13/02/2011
Today we flew to Hanoi. After settling into our room we went in search of something to eat. Our hostel manger recommended Pho 24. Pho meaning noodle soup. We are in love with noodle soup. It was great in Laos and is great in Vietnam. They sure know how to make exceptional noodle soup, I can't wait to make it when we get back home, I think a cooking class is in order to just get it right.
Hanoi is hustle hustle bustle. The old quarter of Hanoi where we are staying is full of narrow streets peppered with colourful lanterns and people selling their wares. People literally gather and cook their food on the footpaths. It's quite enchanting and mad at the same time. The streets are full of motorbikes and cars but mainly motorbikes all beeping and honking continuosly. It's mad, mad, mad but exhilarating, and quite exhausting, so finding a quiet spot is very welcoming.
The temperature has dropped quite considerably from Laos. It is only around 13 degrees so we have had to invest in some jackets it's cold!!!! Well I suppose it is Winter!!!
15/02/20ll
Off to Sapa on an overnight train. We are a bit excited we have never been on an overnight trian before.
Well our pad wasn't too bad except it was so noisy didn't sleep much, and the toilets? Well um I have seen and smelt worse. I think several people must have missed the toilet all together!!! Hey it's all part of the travelling thing isn't it.
Sapa is a mountain town close to the border of China. It was built by the French in 1922. It is nestled in the mountains and the clouds. The train took nine hours. We arrived in Lao Chai then took a mini bus for another hour to Sapa. We were told it would be cold but gees we didn't expect it to be really really really cold. We settled into our room which was freezing but the view was impressive. The clouds here are unreal. All morning they rolled up the valley really quickly and completely covered the town then they rolled back down again to reveil the sun. They reminded me of waves rolling in the ocean.
We ventured out into the streets and were immediately swormed upon by the hill tribe woman selling their wares. The new kids in town!!!! Boy are they persistant they followed us around for quite awhile. They are beautiful people very friendly and they speak really good english. They wear their traditional dress which consists of colourful headgear, embroidered garments, and amazing jewellery.
16/02/2011
Well the sun didn't last long the next two days we were blanketed in this thick foggy cloud. It made the temperature drop quite considerably. The town has an eiry feeling about it when it is covered in this thick cloud. Along with the place we are staying in it has reminded me of Stephen King's Misery. Kathy Bates is nowhere to be seen lol.
We went in search of some thick socks and tights thankfully they sell many. They also sell many copies of things aswell. It's copy central here.
17/02/2011
Off to a little village just 3kms away called Cat Cat. Even tho it was so foggy it was still enjoyable. We followed this winding path down the valley. We went past many terraced rice paddies and houses and many woman working away on their crafts and cooking food. The path through Cat Cat had been beautifully cobbled, it went on for miles. The mist and fog added to the mystic, it kind of suited the place.
Back to Hanoi on the train the damp fog has been enough. This time the train was way quieter we may get some sleep.
Well we got to Hanoi about 4am, not much sleep, and after sometime we found a taxi driver who agreed on a price. It took awhile they were all trying to charge double the price I had paid previously. You need to bring lots of patience and a good sense of humour to Vietnam!!! Something that runs a bit thin at 4am with hardly any sleep. Well do you think our driver knew where to go!!! Our hotel was opposite the lake Hoan Kiem which is a considerable landmark. We could've got us back in no time. Well he got completely lost and after about 45mins he eventually dropped us off. Thankfully our wonderful hotel let us in and gave us a room straight away. Time to get some sleep.
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