Good Morning Vietnam

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Hanoi is an experience! Very different from the heat and humidity of Bangkok. We arrived in Hanoi at about 2pm after a comfortable short flight. It is cold here and the air is dull and grey. The roads are full of moped driving crazy people. We took our booked taxi to the hotel... a very hair raising adventure!. It seems that "Maureen from Driving school" has been here before. Horns have replaced indicators and lane changing is done at will. The path ahead is full bicycles, mopeds and buffalo. With relief we arrived at our destination, "The Ritz hotel". The small, dodgy alleyway that we were led down first does not truly represent the hotel at all. We were greeted by a very clean and friendly place run by a couple of Man Utd loving brothers, (not a street slang phrase). It is situated on the central Hoam Kiem Lake, which is beautiful by night.

After settling in, we ventured into the throngs of the city, braving each street with closed eyes and crossed fingers. We can't explain how crazy it is, you actually have to cross the road with the traffic engulfing you. With a spirit of adventure we tried a local food stall which resembled a tent left at Glastonbury. The rustic beef noodle soup was cooked directly at the table. The waiter could see that we were struggling and helped us out all of the way. This was a fantastic experience and tasted great. When you get used to the noise and bustle and great piles of rubbish at the end of each street, you can see the colour and vibrancy among it. The locals speak little english, but are friendly and eager to help.

After a night experiencing some more jet lag ( feeling very awake at 3am -settling for football on sat TV and snacks )we woke up late and chose to have a more in depth walk around the city. Each street has a trade that they specialise in and so maybe sweets, gravestones and blankets will be in the same district. With 'tet' fast approaching there is a sense of excitement and preparation, with coloured lamps and burnt offerings in the streets. And Happy New Year wishes giving us a sense of Deja Vu. Again faced with the traffic chaos we headed to the Culi Cafe to book ourselves onto a Halong Bay Tour on board a junk for the night. We celebrated with a cup of coffee and a chuckle to ourselves on what we are experiencing.

Next stop the train station, full of short, helmet wearing locals booking their travel for the New Year . After discussing with some other travellers we sat in the waiting for our number to be called. Emma however was only met with the gurgling of her stomach after the fried rice we had just ate at another local street stall. So the only option was to vist the WC in the station, remember the scene in trainspotting, well add masses of Vietnamese and a very militant attendant and you will get the idea. A 1000 dong was exchanged for the pleasure and rations of toilet roll provided. Emma and I would not even consider doing this in the UK, this cannot be said of Matt however. With the job done and ticket on the next sleeper available out of Hanoi booked we are sorted for the nest couple of days. Only one problem the soft, semi luxurious train that we asked for is fully booked. So roughing it here we come, in with the dirt and grime.

All blogged out now so off we go, also Emma is trying to edit the spelling and word count of the blog on the CPU next too me and is not finding the long windedness that funny so bye for now and happy emailing.

Legends.

PS: 30,000VND (dong) = 1 pound

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Photos

Tortoise Pagoda
This is for your Jack and Ann

Shot taken fom street cafe
Eating at the street cafe with our first taste of cat.... sorry I mean pork.

Taking it easy, like Wed morning.
Getting the caffine in the system ready to cross the road.

Where we had breakfast
Pho Ba is a Beef stu and we ate it here, no effects yet.

Bamboo, whoodoo,voodoo.
What is this boy talking about.

they came 2 by 2 by 2......
a tiny shop of a million bras

Hanoi cultural palace
wasted on us!

Frank's Handywork!
The electrical cables here look very unsafe

Comments

[Powelly]

Ha ha, fair play to you for braving the street stalls. the usual tip is to go for the busy ones and try to ascertain what the locals are paying for theirs first. Anal retentivity has its blessings - in Glast it lets nothing out, in public school it lets nothing in. Well, almost nothing (Hi Stu xx)

[Duncan]

Grammar
Emma, can you check the grammar, sentence construction, word order, punctuation and general all round use of incomprehensible words and phrases, as well. I am already jaded by trying to understand what the illiterate idiot means! Apart from that, it sounds fantastic. Update from home: Frank now has his IT helpdesk on speedial and mother is undergoing counselling. Joy!

[Vickster]

loo troubles
wow sounds like you are having loads of fun already, well apart from the toilet experience..enjoy the train ride xxx

[Mark]

That my sister
Stuart you should have been warned ,about sis ,she is always right ,edit and spelling just one of her skills.!!!! Take care both.

[Cheryl]

APLUS
Hello Stuie and Emma, I have been thoroughly enjoying your blogs so far.....especially Stuarts very long winded and slightly laborious one!!!!! Just to let you know I have a new side kick at work and he is not a patch on Stu!!!!!!!!!! He has not recruitment experience and wants to go on fag breaks all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you continue to have a wonderful, wonderful time, take care of each other, Chezzaratti!!!!!

[Welshy]

WOOHOO!!!!
You may be far from home but I just thought you'd like to know that Wales just beat England in Twickenham, my lovely Welsh Wanderers! 26-19 it was. Wales were cr*p in the first half but England were VERY cr*p in the second half! Glad you're finding your way through Vietnam with all the chaos and without the language - not that that has ever stopped Stu before he he! He has got marvellous sign language skills. Enjoy Saigon and looking forward to the next post. Does Emma type the next one and Stu edits the spelling mistakes in??!!