Arrived in Hanoi yesterday after beautiful tranquillity in Halong Bay. What a contrast - it is positively stressful! The city is chock-a-block with people for the 1000th anniversary of Hanoi. The main celebrations are today and tomorrow. You can't walk on the footpaths because of the motorbikes, street sellers and crowds of people pushing their way through. You step on the road and you endanger your life. And all of this takes place in the most cacophonous surfeit of sound - car, bike and cyclo horns, loudspeakers, unintelligible Vietnamese voices etc. etc. The guide books described both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh as vibrant - I would suggest plain crazy!!
This is basically our last day as Jim and I leave for Bangkok very early tomorrow morning. Our tour group has become a bit subdued as 2 of our group are ill and had to go to hospital yesterday. One is on the way to recovery and the other may have to go back in today. So a cold is minor in comparison!
We expect to be in Brisbane on Tuesday morning - maybe we'll start to get some photos sorted then.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Touring Hue and its countryside
What a great day we had today! We departed from the hotel at 8.30 by motorcycle and boarded a boat for a cruise on the Perfume River. We stopped at a Pagoda, a monastery where we saw trainee monks as young as seven! Back to the boat to continue our cruise to the other side of the river where we were reunited with our bikes. The rest of the day was spent on motorbike stopping off at various places - a place where incense burners were made, the tomb of the 3rd Emperor of Vietnam who reigned from 1840 to 1847 - a condemned prisoner built the tunnel but when he finished the tunnel he was executed so no one knows where the Emperor is buried! - bunker hill ( an American base overlooking the river ), a Buddhist nunnery where we had a vegetarian lunch and a lesson in meditation and in worshipping the Buddha, a conical hat maker and a rice museum. We were in and out of main roads, back streets, alleyways, dirt tracks, over narrow bridges, along the train tracks, paths where it was too narrow to walk, between flooded paddy fields - totally exhilarating!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Royal Banquet Tuesday October 5 2010
The Royal Banquet was my first introduction as Queen to my loyal subjects. With His Royal Highness Mike the Solemn, we processed to the Banqueting Hall, accompanied by the court's musician and singers. Our subjects were suitably courteous and the noble handbag carrier, James Wingfield the spice lover, fulfilled his duties admirably. It is likely that we will retain him in that position with a view to increasing his responsibilities. His Higness and Her Majesty smiled favorably on the traditional musicians and singers and called for copious imbibements of the royal brew and fermented grape. The King showed himself to be a man of the people, removing his crown and nodding amicably at his guests in an effort to encourage conviviality.
The first concubine was present and shuffled eagerly to His Majesty's side to reposition his crown, reorganise his gown and ply him with nem and noodles. I was satisfied that she was suitably aware of her inferior position until she took advantage of an unguarded moment on my part, seizing my briefly removed crown, placing it on her head and positioning herself in my momentarily vacant throne! My eyes locked on hers and, in fury, I uttered my first royal command: "Off with her head!"
The first concubine was present and shuffled eagerly to His Majesty's side to reposition his crown, reorganise his gown and ply him with nem and noodles. I was satisfied that she was suitably aware of her inferior position until she took advantage of an unguarded moment on my part, seizing my briefly removed crown, placing it on her head and positioning herself in my momentarily vacant throne! My eyes locked on hers and, in fury, I uttered my first royal command: "Off with her head!"
Day 1 Hue
We had a rather hectic start to today. It's a long story but concerns a pair of handmade sandals which, when delivered to the hotel, did not fit. A phone call assured me that a member of staff would meet me at 6.30 am in the hotel and the situation would be rectified before 8 am when we were scheduled to leave for Hue. 6.30 came and went, several phonecalls were attempted but no member of staff and no reply. We got our exercise by going to the shop at 7.10 to be told that it opened at 7.30, at 7.30 to find it still closed and finally at 7.55 with the intent of getting my money back. No joy on that front - Jim says we were talking to the monkey and not the organ grinder who had not as yet surfaced. Jim got an extra bit of exercise as he ran back to the hotel to get Phuong to mediate and negotiate. Finally an agreement to fix the sandals and send them to the hotel in Hue. Result - another day, possibly 2 days in sopping, stinking shoes.
