After we left Hue we caught a plane up to Hanoi - another one of our favourite places (there are quite a few of them)!
Our hotel was right in the depths of the colourful and lively Old Quarter of Hanoi, which met we were in the thick of things as soon as we stepped outside. We were met on our first day by the lovely Phuong Anh, who works with the Fred Hollows
Foundation in Hanoi. She showed us around, and took us to see the new and improved eye hospital. Here she poses with one of the many 'typical' Vietnam bicycles - so stacked with goods we don't know how they move. And this one is filled with ceramics!
The day after we arrived Phuong Anh took us for a drive to meet Giap. The drive itself was interesting (and the driving, again, quite scary), but meeting Giap was a really awesome experience. For those of you living in and around Sydney, you may have seen photos of Giap as a young boy, with Cam's dad Fred - they're often up at bus stops and other public places. Cam's dad Fred actually operated on his eyes and restored his sight around 15 years ago. So it was a special moment when they met each other as adults.
We had a lovely lunch and translated conversations. It was great to learn that Giap is half way through a university degree in Maths teaching - no mean feat.
After lunch we had to head back to Hanoi - another 3 hour trip! We did have one quick stop to buy young coconuts from the side of the road - Cam's favourite drink.
While we were enjoying Hanoi, we decided we had to get out to Halong Bay - one of the world's natural wonders. So the next day we caught a bus with a small group of people from our hotel, and tried to ignore the near-death driving habits of the Vietnamese people.
On arriving in Halong Bay we were overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of other tourists and lots of boats. We were shepheded by our tour guide (it is truly amazing how quickly tourists are moved on and off the boats - it's a smooth operation) to our boat, which we had to walk the plank and cross two other boats to get onto. On arriving safely and handing over our passports we retired to the top deck with a drink or two.
We cruised around the bay, past many islands and rocky formations - headed by our dragon (each boat has a dragon at the front for good luck). After a HUGE and fabulous lunch we were told to get off the boat and walk up a lot of stairs. While this may have been a bit of a mission the caves at the top of the stairs were amazing, and truly vast.
After walking down all the stairs again we were then taken to a kayaking site (they may give you a lot of food, but they make you work it off). We paddled around for a bit, trying not to fall in as the water didn't look all that clean and pleasant. Our guide took us through a pass that only small boats can fit through, and suddenly we were surrounded by what must have once been a huge cave. It was so beautiful, and worth the effort.
All the exercise done for the day, we got back on the boat (via all the fresh seafood that had been caught and was still alive in water filled 'cages' - a bit sad). We watched the sunset and had a drink, then another feast called 'dinner'. For evening entertainment we were called upon to teach some of the old uni drinking games - the things you find yourself doing in random places!
The next day we woke up, ate breakfast, and then were put off the boat and told to walk up lots of stairs again (is there a pattern here?) even more stairs than the day before! At the top there was a 360 degree view of Halong Bay, so perhaps it was worth the pain. Cam even met 'God' up the top.
Once we had recovered sufficiently we managed to walk down the stairs again, passing some small Vietnamese men carrying their body weight in steel cables. A bit of a reality check for us soft (and puffing, panting, and sweating) Westerners. There was a lovely beach down the bottom (real or artificial we're not sure), and a stall hiring out swimming costumers. Ewww.
Our Halong Bay trip almost at an end we cruised back to shore where we were fed another huge meal. After this one we sat on a bus for a few hours, and got to sleep - probably wise. Although most of us were awake to see a poor man lose a load of wire clothing stands off the back of his bike. It's amazing he could get them all on their in the first place...
We only had a few more days in Hanoi. We spent time walking around the shops, looking and buying - there were just so many lovely things! We met up with our Halong Bay friends for dinner and drinks at the jazz club one night. Cam received plenty of admiring glances surrounded by all the ladies.
After more delicious meals (including sinful and refreshing ice creams at 'Fanny's', pho and Vietnamese spring rolls), final shopping (there's so much we didn't buy, but we still had trouble packing everything) and trips to the post office, it was time to leave Hanoi.
And so our overseas adventures have ended for the moment (but not this blog!). We've had an amazing time, met some great people and seen some special places. Thanks to everyone who helped us, put up with us and caught up with us! We'd love to return the favour sometime...perhaps when we have jobs and a place of our own!
