Vietnam Countryside, Abseiling Waterfalls, and A Giant Waterpark

Bus trips in Southeast Asia are typically pretty terrible, but Vietnam is definitely a step up from the rest of Asia.  To get from Saigon to Da Lat, I ended up taking a sleeper bus even though the bus ran during the daytime.  Sure my headrest was duct taped together and I saw like 8 cockroaches crawl out of the woodwork, but it was still, hands down, the nicest ground transportation of my journey thus far.  

Da Lat was a great escape from Saigon, which was just another big city to me.  There is a massive lake in the center of town surrounded by a walking path that is littered with flower gardens.  It looks especially cool at night with all the bright lights shimmering off the lake.  Da Lat was also the first outdoorsy place I traveled to in Vietnam, so I was more than happy to spend a few days checking things out.  For the first day, Kaitlin, who I had met on the Cu Chi Tunnels tour, and I went on a motorbike tour of the countryside.  We got to check out a flower farm, coffee plantation, silk factory, mushroom farm, crazy roadside construction, an elephant waterfall, a pagoda, tons of statues, and a local village amongst other things.  

"As if a big round apple presented itself to my hand;  A ripe golden apple, with a coolly-soft, velvety skin: - Thus did the world present itself unto me" - Thus Spake Zarathustra

Coffee Plantation

I think this is the millionth waterfall I've seen on this trip

In case you were wondering what my O face looks like...

Our guide did a pretty good job explaining each site to us, whether it be the waterfalls, plantations, or factories, which was a nice bonus as English can be questionable on tours.  Our lunch stop was pretty crazy, as he ordered ten different dishes to form a massive family style meal.  I felt pretty bad about how much leftover food was wasted, but I guess that's pretty normal for them as it's included as part of the tour.  All in all it was a seven hour day trip that took you to a dozen different places.  Each stop was a little rushed, but it wasn't like you really needed to stay at any of the places that long either.

The silk runs through these holes, which turns them into patterns of flowers and moons and dragons and whatever else you want adorned upon your fine silks.  Pretty fascinating actually.

The minority villagers farm a section of the countryside for a few years and then move locations to more fertile land

Morning, it's another pure grey morning.  Don't know what the day is holding, but I get upright and walk right in to the path of the lightning bolt.

There are so many things you see in Vietnam that make you wonder...am I still in Southeast Asia?

I'm watching the sun burning as the world is slowly turning, and I'm learning that in letting go, I'm learning how to live through a life I have to give

Our guide told me that the canyoning was awesome in Da Lat, so once I got back to our guest house I started researching and was told by a few other people that it was definitely worth doing, so I figured why not?  A guy from England and a girl from St. Louis also booked the day trip as well, so the three of us set out for an adventure.  We knew it was going to be amazing when no one understood anything our guide was explaining, which could have been considered essential since you're life depends on you properly hanging onto a piece of rope.

Before we even made it to our first abseiling spot we were told to slide down one of the waterfalls we passed.  I was expecting this slide to be smooth and comfy like the previous ones I'd done in Australia, but there was none of that as my lower spine and pelvis were battered and bruised.  After everyone went down they had us climb back up to the top for round two, during which they sent us down backwards.  Eventually we made it to our first descent. which was actually really easy;  You basically repelled straight down a dry rock shelf that led you straight into the river.

After doing a few more rock slides, we made our way to the second cliff, where we learned we were repelling down the center of a waterfall.  Everyone was a little nervous because the group in front of us was getting destroyed.  Each of them fell face first into the rocks almost immediately after taking their first few steps, with one guy looking so distraught I thought he might just let go of the ropes and take his chances falling into the chasm below.  When our group was finally up, the four Israeli people we were with went first, meaning we had to sit at the top of the waterfall and wait for what seemed like an eternity before our turns arrived.

I had the benefit of watching a bunch of people fail, so I had a plan and ended up getting down the waterfall pretty quickly.  Once you get to the end, you don't abseil directly into the water, instead you have to put your feet flat against the rock and jump off backwards while simultaneously letting go of the rope.  One of the girls was super lucky she didn't get hurt, as she rotated into a headfirst dive towards the rocks, but luckily somehow she avoided making contact with them.  After everyone made it down safely...or unsafely in a few instances, we ended up having a picnic on the rocks below the waterfall.

If only I was more bootylicious, I could have avoided so much pain.  Thanks for the bony butt stupid Asian genes

Check your pulse, it's proof that you're not listening to the call your life's been issuing you.  The rhythm of a line of idle days.  Scared of a world outside, you should go explore. Leave behind the great indoors!!!!

