Day 1 - Hanoi

I wrote the following post the morning I arrived in Hanoi:

As I sit here writing this, Ive been in Hanoi for about three hours. I cant check into my hotel just yet, so Ive been off exploring the city. So far Ive done a lap around Hoan Kiem Lake, a sort of oasis in the heart of the Old Quarter. It features a beautiful red wooden bridge and an ancient pagoda. Both arent very clear until seen close-up though, because you might have guessed it, Im in Asia and so is SMOG.

It was basically the first thing I noticed when I got into the car with my driver. I soon got distracted however, as there was a jumble of (non-Asian) cyclists splayed across the middle of the street, with one man obviously in bad shape, I think he might even have been unconscious. My instictive urge to help him/them was certainly not shared by anyone else on the road, my driver included. Everyone just passed by those poor guys as if they were just another annoying hindrance.

Not to say that my driver wasnt a nice guy; Suang (pronounced Hu-wang) was great. Believe it or not, I actually felt sort of safe with him as my driver, which I dont think many others could have accomplished. The man on the road definitely shocked me from my first impression of smog to my second: the traffic. I had read about it, thought I was expecting it and ready for it, but I was wrong. I dont know...maybe these people have a death wish, maybe they like living on the edge...but mostly, on the road, these just seem to be crazy. Parents with children without helmets, old grannies, all weaving their way through each other, over each other, under each other...I found it a miracle not to have witnessed any other accidents. All of this they do without a care in the world it seems...I mean, its only your life right...The honk is the Vietnamese best friend. And in the couple of hours that Ive been here I already feel as if Im getting used to the cacophony of honking.

So tip #1: Whoever you are, even if you re the Fast & Furious (Paul Walker...may he rest in peace) of your town, county or even nation...do not even think of renting a car or motorbike here...unless you DO have a deathwish of course...

Back to Hanoi itself. As ive mentioned Ive done a lap around Hoan Kiem Lake, which has definitely provided me with a positive impression of the city so far. It is so great to just walk around and see so many people of different ages doing their thing. You wont believe how many people here use the benchess as fitness tools and the paths along the water for their daily stretch routine.

I had a little less fun experience at the lake when an old guy sort of tried to feel me up. I was peacefully sitting on one of the many benches surrounding the lake, writing this post, when an old man, like grandpa style old man asks me if I speak French. I said I spoke a little and he said he did as well. I thought that might have been the end of it, but it wasnt. He proceeded to take place beside me on the bench and I thought: ok, Ill entertain this lonely grandpa for a while and at the same time Ill be able to practice my French. I think grandpa, however, was looking for a different kind of entertainment. He was sitting waaay too close for it to be a cute little old guy situation, and after he touched my leg a few too many times, I told him AU REVOIR. Haha.

This last bit I write at the end of the day. Feeling ok now, but from the moment I checked until tonight Ive felt pretty horrid to be honest. I guess Jet Lag and I got in a fight and Jet Lag totally wiped the floor with me. Ive managed to stay awake until now, but enough is enough...Im going to sleep.

xoxo