Viet-Yr-Aur Stomp

Something about Hanoi

I'm glad that we chose to visit Hanoi over Ho Chi Minh's City.
Crazy traffic, beautiful & dirty walls etc etc...

One of the government buildings located in the city.

I have an affinity for dirty walls.....

Another evidence to prove that point

This hat is very popular in Hanoi

Trying to be artistic with my shots.

Chess is a popular game, and probably the only entertainment amongst the elderly.

Casket flowers for the dead

A railway track right at your door step

Flimsy protection but I'm sure it's defensive enough for unwanted guests.

Propaganda Poster is a way of life in Hanoi.

Parking lot?

They wear hats but not helmets while riding on a motorbike!
You have to be seriously gutsy in order to walk straight across the road with the crazy traffic.

The best way to know your neighbour's name?

Another "trying to shoot artistic shots series..."

In need of anything?

Barrows for rubbish, you could tell the Vietnamese were trying to keep their streets clean.

Smiling face has never looked better than this...

D.I.Y signage. Good graphic usage of scissors.

Broken, but still in use.

We were at the pharmaceutical street where the air was
filled with strange & pungent medicine smell :(

Mobile vegetable seller. A typical sight on the street.
I was literally chasing after her for this particular shot.

Sweet pastries left by the French.

We did quite alot of walking when we were at Hanoi
with our not-so-helpful map, but we had good fun getting lost nevertheless.

The Old Quarters

Richard and I stayed in Ang Dao Hotel at Ma May street,
located in The Old Quarters.
Our first impression was the whole place
was a claustrophobic zone!!!
The streets were dirty in a beautiful way.
There are so many streets within the area. I don't
know all the street names...
however, you can know the difference by the items
that the street shops are selling.
That's how I identify them. Shoes' Street. Toys' Street.
Specs' Street. Buttons' Street. Books' street.

At Ma May street.

Getting into the swing.

At the open air market. Sometimes you may find a motorbike
riding just right behind your back.

Baguettes and chatty women.

Dark corridors are very common in The Old Quarters.

A quiet village

Richard and I took a boat to this particular village on
one of the islands at Halong Bay.
We were on our way to hike another 2km mountain.
It was a physical and mental challenge for both of us.
However, it was really fun and the view from the top was breathtaking.

One of the many mountains on the island.

It was about 20 mins walk from the pier to the village.

The very first house that caught my attention.

The VILLAGE

Wishing well?

One of the more "modernised" houses in the village

This old Aussie man was teaching western culinary
to young Vietnamese villagers.

This view was worth all the effort, panting and perspiration.
On top of it, my endless whining, poor Richard had to put up with me
with kind encouragement. =)

A view of the village from where we were....

Tida made her way to the top of the mountain too!!!
Of course, with the help of her bohemian folks.

Tribute to Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh married nationalism to communism and
perfected the deadly art of guerrilla warfare.
Affectionately known as Uncle Ho.
The dude who drove the French away and fought with the Americans.
The Vietnamese adored him with deep respect
and renamed the capital-Saigon to his name: Ho Chin Minh City.

Say hi to Uncle Ho!!!!

Ho Chi Minh's testament

Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum.

Ironically, he didn't want his dead body to be embalmed.
In his will he specified that his ashes be buried in urns on
three hilltops in Vietnam, saying, "Not only is cremation good
from the point of view of hygiene, but it also saves farmland."