6 posts tagged “hanoi”

Leftover Vietnam Musings...pt 2

Mar 16, 2009
2 comments

Not many thoughts in the end haha! But here's the final part of it. The rest of the stuff I thought about and wrote during my trip can't be shared with you guys sorry!

Stoned

Halong Bay & Cat Ba Island

2 comments

I admit Halong Bay was a beautiful spot and I can see how magnificent the location is. For the life of me though, I can't see how some of those rock formations got their names. I tried. I really did. But some of those names left me scratching my head! I could only nod in agreement when my guide pointed out the rocks to us, take a quick snap and then squint and stare very hard to make the connection! Maybe I just don't have a very good imagination. What were those Vietnamese fishermen smoki

Surreal

Halong Bay & Cat Ba Island

I've experienced many moments that make me go "WTF?!" but this ranks quite high up there on the surreal table. There I was, floating peacefully on a boat down Halong Bay. The sun was getting ready to set and we've just finished an afternoon of marvelling at the gorgeous rock formations and caves that the Bay boasted. As we came to the end of our tour, activities on the boat had pretty much wound down. Our guide was busy below deck as we neared Cat Ba Island, and we were all rather tired.

I was freezing, but enjoying the moment, as the evening breeze said hello and the rocks stared down at us instead. My fellow tourmates were either busy snapping photos, napping or chatting about their coming stay on the boat. Suddenly I heard the sounds of a harmonica. The song was faintly recognisable but I think it was Frank Sinatra's 'My Way'. I stopped to stare at the Korean guy who was playing, wondering if I was imagining the whole thing. I turned my gaze back to the cool blue water of the bay, and I chuckled.

Peace

Halong Bay & Cat Ba Island

After the assault on my privacy and senses that is Hanoi, it was nice to find solitude on Cat Ba 2 beach. As I write this, the place is practically deserted, save for the handful of staff and some bored-ass tourists mucking around. The only sounds in the background are the crashing of the waves and the spluttering of a motorboat heading out to sea. I did my 2009 lifeplan during my 2.5hours on that beach. It was definitely worth the 2km trek from my hotel.

Leftover Vietnam Musings...pt 1.

Mar 15, 2009
Post a comment

During my trip to Hanoi in January, I jotted down a few thoughts in my Moleskin. I've finally gotten around to post them on my blog. Randomness really. Better late than never! Part 1 of 2.

Stay Cool

Faces of Hanoi

Chilling in Hanoi takes on a different meaning during the winter months (as I found out). With temperatures hovering around 18 Deg. Celsius in the day and dipping to a low of 13 Deg. Celsius at night, I've hardly taken off my jacket here. I even sleep with my socks on because it's freezing!

How anyone can stroll about in a pair of bermudas and a thin t-shirt is beyond me. In fact, I asked this British dude I met on my Halong Bay tour how he was the surviving the weather as such. He admitted, he wished he'd brought his jacket at least. I bet a lot of tourists realised their folly upon arrival, though to be fair, if you'd compared Hanoi to Ho Chin Minh, it's never so chilly in HCM.

Thank goodness for roadside stalls selling hot green tea to warm up your engines. They cost pittance and offer welcome relief. Plus they're great pit-stops after a long walk, so you can tank up on tea or coffee and a cigarette or two (or three) before getting lost again.

Fashion Forward

Hoan Kiem Lake

The Vietnamese folks never fail to impress me with their fashion consciousness. The younger folks are all about looking flashy with the latest brand names but it's the older generation who earn my admiration for their stylishness. They all looked so prim and proper whether in their colourful, traditional outfits or their European-influenced wear - full tweed suit, with matching vest and flat cap anyone? Like most of Hanoi and its buildings, the elder Hanoians ooze old school cool.

Hanging in Hanoi - the evidence

Jan 30, 2009
Post a comment

Hello.

While I find the time to pen down my thoughts from my recent Hanoi escape, please feel free to peruse the many photos I took on my spanking new Canon G10. It's only about 1-month old with me but I am already in love with it. I think it's the start of a beautiful friendship. Uh, my photos are on my Flickr account.

I've split them into various sets so yeah, do check them out if you have the time. If you're on Flickr, add me as a contact or something. The posts to come soon! Work's getting crazy and I still can't shake off the nuah-ness.

The Prince 57 Crew

Hoan Kiem Lake

Halong Bay & Cat Ba Island

Faces of Hanoi

Hanging in Hanoi pt. 1

Jan 14, 2009
2 comments

If I wrote what exactly I did every day of my week-long trip to Vietnam, you might get bored. So I thought while waiting to upload my 1,000 (thereabouts) pictures on Flickr, I'll share some of the thoughts that popped into my head during my getaway. They're pretty random but I think that probably captures the spirit of the trip as well. I'll jot them down over the next few posts as I collect and try to make sense of the the dribs and drabs I scribbled in my moleskin.

