Boats Ha Long Bay

Our boat Ha Long Bay

Beautiful Ha Long Bay

On deck, Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay

We're off to Ha Long Bay today to spend the night on a junk on what promises to be a spectacular trip. I've never been before, but from the images I have seen Ha Long Bay is one of the wonders of the world... or should be.

The bus picks us up at 8am. 8am? Oh my! Funny that I still have such thoughts when I have been up and having breakfast at 7am these last few mornings. (it is funny how the whinging is conditioned)

Friends of ours were going to be in Hanoi the same time as us, we all chatted about it dinner before we left. They weren't spending long here, and we left it at "we must catch up." Tonight, we were back at the restaurant next to the hotel drinking coffee on the balcony watching the world go by when, yes it is a small world, our friends walked passed. They are staying at the hotel directly across the road. They are being picked up by the same bus tomorrow to go to Ha Long Bay. Of all the hotels (Gin joints, oh it should be in Hanoi) in Hanoi, and when I say there is many it is an understatement, they had to be staying in the same street.

One of our friends organises their trips down to the last minute detail in advance, while we said we'd organise stuff when we got here and we only organised this trip yesterday.

So, there you go, we are all off to Ha Long Bay in this morning. By bus, should  be interesting.

Our meal one night out in Hanoi

Out for Dinner

Walking in the night in the streets of Hanoi heading out to dinner. The narrow streets feed traffic through the buildings, so like veins pulsing rich thick blood. There is no space to spare and no spare space. People walking, looking, selling, buying, carrying, carting, spruiking, begging, pleading... boys with wallets and lighters and books, girls with donuts and oranges that are green. The streets are lined with chairs and with tables with the audience in full attendance. 

"Come in, good food here..."

"Would you like to buy my painting, my pots, my shirts, dresses, books, lighters, wallets... you name it."

"Motor Bike."

"I will take you for a ride."

People and talking and tooting and revving and lights and fumes and everybody whizzing away.

The streets full to bursting like a fat girl in a small dress... jogging. The is a wall of activity coming at you from every direction all of the time.

Everybody rushing, but where are all those people going, I often think, every hour of the day and night? People and push bikes and motor bikes and cars and trucks and buses all occupying the same spot, seemingly, at the same time and some how it all works

Hanoi streets at night

bustling Hanoi streets at night

Hanoi night life

The lively streets at night in Hanoi

Hanoi streets at night

A family enjoying Hanoi streets at night

Hanoi streets are alive at night

Hanoi streets at night

busy Hanoi streets at night

Capturing Hanoi streets at night

Who wants to go travelling around on this? I do. Cool, huh?

Hanoi Happy Hotel

Rain gear and pollution masks

Street food

Motor bikes are every where

Cute hairdresser

Rain Rain Rain

Colourful umbrella

When Things Are Grim, Sometimes You've Just Got To Dance

Yesterday, I was dancing barefoot in the rain in a garden oasis. Ah, fascinating Hanoi. So, I guess I am feeling better... and I am. However, not to put too finer point on it, I am still too scared to fart. Oh, I know, tacky, but it is the truth. Travel, you have to love it, good and bad. The music was great, the DJ's varied. I was aided with coconut juice imbued with rum, Tiger beer and a little smoke. Who could ask for more? The rain fell hard and I sheltered under the garden pagoda, the rain fell gently and my toes gently padded in the wet grass. It was lovely really.

Bridge over Hanoi lake

Hanoi lake

So many scooters

Ladies at the front of a Hanoi shop

Church Hanoi

Bonsai at the church

Hanoi tree

"There Are People In The World Who Don't Have Access To Fresh Water"

I've spent the day feeling like a sad thing. Hot and cold. My body aching. I've had that feeling of being slightly stunned, if that makes sense... the odd eye thing, like I imagine it is to be hit in the head. I ate a cheese and ham and tomato sandwich, with some trepidation, and some hot chips, even if I know deep fried probably isn't the way to go. I couldn't stand the thought of eating anything else. Boo Hoo, woe is me. At least the blinding head ache has gone.

Sam and I have this expression that we say to each other when we are feeling too sorry for ourselves.

"There are people in the world who don't have access to fresh water."

I reckon, you just have to keep that in mind when you are feeling too blue.

And tomorrow is a new day and I am sure I will feel better then.

Hanoi streets

Hanoi streets

Not Much Fun

We went for a walk in the afternoon, around the lake, in the middle of Hanoi. We sat down halfway around,  Mark got chatting to some guy, Sam was checking something on his iPhone and my guts gurgled from my stomach down to my bum. Oh, I thought, that doesn't feel good. And that was how it started, just like that.

I've got food poisoning, it isn't any fun, let me tell you. It has been coming out both ends. And now, everything hurts; my shoulders hurts, my chest hurts, my back hurts, my hips hurt, my head hurts.

I feel like shit. I don't feel much like writing, no energy. It seems to take a lot of effort just keep my head up vertical,  it is a strain. I'm so tired. Oh, bugger, first day and all.

It is raining. I am lying in bed quietly. We ate from a street cafe, I'm not sure if that is the cause, as Sam ate all of the same things and he is fine, but I am thinking that probably is the cause. Oh well, at least the food was nice.

Hanoi

Hanoi

Hanoi

I Love The Madness

Shopping, shopping, shopping. Shoe Street and Shirt Street and Shorts Street, a street for every thing and everything in its street. They tell me that times are tough in Hanoi, but none of the shop keepers want to haggle or discount. They will a little, but not much, hardly at all. I was surprised. "No, that is the price." You'd think if the times were tough it would be the opposite.

Sam thinks there is something wrong with me. "Where is your shopping spirit?" I'm not much into buying stuff when I am away. I've done all that, I have a house full of shit that I don't need now. Besides, it is only the first day, I told him, there is plenty of time for that.

I still find crossing the road a slightly terrifying prospect. Those avenues of mayhem and madness, one is supposed to launch oneself out into them with faith. "They'll go around you, don't worry." Don't worry? And they do go around you. It get's easier, it does, once you have done it a few times.

We ate in a couple of dodgy restaurants  Sam doesn't want to eat western food. "No! We need to eat the local food, or there is no point being here." And it's cool that he wants to, as I wouldn't. I can be too timid a traveller, to start with. If I've been away for a month and not a day, then I'm more bold. You just get to a stage where you don't give a shit, but that takes time.

It's hot and I am drenched in sweat and my shirt is stuck to me and I look a bit like I am dying, but who cares. I love the heat if I don't have to go to work.

It Is Very Hot in Hanoi

It is very hot in Hanoi, 35 degrees. We ate food off the bamboo mat on the floor, at a friends place out of the city. Prawns. Pig's ear self-rolled spring rolls. Chicken. Melon. Quail's eggs. Rice. I've smoked my lung off, as Sam continues to tell me. The traffic is as mad, I'm kind of dreading the next busy street crossing. Close your eyes and think of Britain, is as close as I can get to putting the feeling into words. The place is as exotic, though, as I remember it to be. A decaying beauty, not unlike Elizabeth Taylor in the full bloom of one of her many addictions. That is the degradation and not the high, you understand. French colonial in full disrepair. Noisy. Polluted. Every car toots to warn you that it is approaching. A billion motor bikes in a tropical wonderland.

ménage a trois