Hanoi, Vietnam

We are currently in Vietnam. Things here in Hanoi are quite quiet compared to usual due to Chinese New Year. I guess it is like Christmas day. We missed the big celebrations by a day but they have a long weekend until Monday. I think I am happy most things are closed since I can't imagine the chaos around here when things are in full swing. Crossing the street in the "quiet time" is hard enough. I think I will be in shock when we get back here next Tuesday. Last night after checking in to our hotel we walked the old quarter of Hanoi. Most everything was closed and it was challenging even to get a place to eat. However, we never seem to starve. We made it an early night and played Mehjong most of the night. Addi and I bought a great set in Vientiane (which I might have said in my last blog). Quite a game, I love it. Byron get ready!:) Today we got up and went to the Ho Chi Man Mosolium (not spelled right). It was quite facinating and the security was out of this world. No hands in your pockets, metal detectors, no talking and walking in the order they tell you. It was neat to see a body that has been embalmed for 34 years now. Then we saw his living grounds (which I only skimmed). Starting to get burnt out of tourist areas with too many lines. Addi and I hit the hills and took advantage of the cool walking weather and the "quite time" to tour the city on foot. We did a bit of shopping. Got amazing gortex coats for $46 each (since the North Face factory is in Vietnam). If they are fake they fool me and that is all the matters. Also bought some new bags for our second checked luggage pieces so we can get our shopping home. We found a good spot for lunch, then went to the water puppet theatre here. I guess Vietnam is famous for water puppets. The music was interesting and very traditional. I can't believe those were the women's voices and the instruments were facinating. The puppets were cool too, but the 45 minutes was definitely enough. Glad the acts were short and went fast. We had a group snack to chat a bit more then drank a bottle of wine with Bharti (one of our favorite people on the trip). Tomorrow it will be sad goodbyes to our travelling group. It was a good bunch. Our Halong Bay tour guide is picking us up at 8:30am tomorrow. But kayaking in the rain with a high of 10 degrees will not be quite what I pictured. Oh well tomorrow calls for good weather then the cold moves in. Hopefully we can suck up as much goodness as possible tomorrow. Sonya:)