Day Thirty-Seven

Hanoi Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Flag Tower & War Museum

After breakfast in the hostel of lovely eggs & bread we were all set for our trip out. We had decided that we were going to spend the whole day sight seeing around the rest of Hanoi as tomorrow we had planned to go on a trip to Ha Long Bay & Cat Ba island as we have heard many nice things about these places. We invited our new German friend Richard but he said he needed to spend the whole day planning his next 3 weeks journey around Vietnam so we understood & left him at the hostel.

Our first stop was Hanoi's big pagoda which was on the other side of town so we all agreed to get a taxi to the Pagoda & then stroll through the streets to get to the other sights a the pagoda was the sight furthest away. Our hostel manager Chien came outside with us & waved a taxi down in the street. He told us how much we should pay roughly & he told the driver in Vietnamese where we wanted to go. The taxi ride was quite quick but noisy as all the drivers like to blast their horn at any opportunity which can get annoying.

We arrived at the Pagoda & Andy paid the driver the 50,000 Vietnamese Dong fare but Andy gave the driver a 100,000 note to which the driver gave Andy back a 20,000 note knowing full well he was trying to rip is off (as they all do this) but Andy being Andy notices everything so Andy pointed out that he has gave the wrong change. With the taxi & the correct fare & money sorted to crossed over the street to see the Pagoda.

Unlucky for us the Pagoda was shut so we could only stand outside & take photos. When we saw the sign to say it was closed it also said that you couldn't enter in shorts & we were all in shorts so it wouldn't have made a difference it being open or closed anyway. The pagoda was by the water so along all the embankment edges where fisherman & when I looked over into the water there was actually a man far our in the water laying big nets in the water. We have seen men on boats laying nets but never swimming in the water to lay them, it was crazy.

From the pagoda we strolled down the streets slowly making our way to see the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. On our way we passed monuments & statues & we saw the weirdest trees that had roots growing up the trunk of the tree - it was mad & we had not seen these before. There where lots of ladies on the streets trying to sell us drinks & water or whatever they could. We crossed over this big square where there was lots of grass & places for you to sit but we walked straight through & to the other side. Down the next street we walked all the buildings where beautiful & they were painted in a bright golden yellow colour. The architecture in this place was more that of Cuba than Vietnamese but it was lovely. The further we got down the street we started to see soldiers standing on the street outside these little huts. We soon realised that we were by the Mausoleum.

We walked up to these big massive black iron gates & we peered in to the grounds to look at the building. We wasn't standing there for long for a security blew his whistle & was waving his hands for us to move off the street & walk along. We stood there ignoring him for a while because I thought what's the need, we are only looking - that's what tourists do you ding bat! We walked passed these white iron barriers that keep the cars out of the road & we finally made it to the mausoleum. We paid our entrance fee so we could go inside the grounds & look around properly without ding bats blowing whistles at us but unfortunately we couldn't go & see Ho Chi Minh & his resting place as the lucky sod was on his annual 3 month holiday to Russia to get his body all primed & made nice for the coming year.

In the grounds there wasn't very much to do & see only a few nice buildings. We walked up a little pathway towards the main building but you could only ho so far as there are guards all over the place & barriers screaming for you not to cross the white lines on the floor. At the top of the pathway the guard was waving for us to go up to him so we did. All he wanted was to let us take a photo with him so we thought cool, no problems until...... Ana went & stood by him & the cheeky tw*t grabbed & groped her behind. She wasn't happy to say the least but Andy tried to make light fun of it by grabbing the guards bum. We shouted all kinds at him & then we had no choice but to walk away, what a proper dirty Vietnamese pervert.

Further around the grounds we came to a big massive lake which had a building behind it. Andy was elated to see hundreds of big carp in there swimming around & they were so close to the top of the water. We went to look around at the gardens & we came out at a museum which didn't look too interesting so that was about it. There wasn't much more for us to look at so we left.

