So the problem with going to Vietnam towards the end of the rainy season is its the rainy season. One might think this is a truth that is self evident; towards the end, but not there yet. Sadly for the eternal optimists out there such as myself, when it comes to weather we see the term 'towards the end of' to mean 'clearing up'. Hanoi proved me very wrong today... so so very wrong.

When we headed down for brekkie we could see that it was lightly raining outside, we spent a few hours planning our next few days and could see it was still lightly raining. Not to be one's to let things rain on our parade we decided to head out in the light rain and check out some of Hanoi's sights. Fair to say I should have listened to Emily when we found ourselves at a 6 way intersection with what I think was supposed to be a round-a-bout in the middle, but it just could have easily been a chuck of concrete that fell off a truck and nobody wanted to move it so the just painted arrows around it. Anyway, Emily pointed out which road we needed to be on, which was all the way over the side of the intersection... this meant crossing the road. I strongly believe that there 80 year old Vietnamese people that have never left the block the grew up on because they simply cannot cross the road... Crossing the road here is taking your life into your own hands... its stupidity...

So because it was to scared to cross at the crazy intersection I told Emily we'd be fine if we followed the road we were on, it would bring us to the main road and we could navigate from there... rookie mistake number 1. we got hopelessly lost, but through the fine navigation skills Milly and Mihai, we managed to stumble upon the Hanoi Hilton (an old prison built by the French and used by both French and Vietnamese governments), our intended destination.

After about a hour in the Hanoi Hilton we decided we'd like to see the Opera house which, apparently all the materials had been shipped directly from France to build. As we wandered towards the Opera house through the French quarter of Hanoi, admiring the French style architecture, we saw a building that took our fancy and deviated from our set path... Rookie mistake number 2

The building was pretty cool, however somehow we ended up being turned on the map... and when I say we... I mean Me, I was navigating. It was still raining, had been all day... it was very humid... and we were lost in Hanoi... Again...

Once again Emily came to the rescue, finding a street sign that matched a street name on our map. From here we were able to make our way to the opera house... which is a pretty cool building, however once we found it I think we were well past building appreciation time, and more focused on food time.

We rounded out our day with some well deserved beers and Pho at our local Pho place... 

The one thing that I did learn today is that my Thongs (or flip flops for those of you who like to name shoes for the sounds they make... cause that's not weird or anything) are truly Aussie thongs... made for a drought... they did not like the wet pavement one tiny little bit... I nearly went ass-up at least 15 times, and every time I did I would elbow Emily. I think it may be time to give these bad boys the flick... I know I said that I am an eternal optimist, and as such I should keep them for drier times... however in the here and now, these puppies are dangerous, so they have to go. There is no room for optimism in my slippery thong...    

Arrival Notes

I'm going to gloss over the details of how I got here, but I am in Hanoi and it is raining.  It's still humid, but now everyone is wearing ponchos.  I've just seen a woman drive by with 1700 water bottles strapped to the back of her motorbike.  


My first impressions of the city were overshadowed by the fact I almost died several times travelling from the airport to my hotel in a taxi.  The only rule of the road seems to be that there are no rules when it comes to driving...this has taken some getting used to.  But thanks to my Grandma Anderson, I have accepted the norm of walking straight into oncoming traffic with the hope that the never-ending stream of vespas and motorbikes will swerve out of my way.  Very tempted to rent a bike and try out the roads for myself, though I have a feeling that it would be a terrible idea.   Especially because I have no idea how to drive one.

Yikes. So many bikes.

Yesterday we had a proper walk through the old quarter and it was quite lovely.  The buildings are thin and tall with little balconies jutting out everywhere.  In some places the sidewalks are totally covered with rental bikes, etc.  By etc I mean everything.  Streets feel really cluttered but cosy, complete with massive old growth trees with roots grown into the pavement.

  

Tortoise Tower

Hoan Kiem Lake, a small lake south of the city centre, was an oasis of calm (despite the constant traffic noise in the background).  I liked it because there was a cool breeze.

