Day 20:Cat Ba After a hot shower, warm room and a heavy blanket, it was off to bed for a good night's sleep. Breakfast at the hotel was on the top floor with a wonderful view of the Cat Ba harbor (in the rain). Then it was off to search for an Internet cafe. The first one had a very slow connection so we walked away and found another.
Jud and I spent the day going to and from the hotel - out to the Internet and back to dry out. The Internet shop is filled with kids playing games before and after school.
Vietnamese architecture is very interesting -the enclosed example shows a typical row of narrow homes- each with a top designed to outdo the neighbors top. See photo enclosed.
Cat Ba homes and shops
A wet walkway along the harbor
Cat Ba architecture
My morning walk along the Cat Ba "boardwalk" was interesting - the fishing boats coming in and the restaurant owners waiting to buy the day's catch. One woman offered to sell me a fish.
Fishermen bringing in their daily catch
Even I was asked if I wanted to buy a fish
Day 21:Returning to Hanoi The side trip to Cat Ba Island ended up being a big disappointment because of the rain and cold. The boat trip to and from Cat Ba was through the beautiful Ha Long Bay - that was the best part of the trip.
We stopped at a tourist spot where people on our boat could take a 30 minute kayak trip through some caves - we passed up the trip but I did get a photo.
Selling food to the ferry passengers
Want to take a Kayak to one of the caves
We had a couple of interesting but not great meals and watched a little Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai television - non of it in English - Jud introduced me to the finer points soccer - with the sound (Italian narration) turned off.
The mini-van trip back from Ha Long to Hanoi was like a thrill ride - just missing dogs on the road - driving on the wrong side and five accidents during the 4 hour drive.
We returned to the same hotel, Win Hotel, and the same room. Now the problem is that we cannot get the heat to turn on....so extra blankets again.
After a shower and a wonderful dinner of Pho (pronounced fur) the Vietnamese national dish of noodles and beef with a Han Oi Beer ended the day. Day 22:St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Hanoi It's Sunday! As the Sunday spirit moves me - I checked out the one Catholic Cathedral in Hanoi - St. Joseph's Cathedral. I got there at 9:30am - about half way through the morning mass. It was quite moving to see hundreds of Vietnamese signing the songs we sing at home. The church was closed during and after the war and recently opened on Sundays. After the service, a number of families stood in front of the alter to have their photos taken. Immediately after church the doors were shut and locked. Sorry the inside photo is not great - it's the best I could do at the time.
St. Joseph's Cathedral - Hanoi
St. Joseph's Cathedral interior
St. Joseph's Cathedral exterior
After church it was time for a walk - walking in Hanoi is an adventure - one might think it's almost like putting your life in the hands of the motor scooters and in some ways it is. The streets are always packed with scooters, however, one of the guests at our hotel said that last night at midnight - the police came around making all the restaurants close and for the people to get off the streets.
This must be like Ray's Pizza in New York City
I picked up a couple more movie CDs - there are hundreds of shops selling movie and music CDs copied from the real thing - nothing in Vietnam seems real - all the bags, clothing, CDs and watches in the old quarter are fake - sometimes you see two designer labels on the same article of clothing. Then again you see some of the top designer shops selling the real thing at the real (high) price. P.S. none of the CDs worked at home.
There is always the hope that a $1 CD will work - they don't
Camera Hunting Disaster struck today when Jud had his camera "picked" out of his camera bag. We were warned about pick pockets but it happens so quickly that you cannot remember when it might have happened. We spend part of the afternoon hunting for a new camera. He found one that does the job.
During a walk around the lake near our hotel we came upon a couple having their wedding photos taken. A little slice of life in Hanoi. Day 23:Walking Around Hanoi This is a walking city. Jud loves to walk so we walk and walk - he has much more energy then I do. Walking in Hanoi is not without risk - the traffic is crazy.
Grave stone artist
Day 24:More Walking in Hanoi More walking in Hanoi - it's still grey and cloudy but cool enough for good walks.
We came across an interesting group of Christians this afternoon - all standing in front of a shrine. They were standing and chanting. Not sure what it was but just another interesting part of Hanoi.
668
As I mentioned previously, many of the streets are dedicated to one product - sun glasses, keys - yes, there was a street of people making keys. I asked to take a photo and the key maker said yes if he could take one of me!
The key maker
Photo of me taken by one of the locksmiths
to continue, go to Asia 2008 and click on Coming Home