We finally set off to Hue 20 minutes late. Our first stop was the marble mountain where we climbed 300 steep steps to a pagoda and a holy cave. The view was worth the effort - again photos later when we find out how to do it - Brian help! Then we stopped off at China Beach and at Lang Co Beach. Thet were very nice but many of our own Donegal beaches are just as nice.
We've checked in to a nice hotel in Hue and have already done a tour of the Royal Palace which was great. We are now preparing to go to a royal banquet - in fancy dress!
We finally set off to Hue 20 minutes late. Our first stop was the marble mountain where we climbed 300 steep steps to a pagoda and a holy cave. The view was worth the effort - again photos later when we find out how to do it - Brian help! Then we stopped off at China Beach and at Lang Co Beach. Thet were very nice but many of our own Donegal beaches are just as nice.
We've checked in to a nice hotel in Hue and have already done a tour of the Royal Palace which was great. We are now preparing to go to a royal banquet - in fancy dress!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Day 3 Hoi An
Computer access here very temperamental - have not been able to get into gmail and getting banking details very difficult. However, that does not stop us spending!
Day 2 in Hoi An included a cycling/boat tour and a barbecue lunch. We moored the boat and disembarked (with difficulty as far as I was concerned!). We unloaded barbecue chairs and tables and - the downpour started. We re-embarked, reloaded everything, set up for barbecue on board - and the rain stopped! We stayed on board and partook of marinated beef, marinated chicken, mackerel and stirfry vegetables, barbecued tiger prawns and finally pineapple. We returned to Hoi An for fittings and as we started the 1 mile walk to the shop - the rain started forcing us to buy rain capes which were no good really as we were already soaked. Talking about being wet - I think we spend the time in a constant state of wetness ranging from damp to absolutely saturated. Undressing and dressing when you are damp or more than damp is difficult as is trying on shoes - having been wiped by a pair of shop-assistant-proferred socks! I thinkI will definitely appreciate feeling dry whenever that happens! We had our first free evening and enjoyed a French style pizza by the river looking put at a vista of lanterns and lit up dragons, fish and tigers. In the background was a live performance of traditional music. On our way back to the hotel, the heavens opened and once we were uncomfortably wet we took refuge in a shop where we were not hassled to buy - what a surprise! We might go back there today and buy.
Today we went to M SonWorld heritage site to look at remains of Hindu and Buddhist temples from the 7th to 14th centuries. The 12th and 13th century ones were bombed during the war because the Americans thought the Vietcong were hiding there. It involvd a walk in the jungle and much more wetness.
Tonight we celebrate Trevor's birthday (one of the group from Australia) and tomorrow we are going to Hue which we have been told is flooded - wet, wet, wet!
Day 2 in Hoi An included a cycling/boat tour and a barbecue lunch. We moored the boat and disembarked (with difficulty as far as I was concerned!). We unloaded barbecue chairs and tables and - the downpour started. We re-embarked, reloaded everything, set up for barbecue on board - and the rain stopped! We stayed on board and partook of marinated beef, marinated chicken, mackerel and stirfry vegetables, barbecued tiger prawns and finally pineapple. We returned to Hoi An for fittings and as we started the 1 mile walk to the shop - the rain started forcing us to buy rain capes which were no good really as we were already soaked. Talking about being wet - I think we spend the time in a constant state of wetness ranging from damp to absolutely saturated. Undressing and dressing when you are damp or more than damp is difficult as is trying on shoes - having been wiped by a pair of shop-assistant-proferred socks! I thinkI will definitely appreciate feeling dry whenever that happens! We had our first free evening and enjoyed a French style pizza by the river looking put at a vista of lanterns and lit up dragons, fish and tigers. In the background was a live performance of traditional music. On our way back to the hotel, the heavens opened and once we were uncomfortably wet we took refuge in a shop where we were not hassled to buy - what a surprise! We might go back there today and buy.
