New City, Same Country

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Just landed in Hue about 3.30 Vietnam time to light rain and 21 degrees. The Camillia hotel is lovely (bout 4 star on NZ standards) and they had Oreo biscuits in the mini bar - nice!

We spent this morning in Ha Noi visiting the Hoa Lo Prison when Senator McCain stayed for a while lol Better know as the "Ha Noi Hilton!" Interesting walking through seeing the original prison and cells. Very well set up for visitors and really cool memorial carved in a huge marble wall for the Vietnamese who were imprisoned during the resistance. Then for something completely different hunted out the Paris Deli (recommended in Rough Guide Vietnam) and had a beautiful chocolate pastry and mocachino - now that's what I call a cafe! We had a nice view of the Opera House and Hilton Hotel from the cafe and checked out the longines watches in the nearby mall in the French Quarter and did lots of window shopping. Brought some nice local Vietnamese art and am the proud owner of some knock off Oakly sun glasses!

Yesterday got back to Ha Noi by night train from Sapa at 4.30am and were greeted by a half asleep receptionist to check us in even though they don't have a 24hr front desk. The staff at the Golden Lake hotel are great and speak really good english which they are happy to practice. After going back to sleep until 12 noon we headed out to wander around the Old Quarter and found Shoe St (Carolyn, your kinda street!) Ella and I can now be trendy in our rip off Converse shoes - very comfortable! We had dinner at the Green Tangerine Restaurant (bookings are essential). Wonderful French Vietnamese fusion food. I can recommend the aubergine, olive and tomato bruschetta with Parmeson biscuits which went well with my Pina Colada! For dessert there was banana and chocolate tart with chocolate and pistachio ice cream - it's a hard life!

After dinner we happened apon some hip hop dancers behind the Ha Noi Founders statue who were on a par with the Step Up dancers but had a video glitch so lost the footage and didn't see them again - one of my most frustrating moments so far! We were just in time to witness a dad trying out his son's remote controlled helicopter. He flew it over a government building and we watched as it went into a tail spin out of control and never to be seen again I suspect. We left them debating how they might retrieve it - good luck with that! To end the evening go dupped into holding a Vietnamese womens baskets of pineapples for a photo then she slipped 2 into my bar and it cost me about $20 NZ all up very clever trick for young punters😊

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Comments

[mum]

Hello
Hi you two sounds like you are having a geat time. No photos this time round or did I miss them some how. Still not sure what I am up to with the computor at times. Lettie is enjoying being back home and is never far from my side. Badly need to go to the hair dressers and have a shampoo and blow dry. Will have to brush er well today as her appointment is not till next Thursday. Michael did a great job of looking after our house while we were away. He enjoyed it as well. Richard has mastered the skis at long last. He really enjoyed getting outher and doing it. Well better close now Kwwp safe Love mum

[Brenda]

Food
Sounds like you will both have to do a bit of walking when you get back! What a clever woman, I bet you don't get caught like that again!!

[mum]

Hello
Lettie got me up early this morning so that is why I am sitting at the computor at 10 to 7 Saturday morning. Looks like it is going to be a dull day today. The temperatures have been up in the 30 since we have got home from Rotoma. Dad has just gone for a walk and Lettie is lying at the frenchdoor watching him go. Daniel has put an offer on a house at Sandstone point don,t know if it has been accepted yet but it should be as he went in only $5,000 less than asking price. I think he offered $340,000. Nice house. He is getting a builders report etc. once it has been accepted. Rozanne and Vicki have checked it out as well. Not sure what I will do today. May sort out some of my clothes as I have to start work again on Monday. Your little car died the other day but it was only the battery. Needs new tyres and cv joints which are going to be done next week. That will keep it going a bit longer for Brenda. Well must get on and do something. Hope you have another good day today. Keep safe Love Mum

[2ontheloose]

Hello a reply
Hi..We are going to be heading for above 30 degree temps as we head south. No doubt we will enjoy spending 3 days on the beach in Mui Ne. Sounds good about the house, hes done well to own a house at only 25. A budding property magnate. Well blog when in Hoi An tomorrow again, hopefully with photos.