Bargaining

Hanoi, Vietnam, Street Life
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First of all, I don't know if everyone noticed, but my brother (Justin) was able to put up my bungy jump on youtube after hours of hard work. He listed the link on the previous blog page under comments. Check it out, it's pretty cool. Although it looks intense I am convinced it takes more courage to cross the street in Hanoi than to jump off the bridge.

Ok now for the real entry. My time in Vietnam has been fairly jam packed. I started with a three day tour to Ha Long Bay and on the third day upon my return I hung out in Hanoi for a few short hours before taking the night train to Sapa.

and more street life
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The train was ok. I was in a cabin with four bunks and it I would classify the comfort as very satisfactory. We got into Sapa about 5:00 in the morning and were taken to our hotel. Many tour guides and village women were congregating around the front making conversation with all the travellers and sharing a lot of jokes. They were also beginning to stake us our for future sales of handicrafts when we got to their villages. Communicating by computer can sometimes be tricky so I just want to set the record straight about the women. They were really sweet and endearing and although there was a economic motive in our interactions the feeling I left with was of people of different cultures enjoying each other's company, and if we bought something along the way well even better.

junks for the tourists
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Our hike took us through rice terraces. It looked pretty interesting. I'm told that when the rice is ready to be harvested it is amazing, but I my timing wasn't right to see for myself. After hiking for a couple hours our group got to the home we were staying in for the night. We were doing a homestay. For those of you in Sheboygan, both the Red and Black Hmong live in the region we were staying in. I had anticipated a smaller setting. One traveller per family, but it was all ten of us with one family. They were very welcoming, but with so many travellers it was really difficult to get a personal experience.

Ha Long Bay by day
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I ended up buying two pillow cases from a woman and I think made her day. I found out from my travelling buddy Cyril that he had paid half of what I paid for the same product. Bargaining is not my strong point. But I didn't let that news bother me. I was happy with the price when I bought them so it was just a learning experience. The most fun part of the day was when three little girls came and tried to sell us bracelets. We had a good time joking with them and in the end attempted to sell some of the bracelets that we had already bought back to them. They weren't buying, but there were a lot of laughs on both sides so we were all winners in the negotiations in the end.

and by night
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The next day we went to a waterfall and saw a little more of the village life. Lots of waterbuffalo, pigs, and chickens running around. A few women either making textiles or working the hemp to make it softer, and some boys hauling firewood.

That night we were back at our hotel and my room was wonderful. It is amazing what $8 will buy in certain areas of Vietnam. In Europe I don't think I could have slept on a park bench for $8.

While wondering on the street I bumped into my guide was was hilarious. She and her friend took me to a bar and played pool. I lost two of three games.

junk on the bay, I slept on one like this
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The last day I had to deal the a missing train ticket. My travel agent in Hanoi is sure she gave me a return ticket. I am not sure. I have no idea where I could have lost it, but she's pretty good so I don't want to throw any blame around, it was resolved by me just buying a new one. I went for the bargain, the six sleeper. A six sleeper is a lot like a four sleeper, except that there is less space between the beds. I was on the top bunk and I felt like I was in the Seinfeld episode where Kramer puts his Japanese visitors in the chest of drawers. In addition our six sleeper was a seven sleeper. A little boy I'd guess around one was sharing a bed with his mom and he was a little fussy. I have never been so happy to have my ipod (thanks again Rebecca).

another Ha Long Bay sunset
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It's fifteen minutes until I get my sleeping bus to Hue so again I don't have time for pictures, but I will try to get some up when I can.