Today we went to M SonWorld heritage site to look at remains of Hindu and Buddhist temples from the 7th to 14th centuries. The 12th and 13th century ones were bombed during the war because the Americans thought the Vietcong were hiding there. It involvd a walk in the jungle and much more wetness.
Tonight we celebrate Trevor's birthday (one of the group from Australia) and tomorrow we are going to Hue which we have been told is flooded - wet, wet, wet!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
First day in Hoi An
I've just noticed that Hoi An is an anagram of Hanoi - I must ask Phuong about that tomorrow. Yes, I have been spelling his name wrongly! Anyway, early breakfast - 5.30 am - and off to the airport for our flight to Danang. Jim can do flying this way - give your passport to the leader and do what he says - no thinking, no worrying! 40 mins. bus drive to Hoi An and then allocated rooms in a really nice hotel not far from all the shops where you can have suits etc. and shoes made at very reasonable prices. Jim is having none of it - he doesn't need any clothes!! He's just told me that he nearly bought a tee shirt - but he didn't! We had torrential torrential rain so my hat is looking very sorry indeed but my cheap Regatta waterproof (?) walking shoes from Muff have done very well. Less well is the hair - much much worse than a bad hair day!
We have just returned from a cookery course with Hanh and forever after Jim will be "hot boy" - his love of spicy food of course - and I am "Fing" - much better than "Figment" or "Fifi"! It was hilarious and the food we cooked was great so you can all look forward to some Vietnamese cooking. Tomorrow we are doing an hour's cycling tour and after that we rest!!
Fortunately Jim's camera has survived but photo opportunities are limited as Jim doesn't want to get the camera wet again. It has not been possible to include any photos so far - time constraints and the fact that sometimes I can't use my notebook. Today for instance I couldn't get either the cheese (Jim's name) or Internet Explorer and I have had great difficulty accessing anything on the hotel's computers. But a bit of suspense is good!
We have just returned from a cookery course with Hanh and forever after Jim will be "hot boy" - his love of spicy food of course - and I am "Fing" - much better than "Figment" or "Fifi"! It was hilarious and the food we cooked was great so you can all look forward to some Vietnamese cooking. Tomorrow we are doing an hour's cycling tour and after that we rest!!
Fortunately Jim's camera has survived but photo opportunities are limited as Jim doesn't want to get the camera wet again. It has not been possible to include any photos so far - time constraints and the fact that sometimes I can't use my notebook. Today for instance I couldn't get either the cheese (Jim's name) or Internet Explorer and I have had great difficulty accessing anything on the hotel's computers. But a bit of suspense is good!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Boat trip from Nha Trang
We woke to torrential rain despite Phoong's assurances that the weather is always great in Nha Trang. In Vietnam when it rains you just get wet even if you are wearing the ubiquitous plastic capes. In the boat we met Mr. Tom our Vietnamese guide for the day whose English was quite fluent if you could actually make out what he was saying. He brought us (on foot) for a tour of a fishing village on one of the islands, stopping briefly to supply us with our spotted capes which gave us the appearance of suffering from some form of tropical disease - a rare form of dengue fever some of the group thought. The rain was flowing in rivers down the narrow streets but undaunted we waded on, sometimes up to our ankles in the muddy waters. We reminded ourselves of the beneficial properties of mud based on our experiences yesterday but I was not convinced that seeing a high school, a primary school and a nursery school were sufficient compensation for muck between my toes and sopping leather footwear. To make matters worse my designer hat will never be the same again and even worse it looks like Jim's camera has taken a turn for the worst. As I write he is off to a camera shop to see what, if anything, can be done. Let's hope that he is more successful there than he was yesterday trying to get a beer and a glass oif wine. To be honest, I don't think he has the sign language for what he wants to say nor has he the English as he doesn't seem to know much about the camera.
