Frist Day in Hanoi!
Very excited to be here. Simone picked me up from the airport and we caught a taxi to her house, an amazing 5 story building.For lunch we went to a beautiful little resturant and ordered a heap of dishes to share.Then after a few beers at Beer Corner we headed to a cold opening of a new south american bar "Cuba" and drank a heap of free drinks.Dinner we went to "Quan An Ngon" a resturant that has taken the best of the street food and housed the cooks under one roof.The Teachers were haivng their last dinner together in Hanoi, after a long course.
Second Day Hanoi!
Absolutely loving the scooter rides around Hanoi, the crazy stuff you see is fantastic!Used the ATM for the first time, crazy stuff trying to get your head around the currency. I took out 3 million dong!Today we headed to a spa and had 1 hour massages - I chose the aromatherepy one, was fantastic and very relaxing!Lunch was at a western style resturant (chicken and mushroom pie)Dinner was at "Old Hanoi"
Third Day Hanoi
We met up with another friend of Simones at "Happy House" on the lake and had brunch.Watermelon juice was Awesome!Found a cute tailor on silk street to make me a tradional Ao Dai outfit. Chose fabric type, colours and embodery pattern.We met up with Jackie for Lunch and went to " Koto" a training resturant.Koto takes kids off the street and teaches them hospitality to give them skills to make their lives better.After lunch we headed to the temple of litrature.Dinner was "chicken street" we had chicken on a stick!
Fourth Day Hanoi - Travelling to Quan Lan
Today we got up a 5.30am and met a heap of friends at the house to catch a taxi together to the bus station, from the station we had a 4 hour bus ride to the middle of nowhere (close enough is good enough for westerners) from there we caught another taxi to the boat, we had lunch before jumping on the boat for another 4 hour journey. on Quan Lan we were greeted by Tuk Tuks that had been arranged for us and finally travel was over.We had dinner of Prawns, Clams, Morning Glory, Fish, Rice and Egg.We then drank vodka till the electricity went out then went to bed.
Fifth Day Quan Lan
We were served fries for breakfast then went to a cafe for coffee.It was a raining bleak grey day but we headed to the beach anyway.We met some little island cuties that played games with us, went for a swim and hung out all day at the beach.We stopped off at a new resort opening up on the way back and I had the most amazing mango juice.Dinner consisted of Fish, Scollops, Morning Glory, Squid, Egg, NutsWe then headed to the rooms and played drinking games.
Sixth Day Quan Lan
Today everyone is a bit seedy and 2 people have left earlier that morning.Breakfast was instant noodles with egg and clams.We then headed to the beach again. Today the sun was out in full and people got sunburned.Dinner consisted of Fish, Scollops, Crabs, Monring Glory, Rice, Spring Rolls.We had a few drinks up in the rooms tonight but not too hard as we were heading out the next day.
Seventh Day Hanoi - Travelling from Quan Lan
So again with a full day of travelling.Today was tuk tuk to boat, walk to bus stop, bus to bus station for bigger bus, bus to bus station, taxi from bus station to home.We all met up for dinner after a nap and headed to an indian resturantwe then went back home and watched " slumdog millionair" before heading to bed
Eighth Day Hanoi
Today was shopping day!We bought souveniers and clothes and tickets to the water puppets and cd's and dvdsIn the arvo simone and I left jackie to shop and headed to the pool for relaxing drinks.For dinner we headed to a resturant Highway 4 and tried some vietnamese rice wine.Then Ben was heading out for drinks so I went with him as I had yet to be out at night.We headed to beer corner first, then a beer hoi and then to a couple of pubs to play pool.Got home around 3am
Ninth Day Hanoi
Today Simone had to go to work.Jackie and I were feeling a bit seedy, so we stayed in the house for most of the day.2pm we headed out to "Papa Joes" for lunch then went to the water puppets.We then picked up my ao dai and headed to beer corner.We met simone that evening at " Wild Rice" for dinnerI ordered the chicken and mushroom soup with duck pan fried in orange sauce.
Tenth Day Hanoi
Today is my last day in Hanoi!!!I spent all morning packing and making sure I had everything.Managed to say good buy to pretty much everyone - even Jocelyn wished me well.Then I went outside to wait for the taxi - didn't have to wait long.
Then there was a long drive in a fast taxi to the airport to catch my flight to Ho Chi Minh
After a two hour flight I arrived in Ho Chi Minh
Though I was worried that I would be unable to find the Ho Chi Minh International Airport from the Domestic Airport, but it was only a 3 min walk away.
Waited at the International Airport for another 5 hours before my flight (which was an hour late boarding), then after finally boarding the plane its just a 5 hour flight to Australia.......