No canyoning trip would be complete without some cliff jumping, so we made our way to about a 10-12 meter cliff, where we could jump off various levels.  The girl that wanted to go first ended up getting really scared, so I climbed down to where she was and hopped off to show her it was safe.  I'm not really sure how safe it was though, as my feet hit the bottom of the pool, but at least it was soft and mushy.  The last guy to go ended up jumping from the very top, so when our guide told us we could go again, I knew I had to match him.  I will never be outdone by a Brit!  I once again hit the bottom of the pool when jumping from the top, so it's pretty clear they don't test how deep the waters are in determining whether or not it's safe.  if I would have hit a rock, I definitely would have broken something or ruptured my third testicle.

Our final waterfall was pretty awesome, because no one had any idea what the hell our guide was explaining.  We also couldn't see the people going before us, because of the incline of the rock shelf.  The general plan was to repel as far as we could, then start lowering ourselves using only the rope once the shelf inclined, before finally letting go once we were submerged.  This waterfall was called the "Washing Machine", so the only thing we were sure of was that we were about to get soaked.

Cliff Jumping!  "I tell you:  one must still have chaos in one to give birth to a dancing star.  I tell you:  ye still have chaos in you" - Thus Spake Zarathustra

I used to have muscles like Taylor Lautner, now I have muscles like Taylor Swift :(

My first shower of 2014!

If there's one thing I never thought of doing in life it was abseiling, let alone doing it down a waterfall.  It's kind of crazy how you journey throughout this world and constantly find new activities to do.  It's surreal sometimes.  Who would have thought a year ago I'd be canyoning in Vietnam or spending my nights sleeping in a glorified bookshelf?  Life is pretty cool sometimes.

Sometimes you get a dorm room, and sometimes that dorm room is a leopard-print cubby-hole.  My old work wife would approve...

It is with nothing that I have found everything - Thus Spake Seanalicious

Nha Trang was the next stop on my journey and upon arriving I was immediately ripped off by a guy on a moto.  He drove me in a giant circle to get to my destination, which was just around the other side of the block.  I knew I'd been ripped off as I'd obviously seen the exact same buildings from when I arrived, but I let it slide.  I figure if you have to cheat your way to a $2 profit, you probably need the money more than me.  It's pretty funny, old me would have been really pissed off, now I'm just like whatevs, it's all good.  #TheArtOfHappiness

The sole purpose of my trip to Nha Trang was to go to the Vinpearl water park, which Irish Tom had told me was a must-do activity on my way up the coast.  This was heavily reinforced by a British girl I met in Da Lat who told me it was the greatest place ever.  Nha Trang is really close to Da Lat, so I left at 730 in the morning and arrived at 11.  Thus I had the whole day to look around the city and go to Vinpearl.  Kaitlin arrived in Nha Trang the day before me, so we reunited and hit up the park together.

I felt like such a little kid in there, as I haven't been to a water park in years, let alone one of this scale.  The entire structure is built on an island and contains a normal amusement park, water park, an arcade with unlimited free games, a 4D movie theater, shopping mall, resort, private beaches, aquarium, dolphin show, and tons of other stuff.  The price of the ticket also included free cable car rides to and from the island.  It was such a fun place, I loved every second of it.

It's time to build from the bottom of the pit right of the top, don't hold back.  I'm packing my bags and giving the economy a rain check....

You have to grab the time before it slips away...

Watching a dolphin show on the edge of an island while the sun sets over the mainland in the distance...Sublime

The lift towers from the mainland to Vanpearl Island at night

Same photo, except I forgot to drop my shutter speed.  Long exposures are pretty groovy :)

If there's one thing I've learned from watching hours upon hours of How I Met Your Mother, it's that suits are the coin of the realm. Thus my next journey involved a trip to Hoi An, which is the suit capital of Southeast Asia.  Would I find a suit that would make me irresistible to the ladies?  Please, no suit is required for that...  But would I find a ridiculous suit that I can destroy along my remaining adventures at a price of $100 or less?  That my friends is a story for another blog.

Random GoPros

My version of luxury travel!

A Vietnamese construction barricade.... otherwise known as a piece of tape

Elephant Falls

Fat Buddha in Asia is kind of like Fat Elvis in Vegas, you can't always find him, but when you do it's nothing short of spectacular.

If only these were the good kind of mushrooms....

Third Eye Blind - Motorcycle Drive By

Refuse to feel anything at all.  Refuse to slip.  Refuse to fall.  You can't be weak and you can't stand still.  Watch your back, cus no one will....

Picnic Time!

