Tuesday - 16 April 2013

Back in Ha Noi.

Hi one and all!  We are back in Ha Noi after a shitty night and train trip from Sa Pa back to here.  We had a great trip up there by night train but coming back when we boarded the train the power was out so no air con, finally got power back and bunked down for the night.  The air con kept going off so was hot and stuffy in the cabin and a bit shitty when you are trying to sleep.  The train certainly wasn't as comfortable coming back when we went up to Sa Pa yet it was the same train.  We arrived back in Ha Noi at 6am this morning but no driver to pick us up so hung around waiting, waiting and being tired from crap sleep ended up catching a taxi.  Got to the guesthouse and they were very apologetic and said driver couldn't find us, whatever!  They reimbursed us the taxi fare and gave us a room to have a shower in and went to breakfast while they cleaned our room for us to go into.  Same room we were staying in before we went to Sa Pa.  Went for a walk after breakfast to buy a new suitcase, we ditched our old backpack as it was falling apart and bought 2 new suitcases while we were in Sa Pa.  But getting off the train this morning my new suitcase broke and it was too heavy to carry, it only cost us $20 so went out and bought another one.   Back to guesthouse and our room was ready at 10am so straight into our room and sleep.  Slept until 4pm and felt so much better and relaxed.  Dinner tonight was at the Gecko café just up the road from where we are staying, nice food.  Went for a walk to find Buddha street, still haven't found it and then to KFC for an ice cream, they didn't have any so walked around till we found a shop & go (which is a tiny 7/11) and got a cornetto,  walked back to hotel and just relaxing hanging out here tonight.  Nice being back in Ha Noi, starting to get used to the place and finding our way around.  The traffic is mayhem but the streets are vibrant, busy and colourful.  Not much else to say just a relaxing day catching up on sleep and resting the old bodies.  Until tomorrow.  C Ya!