Flying past Da Nang beach.  I left Da Nang at 10:55 am, arrived at HCMC (Saigon) just after noon, and my flight to Phnom Penh left about 3 pm, I didn't have breakfast so I ate at the airport. Sandwich $2, beer $3. We arrived in Phnom Penh at 4pm, and I took a tuk-tuk to my hotel, about a 30-minute trip (would have been longer in a taxi). Taxi was $15, Tuk-tuk $10.

The traffic was pretty bad, It was almost 5 pm on a Friday and it seemed everyone was on the same road as us. But he got me to my hotel safely and received a 50% tip. 

My hotel was rooms above a bar (Western-themed, Lone Star Saloon, and Guesthouse), there were maybe 4 rooms, all quite large but dated, my room was of course on the highest floor. At $24 a night I expected better, but with the bar, and restaurant downstairs I knew I'd find my way home :) I had only planned to be in Phnom Penh for two nights, but decided to extend it and look around a bit, I found a hotel close to where I was for $13.50 a night and booked 2 more days, then booked 2 more after that. So basically I stayed 5 days, and 6 nights before heading this morning to Kampot.

I took a VIP Van for the 3-hour trip (about 95 miles) VIP meaning A/C and assigned seats, 8 passengers, and wifi, it wasn't a terrible trip, but about 10 or 15 miles before Kampot the road got really bad, potholes from hell, and then gravel, and dust, it was like traveling in dense fog, not to mention the occasional cow in the road. But for $8 what can you expect?

The hotel I booked was about a 10-minute walk from the bus station in Kampot, very laid back, popular with backpackers, cheap tap beer ($.75) and $11. a night. Very basic place, a fan, no A/C, no TV, and no hot water 😞 But clean, quiet,  and very happy staff, decent menu items, and a real sense of humor here. 

So here I am, in Cambodia, my visa is good for 30 days and I'm pretty sure I can go from here to Thailand fairly easily. I don't have to worry about getting a Visa to Thailand because you can come in Visa exempt for 30 days, then extend for another 30 days for about $60. My 30 day Visa to Cambodia was $35., and I did it online, sailed through immigration in 5 minutes! I'm going to start another photo Album for Cambodia, as soon as I do I'll post a link to it.  The Adventure continues! 

P.S. Da Nang is my new favorite place in the world. 

Almost time to head to Cambodia.

A little over 2 months of walking on these flipflops, I'll find a replacement pair in the big town of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Going to have one full day there before heading to the coast. Also will need to book a bus or van for the 4-hour trip. It's been a quiet week here in Da Nang, been raining (not hard, just showers) and in the low 70's mostly for the week.  I tried a couple of new restaurants, a Mexican  place (not bad), a place called American Burger, had a regular burger that was pretty good, and an Italian Resturant (a bit expensive) was a good simple pasta dish.  Tried a new dish at a close by Vietnamese place, pork chop with egg, sticky rice, and a small soup. $2.16, beer $.68 The plate ws empty when I left :)

And naturally spent a bit of time here; queue up the theme for the Cheers show.

Have to admit I'm going to miss Da Nang, met a lot of very cool people, and it has a homey feel to it. But the adventure must continue!  And I'm getting out of Dodge ahead of the TET holiday (Feb 5 -10th) when everyone goes home to be with family to celebrate the Lunar New Year, the most important Vietnamese holiday. The Bar I hang out at, the hotel I'm staying at, and most of the restaurants I frequent will be closed for those 5 days.  Didn't rain today, supposed to be nice tomorrow, so the plan is breakfast at my favorite Ban Mai place, get a haircut (from Kenny),  go to the beach for an hour or so (if the sun is out) check in online for my flights, pack my stuff,  then say my good bye's to the people at the bar tomorrow night, and get my butt to the airport on Friday morning about 9am for my 10:55 flight to Ho Chi Mihn City.  

Went to the bar tonight at 8pm, expected to leave about 10 pm,  as always, it turns into a party. Someone was having a birthday party upstairs, so I invited myself. Left at 12:30 am. Could have been later had I not applied self-control! All in all, it was a great night, and the bill including tip (20% +) was less than $12. 