If you look at how small the people are in this photo, it gives you an idea of how high the cliff was

Out of all the crazy shit I've done on this trip, I hurt myself on a children's water slide...Sounds about right.  Also, sometimes the GoPro plays optical illusions to make it look like I don't really have a 6 pack.  SHUT IT!!!!!!

Byron Bay and Surfers Paradise

For those of you who have read my South America blogs, you know how much I hate overnight buses, along with the fear and loathing they have instilled in my soul.  Greyhound, however, did not fail me.  The bus was only about ⅓ full, so everyone got a full row to themselves and the seats reclined deep for a comfortable night's sleep.  I got a solid five hours, which is really good for a bus, plus I woke up in time to catch the sunrise.  I also saw my first dead Kangaroo on the side of the road, a sight I’m sure I will grow accustomed to.  To be fair it was alive when I first saw it, but when it smelt the stench wafting from my armpits it's nostrils exploded, and it was probably glad to die than to ever smell that again.

It's not always the special attraction or famous spots that are worth seeing.  Sometimes something as simple as a sunrise can be the most impressive thing you'll see on any given day.

We arrived in Byron at 630 in the morning and I had no idea where my hostel was since I don’t plan ahead, however I got a little lucky as the bus drove past it on the way to the station and it was only about a half mile walk..good way to wake yourself up in the morning.  Nothing was open since it was so early, but I ventured to the hostel, hoping it had 24 hour reception, but alas it did not.  Since it didn't open until 9, I double backed to a spot I’d passed, Mac’s Milkbar & Cafe (Can anyone see the word, “Milkbar”, and not think A Clockwork Orange?). I was starving since I skipped out on dinner the night before; My malnourishment approaching 20 hours.  I got an egg and ham sandwich served on ciabatta with a coffee for $9.  It was incredible, plus they had fast wifi.  Since I needed to be there another hour at least, I also ended up getting a pineapple and coconut smoothie, it was insatiable.  

Upon being able to check into the hostel, I immediately headed for a shower.  The showers were pretty random, sometimes you would get scorching hot water, followed by cold water and other times you got a perfect shower.  It was also the first hostel that required a deposit to get kitchen dishes/utensils, but they provided free pancake breakfasts to make up for the hassle.  Upon eating my lunch I ended up meeting a few girls from Brasil who told me I could stay with them if I go to World Cup next year.  That’s what I’m talking about!  They also invited me out to a bar called Cheeky Monkeys to grab dinner and watch people dance on the tables.  To make things even better a smoke machine started running, stranding everyone in the midst of a mist of misbehavior. (I'm a little alliterate)  

I also finally got to go on some of the activities I had prepurchased in New Zealand.  My first destination was a hippie/stoner town called Nimbin, which is infamous for it’s marijuana cookies.  Apparently they separate the chemical that makes you high from the leaves and then turn it into butter, which then replaces the normal butter you would cook with.  Marijuana is illegal in Australia, but the cops don’t do anything to stop the distribution of weed in this town for some reason.  As the bus rolled up to the main street, everyone’s eyes were drawn to a kid that was running around/clucking like a chicken.  This image was only enhanced as a real chicken ran out from an alleyway and he started chasing it down...while still running like a chicken.   I was keen to have what he was taking.

I love that this little carving is falling apart

This psychic told me that I am the reincarnation of Enrique Iglesias

Everyone enjoys a good pun

Fashionating Fact: Buddha meditated on rainbows

Upon exiting the bus I was offered weed a dozen times in two blocks, but I was on the prowl for some of the legendary cookies.  It was 3 for 20 or 6 for 30 with the instructions that you only need half a cookie if you don’t smoke or a full cookie if you smoke regularly.  Let’s just say I Mary J. Abliged to buy a 3 pack, when I finally found some after eleven long seconds of searching...  I’ve only smoked a handful of times in my life (Congrats parents, you raised me right), so I started with half a cookie, but to be fair a full cookie is needed to get high.  Plus since you are eating it, you have no idea when it’s going to hit you, but eventually gravity surrenders as you get higher and higher and higher.

After chilling in town for a few hours, our bus took us out to a picnic area where we hiked through the woods to a dam while our driver barbecued some burgers and sausages.  I have to say I didn’t expect Australia to be so green, but there are forests and trees everywhere.  After lunch we stopped by a waterfall in the middle of the rain forest before heading back to Byron Bay.

Who knew Australia was so lush, I expected desert

This sign reminded me of all the minions that used to work for me..bwahahahaha

The driest, most pathetic waterfall ever

I was glad to get back as I had a big adventure of kayaking with dolphins the next morning!  I was pretty excited on two fronts as I had yet to kayak, let alone in the ocean, and hadn't seen any dolphins since I got unlucky on my New Zealand adventures.  Of course I arrived in my I Am Awesome t-shirt to the delight of the crew, but opted to go shirtless so I could get a better tan and test out my shirtless dolphin attraction theory.  Was I the only dude there not wearing a shirt...Absolutely I was.

