hanoi

headed south from Vang Vien to Viente to catch a plane to Hanoi. spent the next two days in my hotel room with a dodgy stomach. Did make it out for an afternoon and took a leisurely stroll through the manic streets of Hanoi to the Temple of literature. although this is an impressive 11th century structure i was expecting something more to do with literature. perhaps it was a little unfair of me to expect the re incarnation of the library at Alexander, but their we no books at all except for the obligitory Hanoi guide books. The journey they however was an adventure, the roads are teaming with traffic with the order of salmon trying to swim upstream. hundreds of motor bikes race along intertwining with eachover, the only way i could cross the road was by fo9llowing a couple of locals, who just walk into the road weaving in between the oncoming deluge of traffic.

i enjoy just wandering around cities i think that you get more a feeling the spirit of the town and the people. its difficult to just some up, but maybe a good example are the tuk tuk drivers. in Thailand, they will approach you, then demand over the odds because, its before 12, its after 12, its rush hour, their has been an accident and they will have to take a detour, but usually because you done want to go where they want to take you, ie their friends shop or on a 4 hour city tour. In Lao you have to hunt for a tuk tuk, then either wake him up, or look in the nearest cafe where he is having a drink with some friends and then beg him to give you a lift. in Vietnam the tuk tuk drivers will run you over put you in the back of their vehicles, take you to a hospital, dump your unconscious body in the foyer having already removed the cost of the journey from you wallet while taking the rest as a tip. before he leaves he will ask a doctor when you will be released and promptly turn up to take you back to your hotel via an ATM.

the day we were supposed to leave Hanoi we were checking out of the hotel, helen (who had arrived a day before me) had negotiated a discount with the manager as her shower was not working. however he was not there. i was not there for the first part of the conversation as i was booking plane tickets, but apparently he would not listen to any thing she said, but as i arrived he panicked when he realised that we were about to leave without paying the full bill, but refused to call the boss. his friend stood at the door holding the door closed. the atmosphere became tense. i have just finished reading a novel called Nothing to Lose where the main character is a fella called Jack Reacher. I thought to my self what would jack do? Easy the chap holding the doors closed has his back to us holding the silver door handles in his hands near his chest with his nose resting on the glass door facing looking outwards, run up behind him slamming my forehand into his back while slamming his face in to the glass dor with the palm of my hand. while VC number one crumples to the floor unconscious with blood pouring from his face grab the computer keyboard and slide it through the the door handles then turn to the aggressive chap behind the counter and sayomg, 'you would not let us leave, now you cant leave' Good Fella's style.

instead we paid the extra and left.

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