Pool & Pissheads

Where to start...

Ah yes, Nha Trang.

After diving I was thirsty, so we went out for some beers.(Pathetically enough, this happens rarer than you'd think!)
We had a few too many, and some great games of pool, where we got to practise our German & newly acquired Dutch language skills!


The next day, after nursing the first half of our hangover, we boarded the train...

- settling in.

- my healthy snacks.

The view the next day was a wet one:

I could go on about it for awhile, but I won't, in summary, it was really nice. Probably one of the nicest long journey's I've had in SE Asia. I'd do it again in the morning...well...maybe not tomorrow morning! :)

After arriving in Hanoi, a city renowned for scams, we fell straight into one off the train. A metered taxi, with a meter that ran on crack cocaine. Dave had a bad feeling when we passed all the official taxis inside the station, and I had a bad feeling after we got in and he seemed not to understand me at all....
Getting out at the end of the street we asked to be brought to(And paying the ridiculously high fare, which turned out to be under $6, but that's not the point!) I recognised the 'random person' that came up to offer us accommodation(I had seen the driving say something to him at the station) so we were stuck in an alley with dudes at either ends on motorbikes. After heading around to a few places(Some of which told us to fuck-off when they saw we weren't impressed with the 'nice rooms') and being brought from one to another on the back of motorbikes with all our bags and instruments, we found a bed. All ended well!
Although the owner is pretty insistent we get his tour to Halong Bay. We have been avoiding him all day, as we've booked somewhere else!
Anywhoo...Here's some scenic enough shots of Hanoi:

- hungry?

Vietnam is very relaxed on it's piracy laws. Shops openly advertise pirate DVDs, CDs & Software. Also if a particular business such as a hostel, is doing well, a load of other places will change their name to the same. As a result, you can walk down the road, and see several places with the same name, but grossly different qualities of service. Making life very hard when you're looking for a decent place.

An Animist offering on a tree:

This photo doesn't do justice as to how thin the alley these dudes can drive a bike down:

Twas off to a temple on Hoan Kiem lake, the liquid heart of Hanoi:

Old dudes playing games outside the temple:

- you never really see that in Ireland, expect with pints in their hands I suppose!!

- being a millionaire just doesn't get you what you think it would....

- posers!

This guy was great:

- more than likely he makes the flutes himself, Dave thought it may have been an Irish tune he was playing when we first went by him... I don't believe he has eyes at all, poor auld divil...

- legend has it...ahh shite, I forget it now. Something to do with a giant turtle taking a sword down to the bottom of the lake to return it to the Gods, after kicking the Chinese armies ass.

Tomorrow will be spent aroudn the city again, seeing sights and doign deals.
We're going to Halong Bay the day after tomorrow for three days, expect some nice pics!

And the latest bike entry, will be of a mountain bike instead of a motor bike:

-Hat anyone?! :)