As per my habit, I woke early for my walk. We are staying in the Old Quarter, where the narrow streets are arranged roughly by trades. As mentioned, we are near the paint and glue shops.
Just after 6am I caught the elevator to the ground floor and did a double take. Everything was in darkness, and only a small amount of early morning light was breaking through the front doors of the hotel lobby. A few steps from the elevator door was a stretcher bed with someone sound asleep on it. Now this part of the hotel is also the dining room space, where later Mick and I enjoyed a great breakfast which is included in our room rate. A few steps closer to the front door, and my exit to Hanoi, was yet another sleeping person, absolutely out to it on one of the two lobby lounges. Now I do not know if this is usual, but it was a first for me.
Perhaps I should not have been too surprised.
I took this photo on our first day as Mick and I walked down the (fire escape) stairs to the ground floor because the elevator was taking too long.
We are staying on Level 3 – and on each level of the stairs there are neatly stacked piles of ‘goods’. They looked like stores for the hotel.
Unsure how that would stack up with Aussie OH&S regulations.
Then again!
I am sure these lines were not there last night. I became even more convinced of that when I walked on a few as the painted lines were slippery with a fine sand or some tiny particles.
This is obviously an attempt to keep part of the footpath area free of motor cycles and food stalls.
We are only about 500m from Hoàn Kiếm Lake, also known as Sword Lake, and that was where I decided I would be able to walk without too much trouble.
I have noticed that my eyes are very red since we arrived in Hanoi. I then read that the current air quality (measured as PM2.5 concentration) in Hanoi is 7.4 times the WHO recommended level.
Luckily I was able to get some eye drops from a nearby chemist.
You can buy almost any medication at these (usually) small pharmacies. I’ve taken a screen shot of what I want to buy and shown the staff and then they bring out the box and sell me the medication by card (of usually 10 tablets) at a time. For around 4000 VND (or 25 cents) per tablet. No prescription necessary.
I was not disappointed today on my walk, as again I saw lots of people doing similar activities as they were in Nha Trang during this time of the morning.
My favourite new exercise was being done by a man, on his own, in his shorts only, hitting his back by lifting one arm at a time high above his head, and then bending his arm to slap his corresponding shoulder blade. He did this over and over.
Fluffy little dogs are very popular in Vietnam.
Mick and I have spotted them on motorbikes, sometimes two at a time. I have also seen a man walk his fluffy dog by riding his motorbike next to the kerb and driving at about 15km per hour while the dog ran beside him.
This lady had her dogs well trained to run with her, off lead, around the lake.
These women had just finished their routine and were lined up giving each other a shoulder massage.
I think today I worked out why Vietnamese people are so keen to exercise. Check out this poster: I looked up the translation, but having done that, I really don’t get it. Any help appreciated.
ALL PEOPLE
ENJOY YOUR BODY
FOLLOWING THE DOCTOR HO Vi DAI
Now to our main adventure for today.
Mick and I caught a taxi to Hom Market where I had read I would be able to buy some fabric for a pant suit I am hoping to have made while we are here.
I have no pattern for the outfit, but I had taken some photos of it in the hope someone could help me out. I thought about bringing it with me, but realised it would add too much weight to my luggage.
Unlike some markets we had been to before, as we walked along this street filled with fabric stores, we were not hassled to buy anything. One lady kindly invited us in to look at her materials and while she was showing me some samples, Mick called out from across one part of the shop to show me something he had found. Low and behold it was exactly the same as the material I was looking at, only in a different colour. That was a sign for me to buy it.
After showing her photos of my outfit, I asked the lady how much material I would need. Thank goodness she could speak a little English. She held up her fingers indicating 3.5 metres. I said I would take 4 metres (just to be on the safe side). The cost was 15,000 VND per metre – or $10 AUD per metre. Cheap. I did not even haggle the price (which I had been advised I could from the staff at our hotel). I was torn between choosing between green or blue – but they lady insisted I buy the blue.
Then Mick and I wandered home slowly through the French Quarter, admiring some of the interesting architecture in this area, but also on the lookout for some French wine.
We came upon the seamstress I had met yesterday and she remembered me. After using her WIFI to send her my photos, she measured me up and I think she understood what I was after. She told me the price was 800,000 VND (approx. $53 AUD) and I could pick it up on Monday when we get back from our cruise on Halong Bay. I left feeling slightly optimistic that we understood each other. Really my biggest worry is with my own taste. My mother was a beautiful seamstress, but I never bothered to learn. I usually only know if I like something after I have seen it and tried it on.
As it turned out, just across the street from my seamstress, Mick spotted a wine shop – which had a large selection of wines from many countries, including Australia and France. The problem with buying wine over here is that the bottles are displayed standing upright. And you can’t be sure how long they have been stored that way. The younger the wine, the less chance the cork will be dried out. Anyway, we bought a 2020 Syrah / Grenache blend. And it was brilliant.
Tonight we will re-visit Mick’s new favourite bar.
Jane and Mick's Holiday Adventures 