Advertisement
Published: July 25th 2012
Edit Blog Post
Last night, Becky, Renske and I laid inbedclothes chatting until 1.45am..... That is late for us! It was really nice to have such a mixed generation/culture discussion. I enjoyed it.
This morning, it was hard to get up for breakfast, but we all managed it....eventually. I have already binned some clothes as I have worn them as they are unnecessary extra baggage! Also, I will need to fit in the shopping..lol
We have had lessons in Vietnamese this morning with Thiang, he is our guide/support/ in fact he is out ' everything' here! It is really hard to pronounce the words. I certainly will not remember it when I come home. We are doing it to help us as tomorrow we go into the country for the cultural part of the journey, and will be expected to converse.....aaaarrrrgggghhhhh!
For our practical session this afternoon, we are split into teams to go into the market to buy the ingredients for our cookery lesson. I am with Nadia, Britt, Gloria and Roisin, 'the market trotters' team. We are named after the endless amount of pigs and chickens feet that are for sale around here!
Well that was
interesting! We managed well with the shopping, although we did cause a few laughs at our attempts to speak Vietnamese. We got all of our items....in abundance! Tom told us all the wrong amounts, but to be fair to team market trotters we did get what was on our list. We also went over budget by 90000 dong! After the shopping, we found we had a bit of spare time. Britty, Nadia, Amberline, Roisin and I fitted in yet another short shopping spurt. Surprise, surprise! Britty came up trumps again...... Her head band miraculously snapped in an accessory shop. Whatever Britty...lol The cooking started at 2.30, and for Nadia's benefit, .........
We prepared:
Extremely small diced pre-boiled carrot, onion and mushroom in a large panAdded very finely minced pork Added pre-boiled vermicelli (perfectly cut with scissors by Britty!) All was mixed in the pan, then put onto the circular rice paper.
Load with some mixture (but not too much..eh Nadia!) Shallow fry in oil Yayyyyyyy dinner is cooked!
This process took us about two and a half hours, but it was flaters. A short break now before dinner, a quick shower, then off with the girls
to window shop, and take in the pollution a little more.....oh I forgot to add, it has rained all day today!
Another good meal, including our spring rolls! Aregroupif us went out wandering again. Nadia and I are very proud of the fact that we are getting really good a recognising our way around the old quarte! The majority of the group went back to the hotel after quite a trek, Nadia and I split off for a sit down and a quiet drink. I was soooooooo looking forward to a nice cup of coffee at our, now regular bar/coffee shop, no such luck. I ended up with a frappe!......but still drank it!
Ps. Very pleased with bargain Cath Kidston bag, thanks for your brilliant bartering skills Nadia?
All packed and ready to leave Hanoi tomorrow for Ninh Binh
Advertisement
Tot: 0.069s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 7; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0402s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb