Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Finding accommodation for nights 1, 2 and 3.
I have been determined to do this myself. I have decided that since I am arriving in the wee hours of the morning, it's probably nicer to stay somewhere decent for my first stop. It wouldn't be too nice having to spray the kids mattresses for bed bugs at 2am before making up 6 beds in budget accomodation. I made the big mistake of reading the paragraph that mentioned "it's not if, but when you encounter bed bugs in Vietnam... " to my daughter. Haven't heard the end of it since. Don't even know if it's true. My other fear is that if I stay somewhere cheaper, I may just turn up to find that the booking hasn't been scratched. I'm not entirely sure about this, but not taking any chances. Budget dorm-stays can wait until night # 4.
So tonight I have sent off a few emails to various hotels. Only one has responded. The most expensive of my choices (of course). Continental Hotel. I've gone for the fancier side of District 1, near the Saigon River (which look to be a very small river on the map). The Dong Khoi area - for those seeking upscale digs. Home to the city's best hotels, restaurants and bars. According to my Lonely Planet Guide, Continental Hotel provided the backdrop for much of the action in Graham Greene's novel The Quiet American. My Lonely Planet was published in 2009 and lists the price as $129/night. I have managed to secure 2 Superior Rooms side by side for $95 each. I think there is an extra charge for each 3rd person in each of the 2 rooms, so I may end up paying more than the 2009 price after all. Actually, I've not had the final comfirmation of booking, but I've sent my email requesting that. They must have shut down the office for the night I imagine. I must remember to ask "any chance of doing a better price than that for me?" before I push the final submit button. I hate haggling, but I hope to become good at it.
So tonight I have sent off a few emails to various hotels. Only one has responded. The most expensive of my choices (of course). Continental Hotel. I've gone for the fancier side of District 1, near the Saigon River (which look to be a very small river on the map). The Dong Khoi area - for those seeking upscale digs. Home to the city's best hotels, restaurants and bars. According to my Lonely Planet Guide, Continental Hotel provided the backdrop for much of the action in Graham Greene's novel The Quiet American. My Lonely Planet was published in 2009 and lists the price as $129/night. I have managed to secure 2 Superior Rooms side by side for $95 each. I think there is an extra charge for each 3rd person in each of the 2 rooms, so I may end up paying more than the 2009 price after all. Actually, I've not had the final comfirmation of booking, but I've sent my email requesting that. They must have shut down the office for the night I imagine. I must remember to ask "any chance of doing a better price than that for me?" before I push the final submit button. I hate haggling, but I hope to become good at it.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Vaccinations
Well, that was heartening. I was able to assemble 3 of the children to accompany me to a medical centre across town that specialises in travel vaccinations. I was supposed to take 4 children, but mobile phone issues and poor communication meant that my daughter Drew missed out today. I've made her and my son Gus who is away at school camp an appointment later this week. Unfortunately for me that means another trip across town in peak hour.
Total expense for 4 of us to be vaccinated - $860. I still have to more to pay for!
Max 9 yrs - Hep A and Typhoid (1 jab) and Cholera (1 pleasant tasting drink). No need for Tetanus as had one 4 years ago.
George 10 yrs - Same as Max and he had tetanus a few months ago when he ripped his knee open.
James 13 yrs - Hep A and Typhoid, Tetanus and Cholera
Me very old - same as James.
I have been given scripts for Stemetil, Lomotil, Noroxin (for persistent diarrhoea) and more Cholera drink (Dukoral oral suspension). For the life of me I can't remember when I'm meant to repeat that dose. Lucky I'm returning later in the week to ask. Apparently if we get a booster for the Hep A within 6 months it will last us our whole lives.
