Vietnam & Thailand Logistics Log: Jun 15 - Jun 21
Jun 15 | Sapa: Sleep ok in smallest bed yet. Rise 930. Construction outside by washroom. Chill w/ cafe in dorm makeshift table. 1130 rain stops. Pray at cathedral. Attempt hike up Hamrong mountain, ticket wants 70k. Pullups by pond 20 reps. Walk to mkt, try new pho spot 50k avg. Sesame balls 10k. Work on email form. Walk to mkt w/ Ishmail, eat at comga tray spot 50k. Walk back in drizzle. Chill in outdoor space, eat beef jerky. 8p walk to center, try Sapa Big Tree burger 135k (bad). Rain hard, roof leaking, zero security with gate and dorm door open all night.
Jun 16 | Sapa: Rise 930. Checkout saigonese trekking house shithole dog torturer hostel 1150. Walk to green homestay, get lychee 10k and egg banmi 25k. Work on site. Walk to Lustig Hostel 2p, checkin pay 86k + 100k dep. 3rd fl corner bed with wooden locker. Book 2n more 84k pn. Book bus to Hanoi Jun 19 242k. Leave bad review on Agoda for last place. Walk to sun plaza, order chk thigh, order wrong, leave. Eat at mkt tray 3rd time 50k. Terrace workout: handstand balance, f2w HSPU 3x5, 1-arm PU 3x15, feet elevated diamond PU 3x10. 8p beef fried rice 60k. Walk mkt area, walk back thru pond.
Jun 17 | Sapa: Rise 930. Pay 168k for 2n more. Free cafe from kitchen during hostel bfast time. Work on site fitness section. Rain all morning. 230 walk out, eat beef fried rice 60k. Dorm empty, maids took down curtain. Chat w/ GPT. 630 walk out, early dinner. Windy side st speed workout: 6 drills uphill (backward, A's, crosses, C's), 2 strides, 2 sprints. Walk to main area, try Cozy restaurant Aussie burger 95k. Found cheap flight DMK-Kathmandu 116cad for Jul 17.
Jun 18 | Sapa: Rise 930. Coffee downstairs. SEO update meta descriptions. Rain persists. Neck workout on bunk (back/front bridge) 3x18. Flex routine warrior series and side splits. Walk to beef fried rice spot 60k. Work on hostel-checklist post. 430 walk to amphitheater area back workout: muscle up 5, 6 reps (best effort in awhile), FLPU 3x6, inv raise 1x10. Avoid 70k Hamrong gate fee, find hidden gate on Murong Hoa st. Hike up unused stairs to top, savor last night in northern viet. Family restaurant set menu 115k. Publish nomad-hostel-checklist post.
Jun 19 | Sapa - Hanoi: Wake 730 rise 830. Coffee and chat w/ GPT. Checkout Lustig 1140. Walk to reg beef rice spot doesnt seem clean. Walk to Grand Flamant hotel for bus in rain. 130p bus arrive late by 30min. 6p stop at comga 60k. Arrive Hanoi 830p. Walk to Traveler House pay 134k + 100k dep. Walk to Vincom mall for Dookki buffet, closing soon so left. KFC popcorn chk rice + burger 112k. Hanoi hot and muggy. Big rat in lobby kitchen. Scrape teeth. Wash shoes in shower and leave on terrace to dry.
Jun 20 | Hanoi - Chiang Mai: Rise 830. Create nomad-vs-normal post. Sparse bfast banana and chowmein. Walk around, Hanoi chaotic and honking. Beef noodles 40k near market. Checkout 1115am. Walk to 86 bus stop, pay 45k. Arrive airport 1245. Bag 5.8kg without laundry. Flight land CNX 450. Hassled by thai immigration (said i stayed 2.5mo already this year), forced to buy flight DMK-Kathmandu Aug 9 for 3291 THB (cost 139cad). Trapped over an hour at CNX. Worst thai immigation experience by far. Walk to old city. Pad thai 45b. Find gym 30b. Arrive Tartar Nay hostel 720p. Owners left, don't know about orange massage ball. Red curry 70b, khao pao w/ egg 60b. Exchange rate win: 1.35M VND to 1687 THB got market rate.
Jun 21 | Chiang Mai: Rise 10am. Work on site. Got orange ball back! 1220 laundromat on Thapae rd 90b total. Eat at noodle spot 50b red pork rice. Meet Muay Thai Kru Sing "the rolls royce of martial arts". work on site at hostel. 330 grab food at Chiang Mai gate: smoothie 30b, curry pork 50b. 730 Saturday night market, smoothie and fried chk 90b. Publish travel-recovery fitness page.