Were home and very confused :) its a bittersweet return, but we are happy to be home and excited to share all our stories. Thanks everyone who followed our journey!
Its been such an amazing time, and hard to adjust to home. Hugo is already cooking vietnamese food and we are longing for being there. Its been such mixed emotions the whole time, i think were in shock!
A journey in a new home
Saturday, 8 September 2012
Wednesday, 5 September 2012
Hanoi to Bangkok
We are just at Hanoi airport now flying back to Bangkok for the last night of our journey. We had a great day yesterday, with Zendy, and did more shopping, went to the Temple of Literature which was the first university here, then to the Ho Chi Minh museum, and then later to a traditional water puppet show, which was fantastic! We returned to Essence Cafe again as it was so good the first time and the staff were wonderful! I recommend it to anyone going to Hanoi. We are so incredibly tired today, so I think we will just stay near the hotel today and tomorrow before our flight home. Everything here has been such an impact on every sense, every moment seeming to take every ounce of energy in order to take it all in. There are some
Markets near the hotel and a swimming pool and massage place so that will be nice.
We had such a lovely time with Zendy, and learned so much about Vjetnamese culture by being with first her family and then being able to ask her a million questions in the city.
Its been such an extraordinary trip.
Markets near the hotel and a swimming pool and massage place so that will be nice.
We had such a lovely time with Zendy, and learned so much about Vjetnamese culture by being with first her family and then being able to ask her a million questions in the city.
Its been such an extraordinary trip.
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
Zendy & Jessica at Essence Cafe in Hanoi
A Bamboo merchant in Hanoi, Vietnam
Milk Vendor in Hanoi, Vietnam
Boy with four young chicks in Hanoi, Vietnam
Graffiti in Hanoi Vietnam
Mr Bui & Mrs Bui, Haiphong, Vietnam
Haiphong night market for wholesale vendors
Haiphong's grocery night market is big business in a country that is constantly cooking and serving food. Mr and Mrs Bui work 365 days a year because of the constant demand for their produce that they source directly from the farmers across the country. The woman in this photograph has walked to the night market and is selling her greens (likely Cilantro/fresh Corriander) on a yolk. The entire load on the yolk will sell for about 50,000 Vietnamese Dong (about $2) and is likely the main sale for this lady for a whole day.
Haiphong night market
Wonderfully fun and refreshingly unpretentious Karaoke
Chicken (fried) restaurant in Haiphong outskirts
A celebratory (due to having guests) meal at the Bui household. The men all sit on one side and the women on the other. A whole bottle of 12 year old Glenfiddich was consumed (only by the men - and Jessica) and lots of handshaking took place. Zendy translated with precision and diplomacy. The meal included a freshly slaughtered forest boar, most of its inner-parts, noodles, Vietnamese flat-bread with sesames seeds, fresh salad, roasted nuts and other gingery items. The animal was slaughtered and butchered fresh and bled immediatley. The whole party sat on the floor in keeping with tradition, a habit that is now resumed only for special occasions. Mr Bui showered us with gifts, food and a lot of honour - which we attemtped to show gratitude for with our limited Vietnamese. Teachers (of any rank) are treated with immediate respect; which is not in keeping with their status in the west. We learned today that until about 15 years ago it was relatively rare to see western styles of dress outside of Hanoi and HCMC and that families (save the rich) would rarely own a table at home for meals and dining.
Back In Hanoi
Well we are here back in Hanoi after two days in Haiphong with Zendy and her family. It was probably the most educational and interesting time of our trip so far and we have many stories I am sure we will share with you individually when we see you. I will say that it was the biggest culture shock for us I think of the trip, but also the most memorable.
We are enjoying Hanoi more this time around, with Zendy translating and getting us good deals, and just having a Vietnamese perspective on the city. We went to the local wholesale market of all the goods- it was great and we had a lot of fun bartering and shopping- we haven't really done much thus far so we caught up today. The colours are so beautiful and vibrant.
We had dinner at the most fantastic restaurant, Essence Cafe, which is a mix of all sorts of Vietnamese and other cuisine- it was asian food at its most beautiful. Im sure Hugo will post more pictures of it tonight!
We then went for a massage/pedicure, which was a lovely way to end the evening.
We are looking forward to coming home, and also enjoying our last few nights!
We are enjoying Hanoi more this time around, with Zendy translating and getting us good deals, and just having a Vietnamese perspective on the city. We went to the local wholesale market of all the goods- it was great and we had a lot of fun bartering and shopping- we haven't really done much thus far so we caught up today. The colours are so beautiful and vibrant.
We had dinner at the most fantastic restaurant, Essence Cafe, which is a mix of all sorts of Vietnamese and other cuisine- it was asian food at its most beautiful. Im sure Hugo will post more pictures of it tonight!
