HaLong Bay Jan. 28

Wake up was 6:00. On the bus at 7:30. 4 hour bus ride. Our guide lectured us about life in Vietnam during the ride. It is raining again and we are not able to see out of the window well. Fog. 4 hour boat ride. 4 hour bus ride back to hotel.








Very foggy but that is part of the beauty.











































A community of people living on boats and fishermen.







Lunch was on the boat. Just our group of 24 people. It was all Vietnamese food. I think Jack got food poisoning. And my stomach was a big rumble.






There was touring boats everywhere. Along with fishing boats.

Rice paddies. People were farming them. Standing with rubber boots in the cold wet weather. Then gong into their cold unheated homes. Not an easy life.






Homes along the drive. They are very narrow and tall. Mostly windows in the front and back. Not the sides of the houses as other houses are built close.








Dinner was at an American style Resturant. It was supposed to be a night where dinner was on our own expense. But our Odysseys tour Co. Felt bad about the weather and gave us a dinner. True fully, it was not their problem. We knew the weather as going to be cold and wet in the city. And it was!







Salmon mashed potato







Steak and fries





















We stopped at a place the guide calls a Happy Store. The toilets in Vietnam are fine. No squatty ones and all have toilet paper so far.
This store is employed by people with disabilities. They made all different types of art work.
















This is something I Would have bought. But cost is $200.














You really do not know the quality of the Jewerly

Enamel

Vietnam , off we go

GOOD MORNING. VIETNAM as Robin Williams said in a movie
We stayed at the Atlanta airport at a hotel when you can park and leave your car. 4 1/2 hours drive. 15 hours from Atlanta to Korea. 2 hours at airport. 5 hours to Vietnam.
I watched three movies. The Martian, Room, Learning to Drive. All that I had not seen in the movies.
We are flying Air Korea. Super jet. We fly coach. 600 passengers. The food is good. Stewards are thin, pretty and as sweet as can be. They all wear the same bright red lipstick. They have white skirts and powder blue different tops. With a powder blue bow in the hair. The coach is about 1/2 Korean and the other from Vietnam. With a few of us, while people. Very polite, quiet group of people.

The country does not have heat in their home , business, museums, Resturant. We had heat in our hotel. But most of the day I was cold. I did not bring a heavy coat. So I am wearing many layers of clothes. Tea shirt, shirt, shirt, thin jacket and a rain coat. Five layers today. In two days we head south and it will be warm, and hot.

Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh.





























Our guide. Duy (duyie). Or we can call him Sunny. Very elegant man.



























































President palace.





























Mo Chi Minh house. He lived very plain. Like a normal man. Bed had no mattress. Slept on a mat.























































































































Single stone pillar.























































































































Flay of Vietnam





























Bonsai tree





























Confucius at the Temple of Literature. 1070 AD.





























































Hao Lo Prison. Or Hanoi prison when our American soldiers were held.




This is a map of the area. It is very large. We may saw a very small part of it.












Terrible place. I do not want to even explain how the people were treated here. Depressing for me.




John McKain was held here for I think six years. How he could have survived, I do not know.



The mode of transportation is motor scooter. Everywhere are masses of people carrying large boxes, trees, etc. in the back of their scooters.
We had a rainy day. They must wear a helmet. Most of the people obey.
The people wear a face mask. They do not want to get a tan. Pollution. And I feel the air was not good. I could feel a bit of asthma coming in my chest.





































We went to a water puppet show. There is a pool and people behind a screen move the puppets with poles. A band and women singing. Show lasted about 45 minutes. Definitely a tourist money maker. We could have missed this.
Our dinner was quite good. Cauliflower and chicken soup
























Slaw salad with shrimp





















Peanut shrimp with vinegar slaw


















Orange duck


















Beef















Fish. Very spicy.














Sea weed

Location:Hanoi,Vietnam