I ended up getting paired up with a Canadian girl because she had never kayaked and you have to have someone that either knows what they’re doing or is in decent shape in the back of the kayak.  One kayak out of thirty tipped as we made our way out into the ocean...and yes, it was ours.  The Canadian girl tipped it and fell out, showing a lack of balance and coordination that rivaled my own, and nearly unraveled the months of work I have spent learning to love and accept Canadians.  Wishing I had eaten another cookie, I got back in the kayak and paddled onward.

I love this photo, with the light tearing through my face like i have one eye and my armpit hair looking magnificent!  This photo encompasses my desire for adventure

Once we got out into the open water, we were lucky to spot a few dolphins jumping out of the water, but that was only the appetizer for what was to come.  Now, I’m not going to say that me being shirtless lured all the ocean dwelling mammals to the surface, but the correlation is 100%.  We spotted roughly seven whales, with some coming within 20-30 meters of the kayaks, the closest a whale has ever come to a kayak in the history of the Universe. The funnest part of the trip, however, was the journey back to the shore, as a giant wave came up behind us and sent us racing towards the beach.  

Look at the crappy camera they used to take our photos...they need a gopro.  Can you spot me? :p

After a few more days of relaxation in Byron Bay I started to make my way up to a little place called Surfers Paradise.  As I got onto the bus, I noticed the guy in front of me looked like he was having the shaky shakes of heroin withdrawal.  The only time he wasn't curled up in a ball or puking in a plastic bag was when the bus stopped and he went outside to smoke.  I took this as a sign from the universe that I should not do any more drugs on my trip... unless they’re really cheap or I’m drunk or it’s after 8 AM.

My hostel was across the street from this!

Paradise indeed!

I was expecting Surfers to be another small town like Byron, but it was more similar to a suburb in the states with a few skyscrapers and a million shopping centers.  It also marked my reunion with Mikkel, who is going to school out there.  We met up for some burgers with his friend Morten at Surfers Sand Bar before hitting up a bar called Melbas that had $2.50 Coronas, until they became $7.50 two drinks later.  There was also a costume party going on there.  Number of bellybuttons seen: 87.  Number that didn’t belong to hairy dudes: 12.  Odds of staying there: 0.  

We also met up with some of his lady friends (good work Mikkel) at an Irish pub.  At some point in the night we also all hopped into a taxi van that took us to a dance club, where I learned the Danes do all sorts of dirty dancing bullshit that I can’t do.  But sober or drunk, I am excellent at making an ass of myself.   Eventually I realized it was 3:15 AM, I was quite pissed, and I had no idea where we were.  Ergo I said my goodbyes and went outside to find a bunch of people standing around.  A couple guys told me Surfers Paradise was a few miles toward the visible skyscrapers...and that I should definitely take a cab.  But here’s the deal, I can’t afford a $30 cab ride, so I drunkenly stumbled back to my hostel.  I also didn't allow myself to purchase McDonalds along the way, because that would have been $5-$8, and I’m not made of money.  Thus I arrived back at my hostel at 4:15.  How exactly it took me an hour to walk 2.5 to 3 miles I will never know, but I arrived alive.

Mikkel photo bomb

Someday my arm will be full of stamps

During my remaining days in Paradise, I met up with Mikkel one last time, worked on my tan, pretended to utilize the outdoor workout stations along the beach, and did some clothes shopping.  I found a Cotton On, which is basically like H&M.  Thus I got a slew of $5 t-shirts, so I didn’t have to do laundry for another week.  I have yet to do laundry in Australia and I only have 4 pairs of underwear...you do the math.  In my defense they are a special kind of travel underwear that you can wash in the sink and I go commando a lot.  

Iowhat up!

I accidentally took this when going to turn off my time lapse...but it's a pretty cool photo, especially with my right arm being 99% more tan than the rest of my body.

My next stop was Brisbane, which I was pretty excited about since it would be another big city to explore.  It also houses one of the Irish girls from my Stray trip, Christina.  But that my friends is a story for another blog.

Random GoPros

Nimbin Chalk Art

A Dam Good Photo

FOOOOOOOOD

Kayak Attack

When it comes to the seaman challenge of being bait for large sea mammals, I am the master.  I suppose you could say I am the master bait of seamen

Not bad weather for October...

Running along the beach at sunset

Who wouldn't want a pink stretch hummer?