Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Xin Chao!
After 4 car journeys, six train journeys, and 3 flights, I am now in Hanoi, Vietnam!
I am travelling with two friends from university- Emily and Alice . Love you girlies!!
The journey was obviously very long and tiring, but we were very lucky to be upgraded to first class on the flight between Doha and Bangkok for free, which was AMAZING!!! It was an incredible experience; free champagne on arrival, fully reclining seats, free Molten Brown toiletries bag, free pjs, four course dinner served on china plates, 1000+ films.... etc! I may sound a bit overexcited but after a 7 hour journey in economy class, it was such a luxury. I did feel a bit out of place compared to all the lofty businessmen in first class though, but we showed some restraint by only taking photos in the boarding phase!!
I am staying in a lovely little hostel in Hanoi Old Quarter, imaginatively named Hanoi Hostel. The first thing that struck me was the absolute chaos of the roads! There are no traffic lights, road marking, or indeed any rules! We quickly learnt that the best way to cross the road is to just step out in front of the traffic and walk slowly to the other side, allowing the motorbikes, cylos and cars to whizz around you- very scary but strangely satisfying to have made it across unscathed! The streets in the old quarter are crammed with shops selling everything from lychees to bamboo, with the contents spilling out on to the tiny pavements. The sellers are often sat outside the shop on tiny plastic chairs, eating and preparing food together. Everyone seems very laid back.
On the day we arrived we went to a water puppet show at a nearby theatre, which was a world away from the nosiy traffic and stifling air. The Vietnamese quan ho singing was so relaxing it actually sent me to sleep (although having been up for 30 hours with only a couple of hours sleep may have helped!).
xxxx
- comments