From Van gia and onto Pleiku, Vietnam

Few days left for my visa, and it's not a good idea to be too faraway from the border.

I was looking for some town in Vietnam that's close to Laos (as I did not want to go back to Cambodia), and Pleiku and Kon Tum where what I found; From either towns, I can catch a bus going to Attapu in Laos; And Pleiku is just 50kms to Kontum, and there are regular buses too, so visiting both isn't a problem.

From Van Gia, I was being told by the locals that, to get to Pleiku, I will have to take a 100K Dong bus to Quy Nhon, and from there, take another 80K Dong bus to Pleiku. Looking at the map though, it seems it is actually better to just take the direct bus from Nah Trang.

From Van Gia, there was the public bus that go to Nah trang for only 25K. It took us only about an hour and a half to get there.

Then, upon reaching Nah Trang, the bus stoped at what seemed to be the same bus station i took on my way to Van Gia. The maps isn't telling me the same thing, but, from the look of the bus station, and the nearby establishments, it seemed it is. The bus has moved further, and haven't really confirmed to myself if it is the same bus station indeed. I got off at the next stop, and walked back... it was around 500m recourse.

As I enter the bus station, the situation doesn't exactly look like it is.. not as much bus and not as much people. It almost looked like a garage.

Then I walked to what I thought was a booking office. I asked if there is where I can book a ticket to Pleiku, and they said yes; I asked for the timing, and was told the bus arrives at 1pm; I asked what time it arrives in Pleiku, and was told it shall be around 7pm.

I haven't booked any accomodation yet as the least one available from either booking, hostelworld, and hostelbookers is more than $10, which is expensive and unnecessary. Since I am expecting to arrive at 7pm, i thought I will have enough time to look around.

I bought the ticket 10mins before 1pm, but the bus arrived only an hour after scheduled.  I was also expecting it to be at the level, or at least close to what I have taken from Ha tien to Ho Chi Minh; Surprisingly, it was a coaster, with smaller seats, and space for luggage.

Well, luckily, I did not really get the worst seat in the bus. There were passengers we picked up along the way who had to settle on the makeshift seats in the aisle. The only trouble with mine was that, I am at the far end, and I think the shocks of the bus were broken, so, every hump was a rocker.

7 pm came, and looking at the map, we were just midway thru. The road has also gone worse, and I by this time, I knew it won't be as easy to get a room.

It was already past 10pm when I arrived in Pleiku, starving, tired, sticky, and homeless.

While in the bus, I did a google search for guesthouses in Pleiku, and found a positively reviewed Bus Station guesthouse for (as posted) 50,000VND (which I'm expecting to be lower than interim since the article was written years ago); However, it did not seem like this is the same bus station where my bus will go, so had to get off past the roundabout between QL19 and AH17.

I walked into the receptions of every guesthouse I passed by along Nguyen Tat Thanh, but everyone is full occupancy. I walked further towards the direction of the Bus Station Guesthouse, which is central to a block, so I thought, it would most likely have a vacancy compared to these very accessible (highway side) acccomodations. Then again, I continued on asking every guesthouse I passed by. 

The streets are getting even more dark and quiet as I I enter the smaller street in the block for the Bus Station Guesthouse. I was telling myself its too remote.

I walked back into one (out of 7) guesthouses that I walked into, that had an available room; (though it costs 130,000VND which is about 80K VND more than what I was expecting from the Bus Station Guesthouse) I thought it will do for a night..

This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See link for more stories, detailed expenses and itinerary

Few days left for my visa, and it's not a good idea to be too faraway from the border.

I was looking for some town in Vietnam that's close to Laos (as I did not want to go back to Cambodia), and Pleiku and Kon Tum where what I found; From either towns, I can catch a bus going to Attapu in Laos; And Pleiku is just 50kms to Kontum, and there are regular buses too, so visiting both isn't a problem.

From Van Gia, I was being told by the locals that, to get to Pleiku, I will have to take a 100K Dong bus to Quy Nhon, and from there, take another 80K Dong bus to Pleiku. Looking at the map though, it seems it is actually better to just take the direct bus from Nah Trang.