Tale of 2 Cities

Hanoi is not Saigon and Vietnam is not Thailand. Don't mix them up. The Thais, in my opinion, remain the warmest folks I've met and offer the best variety and quality in terms of food and well, maybe shopping, in our region.

Vietnam is an economy on the rise and its people are quick to warm up to capitalism. The people are slightly more brusque in their everyday dealings, though you can't read that as rude, merely more direct. Bargaining doesn't really exist but they can be nice, just not Thai-nice. Still, so long as you treat others with respect, it's okay but they're quick to try and pull off a quick one. You can get quoted 5 difference prices for the same thing while walking down the same street. Honest.

And although I was in Saigon for only about 3 days before, I feel that the people there are more laidback than the Hanoi-ans. Maybe not so aggressive for a sale and the traffic wasn't so crazy. And of course, weather-wise, Hanoi has the four seasons while Saigon is hot or rainy (apparently). That sounds like Singapore no? I enjoyed my stay in Hanoi despite the exterior "coldness" of the place. I was beginning to fit in well! Esp since people either thought I was Thai or local. I had a ball sitting by the road of my hotel eying the tourists walking up and down. I think I'll miss that the most.

Horn-Oi

They should seriously consider re-naming Hanoi, Horn-Oi. The crazy traffic means incessant honking throughout the entire day and pretty much everywhere. Those who stay near the busier intersections probably need mufflers. The best part is nobody really gets angry at being honked at; it's become part and parcel of their everyday commute and for pedestrians, it's definitely useful to know you're in harm's way. Although anytime you're putting yourself on those roads means you're definitely in harm's way! I'm glad I've been to Vietnam before though, I was crossing the roads like a pro!

Oi will be your adopted name as people address you, trying to get your attention in some way. 1-hour cyclo ride around the city, massage boom-boom, taxi offer to wherever it is you look like you're headed...Just smile politely and decline. And don't look lost, even if you are lost (like I was when I got off the bus from the airport). That definitely attracts the vultures. Just walk like you know where you are going (like I did but I didn't really know where I was going, I walked 15mins down the wrong direction). But I don't understand why some tourists need to be so rude going about declining these folks and every other peddler they meet. Smile, say no and walk on.

chilled out.

Jan 13, 2009
Post a comment

well, i'm back in singapore after a week in and around Hanoi, specifically, Hanoi, Halong Bay and Cat Ba Island. I have to say the weather was cold because it's winter. I expected that but didn't expect temperature to dip so low. I think it hovered around 13 - 18 deg. celsius while i was there which is pretty chilly coming from humid singapore. Still it was great to wear my jacket every day and sport a scarf too. Although wearing the same jeans night and day for 7days straight didn't hit me till I reached the airport. ditto for the cigarette-reeking jacket. I wouldn't mind some of that cold here!

the truth is, i wasn't there as a tourist per se. As in, I wasn't there to sight see all that much. I fitted in whatever i had time (or desire) to view and just did my own thing for the most part. I tried to get what I could for those who asked. If I didn't well, this trip isn't about them.

Ultimately, I wanted to get away from people, home, office, whatever is familiar around me. I wanted time and peace alone.Me-time. To Plot. Reminisce. Forget. Forgive. Cut. Focus. To Think about the year past. the year that's now and to sort things out in my life, especially now that i'm 30. For the most part, it was a productive trip.

Funnily, Hanoi probably isn't the best of places for quiet reflection, considering its crazy-ass traffic but I found solitude on Cat Ba Island and its pretty desolate beach(it is winter after all). I managed about 2 1/2 hours of thinking and self-debate which was really productive. The 1km trek up-slope was definitely worth it. Some of those little observations I'll post up soonish, along with the pictures.

I need to settle some administrative matters firstly so later peeps.

headed to hanoi

Sep 16, 2008
Post a comment

Well, in January la. I booked my trip from 6 to 13 January on Tiger Airways because they had a promo of some sort. Haven't really figured out the details but I figured I'd make a quick run to Halong Bay for first 2 days, sleep to Hue for another 2 and then come back and chillax in Hanoi till it's time to fly home.

Roughly this was what went through my head:

6 - touch down Hanoi (830am). Find a way to Halong (self tour?)

7 - Halong to Hanoi. Hanoi to Hue (sleeper train?)

8 - Hue

9 - Hue. Hue to Hanoi (does sleeper train go in reverse?)

10 - Hanoi

11 - Hanoi

12 - Hanoi

13 - Hanoi to SG. Flight departs 9am.

I probably won't even overnight in Hanoi till the 5th day. I hope this old soul can stand the train journeys.

Does that sound like a plan? And if yes, please, tell me the must-not-miss spots in Hanoi and erm, whether 2 days in Hue is enough (well, okay time is never enough I know). Then again, that doesn't leave me much time in Hanoi.

I'm not looking for a super-touristy visit, very casual and see what I can see kinda thing. Any comments are much appreciated.