We checked in to our hotel at 5.30 this morning (10.30 last night to you), and apart from a couple of hours of dozing, have attempted to be outside with the sun on our heads to combat jet lag. Our hotel is on one of Hanoi’s many lakes, surrounded by every variety of street life. Here are a few: hair dressing, gardening (yes, those are turds laid out to dry) and fishing.
Have a wonderful holiday! Love Vietnam. Hanoi is a great city. Enjoy crossing the road!
Yesterday’s achievement was crossing a very big road on our own ( ie not shadowing an elderly Vietnamese person). Agree about Hanoi – one of the really great cities.
A bit different from Russell Sq. Fantastic. Much love Claire
Russell Square seems a million miles away. And oh, so orderly compared to here. Xx
I remember that lake so well! We loved being in Hanoi – I think you’re very lucky! Lots of good art and great food! Hope the move from bicycles to mopeds to cars has not been too swift – Simon was petrified crossing the roads in the bicycle days as phalanges of bikes (30 abreast or so it seemed) launched themselves across the roads. . . Have fun! Gabriele
If Simon was petrified then, he should have been with us yesterday trying to cross a dual carriageway on a ‘zebra crossing’ (Hanoians’ sense of humour I think – just there to tease the tourists). Pictures of us on the back of motorbikes to come later! Xx
Have a fantastic holiday you two! Looking forward to more postcards. Love the hairdressing salon, and the man fishing from his island … Hilary xx
Thanks Hilary – thoroughly recommend Hanoi to you – you would love the aesthetic I think. Xx
Have fun crossing the roads! Xx
Depends how you define fun I guess…
Fun? Fun? We were waved across the street by a very amused man yesterday because he could see that we had been waiting for five minutes – so fun to be had by others at our expense I think!
Not human turds, I hope! The picture of the fisherman is fantastic – how does he get to his little perch, I wonder.
I don’t think they were turds at all though why drying lumps of soil in the sun is a good idea I’ve no idea. As for how he got to his perch, M and I spent some time discussing this ( maybe irs v shallow, maybe he jumps etc) but came to no conclusions.
Never mind crossing the road, the salon looks dangerous enough – about to be run down by scooters or electrocuted given the look of the wiring! Looking forward to photos and tales of all things Janponese. Catexxx
I love the reflection of the bikes in the mirror! Yesterday evening we were whizzed across the city on the back of scooters – you just have to suspend fear and enjoy the view…
Love the sunny promenade scene with turds – reminds me of my mother following the milkman’s horse with shovel and brush to gather nourishment for her roses. x Pauline
Also v endearing is the way people colonise bits of the pavement to create their own gardens/ chicken runs/ vegetable plots. This is such a great city