de Notre Dame.

Palais du Luxembourg

Marcher plus loin sur le boulevard Saint-Michel, je suis arrivé à Jardin du Luxembourg. J'ai reposé pour un certain temps avant je continué explorer le jardin. Ce jardin était créé pour accompagner le Palais du Luxembourg, siège du Sénat.

Au peu près de 17h00, mon appareil photo n'a pas de batterie plus. Ainsi, je suis retourné à l'auberge à recharger. J'ai rencontré des Canadiens français à l’auberge et nous avions prévu voir la Tour Eiffel sur coucher du  soleil. Nous avons passé quelques heures au Palais de Chaillot, face à la Tour Eiffel. Nous avons vu la Tour Eiffel scintillent dans la nuit.

La Tour Eiffel s'illumine

Avant minuit, nous avons retourné à l'auberge et j'ai vu Florent avec son ami, Yoan. Je ne voulais pas le jour à la fin... Avec les deux Parisiens, j'ai marché autour de quartier et nous avons parlé jusqu'au matin. 

Avec tous du shopping et les chocolats que j'ai acheté, il m'a fallu deux heures pour emballer et mettre toutes mes affaires dans mon sac à dos. Alors, j'ai pris le RER à Charles de Gaulle et c'est là que se termine mon voyage en Europe.

Au revoir, Paris! Au revoir, Europe!

La route à Paris

I had two more days to go before I had to go home. I was planning on arriving in Paris on the eve of my 25^th day in Europe, spend a day in Versailles, another day in Paris and finally fly home on my 28^th day. But it didn’t exactly go as planned. Everything that could go wrong went wrong.

My (long) route to Paris

Day 25

It all started in Bruges… the buses were on strike. I was waiting at the bus station with some Argentineans who were also from my hostel and were going to the train station. After waiting for a while, we learned that the buses were on strike. So, we decided to take a cab. We learned that in Bruges, you can’t just hail a cab. You need to call for one, which would then arrive in about 20 minutes. Since it was still faster than walking all the way to the train station with our bags, we shared a cab together and I managed to get on a train to Brussels right away. There’s a Thalys train that goes straight to Paris from Brussels but since the train costs about 100€, I was willing to take a longer route to Paris.  My route included taking the intercity train from Brussels to Luxembourg. Then take the TGV from Luxembourg to Paris.  Ozi, a friend I’ve met a few weeks earlier warned me that going to Paris from Luxembourg might be tricky. I should’ve listened to him.

Gare du Midi, Bruxelles

From Brussels, the intercity train to Luxembourg was 15 minutes late. It was also confusing because the platforms kept on changing and all the announcements were in French. But I did get on the right train. There was, however, a problem with the train. The train was running very slow and it kept on stopping in the middle of the track. Eventually, everyone on board was asked to leave the train in one of the stations and get onboard another train. By the time I arrived in Luxembourg, it was two hours later than the estimated time of arrival. There were no more trains to Paris and the ticket office was already closed.

Fortunately, I did listen a bit to Ozi. I had earlier told him about my concern of not being able to catch a train to Paris from Luxembourg. He connected me to his best friend who lives in Luxembourg, Gafur. Gafur and Sky were already waiting (for a long time—sorry!) at the station when I arrived.

Day 26

Palais Municipal in Place d'Armes, Luxembourg

The next day, Sky dropped me off at Gare de Luxembourg.  But when I tried to reserve a seat for the TGV to Paris, there were no more seats available. I had two options: I could pay a 96€ non-Eurail ticket or take a series of regional trains. Of course, I wanted to take the regional trains (€0), which would include changing trains in Metz and Bar le Duc. But I was quite reluctant because the regional train was leaving 17:30. Having experienced such delay yesterday, I knew that if there was another delay, there were no more following trains. Determined to find other options, I went to the tourist information at the city centre to check if there were buses to Paris…. Nope! No buses. Worse, there was nothing I could do in Luxembourg while waiting for my 17:30 train out of Luxembourg. Don’t get me wrong, Luxembourg is a beautiful and green city. It looks like a nice place to live in but as a tourist, there wasn’t much to see other than banks.  

So, I went back to the gare and stared at the electronic board for a long time. Although the ticket office said that the train to Metz was 17:30, I found an earlier regional train and decided to just hop on that train. And I was just right to do so because when I arrived in Metz, I found Gare de Metz a bit confusing (it was big). I may not have been able to get onto the next train on time if I took the 17:30 train, which would only give me a few minutes to hop on and off the next train. A lot of trains were running late, too, including my train from Metz to Bar le Duc. In Bar Le Duc, I only had 5 minutes to jump onto the train heading towards Paris Est. But luck was finally on my side and I found myself on the way to Paris. Sitting on what was my last Eurail ride, I couldn’t help but laugh at the close encounter I had. Yes, I could’ve spent that day in Versailles. But experiences like these are one of those that are fun to tell.

