On our departure we finally received our letter of approvement to enter Vietnam. Without this document we would’nt get the Visum at the Hanoi Airport. Two weeks before entering we tried to get this document but we had problems because of our closed Pay Pal account. Just two days before our flight we could pay this document and had been lucky to receive it just in time.

We arrived very late but we already booked a hotel what organised a pick up. Suddenly we registered that the traffic was going the other way around. A little confused did we followed the scene.

The traffic was crazy and the rules... No there was no rule. Everyone drives like crazy and with honking and lights you show the other to go away. This crazy honking was driving us crazy and will follow us through Vietnam.

The hotel was very expensive and not worth it. With this continous honking on the streets we needed our earplugs as already in Thailand.

The next day we walked around through Hanoi to get a little feeling for Vietnam. We booked a trip to Sapa. This meant 9 hours in a sleeping train up in the north were we wanted to treck through the jungle to hill tribes. After two days you go back by the nighttrain to Hanoi again. After Sapa we wanted to go to Halong Bai. But this comes later.

To get to know Hanoi we wanted to drive on a ricksha. Therefore we drove through the oldtown. For dinner we definitely were a little bit lost because vietnamese food was really new for us. Therefore we checked for a place where a lot of locals sit around and eat. And somehow we managed to get really good food. We had been afraid, that the people will ask you to buy something continuessly cause this ist what we heard. But you haven’t been to Bali because Vietnam was not a problem at all.

Because we leave really early in the morning, we have an early night.

Here we are now – the big powerful capital of Thailand. Beeing left on the busstation the taxi drivers circelt us and asked for crazy prices. So we jumped on a local bus and finally reached to Khao San Road. This is backpackers Hell but you can find cheap accomodations. We have met a guy in Ayutthaya who recommended the K.S. Guesthouse, which was a little bit away from the busy Street.

We already recognised that Chiang Mai was really cheap and the closer you got to the capital everything became more expensive. Food, accomodations, entrance fees...

After such a long time we longed to go to a cinema. As we stayed in Bangkok for 3 ½ days, the first evening we went to see a movie. Not a lot of choices but we went to the movie „New York, I love you“. Famous actresses, a view stories in one. Strange movie but good in a strange way. Before the movie started we had to stand up for the king and saw a little clip about his life. Unfortunately we won’t be here on his big birthday-parade.

Really hungry we were eager to try new but this was a big mistake. Nadine almost threw up and Micha was fighting with his food. The next days we stayed on the save site and ate what we knew.

The next day we went to the Grand Palace – the former residence of the king. Impressive buildings with golden Buddha images and the Wat Phra Kaew in the park was really beautiful to see. Yes the prices are not the same anymore. Our two year old Lonely Planet stated only half the price. But with so many tourist, there is a lot of money and the people are willing to pay.

Afterwards we went to the eldest and biggest Tempel of Bankok. There you can find the longest lying Buddha image in Thailand. This statue ist 46 m long and 15 m high.

On our second day we walked through the streets up to the Golden Mount. Suddenly we passed a house and we could see boys fighting. One boy was lying on the ground, other ones kicked him. His head was bleading. It took a while until we got the whole scene. Then I screamed out loud but the boys already run away. Other ones took the victim on a motorcycle and drove away. I was so angry about myself that I didn’t react faster. And it made me sad. One person is lying on the ground and so many kicking at his body.

After 100’s of impressions and streets later we still were very far away from our Guesthouse. So we took the cheapest and fastest way to get back – the boat taxi. 20 minutes later we were just around the corner of our Guesthouse.

After dinner we heared good live music and followed the sound. On a roof toop we enjoyed the music and met great people. Litres of beers later, we went back. On our way back there was a hear cut competition in the middle of Khao San Road. Micha got a free haircut at 4 am and reached our Guesthouse pretty late. Good that check-out time was 12 pm. Our flight to Hanoi was in the evening time – means our pick up to the airport was 3 pm and we checked our documents to get into Vietnam.

Accommodation: KS Guesthouse (http://www.ks-house.net/)

Price: Baht 460

Comment: Nice stuff, clean room close to water taxi and Kao San Road