This is a seafood wholesaler out in the middle of Halong Bay. Fishermen sell their catch here...storage is in underwater cages. Hotels and restaurants send shoppers to buy. No frozen seafood needed here!
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Sunday, November 16, 2014
Seafood Wholesaler
One photo I forgot to post from our cruise on Halong Bay...
This is a seafood wholesaler out in the middle of Halong Bay. Fishermen sell their catch here...storage is in underwater cages. Hotels and restaurants send shoppers to buy. No frozen seafood needed here!
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This is a seafood wholesaler out in the middle of Halong Bay. Fishermen sell their catch here...storage is in underwater cages. Hotels and restaurants send shoppers to buy. No frozen seafood needed here!
-Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
A Few Shots from Hanoi
Women groundskeepers in the park adjacent to the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum watering plants...using a huge open container filled with water. It took both of them to push it. Noted men workers close by that had hoses. So much for gender equality!
Hanoi's version of our food trucks...
Enjoying a game of checkers on the sidewalk:
More movable retail stores:
Parade of rickshaws:
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Hanoi's version of our food trucks...
Enjoying a game of checkers on the sidewalk:
More movable retail stores:
Parade of rickshaws:
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Back to Bangkok
Sunday, November 16, we had breakfast while cruising back to the dock, then headed for another 3-hour drive, to the Hanoi airport, then by air back to where we started our journey... Bangkok.
As we arrived in Bangkok around 5:30, and didn't get to our hotel until around 7:00, our only activities here consisted of dinner and bedtime!
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As we arrived in Bangkok around 5:30, and didn't get to our hotel until around 7:00, our only activities here consisted of dinner and bedtime!
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Halong Bay
On Saturday, November 15, we said "bye" to Hanoi and headed on a 3-hour drive to Halong Bay, a landscape of almost 2,000 limestone islands dotting the waters. Once there, we boarded our private junk (the four of us, plus our guide, and a crew of four) and started cruising the bay. Unfortunately, photographically, the skies were overcast, so getting good lighting was difficult. Also, although we had the option of stopping at an island and exploring a cave, or kayaking, we were tired and opted to rest on board and just cruise around to islands. Lunch and dinner were served on board, and we slept anchored between islands.
This shot with camera set for posterization...
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This shot with camera set for posterization...
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Hanoi Touring - Friday, November 14 - Part 3
Next on the agenda...a stop at Starbucks! Complete with Christmas music and a Christmas tree...in a country that is only around 8% Christian. I also saw lights going up on our hotel. I asked why Christmas was such a big deal, and the response was that it's just another holiday for celebration...no religious overtones, no Santa Claus or presents...just a reason to have a holiday. They also recognize Easter as a holiday! Go figure.
Our guide also told us that the Vietnamese people do not hold a grudge against the U.S. for the "American War," as the Buddhist way is forgiveness.
We next visited two contemporary Vietnamese art galleries, but didn't see much we liked...although we did at similar galleries in Saigon. This is a small excerpt from one painting I did like:
For entertainment, we attended the Thang Long Vietnamese Water Puppet Show...an interesting show in which the puppeteers are in the water, operating puppets on a long pole (the pole remains underwater, so you never see it) from behind a screen, accompanied by live Vietnamese folk music and song. (I liked the music, but Rita assured me that I would be thrown out if I got it on my iPod!) here are a few photos...pardon the quality, but there was very low lighting...
While the show was enjoyable, it would have been more fun with grandkids and other young friends!
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Our guide also told us that the Vietnamese people do not hold a grudge against the U.S. for the "American War," as the Buddhist way is forgiveness.
We next visited two contemporary Vietnamese art galleries, but didn't see much we liked...although we did at similar galleries in Saigon. This is a small excerpt from one painting I did like:
For entertainment, we attended the Thang Long Vietnamese Water Puppet Show...an interesting show in which the puppeteers are in the water, operating puppets on a long pole (the pole remains underwater, so you never see it) from behind a screen, accompanied by live Vietnamese folk music and song. (I liked the music, but Rita assured me that I would be thrown out if I got it on my iPod!) here are a few photos...pardon the quality, but there was very low lighting...
While the show was enjoyable, it would have been more fun with grandkids and other young friends!
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Hanoi Touring - Friday, November 14 - Part 2
There were several cute kids in the area...
