Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Wednesday January 17th 2007 - Hanoi
Was lovely catching up with Marc and Donna Monday night over diner a their home. Can't remember the last time I ate a home cooked meal. Certainly it's been a while now. They have such a lovely condo on the 10th floor overlooking the area where I was staying. And with the years they have accumulated beautiful things from the area. However I don't think they plan to be there much longer. Time for a change. When I come back to Bangkok (on the 16th Feb) I'll get to meet Ray who is Marc's older brother as he will be visiting. So I'll get to meet another great great great cousin.
Took a flight yesterday from Bangkok to Hanoi on Thai Air Asia, one of dozens of discount flight services. I arrived at 8:30pm and after passport checks and baggage claim was picked up by the taxi the little hotel had sent for me. So getting in was easy. The lovely 25 year old Vui was the taxi driver. He was delightful and trying hard to make conversation. His very very limited english far surpasses my non excitant Vietnamese so it was funny and we spent most of the trip into Hanoi laughing. He takes the opportunity to teach me a bit of Vietnamese...Sing jiao means Hello. Tamit means goodbye and Kamut means thank you. The rest I've forgotten already and perhaps those few words will keep me out of trouble for now. I'm amazed on the way in that indeed many buildings do seem European. I knew there would be a European/French influence here but seeing it- the rather odd mix of European and Asian- is still quite surprising.
I simply find my room unpack a bit, shower and go to bed last night. This morning I wake up to overcast conditions and enjoy a run around a nearby lake. It's the city of lakes so there are a few right in the middle of town. The sounds of horns start early and scooters are everywhere. So nice to be in cooler temperatures again. It was 21 last night when I landed. It could be less than that today.
I'm staying in a modest hotel in the old quarters right in the middle of things. I haven't yet found my way but I'll keep you posted.
Bye for now
Anne
Was lovely catching up with Marc and Donna Monday night over diner a their home. Can't remember the last time I ate a home cooked meal. Certainly it's been a while now. They have such a lovely condo on the 10th floor overlooking the area where I was staying. And with the years they have accumulated beautiful things from the area. However I don't think they plan to be there much longer. Time for a change. When I come back to Bangkok (on the 16th Feb) I'll get to meet Ray who is Marc's older brother as he will be visiting. So I'll get to meet another great great great cousin.
Took a flight yesterday from Bangkok to Hanoi on Thai Air Asia, one of dozens of discount flight services. I arrived at 8:30pm and after passport checks and baggage claim was picked up by the taxi the little hotel had sent for me. So getting in was easy. The lovely 25 year old Vui was the taxi driver. He was delightful and trying hard to make conversation. His very very limited english far surpasses my non excitant Vietnamese so it was funny and we spent most of the trip into Hanoi laughing. He takes the opportunity to teach me a bit of Vietnamese...Sing jiao means Hello. Tamit means goodbye and Kamut means thank you. The rest I've forgotten already and perhaps those few words will keep me out of trouble for now. I'm amazed on the way in that indeed many buildings do seem European. I knew there would be a European/French influence here but seeing it- the rather odd mix of European and Asian- is still quite surprising.
I simply find my room unpack a bit, shower and go to bed last night. This morning I wake up to overcast conditions and enjoy a run around a nearby lake. It's the city of lakes so there are a few right in the middle of town. The sounds of horns start early and scooters are everywhere. So nice to be in cooler temperatures again. It was 21 last night when I landed. It could be less than that today.
I'm staying in a modest hotel in the old quarters right in the middle of things. I haven't yet found my way but I'll keep you posted.
Bye for now
Anne
# posted by AdeC @ 8:16 PM 
