Northern Vietnam

Back when I lived in Florida (which seems 5 years ago but in reality it has only been 3 months) and I planned my travels abroad, I had high ambitions to blog every other day, if not daily. Well, those ambitions of mine were a little too high and traveling has gotten the best of me. The past month or so has been a whirlwind and I am currently running 4 countries and about 10 blogs behind. I guess that's what falling in love will do to you. Yes, I am in love; with Indonesia. SO, it’s time for a blog revamp which will consist of short, and more than likely, run on sentences, bullet points and of course pictures... until I am caught up and then I will go back to my rambling, long winded blogging self.

Pardon my grammatical errors, time to fill you in (briefly) on Northern Vietnam.

Just what I like to see, locals charging to weigh yourself. I'll save my 5 cents, thanks.

 Upon arrival in Hanoi, Northern Vietnam we took the 1.5 hour bus ride to our hotel. As you might remember from my last post, Mike and Katie were quite miserable and still recovering from the previous day of tubing down the Luang Prabang. Due to their sickness/illness/hungoverness/whateverness, I was on my own for exploring the deadly streets of Hanoi while Katie and Mike basked in their...varying issues.  Fun fact: Hanoi was formerly the capital of Northern Vietnam, prior to the re- unification of the country, once the Vietnam War ended.

Frogger, inspired by Vietnam.

There isn't must exciting to report from my Hanoi, traveling solo, excursions. The first night I attempted to go for a run, but quickly got deterred once I realized the streets of Vietnam are like living in the real life Frogger game. I decided it would be best if I walked so I could watch out for the death traps, otherwise known as drivers. Literally, to cross the street you just cross. You don’t look left, you don’t look right, you don’t look anywhere, you don’t put any thought into it, you just walk. You might as well wear a blind fold. Every time I crossed the street I held my breath and prayed I wouldn’t be the next bug on someone’s windshield. That night I found myself taking a leisurely stroll through the night market and eating pizza, my second favorite activity (night markets, not the pizza) after harassing wild animals.

The next morning I went down for breakfast and in true Mike fashion, he had picked up a lovely lady breakfast date. Long story short, Katie and Mike laid in bed all day, still recovering, so I spent the day traveling with my new friend, Jacqueline.

Day goes as follows:

We rode in a push bicycle, we toured Hoa Lo Prison, we ate lunch in the park, we went to a Vietnam water puppet show, I bought myself a new camera, I ate 5 ice cream cones (I know, I know, but in my defense, it was hot AND I’m on..Vacation?), and then I went for a run around Hoan Kiem lake. Day over.

First date.

Thang Long Water Puppet Theater - A Vietnam tradition.

Last day in Hanoi: Mike felt better so we went for a 5 mile walk in the heat, uphill both ways (well it felt like it anyways) to a the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ho Chi Minh Museum that were both closed. So we rested our legs, pouted about our defeat, and walked the 5 miles home. We ate ice cream at Fanny’s.  Mike bought about 5 pens. We went in multiple book stores, my guilty pleasure, and Katie finally measled her way out of bed to get a pedicure with me.

Heatstoppers. Walking sticks. Potato. PaTAto.

And that my friend is Hanoi in a nutshell. I wish we would have scheduled ourselves more time In Northern Vietnam because unfortunalty we didn't make it to Sapa or Halong Bay, two of Northern Vietnam's must-dos. But after our fresh pedis it was time to head to the airport and make our way down to Ho Chi Minh, which deserves a blog of it's own

Ho Chi Minh ready.

Blah blah,

Whitney

I could definitely entertain myself in this position for hours if it ever came down to it.

Prison Tour

Hanoi City View

Yes. Harder than it looks.

I wish I could witness this in action... on watermelon maybe.

Some Cathedrals we thought we should get a pic with. (The proper name would be St. Joseph's)

Finally, I bought a new camera. If this picture could speak it would tell you, in a 1000 words, it was quite a process.

Mary Poppins, is that you?

If "best receptionists in the world" was an award, these two would tie at first place.

Smoke break with the locals.

Now that is ice cream.

Trying to run off those ice cream cones when I encoutered a massage train. Obvi, the best seat is the driver.

Mausoleum. He wouldn't let us by.

For my history buffs... And thank you google.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the historic place where Respected Uncle Ho read the Vietnam Manifesto on September 2nd, 1945. There are always two guardmen dressed in white uniforms standing at the main entrance every day.
You may have to wait in a rather long queue to enter the mausoleum. The Mausoleum is closed on Monday and Friday but open the rest of the week. It is also closed to visitors during October and November, allowing only pilgrims to visit to pay their homage to Respected Uncle Ho. The dress code for entry is very strict. You must wear shirts and long trousers, no shorts. Also, no cameras, hats or bags are allowed.
Visitors must keep silent and you will only have a minute to stop in front of the glass enclosure where Uncle Ho lays. He is dressed in his traditional khaki clothes and rubber sandals, and looks as if he is just taking nap.