More time with Steph

We have been out enjoying the warm Arizona sun.  Took a walk along the Rillito yesterday on a bike trail

And this morning we went out for breakfast at our local Jerry Bob's and then out to Catalina State Park

to hike a desert trail.  Great morning for a hike until the wind picked up and blew us apart.  Snow predicted in

high elevations tonight so guess the front was rolling in.  Nice long hike then home for a nice long nap!

 

 

 

Christmas with Steph

Last morning in Hanoi

Our 15 day exursion officially ended yesterday after returning to the Metropole and saying fairwell to our international group of new found traveling partners.  We stayed on for one more night on our own, mostly because our flight home dictated we stay over. OK by me.  We were up early again walking the streets.

T

In front of Metropole all lit up last night.

St Josephs Cathedral

Pretty much sums up the shopping here. There are definately bargins here if you know what you are looking for, and know what you are buying.  That "made in Vietnam" label is all available right here in the markets.  One needs to know your dealer, however, we've been told that the tourist markets are full of cheap Chinese knock off stuff that they just change the label to say made in VN.  

We found a street where they sell everything stainless steel, metal, and hardware.  The little kid on daddy's motorcycle was pretty fun too.

The tall narrow buildings are eye catching and everywhere, old and new. 

No idea what this fruit is.  I thought I knew them all.  Must be in season right now.

Speaking of in-season.  A whole street of Christmas markets.

We guessed this was a wholesale market as pretty hard to buy one of anything here. Everything imaginable under roof that took up an entire block.

The most industrious guy we have seen.  Walking down the street and stopped at a corner and immediatly this young man had Will's sandle in his hand and was beginning to repair it practically right on his foot.  He was so determined and smooth that we couldn't help but give him a chance.  One of the straps was beginning to let loose and Will didn't notice.  But he did.  He stitched it, and glued it, washed it and polished his sandle for an expected tip. And of course, we had to let him do the other one too.  They looked new when he finished.  He got paid much more then he was worth but we were so tickeled at his moxy that we  decided to help the local economy.  

HaLong Bay

Another bus ride, this one was long and tiring, 5 hours to the Gulf of Tonkin to a mini paradise named HaLong Bay.  We boarded a "junk" for an overnight out on the water.  Now, this is no ordinary "junk."  It is smaller than our river cruise ship but had maybe 20 state rooms and no less luxury.  We just floated around the bay, watching the sunset behind the mysterious karst formations, took a tender to a larger rock and climbed the 600 steps to the top for bragging rights and the view, then to another one for a close up look at monkeys, ate a lot more, had a taichi leason at sunrise and basically just hung out.

We had a chance to go squid fishing after dark off the back of boat under the lights.  In an absolut fluke, I actually caught one.  The boatman showed me how to do it and demonstrated several times how to lower the line and then pop it to the surface to lure the squid. So I took the pole and on my second attempt, I actually had one. . .maybe 30 seconds of fishing.  No one else caught any at all!  The chef cooked it for me the next morning.

I prefer my calamari breaded or grilled but was pretty fun tasting and sharing my catch.

Now, lest I give you the impression we had this romantic getaway all to our selves. . .There were probably hundreds of tourists enjoying the overnight experience out in HaLong Bay.  This is view from the top of those 600 steps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 13 Hanoi

This time it was a coach to the airport, and then an hour and half flight to Hanoi on Vietnam Airlines and checked into yet 

another Sofitel.  This is the Hanoi Metropole which is iconic, itself. A day of touring this capitol city.  First stop was the tomb of HoChiMin.  We didnt go in to actually view the remains of the North's national hero, which has been on display since he died in (someone remind me when he died!) Will and I had done that when we were in Hanoi about 12 years ago when we took a short trip here with Doug.  Next stop was old French prison where the Vietnamese have a war memorial to thier fight for Independence from the French. Also display of torture their people suffered here during that time. Americans call this the Hanoi Hilton as this is where American POWS were held, including John McCain during the American war.

We enjoyed Hanoi a lot. Lots to fun to absorb sights and sounds of this lively capitol just walking the streets, distinctive mix of old French archetecture and new Asia. Enjoyed meeting Charlotte and Buddy on the tour and hit it off as we are both from Tucson.  We also discovered Vietnamese coffee is to die for. Espresso with condensed milk over ice. 
 

 

 

The old Opra house

Can also enjoy Vietnamese coffee hot

Serendipity

One of the serendipitous encounters this morning. . .We had one last morning in Seim Reap.  We got up for early breakfast for another scruptious buffet and then headed out for a walk to see what we could fine.  We walked to the Royal Palace Garden, which is a lovely manicured garden including a temple, small flower market at the entrance to the Kings residence.  That compound was not accessible so dont know much about it but as we were walking the grounds we noticed a grove of very tall trees, and coming from those trees sounded at first like a large flock of birds.  As we got closer, I thought I was seeing something hanging from the upper branches. . .perhaps bird nests?  Well, it was bats!!  Very large fruit bats!!  They effectionally call them flying foxes as they approximate the size of a fox, not the rodent size I am familiar with.  I zoomed with my camera and got some ok pictures but none that show how large a creature they are.  Never knew bats made such a chirping noise.  So fascinating.

We really thought we would have more opportunity to do some good birding here but so far

not much.  This bat find was a good substitute.

 

 

 

Siem Reap

Lots of tourists here.  This is where you come to see Cambodia's best known attractions so night market and shopping is big deal. Always up for looking.

Pub street is the bar and restaurant street and lives up to its name.

The local transport is "tuk-tuk". Cheap and always available and open air transport .  Plenty of cars on the road but again the locals are on motor bikes or bicycle.

Still liking this hotel the best.

Another day of temple ruins

A morning outing and an afternoon outing to see more temple ruins, all part of huge protected area.  You could spend days and days seeking out these ancient sites.  Some go back to 9th century, however the two we saw today are both from 12th century.  This was apparently a grand bed of civilization at the time to build these huge architectural wonders. Seems all had Hindu beginnings and then became Buddhist.

Don't you love it!!

See the elephant with water buffalo in its trunk.

This particular temple is where the recent movie, "Tomb Raiders" with Angela Jolie was filmed.  

Seems to be a big deal.  The jungle has taken over and grown through the walls to create these really

otherworldly sites.