LIKE NIGHT AND DAY

    

Last night we walked to a night market.  Part of the way took us by the lake.  It was amazing to see everyone outside and enjoying themselves.  There were family groups everywhere.  There was zoomba fitness, latin funk dancing, ballroom dancing, rollerskating, tai chi, people fishing.  It was busy and bustling.  Crossing the streets involves taking your life into your hands.  There were four of us braving the street and I ended up hanging on for dear life to the lady that was nearest.  I kept apologizing but couldn't let go.  She just kept repeating keep your head up and walk with a purpose.  It worked, we made it and lived to tell the tale.  It was lovely to be walking at night and felt very safe to be out and about.  We were warned to be aware of our surroundings and keep purses and wallet s close.

When we got to the night market, there was not a lot to see.  Mostly belts, cell phone covers, t-shirts, jewelry and PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.  After walking around for 40 minutes or so, we hailed a cab to take us back to the hotel.  For the 4 of us the cost was $3.00US or 50,000 VND.  It was cheap, air conditioned and well worth the $1.00 tip I gave him when he dropped us off.

 

This morning we awoke to a deluge of rain.  It is windy, raining, but still very warm.  We are going on a city tour in what could be defined as larger golf carts.  Each cart holds 1 driver and 5 passengers and in the pouring rain - off we went.  We were reasonable dry for our tour of the old part of the city

It was a lot of fun.  We drove to the old section of the city and saw what daily life is like on the streets of Hanoi.  The traffic is always scary and the people drive in every direction with very few stop lights and no stop signs.  There are a million or more motor scooters and 500,000 cars and 100,000 pedestrians and 50,000 bicycles and the odd bus and everyone is using the same narrow street as we are.  They come at you from all directions...horns honking and only barely slowing down.

The vendors in town seem to be arranged ... i.e., there was a spice section with such amazing aromas - even though it was raining, you could smell the pungent aromas - then there was a restaurant section - another assault on the olfactory senses.  We drove through streets with nothing but clothes, then hardware, then household supplies, food stuffs, baby needs and so it went.  People sitting at little tables on the streets eating, visiting or drinking or cleaning vegetables or simply just sitting.  Life here is very different from home - and so social.

I took so many pictures and so enjoyed the ride.  It was a great experience and the rain did not hamper us a bit.  Life here doesn't stop for the rain and neither will we!

So now we are off to the airport for our flight to Siem
Reap in Cambodia for the next great adventure - see you there!