We then went for a massage/pedicure, which was a lovely way to end the evening.
We are looking forward to coming home, and also enjoying our last few nights!
Sunday, 2 September 2012
Halong Bay, Vietnam
Glory Cruise Ship, Halong Bay, Vietnam
Glory Cruise Ship, Halong Bay, Vietnam
Jessica looking effortlessly cool!
Halong Bay Limestone Cliffs (photos don't do the scene justice)
Man with knife.
Halong Bay Floating Village, Vietnam
A cuttlefisherman in the Halong Bay floating fishing village
Boys jumping of their house-boat in Halong Bay floating village
Beautiful Vietnamese people in Halong Bay
Halong Bay
Halong Bay at night
Vietnamese man selling sweet basil ( I think)
Halong Bay Cruise staff Moon and Vietnamese girl
Pearl Farm Technician, Halong Bay
Pearl Farm Technician, Halong Bay
Halong Bay
Tender Captain, Halong Bay
Floating Village, Halong Bay
Floating Village People
Life raft number 1 of 3
Floating Village People Supermarket
Floating Village Cave Dog
Halong Bay Cave Kitchen
Vietnamese Girl & Dog
Boy in Boat, Halong Bay
Jessica & Moon (Hang)
Jessica and Zendy in Haiphong!
Haiphong traffic
Wonderful tasty and delicious food in Haiphong, Vietnam
An Duong- in Haiphong
We are alive and well staying at my student Zendy's house. It is fantastic here and we will post all our pictures later of Halong Bay: It was possibly the most beautiful place either of us have ever been!
More later xxxxxxxxx
More later xxxxxxxxx
Thursday, 30 August 2012
leaving for halong bay
Walking through the streets in the evening, motorcylcles wizz past as though they are not in a narrow street
This woman was bbqing Quail!(admittedly not the strangest thing we've seen being cooked, but they were whole)
We saw loads of these fires being burned. There is a street here nicknamed "Paper Street" where they sell all sorts of paper goods to be burned in sacrifice to the dead- most commonly seen was paper money
This woman is selling chicken this morning in the street
Typical Hanoi street early in the morning
We are just in our hotel now waiting for the pickup to the bus to Halong Bay. It was an incredibly hot night as our air conditioner didn't work. We managed to get a fan, but in this heat, its not quite enough! I'm still feeling quite rough (day 8- but only day 5 of rough rough - the other 3 were okay!) I am getting gradually better, just very fragile- all in the spirit of exotic travel! The bus trip is 3.5 hours, and hopefully not too painful. It should be beautiful in Halong Bay!
Hanoi
Who knew flying could be so fantastic??! It was the most effortless experience: and only 55 minutes long! Fabulous fabulous.
Its funny because everyone we bave spoken to absolutely loves Hanoi, but out first impressions are that we dont... It feels a bit like i imagine bangkok did at the beginning of the tourist rush- in no other city have we felt treated or seen as other western tourists. Obviously we were targeted in
Markets, for tuk tuks, taxis, massages, etc, but here is heaving with them: stoned, drunk, travelling in herds. Its a city with great architrcture, very french, and also a lot of buzz- it has a lot of shopping, mixing old vietnam with new, and never have i seen so many motorcycles going in so many directions in such narrow spaces! Its all a bit of a headspin. Our hotel isnt great tonight - the a:c doesnt really work so we are trying to lie very still. The heat here seems greater than others- maybe because of the amount of people around. We are being picke up for our cruise tomorrow, i think that will be lovely. Weve booked a nicer hotel for our next stay in Hanoi (next tue/wed). Weve realised that only a few dollars more a night is a huge amount of extra comfort here.
Its funny because everyone we bave spoken to absolutely loves Hanoi, but out first impressions are that we dont... It feels a bit like i imagine bangkok did at the beginning of the tourist rush- in no other city have we felt treated or seen as other western tourists. Obviously we were targeted in
Markets, for tuk tuks, taxis, massages, etc, but here is heaving with them: stoned, drunk, travelling in herds. Its a city with great architrcture, very french, and also a lot of buzz- it has a lot of shopping, mixing old vietnam with new, and never have i seen so many motorcycles going in so many directions in such narrow spaces! Its all a bit of a headspin. Our hotel isnt great tonight - the a:c doesnt really work so we are trying to lie very still. The heat here seems greater than others- maybe because of the amount of people around. We are being picke up for our cruise tomorrow, i think that will be lovely. Weve booked a nicer hotel for our next stay in Hanoi (next tue/wed). Weve realised that only a few dollars more a night is a huge amount of extra comfort here.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)