Fact: Driving a motorbike in the rain sucks.
Fact: Listening to the down pour on the tin roofs surrounding my room is amazing.
As I’m writing this I have CNN on in the background, they’re doing a travel segment on Hanoi, something tightens in my heart. I seem to be having a bit of a reverse emotional ride with this city and all it so colorfully offers.
In the weeks counting down I find myself being amused and amazed with uniquely Hanoian things that I have come to take for granted over the last year and half. I’m have to stop my mind and all it’s sentimentalism to get carried away at regret of not doing more.
“How did I not spend more afternoons taking a stroll around the Botanical gardens with all it’s green (trees) and white (brides) and patterns (grandma pajamas)”
“Why didn’t I try more street food”
“How did we only discover taking drives out of the city like last week!!!?!”
“I should have totally given small clothes shops more attention” (I think as I purchase a gorgeous mid length skirt with cherries on it at a cheery 6usd)
"Spa! come on Lanette"
“ I should have gone with public schools earlier, I loooove my Grade 1 and 2 classes. Love.”
“All those photo’s I never took”
The list can go on and on from the big important things to the small quirky things. I don’t get too down for long, I’m reminded of the fact that I was living a very different life here than I would have at home, I wasn’t a tourist for 19 months. (but I kind of was) Although having said that, Hanoi is so gracious when it comes to being interesting around every corner.
A few days ago I decided to go for a walk with my camera, something I don’t do often , cause a camera around your neck instantly strips you of any expat cred, and I have been working hard on my cred. I thought wearing shower slippers in my walk would balance this out. True story. I don’t have enough Vietnamese to show off otherwise, I real shame after being here for so long.
Here are just a few things from my walk around the block.
Firstly the shower slippers. Sexy stuff.
The cherry skirt shop, just down the alley from where I live.
Two very common outfits in Hanoi, the standard conical hat and in the background the sun escaping Ninja by sunlight and pretty light skinned lady by non-sunlight ( I assume).
Young (ahem) gentlemen inviting me to join them for a nice tin of red bull and good conversation I’m sure.
After being told ‘no photo’ … But I’m just that bad ass.
Ladies of leisure
Some more afternoon exercise.
Love for the Uncle.
Flowers.
One of my favorite things about Hanoi walls
random right...
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