Monday

Home again safe and sound and now to recuperate from the incredible stimulation of three weeks journey..and to assimilate it all,too.  Travel is certainly an education and we sure are lucky to live where we do!

Sunday night in Tokyo

well, I sure wish we were in Vancouver instead of here.  We now have a ten hour flight.  I am feeling crappy, too, having the Hanoi trots.  My neighbour Larry said they don't call it globe trotting for nothing!  Hope I make it the rest of the way.

Saturday in Hanoi

Last day before heading home. We had an adventure  this morning as we had decided to look at a store that sold and /made cheong sams, which is the Chinese equivalent of this Vietnamese garment. There were two cabs and none of us in our cab knew where we were going.  However, we drove around in circles for 30 minutes, not knowing what to do, or where to go.  It seemed apparent that our cab driver didn't know where to go either. I was sitting in the middle in the back seat, a truly scary place to be, as I could see all the mayhem in front of us.  It was a sea of scooters, many with three or four on them and often children, in between two parents or at the back or front of one or other parent.  It was dreadful as the streets lights seem to have any bearing of traffic. One just goes...we finally came to a stop and the driver told us to get out..we fortunately had the phone number of our guide Hong Anh and she said stay where we were and she would come and get us.  Turns out, our cab couldn't go down the street because of traffic restrictions and the store was a couple of long blocks away.  Our guide came and took us to the store, which was quite a lovely one indeed but the prices were very high and no one bought anything. I saw a nice beaded purse for $280.00.  USD. I didn't buy. I felt badly for our little guide who went to so much trouble to find this nice spot for us, although we were more like bargain hunters.  We took a taxi back to our hotel and then went to the corner for lunch and we had a nice soup and egg rolls.  Then, went to a store across from our hotel which sold lovely silk things, too, and more to our budget!
The others went off adventuring and I back to the hotel for R n R.  The others are having a massage for $20 and they look forward to that...I don't care for them, so will not bother with that. Good to rest up today after such a busy time!  

Friday in Hanoi

Well, after  breakfast left the hotel at 7:45 a.m. For a 4 hour drive to Halong bay.  We were met at the harbour with a private boat for the 9 of us..one was ill.  There were two tables set up with tablecloths and an assortment of wine glasses, knives and forks.  No chopsticks!  I actually asked for them.  We had a very nice lunch with soup, and mussels, spring rolls, a crab she'll filled with crab and ??? Then squid, then rice, and pineapple which was quite delightful. Following a leisurely sail,around the bay, we went to see the cave for which it is famous. Well, many steep steps up and down.   Inside. A huge cavern, with stalactite of calcium carbonate. Tomorrow is a free day so goodness knows what that will entail. 

Unbelievable number of motor bikes with two or three or more people on them.  You just see a tide of them on the road , all honking at one another.  You take your life in your hand crossing the road. 

Apparently 80% of the people here smoke.  Cigarettes are $1.00 a package.  

We have such a nice young girl as our guide.  Hong Anh....she took tourism at university and rides her motorbike to our hotel each day.  She will,accompany us to,the airport on Sunday for the start of our trip home.  Our first flight of three leaves here at 1:55 pm, then from Tokyo we leave at 9:55 pm (exactly) then from Vancouver arriving at 7:21p.m. the day before.  

Thursday in Hanoi

today another busy day.  Met our guide at 9 am to start, after quite delightful breakfast.  Odd things like one might find on a lunch or dinner buffet, plus breakfast things.
Our first stop was to see the tomb of Ho Chi Minh along with ten thousand others.  Many of whom were little children, of kindgarten age and less...all lined up with their uniforms of matching t shirts and holding on to the one in front by his or her t shirt hem.  Dear little things they were too.  This took nearly two hours and then we went for lunch in a hotel. It was very nice, and we had two,tables and food was served family style.  Lovely table settings with lots of wine glasses etc.  none of us had wine, though.  Following lunch we went to see the presidential castle and then the Royal palace and then to a lacquer place.  Bought two pretty trays.  Then off,to,the pottery area of town where little money was spent but it seemed like a lot because their money has so many zeros.  200,000 dong is worth ten dollars. We had two beers tonight and shared it between the three of us and the bill was 70,000 dong which was $3.50 or $1.75 per large draft beer. I changed the equivalent of $50 yen and seem to have spent it already.  Tonight we went to a nice restaurant recommended by our guide.  She is so cute. My room mate said she wanted Vietnamese food but not from a street vendor so we were escorted to hotel and had most interesting meal and then took a taxi back to our hotel.. $5.00 shared between the five of us.
Tomorrow an early start for Halong Bay.  4 hours there and back and a couple of hours there.  It will be another full day. I bet we won't be home until 8 pm. Saturday is a free day prior to leaving for home Sunday and gaining a day in the process.  I may not survive until then.  I find I enjoy the eating part more than the touring part ..😄😄😄 t'was ever thus.

Wednesday continued

I discovered I was in business class flying today and my companions were further back in the plane and in steerage.  How that happened I don't know, except perhaps I asked for a window seat and they all preferred an aisle?
Our hotel,is splendid.  Marble, and granite and hardwood floors, and spacious.  Our guide has warned us about thievery and we are to be most cautious.,

Wednesday

April 15 Wednesday 

We boarded our flight to Hanoi at 8:35 as promised ( well of course, this is Japan) and of course, the plane took off at exactly 8:55 as promised.  It is a most wonderful plane.  I am in row 16 unlike my companions who are further back, so don't know if I somehow got into first class, because the seat is spacious, it has a leg rest and a foot rest both and the tray comes out from the arm. Almost immediately upon departure, drinks of all sorts are served, followed by lunch.  I chose the fried chicken option..haha...it was the oriental version of fried chicken. Very nice, but served with Asian accoutrements, and flavours. And miso soup.  My other option was something which looked like noodles with seafood, but who knows what that was.  My Japanese neighbour had the same as I so I cannot surmise what that was.  The toilet had the same warm toilet seat and bidet functions too.  Amazing.  There is a screen of proportions ( not the mini ) in front.  Possibly has English on it but haven't turned it on.  There is also a USB port on the seat back in front, although when I plugged it in it didn't charge, so not sure what I would do with that .

It is a long flight from Tokyo to Hanoi of 5 hours.  And I thought it was a hop skip and a jump the way Nagisa spoke of it.  It is the same as going from one side of Canada to another, almost. 2200+ miles.

We were met by a nice young gal and she took us to our hotel, and after 30 minutes or so we headed out for a stroll! So, we walked 

from 3:30 until 6 with a stop for some traditional Vietnamese treats.  One was mixed fruit with evaporated milk on it. Truly delicious.  Later when we were all flagging, stopped for an egg coffee which was incredibly delightful.  Whipped egg with hot espresso on it.  Sweet and frothy, and thick, and strong.  Served in a bowl with hot water in it to,keep,the coffee hot.  Served with a spoon.  Walked another few blocks to,the restaurant for dinner at 6 pm.  No raw fish and lots of tasty things...chick, rice spring rolls, shrimp, pu,pain soup, and watermelon and pineapple for dessert.  The streets are filled with vendors of all sorts of meat, fish, and vegetables, all looking wonderful and fresh in spite of no refrigeration.  Streets lined with clutter and people and wires above a complex weave.  Following dinner we saw a water puppet show which was incredible....