We headed for the Flag Tower & the War Museum which according to the map wasn't very far away. We walked the streets & noticed the big Vietnamese flag glowing on the air so we followed in the same direction. Great navigation skills as we got there in no time. In front of the tower there was the moat delicious smell of fresh coffee & it was coming from a posh looking coffee shop cafe. We were done for, the smell of the coffee was too much so we went inside only to be met by an even more delicious looking cake counter. It was just what we needed to recharge our batteries so we sat down. We ordered coffee & cake which was expensive but still far cheaper than at home so it didn't feel as bad. Oh my God the cake was the nicest carrot cake in the world & I could have easily ate the whole thing. We sat drinking our coffee & eating our cake slowly so we could thoroughly enjoy every mouthful. We had been teaching Ana to speak better English as she was teaching me how to speak better Spanish so I could be armed & ready with my language skills in South America. We sat discussing different things about our countries & how our lives are completely different. Before we knew it an hour & a half had passed. We needed to get up the flag tower & to go to the War Museum as it would soon be closing. We raced out of the coffee shop & up to the steps of the flag tower but the lady was padlocking the gate so fat chance of us seeing that then. Andy pleaded with the lady to wait & let us go up for 5 minutes & come straight back down. Wow she actually agreed as well so bingo we were in! We raced as fast as we could to the top to take a look around. You could see all the war planes & shrapnel in the museum below which I couldn't wait to see. We took a few photographs & headed back down to thank the lady graciously for letting us up!

Next we got in to the grounds of the War Museum only to be told that it was too late to buy tickets to enter (which I was devastated about) but we could spend the time looking around the grounds & looking at the plane wreckages from the war. Inside the grounds there where massive helicopters, missiles, tanks. You name it & it was on display. There was lots of interesting information outside a big collection of all war wreckage items telling you how the women of Vietnam had shot these planes down & how their part in the war was vital. I totally enjoyed walking around & looking at all the American plane wreckages - it was great & something I think my mum would have loved to see too.

Walking back through the streets to our hostel it was amazing to see it so busy. We walked down a street & I swear you could buy or get anything you wanted. The amount of clothes shops was endless along with people selling food, you would certainly not go hungry in Hanoi. As we walked further down the street we saw plenty of street barbers & I was trying to persuade Andy to get his hair cut by one of them but he was having none of it. It's bizarre walking down then streets of Hanoi because they have lots & lots of birds in little bird cages swinging form the trees or electric cables in the streets. It's as if they are used for decorations but it's really sweet to walk down the streets & hear the birds tweeting away.

I can't believe that this will be our last night in Hanoi. It's a place I would really recommend people to visit. It's a place like no other. Back at the hostel & we finished organising the trip to Ha Long Bay & Cat Ba Island for the morning & finalising the pick up times. With everything sorted & the plans under control we went to the room to chill before tea. Richard the German was in the dorm room & looking totally stress free as he showed us the plan of action for his trip. We told him that this was our last night in Hanoi before we go to Ha Long Bay. With a bit of packing done as it all needed to be sorted out tonight as we were supposed to be getting picked up at 7am we headed out for tea.

Downstairs in reception Richard greeted another German man who was also staying in our hostel & who he had been speaking to all day so he was then invited to join us for tea. Richard had mentioned that he had found the big supermarket where we could buy supplies for our trip & bus journey tomorrow, so he happily showed us to there before tea. Walking around the supermarket & there was lots of food from home but it was very very expensive with it being imported. I decided to head down the booze isle just out of curiosity & what did I find apart from beer - vodka!! Thank you very much, I will have some of that little shop assistant girl. After buying bottled water, some supplies like crisps & sweets, we also had plenty of beer, 2 bottles of lemonade & most importantly the vodka (which cost £1.20 for a litre) plus a little bottle of vodka for later, we put everything in the hostel & headed for a street cafe.

We found this little place where the five of us sat outside & enjoyed weird but cheap food. I was really beginning to love the way people all integrate on the street, chat & just enjoy their meals altogether. Maybe England would be a nicer place & people might be more nicer to each other if they took on board some of the qualities we have met in some cultures along our travels. Strolling back to the hostel we chatted amongst ourselves, talking about our future plans. Yipee back in the hostel we all congregated in our dorm room & we crack open the vodka & the beers & chatted away some more. The rest of the night passed away quickly & it was time to go to sleep.

Not looking forward to the long journey to Ha Long Bay tomorrow but looking forward to seeing it though........