Hanoi...
This blog is acting up.. so I can't place the photos where I want them to go.. so you will have to jump around. Good luck.
Paul and Mira at West Lake.
Mira, Kate and Lily
Sidewalk? Can you see Paul, Mira and Kate?
Hanoi... We were warned about the traffic from friends but one has to see it, live it, feel it to believe it.
Motorbikes lined up at a red light.
Ok, cross...NOW.
Hanoi is traffic traffic traffic. You can't imagine.. to cross on a crosswalk.. you just walk straight ahead, keep your speed and don't look at the drivers and somehow you manage to get across while thousands of motorbikes honk and weave around you. I hold on to the kids with a tight grip. Then to complicate matters, sidewalks when they are there, are completely covered with stalls, outdoor or parking for the motorbikes so you are forced to walk on and off the curb which isn't a straight angle curb but on a slope - slippery then.. the gutters are full of who knows what (lots of snot that is for sure)... so Mira gets back to the hotel after a 6+ km walk like this and says "whew that was stressful!"
Mira and Kate getting good luck from the 13th century scholars' tablet at the Temple of Literature.
We met up with our friends, Krista, Ray and Lily last night from Peterborough. We have already spent more time together here, half way round the world than we have in the last couple of years in Canada. We had lots of laughs, drank a few Vie and got great tips from these seasoned travellers. We hope to meet up again in Hoi An in a week or so.
WE went to the Temple of Literature today, built in 1070! It has the names of the PH. D scholars from the 1400s on on big stone tablets mounted on turtles. The current students believe if one touches the turtles then one will get good luck during their exams.
New souvenirs... face masks.
With Krista's expert bargaining skills, we got the kids masks. Tons of folks wear them. No wonder - the pollution is hard on the throat. People seem to buy them to match their clothes too.
We are heading off to Halong Bay tomorrow and looking forward to some quiet which is not available here in Hanoi... they even broadcast the news on loud speakers at 7:30 and 5:30 everyday.. very noisy.
ttfn. s
Hello fine friends,
ReplyDeleteWonderful to spend the day with you yesterday and we lookforward to next week. Had a hellish bus ride to NB but we are here. Hotel is great but I broke the lock in our first room withing the first hr. and had to move to another room.
Have a fantastic trip to Halong Bay tomorrow and we lookforward to getting the full blow by blow update next week. E-mail when you get back. Our plan is to only stay in Hue for 1 night, 2 at the absolute max but we think 1 will do it.
xoxxo
Krit, Raymo and Lilsiloo
The Temple of Literature looks like an excellent place to play "hide and seek"!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like they need to sell ear plugs along with the masks ... maybe in matching colours!!!?? xoxox Janet (on the "10th anniversary of our third great pain"!!)
Can't you do something with Paul's hair???it's out of control...giving Canada a bad hair reputation.
ReplyDeleteShame, shame.
Scott