Hanoi A1 Hotel

I arrived in Hanoi Vietnam about a week ago with no set plans on what I wanted to do. After noticing thousands of scooters everywhere I decided I wanted to rent one and go across North Vietnam, similar to my trip in Korea. I contacted a motorbike rental place and they informed me that a scooter wouldn’t make it in the mountains. If I wanted to complete this journey I would have to rent a motorcycle. So I did, the only problem was that I didn’t ...

... and a bit...few wee trips round museums through a few quiet towns...even got my haircut for the first time in 4 months. I was starting to look like a retrobate to be fair!...but all that **** is boring, so lets cut straight to buenos Aires. If it hadn't been for the craic in LA PAz, this would have taken the ticket hands diown. This city is mental...Not that I would know as in the space of three weeks, I didn't eat one steak...I didn't see one touristy ...

... price is so cheap: 120 USD for the 4 days trip. But no, it was an excellent choice…

I did the 4 days trips trekking in Mai Chau. It is not a hard trek. My girl friend can do that quite well. Especially, the people are so nice, friendly and so much different from the touristy one in Sapa. We have a guide go with us and a local who prepare the meal for us. They are lovely and ...

... we met at the Hostel and headed to the Vietnamese
History Museum. Our student discounts came in handy once again - only
60 cents for admission! The museum wasn't particularly fascinating but
it was a nice reprieve from the heat. The heat here verges on
unbearable. It is in the 90s and the humidity soaks our bodies within
minutes of stepping out of the air conditioning (unlike our other
hostels, they do not let us keep the air conditioning on during the day
in ...

... Finally we cooked up a few bowls of Sweet Potato Ginger Pudding. This too was delicious. Stuffed to the gills with amazing Vietnamese food, we returned to the hotel for a nap. Now able to consider ourselves Vietnamese cooking professionals. Our last full day in town we started with a visit to the Uncle Ho Mausoleum (during open hours) where his body has been preserved and stored in a massive tomb contrary to his wishes for a humble cremation. After catching an ...

... on the other green we ended up talking to a couple of Canadian dudes about the world's big issues such as 'what's your favourite film?', and 'how cool is this place?' until the early hours. It's pretty crazy how often you bump into people you've met in different cities along the way, this happens to us quite a lot. We saw a Canadian girl who we met in Phnom Penh who was travelling with this cool Kiwi dude - great folks. One night we all had a few ...

... It is so hard for me to imagine that the United States were at war with Vietnam 35 years ago! Its a very interesting place, and I am seeing so many things I have never seen before in all of my travels.

Well I must get going now, Hope all is well back home!!! Send me some news! GO UNC in the FINAL 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

... v Liverpool from last weekend (an erm... "thrilling" 0-0 draw) and all the Champions League goals from Tues/Weds games... I can't tell you how much I miss live English football :(

We decided to explore Hanoi on foot today because everything is quite walkable here. I wouldn't say it's an attractive city, but there are ...

... and there were no dangerous waters, but it's still a good quote. * * * I'm reminded that enlightenment isn't some ultimate destination of groovy eternal aloofness, but rather a string of occasional occasions where being in the moment without thought of the future allows the temporary extinguishing of self. * * * This transition from one scrap of enlightenment back to reality on my beach reminds me of TS Eliot, which seems a fitting close for this entry ...