Live Feed From Hanoi
Extracts of a group e-mail I wrote yesterday but forgot to post here.
Well I have arrived in Hanoi and I really don't even know where to start.
Driving in the taxi to my hotel was a mixture of joy and sheer terror (yes you can experience both at once). All along the express way is fairly clear, lots of grass and then every now an again will be this amazing ?French style building, they are ALL 3-4 stories and really thin with amazine old style viet/french architecture, it really is breath taking. The sheer terror came when my taxi driver decided we needed to make the fastest time ever to my hotel or that he really wanted to run someone over, i can't work out which. He was beeping and high beaming EVERYONE that got in his way and nearly side swiping every second motorbike off the road. If I ever get a stress induced heart attack it will be from the traffic/driving in Vietnam that's for sure.
The dramas become even worse when I arrived at my hotel and the concierge said that they had cancled my booking cause I was late (did I mention my flight was delayed 2 hours?). So they walked me to a hotel around the corner which was really dodgy, kinda dark and it just made me feel really uneasy. But it was 10 at night and what could I do short of wandering the dark streets scouring the hotels? So I stayed there (don't worry pictures are too come when I return) and made do. It really didn't help my nerves that people were knocking on my door all night. I don't think I got a very good sleep. Needless to say first thing this morning I packed my stuff paid and fled. Went a hotel recommended in the Lonely Planet and for 1USD more than the other I am staying in a really nice place, with friendly people, that has an internal door latch so that I can actually sleep at night.
I have been picking my resteraunts out of the Lonely Planet guide and they have been fantastic, super yummy food at great prices. The pepsi here is really great!! I am so grateful for my Lonely Planet it really has been my saviour, all the places it has recommended have been comforting and helped me to relax a little. I must say I am really looking forward to catching up with my tour tomorrow.
The thing I have found most amusing here is that nearly everyone wearing a motorbike is concious of pollution that they wear squee face masks but none wear a helmet, where is the sense in that? Especially when they drive around like crazy people. The only road rule here is that you don't give way you make way and the bigger you are the more pushing power you have (good if you are a coach not so good if you are cycling).
The shopping here is good, very cute handicrafts and I had a go at bargaining etc today. I haven't purchased much, mainly because being on the street is stressful enough without adding the hassel of bargaining without offending. As the day goes on I am settling a bit more (especially since checking into the good hotel) but I guess it's the on my own thing that's a little hard. Hopefully I can find someone to share a drink with tonight.
Well I have arrived in Hanoi and I really don't even know where to start.
Driving in the taxi to my hotel was a mixture of joy and sheer terror (yes you can experience both at once). All along the express way is fairly clear, lots of grass and then every now an again will be this amazing ?French style building, they are ALL 3-4 stories and really thin with amazine old style viet/french architecture, it really is breath taking. The sheer terror came when my taxi driver decided we needed to make the fastest time ever to my hotel or that he really wanted to run someone over, i can't work out which. He was beeping and high beaming EVERYONE that got in his way and nearly side swiping every second motorbike off the road. If I ever get a stress induced heart attack it will be from the traffic/driving in Vietnam that's for sure.
The dramas become even worse when I arrived at my hotel and the concierge said that they had cancled my booking cause I was late (did I mention my flight was delayed 2 hours?). So they walked me to a hotel around the corner which was really dodgy, kinda dark and it just made me feel really uneasy. But it was 10 at night and what could I do short of wandering the dark streets scouring the hotels? So I stayed there (don't worry pictures are too come when I return) and made do. It really didn't help my nerves that people were knocking on my door all night. I don't think I got a very good sleep. Needless to say first thing this morning I packed my stuff paid and fled. Went a hotel recommended in the Lonely Planet and for 1USD more than the other I am staying in a really nice place, with friendly people, that has an internal door latch so that I can actually sleep at night.
I have been picking my resteraunts out of the Lonely Planet guide and they have been fantastic, super yummy food at great prices. The pepsi here is really great!! I am so grateful for my Lonely Planet it really has been my saviour, all the places it has recommended have been comforting and helped me to relax a little. I must say I am really looking forward to catching up with my tour tomorrow.
The thing I have found most amusing here is that nearly everyone wearing a motorbike is concious of pollution that they wear squee face masks but none wear a helmet, where is the sense in that? Especially when they drive around like crazy people. The only road rule here is that you don't give way you make way and the bigger you are the more pushing power you have (good if you are a coach not so good if you are cycling).
The shopping here is good, very cute handicrafts and I had a go at bargaining etc today. I haven't purchased much, mainly because being on the street is stressful enough without adding the hassel of bargaining without offending. As the day goes on I am settling a bit more (especially since checking into the good hotel) but I guess it's the on my own thing that's a little hard. Hopefully I can find someone to share a drink with tonight.