Liliana’s South East Asia Adventure

So I’m back in Hanoi. Can I vent here? Well yes I can! So if you read my other blog you know that Ha Long Bay was foggy. I had a choice to go back to Hanoi or to stay at a hotel at Ha Long Bay and try the next day to go out on a boat. Well I opted fo rthe hotel as thats why I came to Hanoi. Ok so the hotel was nice. At first they where saying that we had to pay for the hotel which I was like ok. The room was nice etc. Anyway I saw that they had sauna so I asked if they would show me where. The lady did and she turned it on. So I waited 15 minutes for it to heat up. Well I did about 30 minutes. I’ve never done a sauna.

Anyway after that I went to see our guide performe traditional songs etc. We helped play the instruments. Ok lets cut to the chase so the next morning after breakfast I recieve a bill fo rthe sauna which was I think $5 give or take. I didn’t know I had to pay they didn’t tell me I thought it was free. Oh also the night before I went to a water light show that the tour company payed for. I said why not it was supposedly 30 minutes. well the guide me the hotel lady and I went. the show sucked but what ever. It was a tourist show. Loud music nice walk to the hotel that put it on. Hotels going up everywhere in ha Long area. So sad huge hotels. Ok so we have breakfast leave and then get on a boat. We leave and head out into the bay and go to these caves that were supper crowded. Thousands of people in a bleeping line. Nice caves but so touristy. Then after that we go back into Ha Long bay to see the rocks etc. Was nice but foggy still. Lunch for me included rice, french fries, and Cabbage. Ok enough. So after 2 or so hours of the bay we head back to the dock to catch a bus back to hanoi. When we arrive other travelers are on the same bus and we have to go back to the same hotel we were at earlier so that they can have lunch. The 4 of us had to wait an hour while they ate. Their was adart board so i us played darts for a bit. At this point I was upset. I know I shouldn’t have been but well I was. So we fina;lly leave and head back to hanoi. 3 hours later we arrive and I go to the tour company to get my $ back for the day that I didn’t go out in Ha Long Bay. Anyway they charged me $37 For the tour and Hotel I got $30 back. I was in tears. I’m on a budget and was upset because the tour today was not that great. Maybe the caves and the fact we were not out there for very long made me mad. So I leave the tour company head back to the hotel to see if I can change my ticket to Hue for tonight and fine out that I can’t bus is full so I’m stuck in Hanoi.

I guess I will use this time to see other museums I missed. My friend Is still in Hanoi as is tour was cancelled also so I will leave now to go see him at the Jazz Club. At least this time i’m only paying $8 for room. I told the guy I couldn’t offord $11. I said breakfast included and I can check out at 10 Am. Ok well I go to my room to put my bag away and head to the Jazz Club. I had a avacado Sandwich for the third time . Taste so go 2 days ago twice and then today. That made me feel better. Oh ya something else thats funny . There are so many boats in Ha Long bay that it is like bumper cars. We are hitting each other left and right. To get to your boat you have to walk across others like a maze. Well Ciao

So I had a blog about hanoi but somehow it got deleated.  I think the computer was slow and I kept uploading that blog and then I had 5 of the same blog so I deleated them but somehow all 5 got erased.  Anyway hanoi is a big crazy city.  each street is dedicated to a particular trade or product.  For example my street is door knobes and the like others are dedicated to beds or keys or stationary products.  I was staying in the old quarters of hanoi.  Its a zoo trying to cross teh streets everyone drives like crazy.  The mode of transportation is motocycles and they drive like mad men.  i’m suprise they don’t have more accidentys then they do.  I didn’t see a single one.  Crossing the street is an art form.  No street lights except at a few major streets.  Ran into Donald.  He arrived a day after me and I e-mailed him.  We met up at this jazz club that was rocking it.  It ws supper cool to see Asians jamming to jazz music.  The owner heard jazz during the nam war and fell in love with it.  he studied it made a few albums and then opened a bar.  the only one in hanoi specifically for jazz.

The other day I went to the Ho Chi Minh Museum  which was of course was all bout him and what he did for Vietnam.  It was interesting.  Next to that is his burial ground but it was closed.  Hanoi is nice but a busy and crazy city.  Some people are nice and others are well annoying.  Everywhere you go they shout Taxi Taxi.  On my way back I stopped at a cafr called Ciao Cafe.  I had minestrone which was actually really good for being in vietnam.

Today I left on a three day 2 night Ha Long bay tour.  when we got there we were not able to leave do to fog in the bay.  Over 400 boats could not leave.  Thats how many boats I heard where there waiting to leave.  We were then told we could go back to Hanoi or stay at a hotel and try tomorrow.  I decided to stay as thats why I wanted to visit Hanoi.  As we were about to leave the guide says we can go sleep on the boat for the night which is what we wanted  to do.  We were all excited but then 2 minutes later he says sorry we can’t sleep on the boat. harbor master won’t allow it. Of the 10 three french people and I decided to stay.  The rest went back to Hanoi.  The hotel is nice I took a sauna for the first time in my life.  Its still foggy but I hope it will be nice tomorrow.  I Just listened to traditional vietmese music by our guide with instruments.  We helped play them.  Well I go to eat now.  I will right hopefully in 3 days when I arrive in Hue my next destination. It will be clear I swear.  Was not expecting to find internet on this trip but as plan changes….  Ciao

Ok so I will try and give more detail about my trip so far.  Every place that I've been to either in Thailand or laos is touristy.  Thai so far is the most touristy.  It was good to get away ... [Continue reading this entry]