It has come to my attention that it has been a while since my last blog (8 days), and some (Mom) might be worrying about my welfare. Truth is the weather is good, everything here is pretty cheap, and I'm relaxing and enjoying (picture above) the area, eating well, and am in no hurry. I spend a couple hours most evenings after dinner at an expat (foreigners that live here) bar not far from where I'm staying, usually spend less than $12, and am meeting interesting people from all parts of the world. Most have traveled and lived in countries other than their home country, and most have made here home for the value of life per $.  Here's a few of them.

My hotel ($8 per night) is very comfortable, nice bed, A/C, hot shower, good wifi, 

flat screen TV with lots of English language channels, CNN,BBC, Disney, Nat Geo, Discovery, Fox sports (soccer and tennis, no NFL :( ), Fox movies, and even one HBO channel. I think FX also. So it's easy to chill if the suns not out. I walk around a lot during the day just to see what's around the corner. The area of  Da Nang I'm in is like a small city, the big city is on the west side of the river, and I don't really have any interest in going there. Entrance to my little hotel below.

I've just applied for a visa to Cambodia (was accepted) and have booked my flights, no direct flights from Da Nang to Phnom Penh. Also, have my first four nights booked. I leave Jan 25th in the morning and arrive in Phnom Penh in the afternoon.  So the adventure continues!  I've really enjoyed this part of Da Nang, just wish there was a 7-11, and more ATM's closer, the one closest to me (5-minute walk) dispenses a maximum of 2 million dong ($86) found one that dispenses 3 million ($129.) but it's 20-minute walk, and the fee is the same for both amounts! 

Probably ate western food, either that or passed out drunk!
Feeling very comfortable here in Da Nang, losing track of time a little bit. Check out for my hotel is coming up in a couple of days so this morning (11am) on my way to eat at my favorite Ban Mai (sandwich) cafe, (bacon, egg, and veggies. Black iced coffee for $2.55.)

I  asked Ann (my favorite receptionist) if I could extend my stay for another 7 nights.   She was able to get me 5 nights here, and 2 nights at their other hotel across the street. $57 for the 7 nights. She said if I wanted to stay longer to let her know.

I know the area (from walking in all directions), but am constantly learning more from the Expats living here. And am meeting people from everywhere (expats and tourists). Went to a Mexican restaurant last night that is owned and operated by a Swedish guy, had a huge and awesome burrito. and met a Russian girl, a guy living here from Kentucky. A youngster (22) tourist from Newport Beach Ca. And 3 gents from Northern England. Yeah, I'm not being shy!

The owner behind the bar, Russian girl in the forefront, Kentucky and Newport Beach guys behind her.  If I were to say I'm enjoying myself I would be grossly understating myself :)

It was a beautiful day, so after the cafe, I walked to the ATM, about a 1/2 mile, then walked down the beach on the way back to my hotel and stopped at the Beach bar that I had my first beer in Da Nang at.

On my way back to my hotel,  not even a block away I see this sign.

That's S17.25 per night for a room, $400 per month for an apartment in a brand new building  (they were carrying out the cardboard boxes for their flat screen TV's as I was standing there. I should go and ask to see the apartment just to see what I could get for $400 a month (I've seen places close to here for less than $300 a month).

I know you can't comment on my blog unless you have a blogger account, but definitely comment on my facebook page, I really enjoy hearing from you!  

I wasn't really planning this trip to Asia to do travel blog and see all the tourist stuff, I really don't have a great interest in Temples, tourist beaches, and the typical must see things. I'm here for sun, warm, cheap food, accommodations, & beer. Throw in a beach and I'm in heaven. Da Nang is the closest to that goal in Vietnam so far! 

Coming back to Da Nang feels good even though it's overcast and drizzly, and cold!  68 the day I arrived, the same for Tuesday and Wednesday. warmed to 72 today but still brisk with the breeze off the ocean. Considered buying a light jacket, but luggage is already full, and I already gave away two pair of shorts that were a little tight on me. but did buy a towel for the beach (if the sun ever comes out).

