So after Cat Ba, back to the capitol...question was: what to do next?
Sapa? - People warned me about the bad weather over there and the weather forecast did not look very appealing
Ha Giang? Recommended by the Cat Ba Hostel girl
A lot of indecisiveness led to 3 nights in Hanoi...well did not really see the city yet so that was fine but 3 nights are in general more than enough for one place so I took my chance and booked a night train to Sapa
Well...it was exactly how people (35% of them returned sick) described it to me: cold / wet / mud / damp / fog
Short story short. I left the same day and returned to Hanoi via the night bus (which is 1/2 price of the comfy sleeper train). And I was not the only one... Guess I could have stayed and tried for a few days for the weather to clear up a little but the body said no.
The result was: 5 more nights in Hanoi so filled those with
- walking the entire area drawn on my map (they really do not understand you want to walk for more than 5') - I actually had probably the only good winter day here...nice sun and ideal for strolling...even the Xe om guys realized they had little chance to pick up rides that day
- catch a movie: Same gigantic complex as back home (but significantly cheaper) similar brainwash before the movie starts: "this toothpaste will make your teeth whiter than white", "this cleaning poision will make your clothes smell forever - not necessarily clean but it smells and that is what clean & fresh is all about", "drink this obesitas liquid and transform into the Santa Coca-ehm Claus man" (I prefer beer for the same effect) but also Scooter commercials...guess that was the only difference...Yamaha & Suzuki commercials vs BMW & Mercedes
- go to the place where THE man is displayed: they are dead serious about it/him...Almost felt like an airport...X- Ray Scanners, leave the water bottle outside, obviously show the greatest respect (no hats and such), definitely no picture taking of the man, every 3 meters a guy in gala uniform to ensure you would respect the rules...The whole setup was a bit surreal and for me a bigger attraction than the dead man himself...Very weird though: Entrance was free
- And since I had time to spare: go for the perfume pagoda tour...I have seen too many (and bigger and nicer) temples already so did not want to do it initially but too much time...and $20 for an entire day-tour is still ok-ish. Not really worth it though...Nice scenery and all (but not the first time for me) and the temple is kinda bleh compared to the super nice golden one in Yangon..but then again, almost all are except perhaps Borobudur and the jungle one at Angkor.
Anyway, tonight: up to karaokeland and hopefully some summer... I am 3 days ahead of my initial schedule so Indonesia (Flores) might become a reality if I feel 23 days is too much for Malaysia; for sure it is going to be 20 days in the Philippenes as my ticket is booked.
Sapa? - People warned me about the bad weather over there and the weather forecast did not look very appealing
Ha Giang? Recommended by the Cat Ba Hostel girl
A lot of indecisiveness led to 3 nights in Hanoi...well did not really see the city yet so that was fine but 3 nights are in general more than enough for one place so I took my chance and booked a night train to Sapa
Well...it was exactly how people (35% of them returned sick) described it to me: cold / wet / mud / damp / fog
Short story short. I left the same day and returned to Hanoi via the night bus (which is 1/2 price of the comfy sleeper train). And I was not the only one... Guess I could have stayed and tried for a few days for the weather to clear up a little but the body said no.
The result was: 5 more nights in Hanoi so filled those with
- walking the entire area drawn on my map (they really do not understand you want to walk for more than 5') - I actually had probably the only good winter day here...nice sun and ideal for strolling...even the Xe om guys realized they had little chance to pick up rides that day
- catch a movie: Same gigantic complex as back home (but significantly cheaper) similar brainwash before the movie starts: "this toothpaste will make your teeth whiter than white", "this cleaning poision will make your clothes smell forever - not necessarily clean but it smells and that is what clean & fresh is all about", "drink this obesitas liquid and transform into the Santa Coca-ehm Claus man" (I prefer beer for the same effect) but also Scooter commercials...guess that was the only difference...Yamaha & Suzuki commercials vs BMW & Mercedes
- go to the place where THE man is displayed: they are dead serious about it/him...Almost felt like an airport...X- Ray Scanners, leave the water bottle outside, obviously show the greatest respect (no hats and such), definitely no picture taking of the man, every 3 meters a guy in gala uniform to ensure you would respect the rules...The whole setup was a bit surreal and for me a bigger attraction than the dead man himself...Very weird though: Entrance was free
- And since I had time to spare: go for the perfume pagoda tour...I have seen too many (and bigger and nicer) temples already so did not want to do it initially but too much time...and $20 for an entire day-tour is still ok-ish. Not really worth it though...Nice scenery and all (but not the first time for me) and the temple is kinda bleh compared to the super nice golden one in Yangon..but then again, almost all are except perhaps Borobudur and the jungle one at Angkor.
Anyway, tonight: up to karaokeland and hopefully some summer... I am 3 days ahead of my initial schedule so Indonesia (Flores) might become a reality if I feel 23 days is too much for Malaysia; for sure it is going to be 20 days in the Philippenes as my ticket is booked.
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