In Vietnam, i used this:
This is a guide on how to change your DNS so it will go around the Facebook blocking.
This should work for other countries that block Facebook as well.
0
Some countries will block facebook through the Internet Service Provides.
Ok, if you haven't meet up with someone at a coffee shop who can't speak one word of English, and you can't speak 1 one word of her/his language, then you gotta try it.
In my case, I did it here in Vietnam, and boy was it a Challenge!!
I only lasted 20mins before she went home due to Boredom, ha!
Also, I caught up with Korbin, the American Traveler, and decided that we both go and visit the Tunnels! I heard, you can fire a mounted AK47, and shoot it for FUN!
I Reckon i will get a bruised shoulder, and definitely this is in my to do list.
I changed hotel, now Im staying at the Asian Ruby 2, which is a high end 2 star hotel cost about $35 AUD for the deluxe room a night, and its brand new, very clean.
Anyway, i went out and looked around, found a place called, PHU 2000, apparently the Bill Clinton ate there in 2000. They have photos and everything.
Meet a traveling american called Korbin. He said, he's been traveling around Thailand, and Vietnam is his last stop. We swapped number and decided to meet up for some bar hopping the next night, so stay tuned!
That night, i went out to checkout the salsa scene, had some fantastic dancers. Meet and American/Viet called Liz, she apparently a movie producer, she said she is doing a film about hip hop in Vietnam. Im like, cool, got her number, i will try to catch up with her again, maybe get on the set! haha.
More later i promise!
I want to share some ideas about spending money in Saigon.
Basically, Saigon can be expensive, just as expensive as Australia if you don't know what you're doing. For example, getting a haircut plus color can cost you $50 AUD or eating at place that looks cleanish, can cost you $10 per meal.
I don't believe local people will pay that much, only tourists.
Anyway, so put things in perspective, go to the nearest SUPERMARKET, and checkout the prices.
for example:
Bottle of water cost: 50c AUD
Shaving blade with refills: 2 AUD
Taxi ride from 1 end to another end: 4 AUD
Anyway, i need more information, but in conclusion, SAIGON is expensive, don't think its not. But you can save money if you know where to find the good deals.
Also, as a tourist, people expect to to be TIPPED, they expect something like 100k VND per person (6 AUD). This applies service and food in the city. So expect it.
As soon as i left my hotel, i was approach by many, many viet guys on motorbikes (Bikermen), offering to take me to massage, women, drinks... etc especially, if you are walking by yourself. Some of them don't even have bikes.
You can make your own judgments, but here is how it works (I think):
They try to make friends with you, and offer ride to where ever you want to go around the city. They get commission for taking you to a place for you to spend money. They can take you around the city whole day, and even wait for you. But at the end of the day, they ask you for $50 US for the day, regardless of what you have negotiated in the beginning.
My view is that, they are essentially ripping you off before you are a foreigner. I wouldn't do any deals with them, because their sole purpose is to get as much money from you as possible. They can succeed because they are good at making you trust them.
They only deal i will do with them are short trips, for example: Get from A to B for 30 VND (2 AUD), take it or leave it. But then again, it takes effort for you because they will try to sell you more things etc.
I rather take a Legitimate taxi with a meter. less questions, less hassle.
In my case, i did hire one of these guys for a day because i negotiated with him 200k (14 AUD) for the day. But, of course, at the end of the day, he wanted more, and i said PISS OFF (in the nicest possible way), trust me, its not worth the emotional effort.
After I finally arrived in Ho Chi Minh City (from delays in getting stuck in Darwin for a 24 hours), I find myself overwhelmed.
I'm staying at a Hotel in District one (The tourist area) called Thang Long Hotel. My room is a little small, but everything else is good, for example the FREE Wireless Internet. It only cost my $21 a night through www.agoda.com
From the airport, i was told by numerous travel blogs that the Taxes can rip you off, well, its not so bad.
Negotiate a price first. In my case, I approached an taxi agent inside the airport (The are middlemen), they Quote me 190k VND, I said 150k VND, they said OK.
So yeah, agent will try to rip you off. Luckly, i asked the Currency Exchange person on the Taxi price to disctrict 1 before i approached the Taxi Agent.
Then the agent took me to a VINASUN taxi (Said to be the Most reputable), i was on my way. Note that, there is a airport tax for the TAXIs in which you have to pay, make sure you ask them about this charge before you make the deal with the agent.
I didn't pay the taxi, so be firm about it and say that is NOT PART of the DEAL.
It was Monday 31 of may, and i just arrived in Darwin from Melbourne, I'm in transit, about to get my boarding pass to my Jetstar flight to Vietnam.
When I handed my passport to the check in counter, the Jetstar girl looked at me funny and said, "is this the only Vietnam visa you have?"
I looked very surprised and said yes, but asked why?
"Well, your VISA is from 1 June to 1st of July, today is 31st of May, I can't let you board the flight to Vietnam..."
In my mind, i was like Ohh... F*(&#!
"...oh really... what are my options??"
"well, you can change your flight until tomorrow, same time?"
Great, so here i am stuck in Darwin for like 24 hours at the airport! what the hell am i suppose to do? sleep in the terminal chairs??
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
