Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Finally as promised!

Hi all

I don't know whether you're all still checking this but I'll do it for my own benefit also.

On our last long train trip, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, we wrote up a list of our Best and Worst of everything. This site doesn't allow me to insert a table so I'll perservere without one. Each category has a response from Tom and a response from me. Here goes:

Best beach - Hat Khom on Ko Pha Ngan (Tom), our lovely private beach on Ko Chang (Kaz)
Best accommodation - Bellvue (T) in Darjeeling, Tiger Huts on Ko Chang (K)
Best cuisine - Indian (T), Indian (K)
Most anticipated beer - first night in Delhi (T), after 3 day train trip in India (K)
Best beer - Chang (T), Kingfisher (K)
Worst travel - we both agree that it was Panaji to Mumbai on the bus
Best meal - Glenary's in Darjeeling with Chicken Reshmi kebab (T), Tom Yum at Beach cafe in Ko Chang (K)
Best scenery - Ko Pha Ngan (T), Jaisalmer in Rajasthan (K)
Worst traffic - Delhi (T), Bangkok (K)
Worst place - we both agree that it was Varanasi (renamed Verynasty)
Best experience - Snorkelling (T) in Ko Pha Ngan, Bikaner with MC's family (K)
Friendliest country - Laos (T), India (K)
Best trains - we agree it was Thailand - brilliant!
Best non-alcoholic drink - Chai marsala tea from Chowrasta, Darjeeling (T), Coconut shake from Coral Bay in Ko Pha Ngan (K)
Best snack - north indian samosas (T), Cornflake mix from Panaji (K)
Best shower - Bangkokk to Nong Kai on-0board-train shower (T), Sam Nuea, Laos (K)
Worst rip-off - Halong bay tour (we both agree)
Funniest experience - the man who spoke hest for tom in Jaisalmer, shisha with Joe in Hanoi (K)
Most tanned - both in Ko Pha Ngan
Biggest disappointment - it was not seeing the Himalayas after 5 days of trekking - damn clouds!
Worst hangover - after the night with Ashok in Panaji (T), after Lao Lao in Ponsavanh (k)
Worst hotel - it was Varanasi - horrible! But at $3 a night, quite cheap!
Best fruit - Palolem (T), coconut on the backwaters tour in Kerala (K)
Best bargain - Beer Laos! (T), samosas for 5 cents (Karen)
Hottest place - the day in the Red Fort in Delhi (T & K)
Coldest place - Sandakphu (T), Kalipokhri (K) both in the Himalayas
Worst smell - smoke in Varanasi from the funeral pyres (T), sewer stench in asia (K)
Best smell - jasmine rice cooking (T), incence in India (K)
Coolest city - Mumbai (T), Bangkok (K)
Weirdest animal - puffer fish (T), bears in the zoo in darjeeling (K)
Best feel good experience - scooter in Ko Chang (T), thai massage on Ko Pha Ngan (K)
Most fun - fishing in palolem in india
Most impressive sight - Raj Ghat in Delhi (Ghandi's final resting place) - Tom, Taj Mahal (K)
Most authentic experience - the tiny bar near the ferry in Panaji (T), visiting the temple with an indian family (K)