From Van Gia, there was the public bus that go to Nah trang for only 25K. It took us only about an hour and a half to get there.

Then, upon reaching Nah Trang, the bus stoped at what seemed to be the same bus station i took on my way to Van Gia. The maps isn't telling me the same thing, but, from the look of the bus station, and the nearby establishments, it seemed it is. The bus has moved further, and haven't really confirmed to myself if it is the same bus station indeed. I got off at the next stop, and walked back... it was around 500m recourse.

As I enter the bus station, the situation doesn't exactly look like it is.. not as much bus and not as much people. It almost looked like a garage.

Then I walked to what I thought was a booking office. I asked if there is where I can book a ticket to Pleiku, and they said yes; I asked for the timing, and was told the bus arrives at 1pm; I asked what time it arrives in Pleiku, and was told it shall be around 7pm.

I haven't booked any accomodation yet as the least one available from either booking, hostelworld, and hostelbookers is more than $10, which is expensive and unnecessary. Since I am expecting to arrive at 7pm, i thought I will have enough time to look around.

I bought the ticket 10mins before 1pm, but the bus arrived only an hour after scheduled.  I was also expecting it to be at the level, or at least close to what I have taken from Ha tien to Ho Chi Minh; Surprisingly, it was a coaster, with smaller seats, and space for luggage.

Well, luckily, I did not really get the worst seat in the bus. There were passengers we picked up along the way who had to settle on the makeshift seats in the aisle. The only trouble with mine was that, I am at the far end, and I think the shocks of the bus were broken, so, every hump was a rocker.

7 pm came, and looking at the map, we were just midway thru. The road has also gone worse, and I by this time, I knew it won't be as easy to get a room.

It was already past 10pm when I arrived in Pleiku, starving, tired, sticky, and homeless.

While in the bus, I did a google search for guesthouses in Pleiku, and found a positively reviewed Bus Station guesthouse for (as posted) 50,000VND (which I'm expecting to be lower than interim since the article was written years ago); However, it did not seem like this is the same bus station where my bus will go, so had to get off past the roundabout between QL19 and AH17.

I walked into the receptions of every guesthouse I passed by along Nguyen Tat Thanh, but everyone is full occupancy. I walked further towards the direction of the Bus Station Guesthouse, which is central to a block, so I thought, it would most likely have a vacancy compared to these very accessible (highway side) acccomodations. Then again, I continued on asking every guesthouse I passed by. 

The streets are getting even more dark and quiet as I I enter the smaller street in the block for the Bus Station Guesthouse. I was telling myself its too remote.

I walked back into one (out of 7) guesthouses that I walked into, that had an available room; (though it costs 130,000VND which is about 80K VND more than what I was expecting from the Bus Station Guesthouse) I thought it will do for a night..

This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See link for more stories, detailed expenses and itinerary

Read More »

Where (NOT TO) Stay in Pleiku, Vietnam

Where (NOT TO) Stay in Pleiku, Vietnam

I was hopelessly looking an accomodation at 10pm, in a town that sleeps between 8 and 9pm in Vietnam; Its not the time to be too picky, especially when your limited by a budget.

The (friendly, and english fluent) receptionist hands me the key, offered the wifi password and free water, and asked me to wait in my room for the hot black coffee I ordered).

I was already negotiating the price for 2 nights since I thought the wifi and free water refill was good enough.

Then I walked into the room; Oopps.. there was no window, and the smell was just perfectly YUCKY! There was TV, bed was nice, and toilet was OK, but I could smell all horrific penetration that had happened in this room before.

I was already thinking of taking out my hammock and sleeping in the floor instead.

I took out my Armani perfume and sprayed every corner and item in the room. Yet, it couldn't neutralize it.

I turned on the shower to the hottest temperature, and let the steam flow into the room (It helped a bit).

Then, Luckily, the thick blanket was smelling OK. I wrapped it to the bed, and somehow I got away with the filthy bed; Otherwise, I would have not touched that bed at all.

Next day, I woke up early to look for another guesthouse, though I ended up doing couchsurfing.


