From the beginning...

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Now I can start from the beginning - not sure where that is, it feels like today has gone forever (we have been awake for nearly 48hours!). The plane flight was uneventful, except for the fact that we had 2 dinners and a breakfast/brunch within about 5 hours, starting at 2.30 this morning!
Arrived in Hanoi airport at about 9.30am and proceeded to find a taxi- I'm pretty sure we would have been ripped off but you've got to start somewhere! As for the taxi driver and the roads and traffic in general...
I havent ever seen anything quite like it! And those e-mails with motorbikes loaded to the max with you name it are a reality here! We saw one dude with about 8 crates of eggs stacked up on the back- a disaster waiting to happen!
Once we finally got to our hotel (the taxi driver tried to take us to some random hotel), we were pleasantly suprised to find that we were on the sixth floor - a good view but a bloody long way! We had our first taste of real bartering on the streets around the Old Quarter - and I had my first banana in a damn long time!
And I havent even mentioned the weather yet- hot and humid - about 29 degrees! Its beautiful at night with a bit of a breeze blowing. Have had a real culture shock with the road crossing and the amazing number of motorbikes - it really is insane! There are no traffic lights and everyone just drives everywhere beeping their horns - the odd zebra crossing exists but is not functional at all - u basically have to start walking and just hope that the traffic misses you, I just had a very near miss about 10 minutes ago! I am hoping desperately that it gets a little easier because it makes crossing a road a very stressful experience!
Tonight we walked to the Hoen Kiem lake and found a little spot for dinner - awesome food for $25AUS altogether! The nightlife is just amazing, nothing seems to stop - but if we manage to get through this whole trip without a bout of gastro we'll be doing bloody well - the amount of random food that seems to be floating around the streets is a bit concerning!
Havent purchased anything much yet- I figure that it might be worth waiting a week or two to get my batering skills up to scratch - there are some awesome paintings and everything else under the sun, but am sure they will be at the markets everywhere. Tomorrow we'll probably head to the main markets, or do the walk around Hanoi - will wait and see how much sleep we need!
As for the clinic front, we managed to contact the Dr in charge - she sounded like she may have forgotten when we were coming (!) but all is organised for a 9am start on Monday - who knows what is in store, but Im damn glad that there is a big group of us!
Internet is free at this hotel so will be able to keep in touch easily while here - will probably stay for the week and then move on to mix things up a bit.
Am off the the land of nod - stay tuned for the next instalment! 😊

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Photos

Motorbikes
Owning a motorbike must be the equivalent of owning a car - and getting your licence must be as easy as opening a weetbix packet, based on the hair raising experience of a taxi ride!

Our six storey staircase!
Apparently when you want a room for three you have to climb to the sixth floor - cheaper than a gym membership I suppose!

Hoen Kiem Lake at night
Beautiful by day but amazing by night - it seems to be the popular spot for couples!

Comments

[Jenno]

Sooooo Jealous
Hey Belle- I am sooo jealous, I want to be where you are! I loved Vietman when I was there and I can imagine everything you are talking about! One thing I will never forget was seeing motor bikes whizzing around in the country with live pigs in cylindrical baskets. How they got them in there I dont know but it was an amazing sight! Look forward to reliving 'Nam thru you!! -Jenno