What a great day in Hanoi, managed to do a few things and go exploring. We are still trying to get used to the time difference, its only 3 hours but our body clocks are saying, no change just yet. We were awake at 5am Ha Noi time which is 8am Queensland time which means really we had a bit of a sleep in, unusual for us.
Breaky at the guesthouse and finally got to have Pho, Soup with vermicelli noodles, spring onions, chilli and chicken and tasty as and my daily cup of ginger tea of course, yum, yum. Rick settled for the scrambled eggs and toast and coffee, he is a real goer Rick.....
This morning we found our way down to Hoan Kiem Lake and the Ngoc Son Temple in the middle of the lake. Nice walk from our guesthouse. You have to pay to get in, cheap only about 2 bucks but Rick being Rick tried to get us in on student discount, didn't work, ha ha! Took lots of photos which I posted earlier on the blog. Lost Rick for a few minutes and found him standing on the bridge across to the temple talking to a young Vietnamese man, he is studying hospitality and has to learn to speak English and goes to the temple to talk to tourists to practice his English speaking skills, we talked for quite a while. We went for a long stroll around the whole lake and through the French Quarter of Ha Noi, the buildings in that side of town are very French Provincial and beautiful. Time for a Latte so sat outside a coffee shop and watched the traffic which is amazing, millions of bikes and cars, horns beeping and No road rage, wouldn't happen like that anywhere in Australia, if we had to drive in that kind of chaos we would do it with guns & knives and colourful language.
Spent the arvo walking the streets of the old quarter looking for jackets and warm trackie daks or trousers but of course the Vietnamese are very small, skinny people and don't cater for weight challenged, old farts like Rick and I. Lunch at KFC, of course and then back to our room for a bit of relaxation and nanny nap to get over the shock of the exercise of walking.
Rick managed to squeeze in watching some of the AFL footy before it was time to head out again to the Bac Ha night markets. The markets go for miles along this one street and I am sure the whole population of Ha Noi were there, must be the done thing on a Friday night to unwind. The Vietnamese are very quiet people and very few here speak English which is a little difficult. Certainly a change for us as we are used to the Thai people and their warmth, friendliness and smiles. I managed to get one pair of long pants after walking the markets for hours, cost about $2.50, bargain! still haven't found a jacket or jumper yet but will have to tomorrow before we head off to Sa Pa.
Tonight is a late night for us, with aching feet, knees and thighs managed to find our way back to the hotel at around 10.30pm. We are still a bit tired from our flights from Aus to here but that's what holidays are all about. Looking forward to our trip to Sa Pa tomorrow night, 8-12 hours on the train, knowing us we will sleep all the way. 3 nights/2 days Sa Pa then back to Hanoi. A busy day planned for tomorrow, still heaps more to see and do in Hanoi.
Hey Clear, if you are reading this, where the bloody hell is that temple of monks!!!!!!! Cia everyone until tomorrow.
Inside Ngoc Son Temple - The Gompa where people make offerings of food and money and burn incense.
The entrance to Ngoc Son Temple
Bac Ha Night Markets, millions of stall and absolutely crazy full of people.
The Traffic at the roundabout at Hoan Kiem Lake
Absolutely Crazy traffic - but it works so well, no road rage whatsoever. How cool. could sit and watch this for hours.
Hey Nicci and Rick,
ReplyDeleteLooks so great, another world away ! Nicko and I really must do in the next 12 months.
All good here, hope Rick is now over his flu. Stan left today for Fairview.
Anyway you have a great time, what to read all again this arvo