Managed to get to a computer so here is my first entry. Arrived in Hanoi last night (9th June) all went very smoothly. Was greeted at departures by our taxi from the hotel and off we went. The driving out here much reminds me of India, even more so when we were out walking to day. Lots of Beeping! and basically find a space and get in it, no indicating nothing! So driving to our hotel last night was abit of a experience with mopeds and bikes sweeping in and out of the traffic. You would never see it back home!.
Anyways, got to our room, which is very nice for what we paid, clean, aircon.. Absolute must!!!!. but the only issue is we have 5 steep, narrow, sets of stairs to climb before we get to our room. Gonna have toned thighs by the time i get home!!!.
This morning we woke at 10am, meant to get up at 8am but i guess the jetlag hit us wooops!. soo no breakie for us. After quickly checking where we were going and few suggestions from the hotel receptionist (very very nice and helpful) we wandered off into the mayhem, aiming for the Ho Chih Minh Masoleum. Even though we had a map, it's extemely easy to loose your way in the mismatch of streets, and that we did. Street names are hard to find in all the mayhem that is the shops, bags hanging, mopeds parked everywhere, people sitting enjoying a cool drink on the pavements , or so ive been told its the local brewed beer!. After catching sight of another foreigner, we followded him, hoping he would lead us to our desination, which paid off!. Unfortunately being Friday, the Masoleum is actually closed , but we managed to catch the changing of the guards which was pretty cool. We also wandered further up the road and found a temple and a huuuuge lake,which in this heat i just felt like jumping into! !
After all that, we found a wee place for lunch and sat down to a mango iced tea and i had chinese style fuselli pasta haha!( not exactly traditional vietnamese cooking but hey, that will come tonight for dinner. ) By chance we landed up next to the army museum and flag tower which Hanoi is apparently famous for.( we seemed to have found alot of things by chance ).
On way to Hoan Kiem lake, we got accosted by a lady selling pineapple with two heavy baskets balancing on a pole over her shoulders. "picture" she told us and proceeded to dump the baskets on Charlotte's shoulders and put her hat (conical hat, the round ones) on her head.She then got out her mobile phone and took a photo of me and charlotte. ...Ended up we all had a picture taken with this basket and then we felt we had to buy something from her. ( 1st rule i know!) and yes i believe we got shortchanged.. $10 dollars for 2 bags of pineapple. Least we've learned our lesson now,Definately won't be making that mistake again! and the pineapple is amazing so can't be too harsh on the lady. .
Practically melting in the heat we reached Hoan Kiem lake, legend has it that in the mid 15th century, heaven sent Emporor Le Thai To a magical sword, which he used to drive the Chinese out of Vietnam. One day after the war, he happened upon a giant golden tortoise swimming on the surface of the water; the creature grabbed the sword and disappeared into the depths of the lake. Since then the lake has been known as "Hoan Kiem" lake becasue the tortoise restored the sword to its divine owners- or so the story goes.
Anyways enough rambling, We are off on more sightseeing adventures tomorrow, planning to go back to the masoleum as it is open tomorrow and see Ho Chi Minh himself! then go for a stay in the "Hanoi Hilton" ( not really!) it is the old prison-or what is left of it- used to hold the american P.O.A and they still have the French Gouillitine that was used to cut off vietnamese deviants heads. LOVELY!!.
Have booked out trip to Halong Bay for Monday and a trip to Ninh Binh for Sunday (supposedly Halong Bay on land) and gettin sleeper bus down Tuesday night to Hue. (rather that than just a soft seat on the train for 12 hours :( )
Exciting!!
Will write again soon.. when i have more to write about anyway. will try get some pics up too.
love sara xxxxx
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