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