Hanoi

After a fine nine hour deep sleep, we've both enjoyed a final walk around Hanoi. We took in a circuit of the lake which was buzzing with all kinds of nationalities, cameras and activities. 

Rich was hooked into being filmed for their YouTube channel, Inu, pronouncing Vietnamese words.  I declined but had a good chat with them instead. Rich was pleased he could pronounce hello and thank you but I suspect 'beautiful mermaid' sounds like something else when pronounced by a Brit! 

We found a very local coffee shop, Etage Cafe, on the first floor with an old fashioned balcony.  We accessed  it via a grimy alleyway, tattered courtyard with two chained up dogs and a concrete spiral staircase. 


We're fairly certain it was also their home and we were asked to leave our shoes at the doorway. They had a private mezzanine level which was only about 4 foot high and the leaking toilet was disturbingly close to the sink, microwave and fresh pineapple. I drank nothing but the experience of being there was brilliant. Rich's Vietnamese coffee was too strong even for him to get down but we enjoyed taking in the old fashioned black and white photos of local life on the walls as well as the two huge lizards in a washing up bowl of water in a large tank. It wasn't until we were walking out that Rich spotted a snake in a plastic box on top of the lizard's tank.

There's something going on down every alleyway, next to every tree and in each doorways. Life is packed in with little breathing space.

We're now waiting for our transfer to the airport for the last part of our holiday. It's been a two week whirlwind of fascinating sights and educational journeys. We're now looking forward to one base and we might even unpack our suitcases.