Sunday 23rd August 2015
I spent the morning lounging in bed between breakfast and
catching the bus. The return journey to Hanoi was much the same but third time
was busier and we picked up a ton of locals.
In Hanoi the hostel we wanted to stay at was full and so we
had to go elsewhere. We showered and had a bit of food while we waited for the others
who didn’t arrive until 10.30pm by which time I was ready for bed but the ac
was broken and the room was cooking. After several complaints we ended up in
private rooms which was a win!
Monday 24th August 2015
We got up and had breakfast which was disgusting just like
the staff! Not wanting to stay another night we walked to the hostel we stayed
in previously and sorted out beds then went back checked out and got our bags.
By the time everyone was in one place and checked in it was
about 2pm we went for food and fruit shakes and took a walk around the lake. We
sat talking to some students for about an hour as they wanted to improve their
English.
Come evening we had one last dinner together and then
everyone went out but I went to bed.
Tuesday 25th August 2015
I got up early to have breakfast with and say goodbye to
some more peeps after which I went back to bed. I managed to sleep a little
more and when I woke up I spent a stressful morning buying a new flight.
Once that was sorted and I had got ready for the day I went
for food and a smoothie and a walk around the lake with some folks (pretty much the same as yesterday)
before sitting sorting out a hostel for KL as well as banking and yet more
paperwork for insurance
In the evening a bunch of us went to dinner at a local place
and I had an amazing grilled eggplant dish. Once we had eaten we went and
chilled in a beautiful little spot called the lantern lounge with seating on
the floor and lots of lanterns.
At about 11pm and the boys continued on and I walked back to
the hostel and into my bed.
Wednesday 26th August 2015
I got up and a group of us had breakfast and then I
went back to bed for a while before getting up to shower and go to a bakery for
cake. After cake we said farewell to more of the gang and went and had a cheap
lunch and a fruit shake. Back at the hostel it was hot and there was nothing to
do so we went to the cinema.
We came out several hours later went to get some
dinner during which it started to pour with rain so we had to hang out for a
while and wait for it to pass.
Back at the hostel I watched a movie in bed.
Thursday 27th August 2015
I got up and ready to see some sights this morning but it
didn’t turn out well. I started off by walking to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
Considering the man wanted to have a simple cremation the mausoleum eems a bit
ridiculous it’s a huge concrete structure (once voted the 6th
ugliest building in the world in a CNN poll) inside uncle Hos embalmed body
lies for eternity. It’s supposed to be open until 11am but when I got there at
10.45am it was already closed. There were heaps of workmen around building temporary
structures and cutting the already perfectly manicured grass as its
independence day soon I can only assume the surly closure and work is for that.
Next I wanted to see the presidential palace but it proved
very difficult to find in my search I found the Ho Chi Minh museum which closed
at 12pm for a two hour lunch leaving me 30mins to walk around but on the plus
side I got in for free as they overlooked selling me the ticket in their rush
to get me inside.
At 12pm I resumed my search for the palace and found out it
was closed for the rest of the day so my plans to sight see were scrapped.
I walked back towards the hotel and got a fruit shake and
some street food before heading back to the hostel to sit around and twiddle my
thumbs in the ac.
In the evening me and another guy walked along to the
lantern lounge where we hung out a few nights ago they have a veggie menu which
was grand and it’s a cool place to hang out. We got back to the hostel and I wanted
to go to bed but two guys in my room had invited about 15 others to drink in
there eventually they left but disturbed everyone (in the sense of disturbed
sleep as well as mentally disturbed) by coming back and having loud sloppy fake
sounding amateur porn sex at about 4am.
Friday 28th August 2015
Today was my last day in Hanoi so I made the effort to see
something and went to the Hoa Lo Prison museum. In typical Vietnamese fashion
it was closed from 11.30am- 1.30pm so before I went I got a fruit shake and
headed to the post office to post a bunch of scribbles.
It was first used by the French to hold revolutionaries who
were beaten, tortured and starved. The place was a tad contradictory first
claiming to be one of the more secure facilities of its time and then telling
stories of many escapees.
Later during the Vietnam War the prison was used to hold American
fighter pilots shot down and arrested. In comparison to how the Vietnamese inmates
were treated it sounded as though the Americans were at a summer camp and the
many pictures showed the many freedoms they were allowed.
I came out of the museum feeling hungry and hot so I got a
snack and then went back to the hostel and ended up chatting with a bunch of
people. I left to pack my bag ad when I came back everyone was absolutely
wasted which was rather amusing.
Since it was the weekend the streets were closed and the
night market was happening. I walked about and watched some Vietnamese dancing
and several choirs all strutting their stuff on a small stage set up on the
corner. Then I had my last dinner in Vietnam and a chilled evening chatting and
saying farewell to new friends
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