My last train ride ended at Gare de l'Est, Paris

It was almost 10:00 when I finally arrived at Gare de l’Est, Paris.  It was already late when I checked in at the same hostel I stayed on my first day (AIJ – Paris). But I wasn’t ready to hit the sack just yet. I was determined to find some food (there was hardly any restaurant open at that time) when I met a local, Florent, near the hostel. I ended my day devouring a McBaguette (I know I shouldn’t be eating McDonald’s but it was the only place that was still open!) and drinking beer by the river Seine.

36 trains in one month… my trip around Europe was also railing experience. My well-planned first two weeks in Europe was fruitful and I was able to make the most out of my time. My spontaneous last two weeks was a tremendous Eurail experience, and getting lost or getting stuck along the way completed my unforgettable journey around Europe.

Tomorrow, my last day awaits me.  Bonne nuit, Paris!

Goedendag Brugge!

I've heard a lot of praises about Bruges, so I had high expectations coming to the city. All the cities that made an impression to me were cities that I did not expect to like so much.  Bruges was the city that I entered with high expectations and still, it exceeded my expectations.

Day 24

Picturesque houses in Bruges

After waking up late in Amsterdam, I contemplated on which Belgian city I wanted to go to… Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels or Ghent. I was thinking of stopping by Brussels then spending the night in Bruges. But since all I wanted to see in Brussels was the Manneken Pis statue, I decided to just go directly to Bruges. As I rode the bus to my hostel, I couldn’t believe my eyes... The red-brick houses with crow-stepped gables and the medieval buildings were so photographic.  It was incredibly cute, it hardly seems real.

Lovely canal with
Church of Our Lady

I stayed at St.Christopher’s Inn at the Bauhaus. The hostel was very youthful; the walls were plastered with postcard-filled wallpaper and finding my room was like going through a maze. The hostel was cheap and since I like Bruges, I was thinking of spending another night but the shower was too cold that my toe nails turned blue.

After I settled in at the hostel, I decided to have my dinner first before exploring the city. I had a 3-beer sampler (free with the meal) at the hostel’s restaurant Sacre Coeur. Belgium is known to brew really good beers and I was happy with my 3-beer sampler.

After a huge dinner, I strolled around the cobbled streets of Bruges.  Known as the Venice of the North (although Amsterdam is also considered as Venice of the North), there are a number of canals around the city. As much as I would like to use another adjective, the best way to describe Bruges is romantic. The buildings and houses were medieval, the canals were picturesque and the streets were quiet.

The Belfry of Bruges

Bruges is very small, it easy to just walk around. Hardly consulting a map or my GPS navigator, I passed by the 83-meter high Belfry. This 13th century bell tower is a famous landmark of the city and now leans over 1.5 meters. I also stumbled upon the Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk (Church of our Lady). Standing 122.3 meters, this tall church houses Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child sculpture.

Even without a tour or entering one of the medieval structures in Bruges, I was very much contented with my night in Bruges.

Day 25

Sint Janshuismolen

I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to climb the Belfry, visit the chocolate museum or see some of the wind mills. I decided to visit two of the four windmills nearby, the Sint Janshuismolen and the Bonne Chiere windmills. Then I re-visited everything I passed by the night before, while having some chocolate waffles. Belgium is known for their chocolates and Bruges has the best chocolates in Belgium. Being a chocolate lover, I went chocolate hunting and bought a lot of chocolates. Imagine how I managed to stuff all the chocolates in my backpack.

Vlaamse frieten!

Then, on my way out of Bruges early in the afternoon, I made it a point to grab some Flemish fries before my long road to Paris.

Ending the night in Amsterdam

An airplane, a ferry and lot of trains… More than 1500 Kilometers travelled... From 7AM to 9PM, I travelled from Helsinki to Amsterdam by air, water and rail. 

Day 23

I took the 7AM flight from Helsinki to Copenhagen by Norwegian Air. It was the cheapest flight available (64€).  I considered spending the day at Copenhagen and then taking the night train to Amsterdam. I would have made the most out of my time and it was the most sensible thing to do. But I was so sleepy that when I arrived in Copenhagen, I just wanted to jump on a train and sleep (Lesson learned: sleep well!). I must’ve been quite lethargic that I got lost at the Copenhagen airport, trying to find the train to the central station. I went through immigration by accident. 

