So I've had a busy week or so in Hanoi. I went to Halong Bay for a 3 day boat trip which was great - definitely a highlight of my Vietnam trip. Halong Bay is just beautiful, if a little overcrowded with tourist boats. It's a shame that they've not embraced the 'green thing' over here yet, as this stunning place is getting full of litter. Despite that, sailing around the islands with gorgeous sunshine and clear blue skies overhead was a joy.
We had a day and a bit on a junk (surrounded by junk - ha ha!) and then we went to Cat Ba island. I managed to trek, scramble and climb my way to the peak in my Haviana flip flops. Not a feat to be recommended, but my tour guide assured me that it would be fine as he did it regularly. It was at about the halfway point that I twigged that he climbs like a mountain goat and I certainly don't! I managed it though and bumped into a woman who lives 5 minutes away from me at home. Small world eh?
Day 2 ended on Monkey Island where we had a private beach and I had my own little beach bungalow. Bliss! The evening kicked off with a 'floating bar' and happy hour. This involved us getting in lifebuoys, running into the sea to get a plastic mug of 'Monkey Island magic' from a mad Vietnamese guy in a polystyrene dinghy. The start to a very amusing evening with a great gang of people.
After Halong Bay, I took the night train to Sapa in north Vietnam. It's a mountainous area with many hill tribes. More trekking (in proper shoes this time) and exploring the stunning countryside. It looked rather like Switzerland so it was appropriate that I was adopted by an Austrian couple aged about 60. They were so sweet, but they did badger me constantly to apply suncream, drink water, eat more dinner, accompany them for an evening stroll, blah blah blah. I felt like a teenager on holiday with parents!
I'm back in Hanoi now and I've got two days to go before I fly off to Hong Kong to stay with my cousin Charlotte. I cannot tell you how excited I am about seeing her. I am longing to see a familiar face and relax on her sofa with some trashy mags and TV. Oh, and a cup of proper tea with proper milk (rather than the condensed milk that they use out here) would go down a treat. Simple pleasures eh?
Pip x
Showing posts with label hanoi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hanoi. Show all posts
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Hello Hanoi
Wednesday 4th November
Thanks for all of your emails. It's so good to hear all your news from home. It seems weird that it's getting cold and dark over there. The hotel receptionist here was complaining how cold it is here today as I sauntered out in a vest top and sunglasses. It really isn't cold - it's nearly thirty degrees!
I've had a great few days in Hoi An. It is such a lovely, quaint town. I spent ages just pottering round the streets full of tailor shops and art. I got to the beach which was beautiful and did a Vietnamese cookery course which was fun too. Be prepared to sample my new repertoire of dishes next year!
I had a few days to enjoy the sunshine before a big old storm hit on Monday. By Tuesday the river had spilled over its banks and flooded a couple of streets. The ever resourceful locals just pitched up in boats to take the tourists to the places that were under water.
I'm in Hanoi now and it's much nicer than I expected. Everybody told me that it was crazy busy and unbearable. After Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City it seems ok to me. I've learnt how to cross the sea of traffic. Basically, you can step out in front of a motorbike but not a car, definitely not a 4x4 and only step in front of a 4x4 with a government numberplate if you have a death wish! I've spent the day wandering around the city sightseeing. I went to the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum but his body is in Russia being cleaned at the moment unfortunately. I still managed to see the mausoleum, the museum, sing the Ho Chi Minh theme tune and avoid buying the t-shirt. They're HCM mad here!
Anyway, I've just booked myself up for the rest of my time here so I have a plan. I'm off on a boat trip Thurs-Saturday around various islands in Halong bay. According to the tourism blurb, there's one that looks like a human head, one like a teapot and one like a cock (fowl or phallic?). I end up staying on Planet of the Apes (ok, monkey island!) for a night so I'll try to avoid going monkey nuts. Then I head off into the hills around Sapa for a few days to go trekking.
I'll let you know how it goes...
Thanks for all of your emails. It's so good to hear all your news from home. It seems weird that it's getting cold and dark over there. The hotel receptionist here was complaining how cold it is here today as I sauntered out in a vest top and sunglasses. It really isn't cold - it's nearly thirty degrees!
I've had a great few days in Hoi An. It is such a lovely, quaint town. I spent ages just pottering round the streets full of tailor shops and art. I got to the beach which was beautiful and did a Vietnamese cookery course which was fun too. Be prepared to sample my new repertoire of dishes next year!
I had a few days to enjoy the sunshine before a big old storm hit on Monday. By Tuesday the river had spilled over its banks and flooded a couple of streets. The ever resourceful locals just pitched up in boats to take the tourists to the places that were under water.
I'm in Hanoi now and it's much nicer than I expected. Everybody told me that it was crazy busy and unbearable. After Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City it seems ok to me. I've learnt how to cross the sea of traffic. Basically, you can step out in front of a motorbike but not a car, definitely not a 4x4 and only step in front of a 4x4 with a government numberplate if you have a death wish! I've spent the day wandering around the city sightseeing. I went to the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum but his body is in Russia being cleaned at the moment unfortunately. I still managed to see the mausoleum, the museum, sing the Ho Chi Minh theme tune and avoid buying the t-shirt. They're HCM mad here!
Anyway, I've just booked myself up for the rest of my time here so I have a plan. I'm off on a boat trip Thurs-Saturday around various islands in Halong bay. According to the tourism blurb, there's one that looks like a human head, one like a teapot and one like a cock (fowl or phallic?). I end up staying on Planet of the Apes (ok, monkey island!) for a night so I'll try to avoid going monkey nuts. Then I head off into the hills around Sapa for a few days to go trekking.
I'll let you know how it goes...
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