kez & hay travels 06

Hanoi would seem a relaxed, easy going city, if it wasn't for the millions of motorbikes zipping in and out continuously all day.  Despite this fact we decided to hire bikes and join this frenzy, our experience biking in Beijing had made us ultra confident.  We visited the Temple of Literature, which is dedicated to doctors of Literature, and where hopeful students go to pray before an exam.

Next day we went on a tour to Ha long Bay for 3 days.  We boarded our boat which reminded us of the Agatha Christie boat from "Death on the Nile", and chugged along to the Bay.  We spent the day exploring the islets from the boat, visiting a huge cave, swimming and kayaking in the water. At night we slept on the boat, in a cabin with a window that opened onto the beautiful scenery.  We stargazed on deck and took in the tranquility of the night.

Woken up abruptly at 6.00 for breakfast and then given 10 minutes to pack our bags and leave boat.  We had arrived at Cat Ba Island.  Checked into our accommodation and for some reason still unknown to us, we had agreed to go trekking yet again, and to top it off we started at 8.00!  However this time it was more like trekking/rockclimbing as we climbed to the peak of the island.  By the time we got back to our hotel we had vowed never to go trekking again, ever.

Returned to the mainland via boat the next day, and arrived in Hanoi by the evening.

Kerry's birthday the next day and after checking in to a great youth hostel and pigging out on a big breakfast we left for the Sofitel Metropole.  Mission was to get in and use their swimming pool posing as guests.  We did quite well as it was only when we had settled onto the sun loungers, sipping fruit cocktails that the bar manager asked for our room numbers, and then told us that the pool is for guest use only.  Using the "but its my birthday" excuse we were able to come to a compromise which meant we could stay on the sun loungers but not use the pool.  The temptation became too much in the scorching heat, and we left for another hotel where we spent the day by the poolside (and in the pool as well).  In the evening we went to a restaurant which takes street kids of the street and trains them up to be first class chefs and waiters.  The food and atmosphere were excellent and it made it feel even nicer that we were helping a good cause by pigging out.  All in all a great day.