Eurailing from Copenhagen to Amsterdam

From Copenhagen, I took a long train ride to Amsterdam... snoozing most of the day. By the time I was in Amsterdam, I was sluggish but wide awake. I got off at Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA station around 10PM, where my hostel, Hostelle, was located nearby. The hostel was quite far from the city center (15 minutes by metro) and I found it a little bit scary at first, but the hostel itself was nice. And cheap (19€). It was clean and all-female. I met two South Americans—Emma and Melissa—who were students in Germany. We were all tired but we also wanted to experience the red light district and go to a coffee shop.

A night in Amsterdam

We left the hostel around 12 midnight and waited for almost an hour for the right bus that would take us to the red light district. Night buses don’t come as often as day buses. With the night bus having a lot of stops along the way (20+ stops), it took about half an hour before we arrived at the Red Light District. Despite the long wait, Melissa and Emma were a nice company.  Chatting with them had been enjoyable. When we finally arrived at the Red Lights, a lot—if not all—the bars were closed, except for one. All the coffee shops were closed, too (I think they all close before midnight). But we were able to observe a lot of er... women at the red light district and got to drink a beer at a bar. 

The night bus to our Hostelle had almost 40 stops that  the sun had started to rise when we finally nestled back to our own beds in Hostelle. Spending the day in Copenhagen would have been a more practical (I could have done more than just sleep on the train during the day) but I was glad to have experienced this night in Amsterdam. Less than 24 hours ago, I was saying moi moi in Suomi. And now, I was saying goedenacht in Amsterdam.

Tere Tallinn!

Exploring the medieval old town of Tallinn

I had never heard of Tallinn before. My uncle suggested that I visit this city for a day trip and he bought me a round trip ticket to Tallinn, Estonia (Thanks Tito!).

Day 22

I took the Tallink Silja Line’s Superstar ferry, a two hour ride from Helsinki to Tallinn.  There weren’t any seat reservations in the ferry. Most passengers were at the café, some were sitting in a corner and there were even a few who got drunk and were lying on the floor. Since I was still sleepy, I opted to buy a coffee and stay at one of the tables.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

When I arrived at the port, I didn’t know where exactly to go. Did I need to take a bus? A tram? I found a liquor store near the port and I went there and asked how to get to the old town. The cashier told me that it was just a quick walk—I just needed to go straight until the buildings look old.

With the GPS installed in my smart phone, I headed towards Toompea Hill, which I marked from my Google maps the night before. I was quite doubtful if Toompea Hill was located accurately in my map (it wasn’t!) but I knew that the Aleksander Nevski Katedraal was nearby. I wasn’t sure where I was going, but after 30 minutes to an hour, I found the Aleksander Nevski Katedraal, a Russian Orthodox Church. I really wanted to visit this Church because it’s very different compared to the other cathedrals I’ve been to for the past three weeks. I was particularly fond of its onion-dome, which I found very Russian.

Cobbled steps in the Medieval Old Town

There are several churches in the old town. Just a few steps away from the cathedral, is the Toomkirik (Dome Church /Cathedral of St. Mary the Virgin). It is the oldest church in Tallinn and used to be a Roman Catholic church. Today, it’s an Evangelical Lutheran church. I also passed by Niguliste Kirik (St. Nicholas Church) or what is now Niguliste Museum. Today, this old church is used an art museum and a concert hall.

The night before, my uncle checked the weather forecast and the chances of rain in Tallinn was 100%. Nevertheless, rain has never stopped me from going anywhere. So, I just prepared an umbrella. When I finally arrived in Tallinn—the weather was good. It wasn’t sunny and it wasn’t raining either. The weather was just perfect for strolling around the cobbled streets with medieval houses and alleys. After walking some more, I found myself in Raekoja Plats, a square in the middle of the city with a lot of cafes and restaurants.

The Great Coastal Gate and
the Fat Margaret tower 

As I sauntered along Pikk Tänav  I passed by another church, Oleviste Kirik (St. Olav’s Church). This Baptist church had once been the tallest building in the world. It has a very tall steeple which had been hit by lighting several times. Then, continuing until the end of Pikk Street, I reached the Suur Rannavärav (Great Coastal Gate) and the Paks Margareeta (Fat Margaret tower). The gate here is one of the remaining gates of the old medieval town of Tallinn and the tower now houses the Estonian Maritime Museum.

View of Tallinn from ferry

Tallinn is incredibly fascinating and probably one of my favorites. I did not expect to like Tallinn so much. Just walking around the medieval old town seems to bring you to another century. At 5PM, Tallink Silja’s Star ferry took me back to Helsinki and with a scenic view of the city, I bid Tallinn Nägemist.