So arrived back in
Hanoi and at the hotel, where
they were happy to see me, such a great hotel definitely recommend it and would
come back. Room is dominated by this massive bed, which is really comfortable. I
sorted out all my stuff, well attempted too anyway, who bought all this junk????
Gave up and decided to go out walking at about 8.00pm when the street life was
really alive in the
Old Quarter. It is amazing how quickly you work out where
you are going, but I have also learnt that if I get lost once I find the lake I
can regain my bearings and find my way home again!! Found the night market which
was massive.
Found a road side stall that was selling sweet corn which the vendor put in the
frypan with onion, chilli, garlic and dried fish and butter, fried it up and put
it in a container and I took it away to sit on the sidewalk with a little
Vietnamese lady who provided me with a Tiger Beer and I thought "where would you
rather be???" I sat there for about an hour watching hundreds and hundreds of
motorbikes go by. When I got back to the hotel, I was talked into taking a
city
tour on Thursday to make sure I get to see
Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, as only if
you go on a tour can you guarantee you get in to see it. So yes, I booked it.
NOTE TO SELF - Listen to yourself when everything inside is saying "don't do it,
you hate tours!!" But more on that in a minute!!
I woke early, very early in fact and ended up getting up at 5.00am to take a
walk around the lake and watch the people doing Tai Chi and also walking around
the lake. I did two laps at a pace to try and keep up with the other walkers. It
was funny, didn't have any trouble crossing the roads that early in the morning,
no bikes, but getting a place on the walking track around the lake was nearly as
dangerous as crossing the road! It was really lovely though watching the Tai Chi
and the calmness on the people's faces who were undertaking this gentle exercise
workouts.
I returned to the hotel and got ready for the tour, of for joy!! It is not that
I didn't enjoy the places that we went too, but I hate being herded on and off
buses, told what to look at and not being allowed to just wander at my own pace.
We went to a beautiful Pagoda on a lake, the Ho Chi Minh Museum and his house
and gardens which was amazing, then onto the
Temple of Literature and the
Museum
of Ethicnology (think that is spelt wrong). During the tour I did learn a bit
about the
history of Vietnam, which I am going to put a shortened version down
here, as I am really interested in its history and want to remind myself of it
later to do some more research into it, so here goes.
Firstly Vietnam is invaded by France and becomes a French colony as such. During
the war when France and Germany signed a Treaty, France gave Vietnam (Indochina)
to Germany. In turn Germany who was "friends" at the time with the Japanese gave
Vietnam to the Japanese. Apparently the Japanese committed great atrocities in
Vietnam and finally the Vietnamese stood up and defeated the Japanese. Ho Chi
Minh declares independence in the area where the museum is. Then France decides
it does actually still own Vietnam. Somehow the Soviet Union, China, and America
all get involved and so in the end it seems that many countries have pulled and
shoved the Vietnamese people around over the years and yet they are still so
easy going and friendly I am intrigued with them, obviously!! I am sure I
haven't got it all right but at least it gives you a bit of an idea of the mixed
history of this country! Apparently there is currently two islands in the south
of Vietnam that China has now decided that they own, they have been Vietnamese
forever but just shows how changes are always happening in this country.
So at the end of the tour, I skipped the bit at the lake as I had already done
all the touristy things there and I was feeling a bit weary!! Now I have
completed my packing and repacking and upped my luggage allowance as my bag is a
might bit heavier than when I left!! I have been out and done my last walk
around, got lost, again..... I am really quite sad about leaving Vietnam, feel
like I have only just begun exploring this place, but I guess there is always
next year! Anyway tomorrow I am off to Thailand to meet up with Peter and Ray,
well the group got a bit smaller for the reunion, but we will have fun anyway,
and we may have surprise visitors!! The blogs may not be as regular because I
envisage lots of lying around on beaches and resting and eating, not quite the
exploring that was in Vietnam, but still just what I need before I head back to
work, of course that's not for two weeks!!!.