Hanoi
We
ate breakfast included with the hotel. I ate prawn dumplings,
vegetables and some sort of beef stew, along with a watermelon juice.
Sarah had some freshly cooked pancakes with lime and sugar. We also ate
dragonfruit and jackfruit. We then headed to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
The hotel organised a taxi for us, however even then we later figured
out he took us the long way around. At least we got to drive past the
Botanic Gardens.
When
we got there, we joined the long, but fast moving line that snaked
around the outside of the complex. To enter the complex, you must go
through security screening. We were initially directed to the line with
no bags, however when we reached front, we were told that because we had
bags, we needed to move across to the other line. While waiting,
another group with bags got through the no bags line. We put our bags
through the screen, and I was told to remove my iPad and camera, to be
put in a special bag. When I did, I was told that my camera was a small
one, so it could stay in my original bag. Sarah was told that she
couldn't take water in, but could drink it there and then. As she
started to drink, she was told she could keep it in her bag. We then
checked our bags, after being told to take out wallets and phones. I
couldn't check in my iPad and camera. We joined the line again, to reach
a point where we had to check all electronic equipment - except phones.
And except Sarah's camera, which was small. However, my camera was no
longer deemed small, so had to be checked! After all that, it was a walk
through the perfectly manicured grounds, in a perfectly ordered line -
completely different to the chaos of life outside. You enter the Mausoleum itself in that orderly line, then are directed around a small, dark room containing Ho Chi Minh's
body, perfectly preserved. He is guarded by 4 men, standing absolutely still, along with others placed to keep the line moving. You walk slowly around the room in a single direction - no stopping. I think we were probably only in there for less than a minute.
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| The Mausoleum |
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| Guards in uniform, marching through the grounds |
When
we finished at the Mausoleum, we were sitting down with the map
attempting to figure out how to get to the Temple of Literature, when we
heard a "hello!" from behind us. Sarah said "hello" back, then there
was an outburst of giggles and running feet. We looked around to see 6
or 7 kids running off, probably aged around 8 - 10. We turned back to
our map, but could hear one of the adults in the background encouraging
them to approach us again to ask "How are you?" We then turned to talk
to them, but that was basically the extent of their English, and beyond
the extent of our Vietnamese, so there was just a lot of laughing and
giggling, with the occasional return to their parents for safety.
As
we both have no direction sense, we decided that the offer of a cyclo
was too good to miss, so a poor man cycled us to the Temple of
Literature. At one point there was a bus heading directly for us down a street that was really only wide enough for a bus(!) but we
still felt fairly safe. The Temple was beautiful, with manicured
gardens, statues and stone stelae sitting on the back of stone turtles,
for the doctors that had graduated.
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| Stelae |
Although there were a lot of
tourists, it felt peaceful, and sitting in the park next door was
strange, as it is surrounded by rivers of motorbikes swirling around,
yet it is a pocket of peace and quiet.
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| Floral decorations at the Temple of Literature |
We
had lunch at Koto, which is a not-for-profit social enterprise that
trains street kids in hospitality and English. I had beef pho, and Sarah
had a beef in bamboo dish.
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| Lunch, along with our trusty map |
After
lunch, we organised the next leg of our trip, which will encompass Hoi
An and Ho Chi Minh City, before we move on to Phnom Penh in Cambodia.
Finally,
for dinner we went on a "Food on Foot" tour, of the street food in
Hanoi. We were in a group with a Spanish couple, an Austrian couple, and
an English girl. We visited about 9 establishments, sampled (too) many
dishes, and all in all had a great night talking to everyone else and
the lovely guide. Too many things to remember, however I did try a tiny
piece of one of the eggs that has a chick inside (it didn't taste too
bad, just like meat)
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| Yep, I really went there... |
and we finished the night with egg coffee, which was tasty but way
too strong for me at this time of night. I need sleep...
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| Not what I was expecting - more like a rich egg custard floating on coffee - yummy! |
Tomorrow
we are off early to travel to Halong Bay, so probably won't have access
to WiFi for a couple of days. Hope everyone has a great New Year!
