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Published: January 26th 2006
Hanoi by day
colourful markets on the roadWe have been in Hanoi, North Vietnam for a whole week! and survived...just!
Hanoi itself scared us completely when we first arrived. Really noisey, busy, motorbikes everywhere beeping there horn at seems like everybody-all day, all night. I will add photos of the craziness of Hanoi. We therefore have spent most of the time out of the city on tours. On Friday we took a day trip to the Perfume Pagoda. This involved a 2 hr bus trip, 11/2 hr boat trip ( well not really a boat, a 4 man metal punt) -a poor local lady had to row us there and back and had blisters to show for it), we then had an hr climb to the Pagoda, then obviously climbing back down ( this was the start of our exercise this week). Once down we had a meal made by the locals. It was interesting to see them all busy preparing for Tet ( or New Year-like our christmas all the family come home and there are big celebrations). The Vietnamese take pilgrimage to the Pagoda before Tet so we watched the local villagers rapidly hammering up buildings made from bamboo.
On saturday we set off
Hanoi by night
crazy motorbikes for a 2 day trip to Halong Bay. This was a boat tour around the bay. We stayed overnight on our luxurious cabin ( not!). Beth didnt sleep well due to the cold, sound of mice on deck and fat man snooring. Im not sure why but i didnt notice at all!. We visited caves and sampled local cusine on the boat.
We then decided we couldnt leave the north without going to SaPa ( mountainous region where minority tribes people live). It is right next to the border of China and we were warned it was cold and wet. Before we left to get the sleeper train there we visisted the lively street markets of Hanoi and bought winter jackets, woolie hats and jumpers!!! all a bargain for 20 pounds total but not looking forward to carrying for the next 6 months. However will come in handy in New Zealand ( and much cheaper!). So we got the sleeper train-8hrs in a 4 bed cabin and then was taken to Sapa. We had a guide all to ourselves who took us on slippery, mountain walks to see 3 different minority tribes over 2 days. We were due to
Perfume River
View from our 'punt' stay in a local house overnight in one of the villages but we chickened out as only 2 of us in our group and sooo cold ( sorry clare i know you will be disappointed in us!) Still our hotal was great and we were joined by a group of 14 dutch bikers who were in the middle of riding around north Vietnam. They forced us to have rice wine ( yuk!).
Got back to Hanoi at 5am this morning and after waiting for hotels to open at 7 booked into a dorm and got some much needed sleep. Tonight we get the 13hrs bus ride to Hue. We are now heading south to try and find some sun!!
Have seen some amazing things and i hope this will be captured in the photos. We have also had major headaches re transport. On the first day In Vietnam the taxi driver took us to the wrong hotel ( on purpose!!!), we stayed because we didnt know where to go but promptly left the next morning ( much to their annoyance!), our bus for the first trip was over an hour late ( it eventually turned up after much
Perfume Pagoda
You can see the monk if you look hard! shouting to the organiser as we thought he had scammed us) and last night our beds on the sleeper train back were double booked! ( me and beth eventually got a bed but had to top and tail-havnt done that since i used to with my sister when i was liitle...beth was less wriggly than my sister!!).
From this we have learnt ( this is my reflection bit) that spending ages looking for the cheapest deal is good for the budget but not good for the stress levels.
Ok then off to sunnier places down south...we hope.
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ellie
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jealous!!
it all looks so cool!don't u both look sweet all wrapped up!!though of u yesterday vicks when sat at Wycombe!!no real goss from here...keep the photos coming, why did i never consider travelling?!i must be mad!keep safe.ellie xx