Following the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum area, we headed to a place that made beautiful lacquer artworks...and bought one!
Next brief stop was a park right next to our hotel, where brides and grooms were being photographed day and night when we were there...a tradition in Hanoi. We joined in the fun and shot one couple, with their permission.
Our next stop was the "Hanoi Hilton" prison, built by the French in the late 1800s to house Vietnamese political prisoners...which would include any Vietnamese opposed to colonization. The prison, whose real name is Hai Lo, became famous (or infamous) during the Vietnam War for housing American POWs, including John McCain, whose flying suit is on display:
Of course, the prison-turned-museum emphasized the cruelty of the French to the Vietnamese during colonial days, and how well the US POWs were treated during the War...the latter rebutted by those that were "guests" there.
More in Part 3.
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Following the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum area, we headed to a place that made beautiful lacquer artworks...and bought one!
Next brief stop was a park right next to our hotel, where brides and grooms were being photographed day and night when we were there...a tradition in Hanoi. We joined in the fun and shot one couple, with their permission.
Our next stop was the "Hanoi Hilton" prison, built by the French in the late 1800s to house Vietnamese political prisoners...which would include any Vietnamese opposed to colonization. The prison, whose real name is Hai Lo, became famous (or infamous) during the Vietnam War for housing American POWs, including John McCain, whose flying suit is on display:
Of course, the prison-turned-museum emphasized the cruelty of the French to the Vietnamese during colonial days, and how well the US POWs were treated during the War...the latter rebutted by those that were "guests" there.
More in Part 3.
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Hanoi Touring - Friday, November 14 - Part 1
First observation...traffic is even worse than Saigon! Nobody pays attention to any traffic signs or directions...including "Do Not Pass" and one-way streets. This shot shows some of what you face when trying to cross a street...
Our first stop today, after driving around the French Quarter, and the lake into which John McCain parachuted when he was shot down during the Vietnam War, was at the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh...or more correct, the park adjacent to the mausoleum, as the mausoleum was closed for renovation. The park contained the living quarters and office for Ho Chi Minh, when he was president of the reunified Vietnam. Also some of his cars. The one-pillar pagoda is also in the park.
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Our first stop today, after driving around the French Quarter, and the lake into which John McCain parachuted when he was shot down during the Vietnam War, was at the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh...or more correct, the park adjacent to the mausoleum, as the mausoleum was closed for renovation. The park contained the living quarters and office for Ho Chi Minh, when he was president of the reunified Vietnam. Also some of his cars. The one-pillar pagoda is also in the park.
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Thursday, November 13, 2014
On to Hanoi
November 13...packing to leave Hoi An, with heavy rain still coming intermittently. We caught a mid-afternoon flight from Da Nang to Hanoi, and were excited to find lower humidity and temps in the mid 70s...a definite departure from our trip up to now! We got a chuckle driving into the city...it is going into winter here (just like home, but with much milder temps), and many locals were wearing down jackets!
As our Saigon guide warned us, traffic here is even crazier than Saigon. Nobody pays attention to such mundane things as traffic lights, etc. Several near-death experiences driving to our hotel...some for us and some for the scooter drivers!
By the way, the proper spelling of the city is two words: Ha Noi, not the customary one word, Hanoi.
There is a significant French influence in this city. Hanoi was the capital of French Indochina (a federation of the French colonies of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos) from 1945 to 1954, and Vietnam itself had been a colony since the late 1800s. Thus Rita's comment that she felt like she was in Paris...and she hadn't had a drink yet!
Hanoi is the second largest city in Vietnam, with a population of just over 9 million.
Touring tomorrow!
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As our Saigon guide warned us, traffic here is even crazier than Saigon. Nobody pays attention to such mundane things as traffic lights, etc. Several near-death experiences driving to our hotel...some for us and some for the scooter drivers!
By the way, the proper spelling of the city is two words: Ha Noi, not the customary one word, Hanoi.
There is a significant French influence in this city. Hanoi was the capital of French Indochina (a federation of the French colonies of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos) from 1945 to 1954, and Vietnam itself had been a colony since the late 1800s. Thus Rita's comment that she felt like she was in Paris...and she hadn't had a drink yet!
Hanoi is the second largest city in Vietnam, with a population of just over 9 million.
Touring tomorrow!
