Bangkok and Hanoi

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June 14th 2010

Published: June 14th 2010

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paulandclaire

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We are here!! After months of planning, some very sad goodbyes and an 11 hour plane journey we have finally started our RTW trip. I am currently in Hanoi writing this where we have been for a couple of days. We arrived in Bangkok on Friday which was incredibly surreal. Bangkok is amazing, not at all like i thought it was going to be. Loads high rise buildings and seemed very modern. Our hotel was right next to Khao San rd which is the main backpacker street so we went down there to find some food. Had amazing food with world cup showing on massive screen and listened to a guitar player who played loads Radiohead (Paul was very happy). Both so excited to have started our trip together and had brill first night in Bangkok celebrating. Next day went to visit grand palace, stupidly we decided to just head off and wander around until we found it. This was a very bad idea as it is crazily hot here, Paul was sweating more than I ever thought was humanly possible. Also the only other bad thing about Bangkok (other than the heat) is all the scams and people trying to

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sell stuff. Random strangers kept following us and trying to persuade us stuff was closed and to go visit some Buddha somewhere, after like the 10th time you actually begin to believe it. When we finally got to the grand palace it was totally worth it though. It was such an amazing place and the pictures really don’t do it justice but would highly recommend it. Spent rest of time in Bangkok just chilling out as very jetlagged and Paul wasn’t feeling too good from all the heat. Was quite sad to be leaving the next day as there seemed to be so much more to see but we will be back!

Our flight to Hanoi was very early in the morning, but still managed to get up to watch the football. Wish I hadn't bothered but the less said about that the better. So with jetlag still really affecting us we headed off for Hanoi. After a short 2 hour flight and a while spent sorting out visas we arrived. The first thing we noticed in Vietnam on our trip from the airport was the crazy traffic, I have never seen anything like it. Its amazing there

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aren't more crashes, cars and bikes swerve between lanes and into on coming traffic beeping there horns constantly with no consideration for traffic lights or crossings. Horns sound constantly all day and night and form the soundtrack to the city - it will be a sound I won't miss. Crossing the road is very difficult and takes a while to get used to, just slowly walking while the bikes swerve around you seems to work the best. We arrived at our nice hostel and set off to explore the city. The heat was unbearable and makes doing much during the day difficult. The city of Hanoi is incredible though, its like nothing I have seen before. Narrow streets, tall buildings and little alleyways all full of street vendors and people on scooters keep a hectic and busy feel to the city. It is much less westernised than Bangkok, even shops selling basic food and drink are hard to find. We spent most the day walking around and popping into cafes to get out of the heat. We also went to the Hoan Kiem Lake in the centre of the city and visited the Ngoc Son Temple in the middle of

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the lake. On the way back to the hotel we stopped for some fantastic food on a roof top terrace near the cathedral.
On our second day in Hanoi we went to investigate the old quarter of the city. This is where most the hostels are and has lots more tourist orientated shops and services. Later in the day we planned our next few days and booked a trip to Halong Bay, before going out for a meal. This was even better than the night before, the food in Hanoi is incredible and all for around £2.50 each.
Off to Halong Bay tomorrow for a 2 day cruise, can't wait. After that we have one last night in Hanoi before heading south to Ninh Binh.
Will write soon.

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