Businesses close down, people return to their province or hometown to be near family. Pchum Ben has been a staple of my life even back in San Diego where Phan tries to gather up her sisters (some more willing participants than others) and go to the local temple on 52nd street.
Phan and I, on the other hand, took this opportunity to travel to our closest neighbor to the East, Vietnam. We joined two other teachers from work and set out for Halong Bay by way of Hanoi. Hooner was graciously taken in by a few other colleagues, so we knew he would be well looked after in our absence.
We flew out a few hours after work let out last Friday on board Vietnam Airlines (Nice, real airline, only 43 people on the flight, so we ate, drank and were merry enjoying a row to ourselves)
One of our traveling partner's bags did not arrive with our flight, so we waited around, began the lost and found process, after some time, a voice loudly speaks over a nearby walkie talkie and we are told that our bag might be here now. Troy and I start walking, and the walk turns into a light jog, soon we are in full sprint recreating our ritual of racing at the end of our morning runs. We get to the next desk and YELP in happiness at the sight of Shannon being reunited with her bag. We are weightless for a moment, and know that good mojo must be right around the corner.Shannon was most relieved, because all she had carried on was a PB&J (which I ate) and a book.
Finally, after some delay we arrive at the Rising Dragon Villa Hotel, Phan and I were upgraded to the deluxe room which came fully loaded with romance.
Grrr Baby!
(Then things got weird)
Several travelers at various stages of intoxication, and a taxi full of Nigerians pull up at our non-descript watering hole. I'll be honest, all I could think about when I saw the Nigerians was,"how are they going to steal my identity'? ( I know its bad, just being honest) They turned out to be engineering students that had just as many stereotypes for us. At one point, after learning that Phan and I were from California, they all began singing Tupac's California Love in unison. They were great! We continued our reveling until the police showed up and a funny dance began. Police roll up with their truck loaded full of dudes, and immediately the businesses begin "closing" stacking up chairs meant for small children, and half-heartedly shewing us away saying "no more beer" some others in the know assured us that if we play it cool they'll( the cops) will go away. Sure enough after taking a few steps and acting like we were "leaving" the police moved on, and the doors to the business were rolled back up, shouts of "more beer" rang through the quiet streets of Hanoi.
That tactic worked for about half an hour until the police returned (themselves at various stages of intoxication) but this time they meant business. Wielding the latest in whistle technology they deftly dispersed the crowd of suckling expats off into the night.
(Then things got weirder)
Through the magic of Troy we make an impression on an Englishmen who claims to know his way around the bars of Hanoi. After a few minutes stumbling through the streets he says ( in a drunken English accent) " yeah thinkthisisit". Keep in mind that we are on an empty street, in the middle of the night now and we're standing at one of those metal roll up doors, like on the back of a U-haul or a factory or something and with two distinct knocks, we hear SHHHHHHHH!!! coming from inside. A few moments the later the rolling door begins to rise to reveal a second more standard looking wooden inner door, closed up tight, it opens ever so slightly and we file in. Not knowing exactly what we've got ourselves into, the door closes behind us, and the party continues, apparently every caucasian within the greater Hanoi metropolitan area knows about this place and we are immersed in not culture, but sweaty, drunk disgusting.....and the party continues. every so often the music would be turned low and we'd be told to shhh as other fellow heathens would sneak in or out. So I hardly have room to get my groove on, after ordering outrageously overpriced beer to the tune of $2 a pop we decide that we have a big day ahead of us, wait for the next pause, and pour out into the street.
Up early the next morning for a 4 hour bus ride to Cat Ba island in Halong Bay. Taxi to bus station, bus 1 to hai phong, sit around 10 minutes eat pastries, bus 2 to speed boat, speed boat to bus 3, bus 3 to Cat Ba harbor. After 5+ hours we arrive at this island that is surprisingly a lot like Kauai, beautiful lush green cliffs, small two lane road, beautiful water.
We find some Pho & Rocketfuel
and try to figure out where we'll stay for the night.
We settle on this:
5th floor
A/C
Fridge
En Suite Bathroom
TV
and this incredible view.
All for $8 a night, I love Vietnam!
Over the next few days we rent a moped
Climb a Mountain
Check out Phan's Hiking Shoes
These are two of the fakest smiles you'll ever see. It was hot and miserable!
Take a full day cruise through Halong Bay
Chopsticks, don't ask me.
I borrowed some womens sunglasses so I figured why fight it
Phan, Shannon, and our adopted friend Abbey(she's Welsh)
My sweety, relaxing.
Swimming Spot, Troy thought it'd be a good idea to swim across the channel on the right to another little beach, it turned out to be much farther then it looked. I was satisfied that Troy swallowed water on the return trip as penance for leading us astray.
Kayaked through some caves
Notice Phans paddle never gets wet, but somehow our boat moves, hmm.
Silly white people
Jedi Mind Tricks
Friendly Sea Creatures
Kayak through these caves
Go into an actual cave, not really my favorite thing in the world, its like a cave.
More Great Photos
Fancy Panorama
One of my favorite pictures
Lookin out my backdoor
Me and my Boo
I love her, always have
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The Crew
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