Hello motorbike!!

Just got back yesterday from a trip to Halong Bay, of the northern coast of Vietnam, where I spent one night on a boat and one on a hotel in Cat Ba town. Spotty internet there, so today, back in Hanoi, will be my first good chance to update blog since getting to Vietnam.

My first full day in Vietnam consisted mainly of wandering around the old quarter of Hanoi. I went first to check out the leftovers of what American POWs used to call the Hanoi Hilton, known to the Vietnamese as Hoa Lo ("fiery furnace"/ "Hell's hole") Prison. Apparently this was where John McCain was tortured, leaving him unable to raise his arms above his shoulders. It was originally built by the French in 1886.

Outside the prison

... Inside the walls

From there I found my way to Hoan Kiem Lake, which means "Lake of the Restored Sword". Wikipedia's explanation: According to the legend, emperor Le Loi handed a magic sword called Heaven's Will which brought him victory in his revolt against the Chinese Ming Dynasty back to the Golden Turtle God (Kim Qui) in the lake and hence gave it its present name (the lake was formerly known as "Luc Thuy" meaning "Green Water"). Lake was pretty, but my main interest was in seeing the preserved remains of one of the giant soft shelled turtles that supposedly still live in the lake.

Pagoda dedicated to turtle god

Tortilious Maximus

The next day I hopped a bus to Halong City for my cruise of Halong Bay and Cat Ba Island, the only inhabited island in the bay. Experienced beautiful scenery and some quality beach and boat time!

Don't mind if I do!

Halong Bay

Cat Ba Island:

Someone's peanuts drying...

Chicken invasion!!!

Cat Co 2 beach, around 3 pm

Same beach, one hour later! Guessing the beach is the place to be after school or work. Sounds reasonable.

Lampost, Cat Ba style

Today, back in Hanoi, I had my first cooking class of the trip. Wanted to do one in Thailand or Malaysia so I could learn how to make curry, but today I got to learn how to make spring rolls among other things so I'm satisfied. Might take another one in Saigon.

Frying up some spring rolls

"Royal Rice" - steamed rice with layers of veggie and tofu

The chef prepares sweet and sour tofu

Tonight I'm hopping a night train up to Sapa, a mountainous region in the north, where I'll do some trekking and check out the local market Sunday!