Goooood Morning Vietnam !

  Hanoi, Vietnam
Sunday, September 7, 2008

I've been waiting so long to say that!!! 

Well we made it to Hanoi!  But before I get into that our last few days in HK...

Disneyland was a cheese fest as we knew it would be.  The highlight was probably watching High School Musical 3, the Asian version.  I couldn't stop laughing, and yet I still danced!  The rides were pretty similar to Cali Disney.  However nothing beats getting off Space Mountain with a bunch of Chinese people absolutely going crazy.  Never made it to Lantau Island though, just headed back to town and checked out the ladies market.  Huge market with tons of stuff.  Especially enjoyed the specialty mens lingerie.

Next day mainly spent at the travel agent trying to book our flight to Hanoi.  Ended up costing way more than we expected but thats travel for you.  Then I dragged Nadia up the world's longest escalator.  Which she was not too impressed with, especially when it meant walking back down the world's longest staircase....our legs were shaking like crazy.  Went back to the hotel for another one of our famous "naps"  Once again woke up the next day!

Yesterday we finally got to go up to our hotels rooftop pool.  Its been closed due to thunderstorms on and off the entire time we were there.  Awesome views.  Then it was time to put on the dreaded backpack and head to the airport.  Immigration made us buy a ticket out of Vietnam, which I still have to return. Then our flight gate got changed and it was a gongshow.  Luckily little Tommy a two year old from England kept us entertained.  Flight to Hanoi was fine.  Again met two guys who were without hotel.  One from Germany, and one from Shanghai (originally from Japan, schooled in California).  So the four of us jumped on a minibus ( minibus mafia they call them here).  Some random Vietnamese guy jumped on just as we were coming into the city and took us to his "hotel".  $5 each a night, including breakfast (bread).  Can't complain. Room is clean and has little quirks like no toilet top.  Spent the night exploring the Old Quarter and stopped in for a few at the Polite Pub.  Sleep was noisy (it is Hanoi beep beep beep). 

Today we are just checking out the city and booking our tours to Ha Long Bay and Sapa, which I am over the top excited for.  We leave tomorrow morning for a one night cruise around Ha Long, and then continue to Sapa for a three day mountain trek. Hopefully see some minority tribes, and some amazing views.

Well thats it from this side of the globe.  I promise pictures will be up soon ( I keep forgetting my camera cord).  Look forward to pics of our upcoming week.

Hope all is well!