Vietnam 2008 - Day 1, Part 2: Hanoi

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We did a lot of site seeing this day. There was the Temple of Literature, which ensured education for most of the young boys for hundreds of years. Though women are well respected, this is a patriarchal society. Must be all that snake wine...

We visited a temple with what looked like the Tower of Pisa of Buddhas - only it wasn't leaning. We took a cyclo ride through Old Hanoi and visited a beautiful bridge in the evening. I can't remember what we did for dinner that night. I think we found a place close to the hotel and enjoyed soup, egg rolls and beer for around $6.

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Photos

Ho Chi Minh Statue
I cropped this shot to avoid the tourists getting their photos taken in front. It's only funny when we do it.

Communist Poster
I love, love the post-modern look of political posters and art.

Picasso
Interesting sculpture. Picasso certainly had his own style.

More modern art
Can't remember what this represented - probably what ever you wanted it to. Funkadelic.

Temple
First gate to the Temple of Literature. Or maybe the Temple of Doom. One of those.

Temple 2
If you find the magic stone and the sun filters through a crack at just the right moment ... the walls will open for 13 seconds -- just enough time to slip through to reach the second temple gate to Lit Campus.

Stone Steale
stone stelae engraved with the names of doctor laureates rest upon large stone tortoises - a symbol of long life.

The Inner Sanctum
Courtyard and sacred temple of the Lit Campus.

Bonsai
Isn't that cool? I can barely sustain a philodenderon. The bonsais are gorgeous.

At the Altar
Confucious - founding influence of the Lit Campus.

Courtyard
Talk about OCD. The plantings are perfectly aligned to the 20th parallel, 10 degrees from true North. Just kidding.

Little Village
We saw several of these diorama-type displays. Little model villages, people, and mythical creatures would be set among bonsai trees and rock formations.

The Crane! The Crane!
Cranes are often found flanking holy altars. They symbolize harmony. Everything is Yin and Yang.

Altar
The altars are beautiful. Similar to Thai temple altars, but with different idols. As the Vietnamese say, "Same Same, but Different." I love that.

Paul at lunch
There was something in the Diet Coke. Simply the most refreshing, delightful Diet Coke I ever had.,

Best Lunch
After a busy morning absorbing 1000 years of Vietnam history, the delicious, delightful salad with pomelo and shrimp was sublime.

Uh, we're riding THIS?
No - just a relic from motorbike tour history. We will be riding Honda 125s.

Tower of Buddhas
Stacks and stacks of Buddhas.

Cabbage?
OK - I'm guilty. Can't remember what the symbol means. Probably peace, happiness, long life, harmony ... or maybe cabbage.

Buddha close-up
Buddha in a box. I think Justin Timberlake has a song about that.

Fat tourists in cyclos
You can just feel the eyes rolling as you are pedaled through the streets of Old Hanoi in these tourist contraptions. But - it's a fun ride, the drivers are well paid. Everybody happy.