fog, rice paddies and bad buses!!!!!!

19/02/2011

How they do it Vietnam styles!!

Off to see a water puppet show.We were told good things about it so we thought we'd see for ourselves. The tickets were so cheap at only $3 US each. Wow we were really impressed. The Muscianship was outstanding, they performed using traditional instruments and the puppets were beautiful.
Water puppetry (roi nuoc) is an ancient art originating in the northern Vietnam 1000 years ago. Developed by rice farmers, the wooden puppets were manipulated by puppeteers using water-flooded rice paddies as their stage.

gorgeous bamboo

20/02/2011

Off again on the train to Ninh Binh just 3 hours south of Hanoi. If you take the train make sure you pack some pegs for your nose, they tend to be on the smelly side.

smelly train

Spent the next couple of days exploring the area. On the Monday we hired some trusty bikes and we set out on our way with a map in tow. Our manager had shown us the way on the map but somehow we got lost and what should have taken half and hour took about two. Where I thought we were on the map was completely different to where we actually were hence being lost,oh well we got there in the end and we saw some sight we wouldn't have seen otherwise. We found a cool place called Mua Groti what a name!!!!

Mua Groti

 We climbed a stone staircase up the side of this hill and ended up with a great view of the area despite the fog. After our climb we once again got lost but we did sort that out eventually and we ended up at a place called Tam Coc. It is known as 'Halong Bay on the rice paddies'. There are huge limestone rock formations jutting out of the rice paddies. We didn't make it to Halong Bay because they had cancelled all the overnight boat tours because of the boat accident and it was raining there when we wanted to go so we went to Halong on land instead. It was magnificent. A shame about the weather it was very overcast but even still it was great. We were taken on a boat and we were rowed  for about two hours along the Ngo Dong river. Those boat people are very talented they are able to row with their feet which looks easy but I'm sure it takes some skill.

We passed many rice farmers hard at it up to their knees in mud planting their rice. It was so serene and magic to watch. Their rice is planted so perfectly it is an art form I'm telling you, it looks beautiful.

clever

Tam Coc

This lady is 90 years old!!!!!

22/02/2011

We woke to discover that Christchurch had been hit by a massive earthquake, killing and injuring many people. We were just stunned at what we could see on the internet. We feel so helpless and worried for Felauai and our friends. I couldn't bare it just sitting around all day so I went out by myself and biked about 50kms to burn off a lot of anxiety. Not good it has put a damper on our holiday I hate being away when this is happening but there is nothing we can do about it but send our thoughts and prayers to everyone. To our dear Felauai and to all my dear dear friends we love you, we are thinking of  you, we hope you are safe and well, our hearts go out to you all and to all the people of Christchurch.
That night we took an overnight bus to Hue it left at about 9:45pm and we got to Hue about 9:30am. Aaaah what can I say it was awful, we got stuck right at the back by the toilet and boy did it get stinky. Oh the joys of travelling!!!! We didn't sleep a bit due to the noise the smell and of course worrying about Felauai and everyone back home.

Hue well what can I say it felt like a haze while we were there, we were so tired from the bus I don't have much to say about it. It was more of a transit stop.

24/02/2011

We were off again the next day to Hoi An. Which thankfully was only a 3 1/2 hour bus ride and on a much nicer bus. Thank you!!!!

26/02/2011

Well we are struggling to enjoy ourselves and take our minds off what is happening in Christchurch so I enrolled us in cooking class to try and distract our minds of it for awhile.

Our guide and cook picked us up on his motorbike and first showed us around the meat and vegetable market. What an array of produce. All freshly picked everyday it was a real sight.

We biked out to the cooking school which is set in amongst a huge vegetable and herb farm. It leaves my vege patch in the dust. Perfect perfect row upon row of yummy veges and herbs.

mmmm snails

chef Eden

We made shrimp spring rolls, Vietnamese pancake and shrimp, fish, pork hotpot which is a soup made over a small gas fire on the table. We also got to make some cute vegetable flowers so for all of you at home you will be coming round so I can test my culinary skills on you. I hope you like noodle soup because I'll be making a lot of it when we return.  

ala tomato flower