More Photos

In Hanoi... ditched my crappy bus pass and took the overnight train from Hue to Hanoi with my aussie friends and a belgium couple. I can't remember their names, so I refer to them as Hanz and Franz (even though I know that's German...and I don't do it in their company, of course.)

Anyway, train was lovely. Paid more for the one trip than my entire idiotic tourist bus pass, but it was worth it. I gave my bus tickets to the lovely Vietnamese girl who worked at my last hotel. She was very excited! I felt good about that.

Hanoi, as far as I can tell, is just another city. Lotsa bikes. Lotsa motorbikes. Lotsa nice lamps and pottery to buy. Lotsa people bugging me to 'Lady, lady! You buy something!' (Postcards, toothpicks, cigarettes, rubber door stops, gum, lighters, etc. etc. etc. etc.) It's very tiring. I just don't respond anymore. I'm heading out on a three day boat tour in Halong Bay tomorrow and can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to that. Thousands of limestone islands that shoot straight up into the air... snorkelling, swimming, fishing, kayaking. No hawkers trying to hawk me anything. (Well, so they say, but I'll believe it when I see it.)

Went to the Hanoi Hilton today. It was the least interesting of all the museums I've seen. Full of propaganda.

In fact, I see a huge difference in the north so far. Less friendly. Anything to do with the war tends to have a north Vietnam vs. South Vietnam tone rather than Vietnam vs. the US. Fewer people speak english... and if you can believe it, finding this internet place was difficult. I got a taste of what foreigners in our country must feel like today... when not a one could understand me. Not a word.

It's 36 degrees. I am learning loads about patience today.

As for the situation in Siem Reap, that's horrendous. I know where that school is, I walked passed it and thought about going in to volunteer. It wasn't the school I did teach in -- that was a very small public school. Siem Reap was the place in Cambodia where I felt safe. Very sad.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads and uncles and grandfathers gathering in Prospect today. I honestly wish I were there... instead of this stinky city today. ;) x ox x ox x ox x xox ox x

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