Bridge to Ngoc Son Temple  

So far we've only managed to spend 26.83 AUD - but $8.30 was scammed from us.  Firstly, a crazy man who tried to tell us he was a Red Cross ESL teacher that sold toothpicks to benefit needy country children.  We should have been tipped off by his piss poor English.  He wanted 20.00 USD from each of us, but in the end we gave him 50, 000 VND to leave us be.  Second came later in the form of a youngish woman who put 2 sacks of chopped pineapple in my lap and said "Baby" whilst gesturing to her belly.  Against Phil's better judgement, I gave her 50, 000 for 1 bag (AHHHH OVERPRICED) and got an upset stomach for my charity.  Dammit!  Probably the best pineapple either of us had ever tasted, though.  


We were thinking of busing to Halong Bay tomorrow, but the forecast literally says 'torrential rain', so maybe on Thursday.


- milly

Heroes

This is one of many songs that are keeping me creeping on towards September.  Also, I just watched The Life Aquatic so maybe I'm feeling sentimental.




- milly

stagnancy

Even though I finalized my remaining SE Asia/Australia flights this week,  it seems like my self-contentedness at this heroic milestone is being smothered by a massive, memory foam pillow.  Of which the sham covering is a literal symbol for the sham that is my Nanaimo Life Of Waiting.  An interminable sea is stretched between me and salvation. A stagnant sea involving the months of May, June, July and August.  And I guess, also, what's to be "salvaged" of this April term.  


It's hard to wait any longer.    Another solo summer stands in front of me, no job security or ready fulfillment on the table, so fuck you, VIUFA.  I am really trying to save myself, but it's hard being the heroine with no sidekick.  I wish I could wear the club colours without feeling like shit.  


There is an imprint of both sides of my face in the real memory foam pillow on my bed from the hours I've spent waiting for sleep.  Waiting for the dream about the Vietnamese beach, the cool breeze, dorky sunglasses and the hand I get to hold for the first time in 12 months.


- milly

chopsticks, they call this tune. i'd rather use skyscanner.

First of all:  why did I ever think the semester would be cancelled?  I'll never be rid of this history paper!
Secondly:  a pay increase for professors of directed studies courses?  That was 1 of 6 minor issues VIUFA was able to settle on?  why should they be paid more for having students who essentially teach themselves?

It took them 31 days to figure out that shit.

So many questions, so few government subsidized university tuition schemes.

That being said, I was reaffirmed in my suspicions that I actually chose to study courses that pertained to one another and to my interest in travelling.  :)
I feel refreshed at the thought of revisiting my childhood through the medium of second language acquisition.  (Yay Linguistics!)

In real travel news, I have now bought 2 of 3 flights needed to send me over to the East and back.  Though, I am mildly annoyed at Skyscanner for displaying an unusually short estimation of the ticket price for my flight from Honolulu to Bellingham.  What's going on there?  Normally, I am a Skyscanner enthusiast and avid recommender, one reason being that the flight prices include all taxes and fees.

$8 more it cost.  I am a cheap bastard, and I know it.

Anyway, the other bit of preparation I would like to share is my newly found chopstick glory.  (In order to supplement any potential ignorance on the subject I've just consulted the most reputable source on the internet and Yes, chopsticks are used in Southest Asia)  phew!
This weekend a friend and I dined at a noodle place in Victoria at which I mowed my entire meal using them (except when I got home and ate the leftovers with a fork).
Upon reading the wiki article, it seems like I did break almost every single etiquette rule listed.

thx 4 readin

- milly

Why We're Super

I thought I'd take this lazy day opportunity to clear up what's actually going on here. In case you were confused.


The story of Milly and Mihai begins the day we each boarded flights abroad.  That day several years ago now, is the day we became super heroes that saved ourselves from the relatively laid out path in front of us.  What was originally going to be a GAP year in Ireland pre-university for me, and a stint living in London before settling down back home for Phil, turned out to be the head shake we needed to realize that maybe travelling the world is where we're supposed to be.  


