Hanoi 9 - Hanoi to Kul

We are leaving MAI for the airport at 6.45am but before that we have our B/F  .....

I take some pictures in the last minute before leaving, of Dinh's 3 cars parked outside MAI

In the cab I start photographing the old city wall surrounding one side of Hanoi - they have been covered with patterned mosaics now depicting different messages.

 The cab driver turns us out of Hanoi city onto the "express way" towards Noi Bai.

We work out eventually that this sign at Noi Bai "Out of Gauge" means "Overweight" (possibly).

All tired out and Hanoi-fatigued!

A familiar sight ..... 

弟弟 buys drinks all round.

And he's a little hungry .....

再见了河内，你是个特殊的都市。我们已经走过了你的土地，在寻找我们个人的经验。我们所取得的经验是用我们珍贵的金钱和时间对换来的；而剩下在河内的是我们的脚步，还有我们对你的记忆。

I like that we have experienced you. You are different from Saigon. But you are not so perfect, and that's fine too .....

We may meet again yet we might not. I now know you, Hanoi ..... au revoir Hanoi au revoir. vous avez été bon pour nous. aux personnes dans les montagnes, rester fort et bien vivre. vous m'avez appris beaucoup.

Hanoi 8 - We need a rest

We arrive @ Hanoi train station 4.45am after a peaceful night's sleep ..... thankfully all is well with 弟弟 and we are looking forward to going back to MAI. When he was sick he said he was missing home. Well it won't be long before he gets to see his mom. We get a cab and return to our home away from home for shower, rest and B/F.

SM is determined to find this embroidery shop she saw a few days ago to shop for some embroidery products. In the end after a bit of searching we manage to find it - Kim Dung @ 12 Hang Bong St.

I like the Ha Long Bay and 锈才画; all hand sewn.

The lady in the black dress helps SM to select different types of products she is interested in. Now SM's happy all the shopping for her friends is done.

The lady on the left is so shy when we are taking this photo. She's trying to keep away from my prying hand .....

I want to make sure the inside of my shoes is dry before we leave Hanoi so I remove all the shoe laces. These photos will help me tie my laces back in properly.

When we get back to MAI after shopping 弟弟 is relaxing in his bed and he shows me what he has done - his holiday homework. Does not look like homework to me.

 Now the inside will be dry .....

My cough mixture, vitamin C, and a "horse" made of some tree branches crafted by Zeng's mom - the Black H'Mong lady. I actually got the hotel receptionist to write on a piece of paper in Vietnamese that I want to buy a cough mixture that clears phlem and not for dry cough - Tôi có một ho.Tôi muốn thuốc ho xóa ra chất nhầy, không ho khan.

Hanoi 2

We wake early and have B/F at MAI on Duong Thanh St - Hanoi is one hour behind KL time and three hours behind Melbourne in summer. They offer b/f beyond what I expect:- nice fresh baguette, toasts, cheese, yogurt, fresh salad, fried rice, sausages, eggs and congee.

This morning we are going to Dong Xuan market north of Hoan Kiem Lake.We like visiting local markets because there are always things to see and people to watch although we are not there to buy anything specific. SM did buy some preserved lotus seeds in the end.

 

Following my itinerary we go to 69 Ma May St & the old house at 87 Ma May St. 69 was a 200 years old house that has been turned into a nice bar & restaurant. 87 is an equally old Chinese merchant house that is now a restored heritage house. These are like the old shop houses we find in Petaling St, Georgetown, and Malacca. We particularly love 87 Ma May.

Ma May St is Hanoi's backpackers haven .....

These are pictures taken of 69 Bar & Restaurant.....

Following are pictures taken of 87 Ma May St.....

We go back to MAI to meet Sarah and finalize our tour bookings with her. Friday to Perfume Pagoda, Saturday to Ha long Bay, Sunday - Thursday @ Sapa. There are huge numbers of so called tour agents in Hanoi but in the end we decide to go with Sarah for her "honesty" and also we find MAI a nice hotel to stay. In fact， later on we find out it is much like an old friend to us during our stay.

After lunch of KFC (roast chicken with rice) we taxi to the Mausoleum area to see the thousand year old One Pillar Pagoda, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long (One Flag Citadel) and the Lenin statute. Again just the touristy things to do and review a bit of the country's history.... it's like "been there, done that; and not coming back to do that again" feeling. I guess knowing a bit about the history of where we go to visit is both interesting and nice to know.....

This Pagoda is > 1000 years old!

At Mausoleum area

 Malaysian Embassy

At One Flag Citadel

 Lenin Statute, with a man easing himself @ a nearby park