The nice fast roads turned into terrible dirt roads after a while and we were being thrown around at the top and back end of the bus. Another nightmare journey. We did have a few wee stops that were equally just as much of a nightmare. As we arrived and collected our bags from under the bus our ipod miraculously appeared in a slit of our bag. God only knows a. how it got there and b. how it managed to stay there for so long! Happy days.
We met 3 other foreigners travelling on our bus. Anton from Holland and Kevin and Brenda from Canada. We all arrived at hekou at 7.30am as the time had gone back an hour over night. We stuck together as safety in numbers and walked to the border crossing.
We all breezed through the border without a hitch and walked the bridge in no mans land from China into Vietnam! Before we had managed to even leave the building we had booked a train ticket to Hanoi with the information desk. This is against what we would normally do as it was a group decision. The lady took our money then took her moped to the train station 3km away to get the tickets then drove them back to us at the border crossing then put us on an electric car to the train station.
This seemed completely backwards and we were annoyed as the amount we paid was twice that of the train ticket! We only lost a few pounds each but the principle was crazy as we usually go straight to the station ourselves to book it. We realised we had not even made it physically in to the country and had already been ripped off, great start!
The electric car went slower than our walking pace and as a result we just caught the train with minutes to spare. The only day time train running was a hard seat which took just over 10hrs which equated to approx 26kmh!!! We could nearly cycle faster!
Within minutes of sitting down a stranger came and sat by Kris asking the usual questions of where you are from, etc. He then felt a hand rustle around his pocket containing his wallet. With a big push and some not so polite language the stranger flew off the seat and continued to stare. What a nosh. The ride was very long and painful both on the mind and the bum! We sat in a four seat section with Kevin and Brenda and played chess and Orthello for hours. We read, stared out he window but could not sleep as it was simply impossible on the seats and packed train.
The view on the way seemed more tropical. It was raining and overcast yet warm and muggy. We arrived at 8.30pm and took a taxi to the only backpackers hostel in Hanoi but it was full. On their recommendation we walked across the road and took the first hotel double room with bathroom which is small but clean and comfy and cheap.
We dumped our bags and headed for the pizza place round the corner. It was full of foreigners and with pizzas and beer all round it was just what the doctor ordered! We had a great night and returned to our rooms where we were asleep before our heads hit the pillow!
We met 3 other foreigners travelling on our bus. Anton from Holland and Kevin and Brenda from Canada. We all arrived at hekou at 7.30am as the time had gone back an hour over night. We stuck together as safety in numbers and walked to the border crossing.
We all breezed through the border without a hitch and walked the bridge in no mans land from China into Vietnam! Before we had managed to even leave the building we had booked a train ticket to Hanoi with the information desk. This is against what we would normally do as it was a group decision. The lady took our money then took her moped to the train station 3km away to get the tickets then drove them back to us at the border crossing then put us on an electric car to the train station.
This seemed completely backwards and we were annoyed as the amount we paid was twice that of the train ticket! We only lost a few pounds each but the principle was crazy as we usually go straight to the station ourselves to book it. We realised we had not even made it physically in to the country and had already been ripped off, great start!
The electric car went slower than our walking pace and as a result we just caught the train with minutes to spare. The only day time train running was a hard seat which took just over 10hrs which equated to approx 26kmh!!! We could nearly cycle faster!
Within minutes of sitting down a stranger came and sat by Kris asking the usual questions of where you are from, etc. He then felt a hand rustle around his pocket containing his wallet. With a big push and some not so polite language the stranger flew off the seat and continued to stare. What a nosh. The ride was very long and painful both on the mind and the bum! We sat in a four seat section with Kevin and Brenda and played chess and Orthello for hours. We read, stared out he window but could not sleep as it was simply impossible on the seats and packed train.
The view on the way seemed more tropical. It was raining and overcast yet warm and muggy. We arrived at 8.30pm and took a taxi to the only backpackers hostel in Hanoi but it was full. On their recommendation we walked across the road and took the first hotel double room with bathroom which is small but clean and comfy and cheap.
We dumped our bags and headed for the pizza place round the corner. It was full of foreigners and with pizzas and beer all round it was just what the doctor ordered! We had a great night and returned to our rooms where we were asleep before our heads hit the pillow!
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