After our two days in Hoi An, we caught another flight from Da Nang north to Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi. I was excited but not quite prepared for the next level of sensory overload; nearly everything I knew of Hanoi was gleaned from TV, mostly food documentaries like Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown series. It all seemed condensed into the Old Quarter, a district of the city totally alive at all hours of the night with the smells of food grilling over charcoal, live music, and of course, the never-ending drone of motorbikes. Waking up in the morning, I could crane my neck down from our hotel balcony into the cacophony of people cooking, shouting, and tending their wares, and of birds chirping in cages dangling from shopfronts. There was nothing like walking through this chaos, where even crossing the street took a certain confidence; there are no sidewalks, and traffic signals are more of a suggestion. We were quickly forced to learn the trick of making strong eye contact with a motorist, finding a space, and moving — those who are already moving will find a way around you.
The representations of Hanoi on TV turned out to be completely true, but nothing could prepare me for the real thing. For example, sitting on a sidewalk on a tiny plastic stool crouched over a steaming bowl of pho — you can’t replicate that anywhere else. The crowds, the traffic, the thick air, the droplets of sweat that form on your upper lip…it doesn’t sound romantic or even all that appealing, but for me it was love at first sight, and everything I had read and watched about Vietnam suddenly made sense.
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.