Ha long Bay

As mentioned before, Halong Bay was the only reason why I chose to visit Hanoi back in June. I ought to be damned for my ignorance because there are so much more to the city than just this heritage site. Then again, one thing led to another, and this place has opened my eyes to the other natural beauties of Vietnam.

The unimpeachable UNESCO world heritage site is a retreat purely for relaxation and recuperation. For me, the main highlight of the tour wasn't the visiting of caves or kayaking, it was the hours spent on the deck, lying down, putting my feet up (literally) and letting my mind wander off. Amazingly amazing. The cascading serenity is to die for!

It took us approximately 3 hours to travel from Hanoi to the city of Ha long, by a minibus. Had to wake up at around 7 am to get prepared and catch the 8 am ride. 

I was very lucky during this trip. They gave me a free upgrade to a more expensive package, which was worth 100usd when I only paid around 60usd for mine. And it's more of an exclusive tour, with only 9 of us on a big boat, whereas the usual ones consist of around 14-15 people. It would've been more fun and happening but some softened enjoyment once in a while could be equally therapeutic. 

Since the other eight people in the group were in pairs, I get to have one whole room to myself, and it was very decent - two single beds and a nice toilet. The itinerary for the first day was the visiting of the cave (can't remember its name), which was huge and beautiful, and kayaking. Some of us also did some swimming, or rather jumping off the deck, which was EXTREMELY exhilarating. Once was enough for me. I sorely regretted not having a video or a picture of that jump taken! So much for wanting to bungee jump when I'm scared stiff even from a two-storey high leap. 

Before dinner was being served, the tour guide and the crew on-board taught us how to make the traditional Vietnamese spring roll. It's very very delicious, especially with the fish sauce! We were then treated to a sumptuous meal, with the accompaniment of a smidgen of Courvoisier, which was enough to make me groggy and tipsy.

Did a little bit of fishing with the locals after dinner before we had to stop due to bad weather, which was such a waste because I was hoping to idle on the deck. Wouldn't have mind sleeping there as well. It's THAT relaxing. 

As seen from the picture, I was the youngest (and the only loner) in the group. A few of them actually mistook the guy beside me and the lady opposite as my parents. Couldn't blame them. I think our similar ethnicity does pose a certain amount of resemblance of a small Asian family. 

Being part of an all adult group does bring about different forms of enjoyment. Initially, the whole unfitting scenario made me feel like a fish out of water. But I'm glad they were all very friendly and approachable people. That definitely made me feel less inferior. 

All in all, I was pretty satisfied with this place and it did live up to my expectations. Besides the downpour on the first night, everything else went well. I think it's safe to say that this was the most relaxing getaway I've ever had in a long long time. 

And that's another item striked off from my "Wonders of the world to visit" list!

start

Such a beautiful and extremely relaxing end to a long, coveted proper weekend. School is out for at least 2 months, which brings liberation and sadly, trepidation as well. But I don't want to dwell on anything else, other than accomplishing the things in my "To-do" list. I don't want to look back after two months and rue the unproductiveness.

Looking at the way things went over the past two days, I think it's safe to say that we're off to a great start!

May it continue like this.

It's that time of the year again

Exams are just a week away and me updating my blog, in the day, with tons of chapters more to study, definitely suggests something about my confidence... Not!

For the past few weeks, I was able to draw out time at night to meet up with friends over movies and dinner. We caught three films which I'd been anticipating for months: 

Taken 2, the highly awaited sequel was at most average, compared to the first. I think the disappointment was probably due to the exceedingly high expectations we all had, especially after what Taken 1 delivered. The other 2 movies were instant favorites! It's definitely the kind of shows that I'm always on the lookout for. Still, I'm having trouble tagging a description to such films. Teenage-romance-comedy? Or "Juno-esque"? Or some might call it: "act-one-kind" movie. Hahahaha.

One of my Hanoi-made friends, Henrik from Sweden, messaged me on Facebook recently, telling me how much he loves the pictures from Sapa.

This made me want to look through the album again! And as I was doing so, I realized I'm still suffering from the holiday hangover. These 2 pictures were taken from that wonderful night in Sapa. Never would I've imagined myself partying crazily with people whom I'd only known on that day itself. Drinks, delicious home-cooked food and games made up a totally unforgettable night.

More details will be written in the long overdue posts of Sapa and Halong Bay, which I'm going to pen down as one of my to-do items during my holidays.

May the remaining months of 2012 be filled with joy!

soul mates

Being privy to each other's innermost thoughts, yet feel reassured that you can rely on their discretion.  Showing affection, yet not transcending any boundaries. 

I do believe that soul mates exist, even in a place where Platonic relationship seems to be nothing more than an overused term to describe the pre-confession stage of two close friends.  Pre-confession because eventually, given the nature of how most male-beings are constructed, innocency will be overshadowed by jealousy, and that's the end of their "Platonic Relationship". Something that's supposed to be enduring, has been sadly tagged with a duration, an expiry date.

However, i'm beginning to change my conception of how it all seems to operate; I think i've had enough bad experiences to know that it's not always this systematic because right now, i'm actually clinging on to something, and this time, it's for all the right reasons. 

When quarrels and disagreements remind you of something and someone so dear to you in the past, we ought to seize the opportunity of not losing this special person, for once they're gone, they'll take with them an irreplaceable portion of your memory. 

The falling-out was never easy to swallow. But the fact that it was difficult to shake off made me realize that this wasn't an ordinary occurrence. Distractions were used as an excuse to not confront the problem, though the only thing they did was to prolong it.  In the end, it's all about giving in, compromising and more giving in. If it's worth it, then everything else is secondary.  

Patience and understanding; someday, the pain will be useful to me

Tug at my heartstrings

 Surprising and Unforgettable

A short account of one of my fondest recollections. To Vincent: 

I met Vincent on the 2nd night of my Hanoi trip. When we first saw each other in the dorm, it was like bumping into a long-lost friend. Meeting a fellow Asian really makes you feel that home is never too far away.

Drinks and conversations made up a wonderful evening. And as though the informality of the occasion wasn't enjoyable enough, we sat down on the carpet by the side of the road, and ate BBQ-ed cuttlefish to complete a perfect chill-out session. 
  
It was also on that night, when I learnt my very first travelling tip: Never book everything in advance. I had to leave for another city the next day, and was left extremely discontented at our short-lived encounter. That was the last time we saw each other in Vietnam.

Previously, during my stay in Rome, i remembered having a conversation with this girl from Lisbon.  That night, we sat and talked by the balcony, and she was telling me about her solo adventures. Since then, i've been so highly inspired and motivated to travel, to meet more people like her, and hear what they have to say about their experiences. 

And i have every reason to believe that this desire is real, especially after what my recent sojourn had given me - A tangible piece of memory

“There are no happy endings.
Endings are the saddest part,
So just give me a happy middle
And a very happy start.”

-Shel Silverstein

Beautiful poem!

old is gold!

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.