27th January 2007
Writing this at Bangkok airport. More on that later!
Yesterday was a chill out day. We got up to say goodbye to those from the tour who were leaving. Ten of us were staying and moving on – Laurie, to Northern Vietnam for some hill walking; Alan and Anne to spend an extra week in Hanoi; James, staying for a few days then off to Singapore en route to Vancouver; Karol and Mark who are leaving for their temporary (2 year) home in Malaysia; and Beryl and Norman who are off to Cambodia for a few days to see the Temples at Ankawot then moving on to friends in Hong Kong, Manila and a sister in New Zealand. So we’re hoping to meet them for dinner in Christchurch in the middle of March. What a funny old world, where you can make friends with people, you never knew, in Vietnam, and meet up with them again another quarter of the way round the world.
So, chilling out included shopping. And more shopping. Bought a few little bits and pieces, but generally enjoyed just mooching around Hanoi. We ten then met for dinner again at KOTO (mentioned earlier) and had a very nice meal. Sid and I packed last night and amazingly it all fitted in the suitcases, which are now heavier than when we left, despite us jettisoning 10kg in China (or posting it, at least).
Reflections on Vietnam. A beautiful country with the most smiley, friendly (and seemingly happiest) people we’ve ever met. A really rich mix of rural scenery, beautiful beaches and coastline, and the craziest cities we’ve ever been to. A weird mix of communism and capitalism that seems to work, side by side. An obviously poor country fighting to get rich.
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