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Hectic Hanoi: Episode Nineteen

Vietnam

Motos, motos Everywhere!!

Watch your step or you might get taken out!! Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam.

It is still very much a third world city. There is not much to do in the sense of tourist attractions. The attraction is the city itself. We spent a full day roaming around and seeing what we could find!! Motos, street vendors, street side restaurants, shops stuffed to the gills with anything and Everything imaginable and local produce markets make up the streets of this hustle and bustle city!! Not without character, the architecture of Hanoi had a hint of French chic with the wear and tear of gritty Vietnamese life!!

The food in Hanoi was to die for!! Whether you wanted pizza, Italian, Pho or straight up street food you always had a tasty option within steps!! Honestly though, don’t let the fear of “the runs” hold you back from exploring the epicness of Vietnamese cuisine local style. Trust us, you won’t regret it!!

Lots of travelers hit up Hanoi enroute to Halong Bay, Sapa and anywhere south!!! Great nightlife and party vibe!!!

Don’t pass up Hanoi because there is “nothing” there!!

For more photos, check out our Flickr account ————>>>
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Mountains & Beaches – Sapa & Nah Trang, Vietnam

Vietnam

Name: Jenny Benner

Age: 22

From: B.C. Canada

Beautiful Sapa is a jewel in the northern mountains!! Go for amazing trekking!! Make sure to organize your trip in Sapa and not Hanoi because the price can vary!! It is also possible to do homestays, which give you a great insight into the local culture!!

Nah Trang is a beach city on the southern coast!! Beautiful beaches to just chill at. Make sure that you hit up the “Sailng Club”, the best bar in Nah Trang!! Insanely fun and good place to meet people.

If you have time try and make it to Vin Pearl. It’s a small island off of the coast. It is only 100,000 Dong or $5 to go for the whole day!! There is an amusement park, water park and cable car on the island!!
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Hanoi Backpackers – Hanoi, Vietnam

Hostel Life!

48 Ngo Huyen St, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam

Ratings: 1 – 5 stars each for… The Vibe, Beds, Whereabouts, Staff, Cleanliness

The Vibe: Stupendous!! The Best hostel we stayed at on our trip!!! This is the place to Be in Hanoi!! Party Hardy!!! 5 Stars

Beds: Sweeet!!! Nice pillows & soft, spacious mattress make these the tops beds we slept in!!!! Hip Hop Hooray!!! 5 Stars

Whereabouts: Right smack dab in the middle of the Old French Quarter! Close to pretty much all the sites and only a short moto ride away if not!! 5stars

Staff: This is a pretty Big hostel with lots of staff including both Vietnamese and foreign staff. All friendly and willing to help! 5 stars

Cleanliness: The entire place was cleaned everyday!! 5 stars

Overall: The Best hostel in Southeast Asia!! Want to meet people and party hard!?!?! Stay at Hanoi Backpackers 25 Stars!!

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Halloween in Halong Bay: Episode Eighteen

Vietnam

Kinsey’s Guide to Better Living: Chapter Eight: So you don’t break the bank, stow away a bottle of your favorite booze to the island. Drink Responsibly

What you see is what you get!!!! Party time, Excellent!!!

Chelsea’s Quick Tips: Book a two-night tour instead of a one-night to better soak in the beauty of Halong Bay, Vietnam!!!

For more photos, check out our Flickr account ———>
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Hong Kong Star Hostel: Hong Kong

China

11/F, Block E, Chung King Mansion,, 36-44 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Ratings: 1 – 5 star each for… The Vibe, Beds, Whereabouts, Staff, Cleanliness

The Vibes: Kinda on the creepy side!! In a giant rundown apartment block on Nathan Road this is the cheapest accommodation you will get!! Very basic and small room!! 1 star

Beds: The mattresses were styrofoam and covered in a sheet. In a room with a bunk bed?? Make sure that someone is on the bottom before climbing up and down for fear of the bunk tipping over!!!! 3 stars

Whereabouts: Great location right on Nathan Road one of the busiest places in Hong Kong!! 5 stars

Staff: What staff?? 0 stars

Cleanliness: Not too bad! They cleaned the room everyday, which was nice. 3 stars

Overall: 12 out of 25 stars!! This is pretty much just a place to rest your head!! With all the things to do in Hong Kong it is not bad for the price!!

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Hangin’ in Hong Kong: Episode Seventeen

China

Delicious Hong Kong Dishes!!

Kinsey’s Guide to Better Living: Chapter Seven: In need of an inner thigh workout?? Walk the streets of Hong Kong!!! Dodging left and right is unavoidable!!

Like we have said many times before, there are 1.6 Billion Chinese living in China!! Half of them reside in Hong Kong!! Walking in a straight line down the sidewalk is Impossible!!!! Instead you are dodging left, then right, then left again, constantly being clipped and bumped into. It’s exhausting really!!