This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See link for more stories, detailed expenses and itinerary

Where (NOT TO) Stay in Pleiku, Vietnam

I was hopelessly looking an accomodation at 10pm, in a town that sleeps between 8 and 9pm in Vietnam; Its not the time to be too picky, especially when your limited by a budget.

The (friendly, and english fluent) receptionist hands me the key, offered the wifi password and free water, and asked me to wait in my room for the hot black coffee I ordered).

I was already negotiating the price for 2 nights since I thought the wifi and free water refill was good enough.

Then I walked into the room; Oopps.. there was no window, and the smell was just perfectly YUCKY! There was TV, bed was nice, and toilet was OK, but I could smell all horrific penetration that had happened in this room before.

I was already thinking of taking out my hammock and sleeping in the floor instead.

I took out my Armani perfume and sprayed every corner and item in the room. Yet, it couldn't neutralize it.

I turned on the shower to the hottest temperature, and let the steam flow into the room (It helped a bit).

Then, Luckily, the thick blanket was smelling OK. I wrapped it to the bed, and somehow I got away with the filthy bed; Otherwise, I would have not touched that bed at all.

Next day, I woke up early to look for another guesthouse, though I ended up doing couchsurfing.


This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See link for more stories, detailed expenses and itinerary

Read More »

Getting to Ban Cau waterfall in Pleiku, Vietnam

After a generous lunch with my couchsurfing host's family at their own home, we set off to go around Pleiku.

The only one I have in my list at this time was only the sea lake, so I asked Huy, my host, for any waterfall he may know. He mentioned Ban Cau Waterfall, and the pictures on the internet looks inviting. 

According to Huy, it's only about 10 kilometers away, so fairly doable.

The waterfall is a little remote, and getting to it requires passing through a muddy trail in the coffee plantation. We skid at some point in some turn, and in some, we had to both get off the bike, and push and pull it through instead.

Then, from the top of the hill, we had to trekk down for a viewpoint.

The trail was quite slippery as it has been raining whole day, so had to hold onto the bush, or else risk falling into the cliff that leads into the raging current from the waterfall.

Huy recalls how close he can come to the drop, but as today's current was just too strong we could only stand at some rock on a corer. The mist created by the pressure of the water drop was all over, and so pictures were even hazy.

Had it been summer, i could just imagine how the water would have been clearer, and view would have been perfect with the fertile greenery on its side.

A little while later, as it's fairly dark due to the weather and we wanted to have some more time for the sea lake, we climbed back up and left; And, again, we skid for a second time somewhere. 

Keen visitors shall take extra care when driving around the coffee plantation, and perhaps, time the visit when day is sunny. Mornings would be the best time too for some sidetrips to the plantations.

Make sure to have a gps device or map before heading, as you can end up in horrible and serious jigsaws in the plantations heading there.




This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See link for more stories, detailed expenses and itinerary

After a generous lunch with my couchsurfing host's family at their own home, we set off to go around Pleiku.

The only one I have in my list at this time was only the sea lake, so I asked Huy, my host, for any waterfall he may know. He mentioned Ban Cau Waterfall, and the pictures on the internet looks inviting. 

According to Huy, it's only about 10 kilometers away, so fairly doable.

The waterfall is a little remote, and getting to it requires passing through a muddy trail in the coffee plantation. We skid at some point in some turn, and in some, we had to both get off the bike, and push and pull it through instead.

Then, from the top of the hill, we had to trekk down for a viewpoint.

The trail was quite slippery as it has been raining whole day, so had to hold onto the bush, or else risk falling into the cliff that leads into the raging current from the waterfall.

Huy recalls how close he can come to the drop, but as today's current was just too strong we could only stand at some rock on a corer. The mist created by the pressure of the water drop was all over, and so pictures were even hazy.

Had it been summer, i could just imagine how the water would have been clearer, and view would have been perfect with the fertile greenery on its side.

A little while later, as it's fairly dark due to the weather and we wanted to have some more time for the sea lake, we climbed back up and left; And, again, we skid for a second time somewhere. 

