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Arrived at little Hanoi hostel, down a pretty creepy alley to lovely smiling people giving us lots of tea and watermelon - or watta lemon as he called it.. Very excited at our room as it was beautiful! Went for a lush 2 course meal at a lovely restaurant for 3pounds each! We felt really christmassy as it was really cold! everyone in hats and scarfs, and christmas lights everywhere - actually quite liked the cold for a change, felt homely. Unfortunatly the next day Laura was very poorly and had what hugh had 2 days before so it was a hotel room only day...
12th January - Walked to the markets in the old quarter, scooters and motorbikes coming at your from every angle as you try and cross the road - they do not slow down! You have to walk really slowly across the road, they beep sooo much but are never angry, and always look so calm even though its so hectic and noisey! It took a couple of days for us not to find it stressful. And when you think you are safe on the pavement? they come on there aswell, to overtake and don't slow down - Laura got a little pavement rage.. The markets wernt quite what we expected - people on scooters carrying anything from dead pigs and their families to massive orange trees and what looks like their months worth of rubbish. Next to shops selling the most pristine designer cloths, next door to a scooter workshop builing and fixing them on the pavement. We went and saw a temple, it got so busy we could hardly get to any where on the pavements. We Got a little lost aswell as the roads are so confusing!
Next day we Decided to improve our vietnam war knowledge and go the the war museum - closed mondays and fridays? Long week end every weekend! We found a Pagoda Which was full of insense and fresh fruit, and loads of food put by buddha statues. On our way home we met an american guy who told us just round the corner was an amazing ancient Citadel (an old fortress). It was Huuuge and had amazing views from the top, very pretty as it was just getting dark.
14th Jan - Up early to go to Halong Bay! Bus was very cramped and we had a front row seat of the crazy wreckless drving going on. We got to the port then to our little home for the night. Impressed at our cute little private cabin! Had lunch and met Nikin, Elaine & Leo. We then went to some caves. Our tour guide enjoyed the 'naughty' shaped rocked that had formed including 'mother nipple' and the 'falic' We were hurried back on the boat and it moved off for a while, we wernt really told what was going on now. Pulled up to a montoon kind of thing with a few people sat on it, surrounded by loads of other pontoons, which turned out to be peoples homes! they had little houses lots of tiny boats and their dogs. We were handed mouldy broken life jackets and shoved into kayaks. Laura was not up for this! Once we had pulled off into the water and realised you had to barely row to move forward as the water was so calm. We had an amazing feeling of being to close to the green water and surrounded by the massive limestone cliffs & mini islands - felt so small. Later on we had dinner and played cards with Nikin, Elaine & Leo which later turned into drinking games :)
15th Jan - Had breakfast and said bye to the people on the 3 day tour as we had only paid for 2 days. Then two grumpy men came and sat opposite us for the journey back.. In the evening we went to the night market in Hanoi. Laura tried bartering but the lady was having none of it.
As its chinese new year in a few days we have booked the next two hostels and it has gone so expensive! Also booked the bus which has gone us 200%!!! Then Elaine and leo walked in! THey told us about their 3rd day in ha long bay before they had to go to the police station, Elaine had had her bag cut open and her purse stolen while she was at the night market! Got picked up outside our hostel by a mini bus.. thinking this was our bus for the next 12 hours we attempted to get comfortable. We pulled up and got on a big bus with actual beds on it! We had no idea when they said sleeper bus.. There were 44 little beds squished in. Really hard to fall asleep as it was so bumpy. Then when we finally did we were woken by a screaming gernam lady "SOMONES STOLEN MY IPHONE I WANT IT BACK!!" over and over the driver put all the lights on and everyone woke up. Untill someone from the back found it - turns out she had moved beds and left it on her old bed. She sheepishly walked back to the front everyone half asleep and grump. The driver then put on really loud vietnamese ravey poppy music right in hughs face - not the best nights sleep. Excited about Hue though!
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