Despite living in Hanoi for the past 19 months, I still have a few things that I haven’t done that would be high on any three-day tourist’s list. Now, I have about month left in the city and then about three weeks on the road with Ben.
So, I’ve thought about a few things that I need to do before I leave:
-I’m still to visit Uncle Ho (Ho Chi Minh- National Hero), so an early morning trip to the Mausoleum should be in order. Apparently, it’s a rather interesting experience so make this official number one on the list.
-Cyclo, taking a cyclo tour around the touristy areas of Hanoi is about as popular a thing to do as a gondola ride in Venice, yet I have never taken that ride. Soon I’ll have to humble myself from my imaginary lofty expat status to become just another tourist in the city… will be time to whip out every single Vietnamese word I know to avoid a higher price.
-Buy a Good morning Vietnam T-shirt, obviously can’t wear it until I’m out of Asia. Speaking of touristy things to buy I’ll add a few propaganda posters to the cart. Not as cliché as a conical hat but not very groundbreaking either, but the pictures will work well on my ‘when I’m a grown up and have a big house’ wall one day.
-Need to take some ‘in the moment’ pictures of my school kids, I’m already getting a little teary thinking about saying good bye to those Grade one and two babies. Or am I trying too hard with this one?
-I’m yet to actually visit another pagoda, other than the one in Hoan Kiem Lake, they’re everywhere, I actually used to live with one on either side of my house a few months back and still lacked a proper visit. (I did however see the most interesting Catholic Church on drive out of the city yesterday)
-O and then there is this other minor thing I need to do; take a three week motorbike trip around Vietnam to bid my gorgeous home of almost two years good bye. I’ll be doing this trip with Ben through out the month of June, on his sexy gold and black and white and orange off road bike. Can’t wait, will surly blog my heart out about this.
-Get a picture of the goldfish man… if I get a picture of him it will be a post in itself. I always seem to spot him when I don’t have my camera.
-Pay at least two more visits to the Fantasy toys/Saigon Nails shop… Yes it’s a toy shop with princess and super hero outfits as well as a place to get a manicure and pedicure for 5USD. 7USD if you want nail art. I went with a cherry theme the last time.
Then there are a few things I feel I can skip:
-Eating: Dog or cat in any form whether it be hot pot of BBQ style, I don’t think it will deprive me in the slightest degree of my Vietnam experience. I know if I even thought about it my dog ‘Patches’ will know, even though Patches is long deaf and almost blind and hopefully still alive.
-While I’m on the eating topic, no snakes… no snake blood shots, no beating hearts. I’m good thanks.
- I think I might just make it through Vietnam without the conical hat pose.
-As elegant as the Ao Dai is I don’t think I need one to remember Hanoi by, I’m simply too tall and I think I’ll look a little odd. I do like seeing women wearing them but I’m not going to look good in another cultures clothes.
And then there is the been there done that list:
-Swan boats, on both West Lake and Truc Bac Lake. Fun.
-Walking on water in bubbles at the zoo. More fun than Swan boats.
-Museum of Ethnology, a worth while and colourful visit.
-Art Museum, a pleasant surprise.
-Ate uncountable bowls of Pho Bo
-Halong Bay and Catba Island, three times, so that’s a solid check next to that one.
-Wore the most ‘beautiful’ dress I could find.
-Celebrated something in Vietnam, like the 1000 year celebrations was a pretty big deal.
-Karaoke… although who gets tired of karaoke?
-Drives over Long Bien Bridge, built by Eiffel.
I know some great dog restaurants I would happily recommend if you change your mind :)
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