Ton Cum, Central highlands, Vietnam (9th April)

Thursday 9th April - Ton Cum, Central Highlands Vietnam

I am sitting on another bus, a 12 hour overnighter - from the central highlands to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) only this time a bit plush which as yet I am unsure whether this is typical or atyical of Vietnam. Ton Cum is not the sort of place where there is a lot of toursit info and I had little choice but to rely on my guest house owner aka unoffical motorbike guide for the day whether this was a budget or upper class option. As always, I am forced to listen to the annoyingly loud and repetative strains of asian music (although thank goodness I can turn the speaker OFF above my head!!!), and there are absolutely no other westeners on here which suprises me in one way and yet not in another given my eperience of this region thus far. I have noticed in asia they are really anal about seat numbers. Half this bus is empty, including the back seat which I like to lie out on properly - I cant for the life of me sleep face up, even in a normal bed I sleep on my side or on my front. But no I had to sit in number 11! The guy practically dragged me there.

Today has been a good day. I was able to wake up to the internet, a novelty. Then I went out for the day with my guest house owner, a lovely 26 yr old Vietmanese man. We first went to the 'wooden church' which I had already heard about although I have little knowledge as to of its significance beyond its asthetic beauty. It was good for the soul to be inside a church which I am increasingly missing and I spent some time praying about stuff. Then we went around and about, just enjoying the scenery and a communcal meeting house which was a big thatched building on stilts where I reaslise there is actually a king called Ho Chi Minh! No he doenst live there, but a picture of him does!

Given last night was only the 2nd in about 7 weeks I had slept in a room by myself, I still didnt get a very good nights sleep! But at least I managed to catch up with uploading a whole bunch of photos on facebook and skpying my great uncle jack, granma, and mum. The signal was really good and goodness knows where it came from!

THe afternoon was geat because we drove right into the mountains, which are beauiful by the way, a cross between the french alps and the welsh brecon beacons - and scrambed up a waterfall. It is more pleasant trekking in milder climates than the jungle especially with the interesting addition of the bloomin leeches!
Itt has been an interrsting 2 days travelling as solo as you can get, with little or no interaction with any other westeners. Good preperstion for India I suppose. So I am now ready for the bustle that is Ho Chi Minh although I am not looking forward to arriving to the the notorious tuk tuk drivers at 5am! Gonna watch a movie now. Have to drown out the music somehow...

OK so now its 11pm we stopped for food just as I may possibly have started nodding off, and its just getting weirder. Nobody speaks english, the way they communicate to me is by necessity ie being shoved out of the way! This sounds crazy but I went to the loo, and there was none. Not even a hole in the ground. But there was a sink! - and the big bowl with water and a scoop in which one usually uses as a flush. So I could only assume you were meant to squat and pee on the floor. Sorry to be graphic, but really this is true travelling! I put two and two together, checked the other cublicle which only contained a blokes one, did the buisness and legged it.

I am not sure how I feel about the whole travelling solo thing. I mean this is a different level. This isnt coming abroad without knowing anyone and staying on the backpacker circuit where you really have no escuse to not spend every day and night with others if one so wishes. This is like, no choice, no option! I like it in one way, but occassionally I think yikes whos there to care if the bus goes without me and Im stuck in this god forsaken place without my rucksack?! But I think it'll just make me stronger and at the end of the day I stick out like a sore thumb (Mums point to me for the kids to look at like Im some circus attraction) how couldnt they miss me!

I am going to make more effort in this country to lean some of the language. I started earlier with my non offical guide. I was also helping him with his english. It reminded me a bit of Italy. But this is 3 weeks not 3 months. I'll be content with the absolute basics ie 'no thankyou, I'll walk!'

Oh, did I mention a kid has been sick in the seat in front and to the left of me. Nice. Lonely planet did warn me...

Money spent: 9 dollars bus, 9 dollars motorbike and guide, 1 dollar food, 1 dollar drinks.