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Short Touring Day in Hoi An
The "girls" decided to spend the morning relaxing at the resort, and Chuck and I opted for a short tour...stops at a marble shop and at Marble Mountains. (Marble was mined in the mountains around here, but has ceased in order to protect what remains, including pagodas on the top. Now marble slabs are brought here from elsewhere for sculpting.)
The marble shop had a few workers shaping and polishing, but I'm guessing that was more for show...it would take that small crew a gazillion years to make what was displayed for sale there!
We each bought a small piece, and then headed to Marble Mountains, a cluster of five mountains, dotted with grottos (caves) and pagodas, used by the Viet Cong during the war. The shrines are Hindu or Buddhist, and the central cave includes a massive Buddhist carving that is several stories tall.
You can get most of the way to the top either using steps or an elevator. We opted for the latter! After going through several of the caves, we hiked the rest of the way to the top. Proving that capitalism is alive and well in Vietnam, there was food service and souvenirs at the top!
We also met a group of kids from the International School, learning how to rappel, first from a rock that wasn't too tall, and then going to the top of a high cliff. Better them than me!
The rest of the day was spent relaxing at the resort. Monsoon rains arrived shortly after dinner, and lasted all night...the first significant rainfall of our trip!
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The marble shop had a few workers shaping and polishing, but I'm guessing that was more for show...it would take that small crew a gazillion years to make what was displayed for sale there!
We each bought a small piece, and then headed to Marble Mountains, a cluster of five mountains, dotted with grottos (caves) and pagodas, used by the Viet Cong during the war. The shrines are Hindu or Buddhist, and the central cave includes a massive Buddhist carving that is several stories tall.
You can get most of the way to the top either using steps or an elevator. We opted for the latter! After going through several of the caves, we hiked the rest of the way to the top. Proving that capitalism is alive and well in Vietnam, there was food service and souvenirs at the top!
We also met a group of kids from the International School, learning how to rappel, first from a rock that wasn't too tall, and then going to the top of a high cliff. Better them than me!
The rest of the day was spent relaxing at the resort. Monsoon rains arrived shortly after dinner, and lasted all night...the first significant rainfall of our trip!
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Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Hoi An
We stopped at a silk shop in Hoi An, and saw the process from young silk worm to cocoon to silk thread to material. Interesting. Of course, Sarah bought something there!
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Hoi An Arrival Day
Tuesday, November 11, we flew from Saigon to Da Nang...a name that us old folks remember as headquarters for the U.S. Forces during the Vietnam War. On our way to our hotel, we passed by the airport used by our troops. I was surprised to see our hotel looking more like Mexico or the Caribbean than what I would have imagined. It was a beautiful resort on the Pacific Ocean (and yes...having the Pacific Ocean to the east took some getting used to), with palm trees, multiple infinity swimming pools, a sandy beach, etc.
This was a little respite towards the end of our trip...only Hanoi and a return to Bangkok remain. 😞 Thus our only activity today was resting, followed by a short ride to the town of Hoi An for dinner.
Hoi An was a major trading hub in Southeast Asia between the 15th and 19th centuries, when it was known as Faifo. The population included settlers from China, Japan, the Netherlands, and India, which created a mix of cultures not seen in inland cities. The town faded into obscurity when the river silted up and the harbor became too shallow for commercial vessels...trade moved a few miles north.
But tourism brought new life to Hoi An, and the old town comes alive at night with lights, smells, sounds, and lots of strolling tourists! The entire old city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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This was a little respite towards the end of our trip...only Hanoi and a return to Bangkok remain. 😞 Thus our only activity today was resting, followed by a short ride to the town of Hoi An for dinner.
Hoi An was a major trading hub in Southeast Asia between the 15th and 19th centuries, when it was known as Faifo. The population included settlers from China, Japan, the Netherlands, and India, which created a mix of cultures not seen in inland cities. The town faded into obscurity when the river silted up and the harbor became too shallow for commercial vessels...trade moved a few miles north.
But tourism brought new life to Hoi An, and the old town comes alive at night with lights, smells, sounds, and lots of strolling tourists! The entire old city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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More Photos from Our Mekong River Delta Tour
Packaging candy:
Making Rice paper:
Have a little scorpion wine? (Their version of Cialis.):
Or you might want to try this:
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