(Here's a preview of the blog post I'm still hoping he'll get around to doing)
AND I ventured to 'Nam the following week. I loved it. Travelling alone was a whole new experience for me. Where as my better half doesn't consider a trip "a vacation" unless you're on the beach for 95% of the time...I wanted to go somewhere NEW. I wanted to see and do things I never had before. I woke up every morning and I did whatever I wanted. I ate whatever I wanted. It was exciting! but it was a touch lonely. Despite meeting some cool people along the way, I think Ben had the right idea with heading somewhere easier (beach) solo. We both had very different but equally cool vacations.
The flight was about 4 hours to Hanoi where I stayed at Hanoi Central Backpacker's Hostel, in the Old Quarter of the city. The hostel had a fabulous rooftop bar/restaurant that boasted free beer from 7pm-8pm every night + free breakfast. The rooms and bathrooms were modern and clean and I had no complaints, especially with the $5 a night fee.
I was right in the middle of the oldest part of the city and thats exactly what I wanted. The streets are PACKED, beyond belief, with motor bikes, restaurants and people. People everywhere, always, usually on motorbikes. The restaurants just spilled out into the steets with small plastic tables and chairs... thats how you could tell the good ones from the bad ones.
The first night I met a lovely couple from the UK who were travelling Southeast Asia together. It was relatively early in their trip (about 3 weeks) and they still had six months ahead of them! We enjoyed a night out where I learned of Vietnam's 12am CURFEW!* **Which is easily dodged if you don't mind being locked inside a bar then sneaking home in the shadows of the night...
They convinced me to bump up my Halong Bay Cruise and leave with them the following morning...why not! My hostel offered several different touristy trips and going in I knew I wanted to do this one. One night on a boat followed by a second night on a private island. Absolutely stunning.
Kayaking!
Cliff Jumping (did not partake)
Floating Villages and Markets!
FREEDOM ISLAND! Amazing! Volleyball, hammocks, floating!
I was so drained after this trip that I passed out around 9 on my top bunk back at the hostel.
Many of the people on the trip were moving on after Halong Bay and were not staying in Hanoi. I guess thats the travel life. Meanwhile, I was looking forward to the rest of my week in the capital! Luckily, Guveer, who had been living and working in Vietnam for three months had another 2 days left in the city. We had a good time exploring together!
The first president under communist rule, Ho Chi Min's Mausoleum and Museum.
The One Pillar Pagoda (ft. a random child thrust into my arms)
His father was unsatisfied with the photo and made me change locations. He didn't even have a camera...?
Water Puppet Show! ... even after seeing it it makes as much sense as it sounds. The live music was great...the rest was so random and hysterical. Definitely worth the $3 and the hour of our time.
Cheers to Guveer! We had a great day of BEERS and EGG COFFEE, both delicious.
The coffee in Vietnam was so good. I enjoyed cup almost everyday around the lake in the centre of the city. It didn't take long for a Vietnamese person to sit beside me and start up a conversation, asking if they could practice their English. This was all fine and well but after the 10th round of the same conversation I found myself avoiding the area. Teacher on Vacation, hello.
Met one interesting young man that ventured from the normal script and he actually taught me a lot about what was happening in Vietnam that day and in general. I was randomly lucky enough the be in the city during the anniversary of their independence. This meant a free concert and awesome firework show! He was only 14 but his english was great. He told me of his dreams to become politician and change his country.
I signed up for a day trip outside of the city through one of the thousands of travel agencies that line the streets. To my surprise, when the bus picked me up at my hostel the bus was filled with Koreans! I was by far the youngest person and one of the few english speakers. It was awesome! Very refreshing and a different tone from the rest of my trip.
We travelled to Nihn Bihn and started at the Hau Lu Temples.
After we hopped back on our bus and headed to Tamcoc. This was a small farming town where we enjoyed a buffet lunch and an amazing 2 hour long river boat ride.
The weather was SO SO hot... but I was sweating more than the women rowing the boats. They were so happy to have us, I don't know how they did it.
Best Friend Selfie
I visited the Maison Centrale or better known as the Hanoi Hilton. This was the prison built originally by the French to imprison Vietnamese revolutionaries. It was then later used by the Vietnamese to hold their American prisoners of war. John McCain was one of the many prisoners kept within these wall. Filled with propaganda (or truth, who knows) it was an eerie experience nonetheless.
Every day I woke up and just walked the city seeing, eating and sweating as much as humanly possible.