Phil (whose real name is Michael, hence Mihai, the Romanian version) and I (Emily) met in Eastern Europe back in the spring of 2009.   


Despite the fact that he stole my pizza out of the hostel fridge and left a drunken note written on the box, I visited him at his place in London a few weekends later.  There, we developed a taste for strawberry water after a long day at Church, and cautiously laid the foundation for the most epic adventure either of us had ever experienced.  


Us two amigos met up and travelled the Balkans for a month that summer.  By late August, it was certain that track 11 was not the end.  So post much planning and dossing about on both sides of the world, we're finally getting together this September to keep the dream alive.  4 months of wanderlust in Southeast Asia + 1 month of lapping up the laid back life in Australia = why did I even go to VIU in the first place?


In the meantime, Phil works in Australia as a supply teacher, while I pin down multiple jobs on an island somewhere in order to save money for this trip.


We'd love to take with us as many friends and family on this journey possible - virtually.  I started this blog because I believe we have a unique travel voice to share with you.  So subscribe if you're inclined:  we promise an up to date chronicle of where we are, what we're doing and the sights we've seen - this will include written posts, photos and maybe even a video now and then.


thanks for reading!


- milly

Those philosophy courses may have paid off...

Ever had the feeling that you were destined for greatness? That your life was planned out for you, every intricate detail meticulously sculpted right down to the bad hair cuts, the stupid things you’ve said, the bad decisions you’ve made - even the ones you still defend vehemently. With all this plotting and scheming culminating in single a moment in time and space when the world will bask in your awesomeness as you conquer all that comes before you leaving nothing but an euphoric wave of peace, love and all things shinny in your wake… 


If this ‘life sculpting’ (aka destiny) were real, my sculptor lost motivation a long long time ago. Honestly, whoever was sculpting this life must have been aiming for some kind of kindergarten macaroni masterpiece destined to hang on the fridge just long enough for them to feel proud of themselves before they forget about its existence and the abomination is discreetly destroyed. I’m relatively sure it’s through my own mismanagement of life that I find myself moving back to my home town of Curlwaa NSW, back into my parents house(Cheers guys), and going back to the school I went to as an awkward teen.


However things are looking up. In 123 days my voyage to Hanoi begins, and I’m pretty bloody excited, even at this early stage. So what will I be doing for the next 123 days? Having pretty much reduced destiny to an unmotivated, retarded kindergarten student with low self esteem, I’ll be contemplating that moment in time and space when she walked into that hostel in Budapest and pondering if that retarded kindy kid had anything to with it, or if my own mismanagement somehow paid off.
My money is on the retard, we just need to establish who that is.


-Mihai

Beginnings

One of my return flights went up $20 in price today at random.  Unenthused.  Good thing I found that twenty in the pocket of my spring jacket I left there last autumn. (not)

On a less irritating note, hello and welcome to the very first post to the new travel blog of Milly and Mihai (or Emily and Michael/Phil, as you may know us) :)  Eagerly awaiting my Sept. 8 departure from Vancouver, and current resident of Nanaimo, BC, is me: Milly.  Decision-making is afoot, as I wait and wonder when the VIUFA labour dispute at VIU will cease.  Finish off the semester, or take the refund and begin working full time more timely?  $$$.  If the flight I have my eye on goes up any higher, you know which side of the continuum I'll be swinging towards.

Did anyone else notice the odd spelling of 'continuum' just now?  Apparently it's correct...

Anyway, I'm relieved I snagged that flight to Hanoi, Vietnam, our first stop, on the cheap.  This city, which National Geographic Traveler has dubbed, the "heart of the country's ancient culture", seems, upon skimming through guide books and travel blogs, to be a delightful destination.
Sculpted pagodas, leftover French colonial architecture and plenty of city parks in which to practice Tai Chi.  What more could two bunk offs from Occidentia need from the first week of holidays?

That's right.  Vietnamese Coffee.

Vietnam, i think we r gonna b BFFs.

- milly