Keen visitors shall take extra care when driving around the coffee plantation, and perhaps, time the visit when day is sunny. Mornings would be the best time too for some sidetrips to the plantations.

Make sure to have a gps device or map before heading, as you can end up in horrible and serious jigsaws in the plantations heading there.




This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See link for more stories, detailed expenses and itinerary

Read More »

What I did in Pleiku, Vietnam

What I did in Pleiku, Vietnam

Pleiku was not really in my itinerary for Vietnam, but since it was on my way for a visa run to Laos, I thought about dropping for a night, since it will be on my way.

While Sea Lake was all I have in my list, my host knew of the Ban Cau waterfall just close by, and thought it was more interesting, so put it ahead.

Along the way to the waterfalll, we passed by a Rong House;

After the Bang House, as we were running out of fuel, we had to ask around for a store where we can get at least enough to get us to the waterfall and back to the city. Then, just next to the store that we were pointed to, there was a tranquil lake.

I've spotted some signs in the lake, which I asked Huy if it says "NO SWIMMING", and Huy said it actually reads "NO FISHING" (therefore private for fish culture).

I asked Huy if we can approach the caretakers and probably check if they have a raft and play around. We drove into the caretaker's cottage, and was told there's a boat.

We paddled around the lake, and realized we don't really know much about maneuvering. The wind was blowing from everywhere, and the boat keeps going nowhere in the direction we want. It took us probably an hour to get it back from where we took it.

After the lake, we drove through the waterfall. Getting to the waterfall took some time as there are no signs, and had to rely on passers by. The road was also a big challenge so took a lot of time, and had to postpone the visit to the sea lake.

.

In the evening, after the dinner with Huy's family (and this time including his dad), we met Thang (the actual couchsurfer and cousin of Huy) at a coffee shop. Thang was asking what I was interested in doing, and since I have not done Karaoke for 3 months, and it seems a popular leisure for vietnamese anyway,, we drove onto a KTV (and a proof of the vietnamese interest in Karaoke: Thang had an app on his phone for song numbers in karaoke machines around vietnam).

The following day, we visited the Sea Lake, just on the way to the pick up station for the van to Kontum (the nextt town I will be visiting before heading to Laos).

This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See link for more stories, detailed expenses and itinerary

What I did in Pleiku, Vietnam

Pleiku was not really in my itinerary for Vietnam, but since it was on my way for a visa run to Laos, I thought about dropping for a night, since it will be on my way.

While Sea Lake was all I have in my list, my host knew of the Ban Cau waterfall just close by, and thought it was more interesting, so put it ahead.

Along the way to the waterfalll, we passed by a Rong House;

After the Bang House, as we were running out of fuel, we had to ask around for a store where we can get at least enough to get us to the waterfall and back to the city. Then, just next to the store that we were pointed to, there was a tranquil lake.

I've spotted some signs in the lake, which I asked Huy if it says "NO SWIMMING", and Huy said it actually reads "NO FISHING" (therefore private for fish culture).

I asked Huy if we can approach the caretakers and probably check if they have a raft and play around. We drove into the caretaker's cottage, and was told there's a boat.

We paddled around the lake, and realized we don't really know much about maneuvering. The wind was blowing from everywhere, and the boat keeps going nowhere in the direction we want. It took us probably an hour to get it back from where we took it.

After the lake, we drove through the waterfall. Getting to the waterfall took some time as there are no signs, and had to rely on passers by. The road was also a big challenge so took a lot of time, and had to postpone the visit to the sea lake.

.

In the evening, after the dinner with Huy's family (and this time including his dad), we met Thang (the actual couchsurfer and cousin of Huy) at a coffee shop. Thang was asking what I was interested in doing, and since I have not done Karaoke for 3 months, and it seems a popular leisure for vietnamese anyway,, we drove onto a KTV (and a proof of the vietnamese interest in Karaoke: Thang had an app on his phone for song numbers in karaoke machines around vietnam).

The following day, we visited the Sea Lake, just on the way to the pick up station for the van to Kontum (the nextt town I will be visiting before heading to Laos).

This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See link for more stories, detailed expenses and itinerary

Read More »