The Diva visits Vietnam

Day 1 Hanoi

Arrived to see no clipboard with my name on it. Is nobody picking me up? :(

Was brought to a hotel in a winding street. Clean and small. Boy it was foggy and a chilly outside

Walked thru the maze in the afternoon n got lost in a part of the Old Quarter. Crazy traffic. All the bomber jackets and fur lined coats, automated Vespas everywhere! It was like a nation of Mods! I even saw a new 2011 automated Lambretta. Bloody Singapore doesn't even have it!  


Them bikes on the streets were insane. They seemed like they were going all around the shop. They were so alert. They weave around everyone else. It was like some warped synchronised shit. Horn like ur life depended on it too. Singaporeans would never have survived riding or driving in these conditions. Bloody blur fucks Singaporeans are.


Totally blissful not having anyone I know around me. I was kinda sick of all the fake socializing, fake smiles, fake cheers. I was tired of myself. I knew I was letting myself go, self destructing as my friends told me. For the worst possible reason, men.... Sigh... fml

Took me ages to get back to the hotel since I had no idea where I went. I used a bright orange tofu shop as my guide that the hotel was nearby.

I felt ill in the tummy after not eating anything since the day before n gorging on a whole lot when I could

Stayed in the hotel from 7pm till 9pm since I assumed that there would be less vehicles after 9pm. Ended up being lost again, unwittingly pulled into the weekend night market by massive human traffic AND getting caught in bike traffic. 


It was 3 hrs before I could go back to the hotel.

Day 2 Hanoi to Sapa

Spent day lazing at a Hanoi Social Club where they have awesome coffees and burgers.

8.30pm train ride was long and tedious. Took King Express first class soft sleeper. Met a totally adventurous couple from Switzerland and a chirpy Aussie man living in France sharing the 4 berth cabin. Talked a little. Realized that we were all totally unprepared for the weather in Sapa.

Could hardly sleep. Was like a young colt jerking and prancing around. 

Day 3 Sapa

Stopped in Lao Cai at 5am. Totally unacceptable hour.

Met Liz n Chris from Australia. Taught them how to get thru the Facebook block in Vietnam, then we became Facebook friends.They made Sapa more interesting since we met up occasionally on the same trek and at rest stops.

Bak Ho market was utterly busy. Muddy and smelly. Loads of tribal people with babies slung behind them. Animals being treated badly. I was bored as hell till I met up w Liz n Chris again. I mean, u've seen one u've seen one market and u've seen them all. I was more of a scenery person... I hate crowds what was I thinking?

Liz had her pouch stolen while at the market, in it her passport and money. The moment of loss was palatable. We searched her pockets for a min, then a bunch of boys walked past n dropped it in front of us. The pickpocketers actually gave Liz back her passport! Crazy isn't it?

Visited a farm in Sapa.. Realized that training shoes are totally impractical for treks and mud 

Have officially not showered for 24 hours. 

Freezing at night in Sapa town. Bloody 7 degrees and no clothes. Thanks to everyone back home who told me not to bring any winter wear.

I love Bamboo Hotel. The view form the window was stunning!  Kudos to the tour which booked it for me. I had paid (quite price-ily) for private tour which was perfect since I didn't want the hassle of being in a group and waiting for people or having them wait for me.

Day 4 Sapa

Perfect day for trekking! We had freak good weather. Looking thru the window of 15 degrees of cool air and blue skies!

Started the 13 km walk to the homestay of an ethnic minority faimly. The trek was ok. I hardly minded the slopes and long walk or even the mud. I loved it! But I hated the fact that I wore the absolute wrong shoes :(

 

We had a power failure in the night throughout the whole village. It didn't really matter since there weren't any heaters in the homestays. They offered big warm blankets, so softly comforting.    

Day 5 Sapa

Goodbye homestay! Woke bright and early at 8 to prepare for trek to the waterfalls and then to Ban Ho village. Let me emphasize at this point that we've been having good weather so far. If it had rained it would almost be impossible for us non trekkers to walk thru the terrain without causing a landslide lol.

Walk from Sapa town to waterfall - 5km through Bamboo Forest in muddy slopes
Walk from rest point to Ban Ho Village - 5km main road + 9km downhill trek

Found out that running shoes are very very inappropriate for trekking in slippery mud

Even going down a dry sandy slope was tricky

According to my deceivingly sadist guide, Thuc, not many travellers trek down to Ban Ho village. Reason being too far. He said that even he, only makes a trip to Ban Ho village only once every 3 months. Well.. off we go!

Day 6 Sapa to Hanoi

Sapa Town is really small and methinks u'd only need 30 mins to WALK thru it, I spent the day cafe hopping and getting a massage.

So I'm waiting at Lao Cai train station to go back to Hanoi and there's this very cute Aussie boy across me with his friends. Bloody young, prolly 20. He was obnoxious n talked loudly, chewing a baguette with his mouth open n drinking Tiger beer from th bottle. Pity, he's cute, but I really felt like slapping him when he said very loudly to nobody in particular, "I'M FROM MELBOURNE!" okaaay ...  Now be a good boyo, shut it and chew with ur mouth closed. Tyvm.

It was while I was in the train back to Hanoi that I realised that I had a sunburn on my face. Fuck.

Lol I put on my earphones n turned my music on but I didn't realize that my earphones weren't plugged in and 'November Rain' was on full blast for a while. How embarrassing.


 Day 7 Hanoi to Halong Bay


Do take an overnight Halong Bay cruise. I've heard it's beautiful and also, u won't have to suffer 3.5 hrs to go there and then back again


The limestone caves were absolutely stunning. Of course the fake lightings made a difference too!

I'm now back in Singapore. Lighter of heart. I'm not as bitter as I was when I left. I made myself repeat that I can't help that retards surround me. I feel better knowing that I'm also surrounded by real friends too. They block out the retards who mean nothing and should be there just to prove that I'm a much better person. 


Going away solo always reminds me that I never needed anyone else. I am absolutely capable on my own. I love life and all it gives us :D