I extended my stay at this little hotel for another week ($62). Went out this morning to a hair salon just around the corner, Kenny my hair cutter spoke English well, and gave me a very good haircut ($5.31 with tip), then I went for brunch at a roadside cafe a very short walk away and got a bacon, egg, and veggie Ban Mai sandwich, iced black coffee, and a Larue bia (beer) all of that including tip $4.31. Haircut and brunch for under $10, gotta love it! Kenny told me 5 years ago it was a pretty quiet neighborhood, now it's busy and he works long days. A 1/2 a block away there is a larger hotel being built, and within a 2 block radius of his shop are at least 6 hotels being built. Just going to get busier!

Met a 62-year-old guy from Anaheim, Ca. that has been in Da Nang for 6 years, he said he works 3 to 4 days a week teaching English online to Chinese kids. Was a geologist in the US. He said he doesn't need the income from the teaching, just enjoys doing it, and any money he makes is a bonus. 

I'm tossing around the idea of a trip to Cambodia after Vietnam, I've heard some good things about a town near the Southern border of Cambodia and Vietnam called Kampot. Need to do the research on Cambodia Visa, travel options, affordable accommodations, and more about the area. And after that, Thailand of course! Which reminds me that I also met a couple of young ladies (30 maybe) who both lived and worked in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Both as English teachers (The were American) One for 2 years, the other for 4 years. Both agreed that Vietnam was much cheaper for everything. 

Where I hang out for a couple hours in the evening in Da Nang. 

OK, so here's how my travel day went:
 I checked out of my hotel at 8am and was in a taxi at 8:15.  I wanted to be sure I was there with time to spare so I could have a coffee and something to eat. The taxi arrived at the airport a little after 8:30, they are supposed to open the counter for check in 2 hours before the flight. The flight was scheduled to depart at 10:55 and arrive in Ho Chi Minh City at noon. I had scheduled the departing flight to Da Nang for 1:45 to arrive at 3:10.
So after arriving at the Phu Quoc airport, I had about 20 minutes until I could check in and check my bag. Went and got a coffee and a muffin.  finished before 8:50, then walked the short distance (small airport) to the check-in counter while they were still checking in passengers for a Hanoi flight. 8:55 came and went, signs didn't change to HCMC until 9:15. stepped to the counter and got my seat assignment and checked my bag, good, I got an aisle seat row 11. You couldn't check in online for this airport, which is when you normally choose from the unselected seats available, but row11 aisle is good!
Like I said small airport, six gates I think. Still had plenty of time so I bought a beer before going through security and wandered around outside for a while. went through security about 10 with boarding supposed to begin at 10:35. We didn't board till 11:10, and left the ground at 11:30, I'm beginning to get nervous about the Da Nang flight. Luckily the pilot made up some time in the air (pedal to the medal I guess) and we exited the plane at 12:15 I was feeling better.
Unfortunately, the luggage didn't hit the belt till about 12:40, I'm starting to sweat again!  got to the check-in counter line in about 10 minutes (12:50), cleared check-in in 15 minutes (1:05), boarding pass says boarding at 1:25 so I feel better until I see the queue for security. All the zig-zag lines are full and the line to get in it is almost out the door. below is me in the line looking first left, then right.

Not looking good! By the time I arrived at the security checkpoint my plane should have been boarding, there are no bins to put your stuff in before it goes thru the x-ray machine, people are scrambling and trying to find bins to get through security and to their gate. I find a bin, throw all my stuff in it, and walk through whatever the contraption is to see if there is any metal on you. Well, I just so happen to have my ATM card in a tiny RFID blocking pouch on the inside of my shorts. The guard is wanding me to find the metal (the clip on the pouch). He is patting me down so I just figure I'll pull out the pouch and show him what he's looking for. He say's "put in machine". I'm holding up the line, there are no bins, and I just put it on the belt to go through the x-ray machine. I go back through the "scanner" and start collecting my stuff in the bins. Totally forgot about the ATM card in the pouch in my rush to get to the gate. Get to the gate and there is a line, but not boarding, I'm standing in line for 15 minutes before the sign changes from 1:45 departure to 2:45 departure. All that stress and a lost ATM card, and the flight is delayed an hour! I didn't even think about the ATM card until I got to the Hotel and started to organize my stuff, then I remembered exactly where I and the card parted. 

I think the moral of this story is don't travel during the holidays.