Anyway, back to the boat and the seats have been transformed into a beauty salon for manicure, pedicure, nail-painting,threading, eyebrow shaping - I had the lot for 220,000. I've never spent so many thousands on myself! Jim had no bother recognising me but the others in the group seemed to think I was tranformed. I dread to think what they thought I was like before! Jim refused point blank to have his nails or to get ear and nose hair cut. I don't know what that says about him - I do but I'm not saying!
Mr. Tom and Mr. Somebody Else started a sing-song with "10 green bottles" which we quickly shortened to 2 after 8. Then we had "Waltzing Matilda" and "Moly Malone" and something I can't remember that represented New Zealand. The whole thing was quite hilarious with lots of sign language and over-the-top acting. I could only mime as my sore throat has become a chesty cough and a squeaky voice. It was a shame because I might have given them a rendition of "Mary from Dungloe".
Shortly after, the crew started fishing and the group went swimming. Jim particularly enjoyed jumping in from the top of the boat and seemingly all enjoyed themselves from the commotion they made. They said the water was warm and very salty and buoyant. I didn't swim because it was raining and I didn't want to get wet. While all this was going on the seats were transformed once again and this time into a table for our lunch. We were treated to the day's catch - squid and a type of fish that tasted very meaty - chicken and beef for the non-fish eating people and a platter of vegetarian goodies for the vegetarian as well as noodles and steamed rice. It was a great spread!
Our next stop was rocky beach which was set up for sun-worshipping rather than rain-worshipping but we made the best of things with some of the group getting into some serious stone throwing competitions.
At present the men have gone to play pool and have a few beers and the ladies have gone to a spa. I am giving that a miss as I have lost my voice and I'm afraid I would not be able to communicate exactly what I wanted or did not want - you can never be too careful you know!
Tomorrow we get up around 5 am to be at the airport for 6 for a flight to Danang and then a bus to Hoi An where we have 3 nights.
Anyway, back to the boat and the seats have been transformed into a beauty salon for manicure, pedicure, nail-painting,threading, eyebrow shaping - I had the lot for 220,000. I've never spent so many thousands on myself! Jim had no bother recognising me but the others in the group seemed to think I was tranformed. I dread to think what they thought I was like before! Jim refused point blank to have his nails or to get ear and nose hair cut. I don't know what that says about him - I do but I'm not saying!
Mr. Tom and Mr. Somebody Else started a sing-song with "10 green bottles" which we quickly shortened to 2 after 8. Then we had "Waltzing Matilda" and "Moly Malone" and something I can't remember that represented New Zealand. The whole thing was quite hilarious with lots of sign language and over-the-top acting. I could only mime as my sore throat has become a chesty cough and a squeaky voice. It was a shame because I might have given them a rendition of "Mary from Dungloe".
Shortly after, the crew started fishing and the group went swimming. Jim particularly enjoyed jumping in from the top of the boat and seemingly all enjoyed themselves from the commotion they made. They said the water was warm and very salty and buoyant. I didn't swim because it was raining and I didn't want to get wet. While all this was going on the seats were transformed once again and this time into a table for our lunch. We were treated to the day's catch - squid and a type of fish that tasted very meaty - chicken and beef for the non-fish eating people and a platter of vegetarian goodies for the vegetarian as well as noodles and steamed rice. It was a great spread!
Our next stop was rocky beach which was set up for sun-worshipping rather than rain-worshipping but we made the best of things with some of the group getting into some serious stone throwing competitions.
At present the men have gone to play pool and have a few beers and the ladies have gone to a spa. I am giving that a miss as I have lost my voice and I'm afraid I would not be able to communicate exactly what I wanted or did not want - you can never be too careful you know!
Tomorrow we get up around 5 am to be at the airport for 6 for a flight to Danang and then a bus to Hoi An where we have 3 nights.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)