Back from the Bay
Our return to Hanoi was almost as much of an adjustment as arriving the first time. We had to switch hotels for the following nights, and going from our patio, and waking up to views of the sea, we were now placed in a tiny box of a room with no windows, and the only air, being from a dark shaft way leading to... I don't want to know where.
But we had a few days back in Hanoi to explore the city once again, this time knowing the lay of the land and how to cross the street with grace (kinda)
In our next days we visited the Home of the former president Ho Chi Men, a much loved and praised ruler of this land. His grounds were not as lavish as I imagined, although the visitors are only allowed in a small portion of what was once his property. The grounds were beautiful and well kept, opting for mango lined walk ways instead of large over sized homes.
We sat in street cafes and drank the strongest coffee ever, Vietnamese style (sweeten condensed milk Yum) We explored the city streets and found a lively night market spanning block after block, street shops filled with Christmas ornaments and preparations. Sidewalks packed with cafes and peoples watching and live musical groups performing at every turn.
We saw this amazing technique of making ice cream, check it out
We visited the Tran Quoc Pagoda on a small island on the West Lake in Hanoi. It is the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi ringing in at about 1,450 years old!
After a few days, we decided to start heading south. The trip to Ho Chi Minh City is a long one, and we always planed to break it up, so the next spot that made the most sense was Ninh Bin. With promise of river boat tours, and temples, plus a slower city, we packed our bags and left Hanoi.
I hope to come back here one day, this cities energy and life is one you can only feel in person. It has the memory of the past, with the hope of the future. The people are fast, positive and filled with smiling energy. This country has done much to impress and dazzle me, and its only the first of many cities. In our time so far, Dan and I talk often about the purpose and meaning of travel, what a trip like this does to people... So far for me, it's a feeling of togetherness. A sense that the world is a lot smaller that how it looks on the map, and that the human connection felt between smiles on the street and children waving their hello's at us as we pass, gives way to real hope, of a world that can come together, rather than create divides. It is a lot easier to keep in mind these people are just like us, when they are sitting at the next table.