The Doctor was kind enough to fill me in on his adventures with a mate 9 years ago in Vietnam. He spent the entire 2 week holiday suffering from diarrhoea. He lost 5 kg. He was eager to tell me about the trains that have a hole in the floor to poo into, and advised me to wear shorts and sandals everywhere to deal with the poo. I can understand the shorts - so your jeans don't end up in your own poo, but couldn't make out the sandal comment. I was a bit too polite to ask. I also feared that he would sniff out my complete lack of preparation and knowledge of the geography. He kept asking me specifics about the trip and I still have no idea what I am doing or where I am stopping to stay. I do know that I am sticking to the coastline. Apparently that was a good decision with children as Malaria medication for each of us for 3 weeks was going to be more than $400 a person. Now that is a good incentive to stick to the low lands and the coast if ever I heard one.
7 weeks to go.
Keep in mind I am not generally a very organised person. Every time I lie in bed at the end of the day to read my Lonely Planet, I fall asleep. Time is running out. I've got to get prepared. Oh this should be fun.
Total expense for 4 of us to be vaccinated - $860. I still have to more to pay for!
Max 9 yrs - Hep A and Typhoid (1 jab) and Cholera (1 pleasant tasting drink). No need for Tetanus as had one 4 years ago.
George 10 yrs - Same as Max and he had tetanus a few months ago when he ripped his knee open.
James 13 yrs - Hep A and Typhoid, Tetanus and Cholera
Me very old - same as James.
I have been given scripts for Stemetil, Lomotil, Noroxin (for persistent diarrhoea) and more Cholera drink (Dukoral oral suspension). For the life of me I can't remember when I'm meant to repeat that dose. Lucky I'm returning later in the week to ask. Apparently if we get a booster for the Hep A within 6 months it will last us our whole lives.
The Doctor was kind enough to fill me in on his adventures with a mate 9 years ago in Vietnam. He spent the entire 2 week holiday suffering from diarrhoea. He lost 5 kg. He was eager to tell me about the trains that have a hole in the floor to poo into, and advised me to wear shorts and sandals everywhere to deal with the poo. I can understand the shorts - so your jeans don't end up in your own poo, but couldn't make out the sandal comment. I was a bit too polite to ask. I also feared that he would sniff out my complete lack of preparation and knowledge of the geography. He kept asking me specifics about the trip and I still have no idea what I am doing or where I am stopping to stay. I do know that I am sticking to the coastline. Apparently that was a good decision with children as Malaria medication for each of us for 3 weeks was going to be more than $400 a person. Now that is a good incentive to stick to the low lands and the coast if ever I heard one.
7 weeks to go.
Keep in mind I am not generally a very organised person. Every time I lie in bed at the end of the day to read my Lonely Planet, I fall asleep. Time is running out. I've got to get prepared. Oh this should be fun.
Monday, February 6, 2012
The latest
Passports cost me over $800. It also took me 1.5 hours to submit them at the post office in the hospital where I work - seems my attention to detail is very poor, and I'd missed and deleted incorrectly a lot of the information on the 6 passports. Trying to explain my many name changes from childhood to now proved difficult, even with my official Change of Name forms. Ladies, do yourselves a favour and do not change your names when you marry, or change your children's names if you marry for a second time. It won't be simple when they apply for a passport. It didn't help that my previous passport was in a surname that was never official. Mortifying. Probably a good idea to fill passports in sitting at a desk rather than lying in bed.
Anyway, good news is that the lady at the Newsagency is going to use me as her example to anyone else that has filled in their passports incorrectly. "You think this is bad, I once had a lady in here with 6 passports..."
Anyway, good news is that the lady at the Newsagency is going to use me as her example to anyone else that has filled in their passports incorrectly. "You think this is bad, I once had a lady in here with 6 passports..."
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The passports
Not a pleasant task - organising passports for 5 kids and myself. Handing them in tomorrow.
Realised my flight gets in to Ho Chi Minh City at 11:45pm, so will have to book reasonable accommodation so I can have someone pick us up at the airport. Bummer. I was looking forward to the dormitory that accommodates 6 to room for extraordinarily cheap rates.
Realised my flight gets in to Ho Chi Minh City at 11:45pm, so will have to book reasonable accommodation so I can have someone pick us up at the airport. Bummer. I was looking forward to the dormitory that accommodates 6 to room for extraordinarily cheap rates.
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