Blessed

Now i know how it feels like when part of your dream comes true!

jayc

I finished reading the book "A stolen life" today. It's actually a memoir of a girl who was kidnapped and had her life stolen away for 18 years before she got reunited with her family.

I came across a metaphor mentioned in the story which was particularly interesting.

"Give yourself 2 candles. Let one of them represent your past and the other, your present. Light up the one that you would like to start or deal with today."

"What happens when you light up the same candle everyday? It's going to melt more and more and will become duller in light. Deal with your past, no matter how difficult it is because soon, you'll realise that it's slowly extinguishing itself becoming something that's been melted."

Hanoi

Hanoi, the modern capital of Vietnam often struck me as an unattractive and unpopular city. I haven't heard much about this place because it's not one of those destinations people around me would buzz about. It was only when Ha Long bay, which i'll write a whole entry about it later, was crowned as one of the wonders of the world that my interest towards this city sparked off. 

This was my very first solo backpacking trip. I've always wanted to experience the thrill and liberation of venturing alone in a foreign land. I love the unexpectedness it brings and i'm free to do what ever i want. Of course, all these feelings wouldn't have come about if it wasn't for my quirky liking for solus. 

Central Backpackers Hostel, Hanoi Backpackers Hostel & Sinh Cafe Ha Noi

My accommodation there was basically hopping around different hostels. I opted for their dormitories because it's only 6-7usd per night. In most cases, i think lodging makes up the bulk of one's expenses when traveling. It's nice to pamper yourself with a few nights stay in a hotel but i still prefer to cast my extravagance on something else. 

Misconceptions that dormitories are uncomfortable, confining and cramped were immediately disposed when i first walked in. I actually didn't know that all rooms are fully conditioned. I spent my first 2 nights at Central Backpackers Hostel. The staff there are very friendly and they can speak good english too. There are 4 double-decker beds in one room, with a small balcony and 1 (clean) toilet. Every bed has its own power supply by the wall so no issues about charging my gadgets.  

The same can be said for my second hostel - Hanoi Backpackers Hostel. However, this one has a much bigger lobby area, with a cafe situated at the back. Both hostel serve free flow of beer daily from 7pm to 8pm. Personally, i prefer Central Bh because it's not so crowded in the evening, during the happy hour. It's much more mellow there and i love it. That's also where i met my first asian backpacker friend!

Hanoi Bh is geared towards the more partying crowd. You can expect to see lots of westerners hanging out by the entrance in the evening. It's actually quite intimidating to enter the place and besides the staff there, i didn't see any other asians.

One of the first few things that caught my eye the moment my taxi drove into "old-quarters" was those food stalls by the sidewalks with mini stools and tables. As old and unglamorous as it may seem, i actually LOVE that sight! Firstly, you rarely, if ever, get to find such places in Singapore and even if you do, you'll most probably cringe at how dirty it is. Secondly, when you see everyone siting so closely together, eating and chatting about everything under the sun, it exudes a kind of genuine warmth. Yes, these might not be the most cleanest or most hygienic of all eating places but the surrounding air of geniality makes one oblivious to all the blemishes. 

As for the food, let's just say it's very affordable yet appetizing. No problems adjusting to their taste buds! 

If there has to be a reason for me to visit Hanoi again, it has got to be the number of friends and strangers i've come to know. From roaming around the city on a motorbike with a local to having a late night drink at a pub with a fellow tourist, watching the Euro finals, i've gained a whole new perspective on socialization and the joy it brings. It's so heartwarming to meet people from all walks of life, who are altogether in tune with the common language of friendship.

Avalon cafe & Hair of the Dog Bar

Despite portraying itself as a less developed city, Hanoi definitely has its own share of modern proceedings, as far as the nightlife is concern. Hàng Bạc st, which is something like our Clarke/Boat Quay, is the place to visit at night if you're in the mood to party! However, don't expect yourself to revel until the wee hours of the morning as most of the bars and pubs close at around 1am. It's quite a bummer, especially when there are cheap drinks and good music!

One of the main highlights of my trip was the home-visit i arranged with my host on Couch-Surfing! I heard about CS from a friend of mine and it seems like a very fun community to be in. So i decided to give it a try! Tran Bich Vi, a vietnamese lady, responded to my couch request and invited me over to her place. She also mentioned that her sons will be visiting Singapore during July and was hoping that I could tell them more about the place. Such a pleasure!

As seen in the picture, she's a mother of two and what a sweet and loving family they are.  The elder brother, who's only 19 years old, actually went out to buy groceries and made dinner together with his mum. I felt so embarrassed and helpless that evening. My only "contribution" was going around taking pictures of them. 

It such a pity i didn't stay for the night because they had to leave early the next morning for their family vacation. So after dinner and more photo taking, the 2 brothers accompanied me back to my hostel. (30 mins walk!).  

I feel so lucky to have discovered Couchsurfing, which really helps erase the distance between people from all over the world. I'm definitely gonna do it again and i encourage everyone to be part of it as well!

All the best to Tran Bich and her family! Thank you so much for being a wonderful host. You guys definitely made me feel at home.