we slept in, enjoyed the complimentary breakfast at the hotel. we lounged around all day and got errands done like booking our bangkok hotel and laundry. at 4pm our guide and driver arrived to take us down to laocai station. we had dinner down there. we ordered a vietnamese sandwich because we hadn't had one yet but it wasn't what we expected - just meat inside the baguette.
we said farewell to our guide and got on the night train back to hanoi. this time we had australian travelers as our cabin mates. we exchanged stories and tips with them and went to bed.
7/15/10
7/14/10
vietnam: day 10
after a quick breakfast we took a 3 hour drive to visit the market of another ethnic minority group. on the way back we stopped by the former house of the king of that group, which was built in a french architectural style. after lunch we stopped by a pagoda, and outside our guide and driver bought tons of vegetables and fruits. apparently they were selling at a really good price.
we returned to our hotel, found a local laundry service and dropped off our laundry. after a nap we went out for dinner at a place called emotion.
i think my stomach is fully recovered now. w's was hurting a bit but he's getting better too.
we returned to our hotel, found a local laundry service and dropped off our laundry. after a nap we went out for dinner at a place called emotion.
i think my stomach is fully recovered now. w's was hurting a bit but he's getting better too.
7/12/10
vietnam: day 9
we arrived at laocai at 6am. w didn't get any sleep on the train, as he's a light sleeper, and i got some. our guide and driver picked us up and drove us up to sapa, a mountain village that contains 5 ethnic minority peoples. we checked into our hotel, ate breakfast and took a brief nap.
we went to silver falls with the guide, whose sister is on summer break and came along as well, which was nice. we had some sticky rice which is cooked in a bamboo stick, sweet grass tea and sweet potato at the bottom of the falls.
after another nap, we met up again to visit the village of the black hmong peoples. they use the indigo plant to dye fabric black or blue, and many of them still live an indigenous lifestyle.
in the evening we walked around the sapa town market, and had hotpot for dinner.
i forgot to mention one very important fact. the weather is much cooler up here, which is awesome. i think it's about 20 degrees cooler here than in hanoi. i couldn't stand 5 minutes outside in hanoi without drenching myself in sweat. it's so cool here i have to wear a long sleeve shirt!
we went to silver falls with the guide, whose sister is on summer break and came along as well, which was nice. we had some sticky rice which is cooked in a bamboo stick, sweet grass tea and sweet potato at the bottom of the falls.
after another nap, we met up again to visit the village of the black hmong peoples. they use the indigo plant to dye fabric black or blue, and many of them still live an indigenous lifestyle.
in the evening we walked around the sapa town market, and had hotpot for dinner.
i forgot to mention one very important fact. the weather is much cooler up here, which is awesome. i think it's about 20 degrees cooler here than in hanoi. i couldn't stand 5 minutes outside in hanoi without drenching myself in sweat. it's so cool here i have to wear a long sleeve shirt!
vietnam: day 8
after breakfast we went to the mall with w's cousin's family. no one bought anything, we just kind of walked around. then we went across the street and chilled at a coffee shop. his family is coming to LA a day before we arrive so we planned out a tentative schedule.
we went home, took naps, and then got ready for the younger niece's end of school concert. afterwards we went out for dinner. i had some good rounds of hangman with w's niece. then we went home, packed, picked up some kimbap and went to the train station.
we got on an overnight train from hanoi to laocai, which is in northern vietnam. we were in a 4 person sleeper cabin and grateful to be sharing the cabin with a couple from spain. i used my broken spanish to communicate with them and we shared travel stories and tips, then went to "sleep".
we went home, took naps, and then got ready for the younger niece's end of school concert. afterwards we went out for dinner. i had some good rounds of hangman with w's niece. then we went home, packed, picked up some kimbap and went to the train station.
we got on an overnight train from hanoi to laocai, which is in northern vietnam. we were in a 4 person sleeper cabin and grateful to be sharing the cabin with a couple from spain. i used my broken spanish to communicate with them and we shared travel stories and tips, then went to "sleep".
7/11/10
vietnam: day 7
we had a very relaxing day. after eating breakfast we took a nap. then we played some wii with w's nieces, who beat us both in everything. w's cousin in law called the manicure lady and us 4 girls got our nails done. my hands and feet were done for $5, including floral designs - very vietnamese.
that night we went to w's niece's end of year concert, where each class performs a dance, song or skit. it was interesting to see the international school culture.
w's cousin came home from work (he works about 2.5 hrs away from home). they chatted while i did origami with the kids.
that night we went to w's niece's end of year concert, where each class performs a dance, song or skit. it was interesting to see the international school culture.
w's cousin came home from work (he works about 2.5 hrs away from home). they chatted while i did origami with the kids.
7/9/10
vietnam: day 6
after my stomach ache filled day i wanted to rest so i stayed at the hotel while will went with a guide to see bach ma mountain. but he returned early due to road closures. he worked out and got a massage while i read a book. on the way to the airport we stopped by pho 24 again and split a bowl of pho. we arrived back in hanoi, had dinner and hung out with will's cousin's family. they are ending school here in vietnam in a few days so bringing home projects and photos from school. then we watched korean dramas together and went to bed.
i don't think i mentioned this, but there is a small ex-pat community here in vietnam. usually the husband works for a company from another country which has been hired to do some major project here in vietnam, like build a factory or a bridge or other major infrastructure. the wife stays home or works part time and watched the kids, and the kids attend international school. seeing the kids here makes me wonder what i would be like if i had grown up in vietnam.
i don't think i mentioned this, but there is a small ex-pat community here in vietnam. usually the husband works for a company from another country which has been hired to do some major project here in vietnam, like build a factory or a bridge or other major infrastructure. the wife stays home or works part time and watched the kids, and the kids attend international school. seeing the kids here makes me wonder what i would be like if i had grown up in vietnam.
vietnam: day 5
we woke up early in the morning and my stomach still hurt, which was not a good thing. we had been careful about drinking only bottled water and not taking ice at restaurants as we had been advised, but my stomach was uneasy. we had set up a tour to hue that day so we got picked up early by the driver and guide and took off. we went to the citadel, pagoda, had lunch and then went to the tomb of the late king khai dinh. i was not feeling well but had congee for lunch and felt better after that. it was kind of miserable. i was stuck in the car, or forcing myself to go out, dry heaving and just in pain.
we got to the hotel that will's cousin reserved for us. it was a 5 star hotel. by then my stomach was feeling much better. we went swimming at the beach and the pool, and went jet skiing for $20. then we went out to eat pho and a chain called pho 24. really good stuff.
we got to the hotel that will's cousin reserved for us. it was a 5 star hotel. by then my stomach was feeling much better. we went swimming at the beach and the pool, and went jet skiing for $20. then we went out to eat pho and a chain called pho 24. really good stuff.
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