Visa ... not the credit card

I have my Vietnam visa in hand today. That's it for now.

Thank God it doesn't snow in Vietnam!

After the day we've had today, I can't wait to be on my trip. Awful weather, snow (a lot) and then freezing rain. My car was covered in 2cm ice that I had to scrap off. Bad bad day, with my cold to add on insult to injury. Anyhow, it's a good thing that I rarely have days like today that I prefer to erase. Next please!

Thinking outloud

Is it possible that 85% of my time awake is spent thinking about my future trip? If it is, I surely am. I could even say it's closer to the 90% mark in my case. My departure date is in a bit more than one month and I am psyched about it. I've bought my hiking shoes for 49$ at MEC. I real steal. Today, I even integrated my new shoes and backpack in my training. I brought my backpack full to the gym and hopped on the step with it and my new shoes. Honestly, I was a bit embarassed at first because of the people at the gym but then I digged up some courage to enter with my head held high. I soooooo don't want to arrive on my trek with discomforts or injuries for the simple reason that I haven't used my equipment beforehand. I think I'll do the treadmill tomorrow with my backpack. I know, I know, it's much better doing the real deal outside but in this start of December the weather isn't really engaging plus it's slippery and my shoes are not winter boots. If you read my blog, post a little message once in a while, it's nice to have feedback or just a little "hi" once in a while. I know it's not the most exciting reading about my preparations but hopefully I'll have many tales to tell when I'm actually on my trip.

Shopping? Me? Oh well, what the hell might as well!

OK, I've bought a few items I didn't have for my trip. First, I bought a backpack which I had thought of buying in Vietnam but decided otherwise since I found one at 40$ here at La Cordée. I'm happy with my purchase. It's a 35L with rigid back and padding and at least the front-upper strap is adjustable therefore it's woman-friendly (read: doesn't go straight across the boobs). I also bought mosquito repellent which I didn't have because I rarely use some here even though we do have mosquitos and black flies but at least ours don't carry diseases. My next purchase; hiking shoes. I've done some hiking before but believe it or not.... I've never had hiking boots or hiking shoes. I've used my running shoes or my winter boots depending on the season. It's never too late. First of all I want light weight. Then I wanted shoes instead of boots because honestly I don't really like ankle high boots and I've never had problems with my ankles so I'll take a chance without the extra support. Thirdly, but not the least, I wanted them a bit fashionable because I am packing light therefore I'll use them for the rest of my trip, not only for hiking Mount Fansipan. Now, I just have to buy them and use them to feel comfortable before my trip.

V for Vaccinations & Visas

It's been quite a while I haven't written on my blog. Not to worry, while I'm on my trip I'll be giving more updates but to be honest these weeks I don't have much to say about my trip planning because I'm trying to do the opposite. Which is contrary to my usual method of planning, or should I say over-planning. It's hard to recondition oneself. :-) Still, I had to keep you posted on my V-day which was today. So today, I had my vaccinations and I sent my visa request for Vietnam. Nothing too complicated for the visa. I thought there would be a long questionnaire but basically it's one page with simple questions. As for my Cambodian visa I'll get it when I'm in Vietnam.

The date of January 15th is approaching. Less than 60 days before I leave. Although, my work, my activities and the holidays will keep me busy before I leave. I hope this trip will bring me everything I wish for. I dream of seeing the rice paddies around Sapa and the summit of Mount Fansipan which will be my highest peak ever. The spectacular scenery of Halong Bay, the visits in the streets of the Hanoi old quarter, tailor made clothes in Hoi-An, the Emperial City in Hue, these are all things I'm hoping to see and learn from. These are only part of the scenes and experiences I'm hoping to take it all in and bring back as my best souvenir... MEMORIES!! Have I said it before that I'm already travelling in my head even if I haven't left Canada yet! My bank account suffers but it's all worth it in the end. Choices to make, things to live, it's not even a choice it's almost a necessity.

Vietnam visa

Since my last blog entery I have been informed that I need a visa to enter Vietnam and Cambodia. Which I was quite certain I needed anyhow but it was confirmed. The Vietnam visa I'll get here in Canada before leaving but the Cambodia visa I can get in Vietnam for 20$ USD. I haven't yet decided if I'll cross the Vietnam-Cambodia border by land or by plane. For the Cambodia-Thailand border I most probably will be flying over.