All this dodging and bumping makes you really work up an appetite!! Aside from the amazing Dim Sum, Hong Kong has another culinary delight…barbeque pork!! Yup it’s the genuine version of the bright pink pork strips you get at take away Chinese restaurants back home. Barbeque pork in H.K. is Unreal!! Glistening pink and fall of the bone tender!! And did we mention cheap!?!?! Go into any small corner restaurant where all the working folk are and you have found B.B.Q. Pork Heaven!! Enjoy!!

Chelsea’s Quick Tips: Take a ride on the public ferry for a view of some of the most stunning and modern architecture in the world!!! It’s cheaper than the underground!!!

Also, at 8 p.m. every night, there is a light show with many of the buildings in the downtown area lighting up with colored lights. Its best to watch from the public ferry!

For more photos check out our Flickr account ——— >
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Ridiculous Road Trip: Episode Sixteen

China

Scootin’

We set out trying to find a small town about an hour outside of Yangshuo that is famous for making handmade fans. However, we failed. Due to the horrible quality of the map we had and being distracted by the unbelievable scenery, we never made it. Nonetheless it was still a great day.

We stumbled upon a village market place where we dined for lunch!! We had no idea what we wereeating but it has been the best Chinese food we have had on this trip!! And the cheapest taboot!!

As we pointed out in the video, the Chinese eat at tiny, little tables in tiny, little chairs. This can get uncomfortable quick. Mostly because we are not natural squatters like the good ole Chinese with their squatting toilets!!! Chelsea never quite mastered the squatting toilet usually coming out saying, “I peed on my foot again!” Dirty, filthy girl!

For more photos, check out our Flickr account ———>
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Slammin’ Silver Caves: Episode Fifteen

China

Chinese Traffic

Kinsey’s Guide to Better Living: Chapter Six: Do Not frequent high Chinese touristic sites without earplugs. It’s for your own Good!!

Ok sorry we couldn’t film this!!!

The Chinese are crazy drivers. Chinese driving rules are no rules at all!! Every one is swerving in and out of cars, giant trucks and thousands of buses, driving on the wrong side of the road and not stopping at stop signs. Anything you could possible do with a moving vehicle they do!! Scary, especially when driving a little electric scooter. You have to be on the ballllllll at all times when driving, especially in or near towns/cities. Actually, we lied there is one rule. Honk, Honk and Honk!!

Sorry, but filming was out of the question.

The caves were great!! Amazing rock formations that were intensified by the colored lights. But what was NOT great were the tour groups. The Chinese are obsessed with their tour groups. We were surprised to see that not one of the 1.6 billion Chinese strayed from their beloved group down in the caves.

Other than that it was a beautiful day of scooting and caving!!
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Monkey Jane’s Youth Hostel: Yangshuo, China

China

No.28 Lianfengzhongxiang, West Street, Yangshuo County, China

Ratings: 1 – 5 star each for… The Vibe, Beds, Whereabouts, Staff, Cleanliness

The Vibe: Party Time.. Excellent!!! The main theme here at Monkey Jane’s is to get messed up at a good ole game of Beer Pong!! Party On!! 5 Stars

The Beds: Could be on the nicer side but you stay here for the party not the beds!! 3 Stars

Whereabouts: Right on the main drag! Monkey Jane’s is right smack dab in the center of everything!!! 5 Stars

Staff: Always willing to help you out. Monkey Jane has best intentions but can be on the crazy side!! We love her anyway!!! 5 Stars.

Cleanliness: Not too shabby!! 4 Stars!

Overall: 22 out of 25 stars!! If you are looking for a good time and a central location Monkey Jane’s is where you want to be!!!

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Lazy Li River Life: Episode Fourteen

China

Bamboo Boatin’

This was probably THE best day we had in China!!! This was because of an accumulation of a couple things.

First off, our fellow American bud, Peter was with us. This means that it will always be a good time!!! Team America… Heck YA!!!!

Secondly, we could actually see the blue sky and the weather was amazing!! This was a stroke of luck since it is either raining in China or smog ridden!!

Thirdly, the views were absolutely Stunning!!!! Huge, limestone mountains frosted with green shrubbery jet up out of the banks of the Li River!! It feels like you are in a completelydifferent world in this landscape while seeing the everyday life of rural China. EPIC!!!!!!

Finally, we got to experience this stunning place all the while being the celebs we have grown to loooove being, here in RedChina!!! Boat after boat would swing off course for better shots of the Westerners gliding by them!! We soaked it alllllll up!! It’s not everyday you get to feel like a celeb…but wait in China it is!!!!! Hahahahaha

Chelsea’s Quick Tip: The boats that you take going down the Li only hold four people. Going with an odd number?? Wait a bit for solo travelers!!
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