Also, since my last entery, I've had a bit of input and also read my lonely planet book and I might change my destinations. Instead of Nha Trang, I might opt for a less touristy Quy Nhon. I'll also try to fit in Dalat and maybe have less time in Hue and HCMC. If I can figure out when the Tet Holidays are I'll try to keep it low profile in Quy Nhon during this time because I don't want to be in a big city during the Tet Holidays. For those who (like me) don't know what Tet is, I'll try to explain as best I can. It's the new lunar year which is usually at end of January and start of February. That's basically the Chinese New Year from what I've understood. I don't know exactly which dates but believe me I'll try to find out before I leave. Not that I don't like celebrations but the accomodations might be harder to find during that time. I realize that the more my trip is approaching, the less I want to spend time in big cities. Maybe because my job is wacko these days but it probably will slow down before my trip so I might be more willing to spend more time in the crowds.

I thought putting up a Halloween picture would be nice because Halloween is fast approaching. Here is my costume from 2 years back. A friend did my make-up and even my family didn't recognize me.... until I talked.

It's now official, I've bought the plane tickets for Vietnam. So I'm leaving Montreal on January 15th to Hanoi and the returning date is February 9th back from Bangkok to Montreal. I'm really happy this is done. Now I still have other preparations to do... actually last message I said 4 months to go but it's more like 3 months now. First thing off is my visas to enter Vietnam and Cambodia. As for Thailand I'm not too sure if I need a visa. I'll check into that next week or the week after since it's a holiday monday. I'm also thinking of getting vaccines for hepatitis A and B.

I'll book the hotel for the first 2-3 days in Hanoi. I checked out a few places and the Old Quarter seems the place to be and the hotel I'm checking out is Little Hanoi Hotel. I'm also thinking I might have a hard time to find accomodation during the Tet holidays as it's quite a holiday for the Vietnamese. I'm not too sure which dates but I think it's end of January and it last 2 weeks or so. There's always couchsurfing.com and lonelyplanet.com forums to help me out with these questions.

I also have a co-workers friend who's attending a wedding at end of December. Unfortunately, we'll miss each other there because she's leaving before I arrive but she's willing to help me out if I have any questions. She's never been to Vietnam but since she's attending a wedding I'm sure she has some local info that I might not have. Although, I'm still up for the idea of couch surfing shile in HCMC and maybe even Hoi An and Hue. I'll see to that this week as well.

I'm already travelling in my head even if I haven't left Montreal. Yahoo!!!! Although, I should appreciate what I have at the moment since it's beautiful Automn right now with the leaves changing colours it's beautiful. On Monday and Tuesday I plan to head out to the Adirondacks for some hiking. The beautiful colours are calling me and it can also serve as practice for my trek on Mount Fansipan in Vietnam.

Testing blog, testing 1 2 1 2

I must test my blog before I leave. In 4 months but yet again, it's better to take a bit of advance rather than procrastinating. I realized that my digital camera is not working so there's another thing I'm glad I tested before leaving.

About my trip, I plan to leave from Montreal on January 15th 2009 going to Hanoi. From Hanoi I want to see Halong Bay, then head off to Mount Fansipan. Trek the mountain that borders Vietnam and China at over 3000 meters so I'm thinking a 3 day trek and the rest see the hill tribe villages around Sapa and on the way to the mountain. That's what is "planned" for northern Vietnam. Central Vietnam will be Hue and Hoi An for tailor made clothes. Then it's off to a few days on the beach in Nha Trang for whatever feels right.... maybe a little scuba diving, eating, relaxing, meeting new people. This is my vacation part of the trip so I plan on not planning. :-) After relaxing it's off the Ho Chi Minh City (capital of Vietnam) for some not-so-relaxing time. A city is a city so there's usually a lot of people and few space (read: crowded). Nothing official in HCMC other than meeting locals (couchsurfing probably) and the Cu Chi Tunnels just for the heck of it. After HCMC it's the end of Vietnam and I'm off to Siem Reap, Cambodia to see the glorious Ankgor Wat which I was told were not to be missed. Especially for the sunrise early in the morning. Towards the end of my trip I'll have to go to Bangkok, Thailand because my plane leaves on the February 9th 2009. In Bangkok I've been advised to see the Grand Palace, the Jim Thompson House, floating market and I also want to go to the weekend market since it's the end of my trip I don't mind a bit of shopping to full up my backpack.

I'm up for suggestions if anyone has some no-miss places to visit or to stay. I prefer budget accomodation but yet again I think south-east Asia is mostly inexpensive.

p.s. The picture is in Montreal but I thought an Asian inspired picture would be cool for my South-East Asia trip.