VIETNAM

After our plane stopped to pick up a few extra passengers in southern China, I made it to Hanoi around 11:00pm last night. Who knew that you could hitch a plane? My taxi driver took me through very worn streets laced with colors and topless males in hammocks and on stools. Originally afraid of mosquitos, I realized that the real buggy terror was to be found in the motorbikes that crawl the streets. Bodega hotel was a nice surprise; it was very clean and the staff were enormously friendly (besides the check in clerk that 'borrowed' money from my account and then lost it gambling - all of which is settled and humorous now.) I walked around bustling Old Hanoi today, surprised by the little shops on almost every street corner.

Now, I am waiting for my ride to take me to the train station. I am overnighting to Sapa, where I am supposed to stay for two days. Then, I will head on to Halong Bay for a few days. Worried about time, I bought a flight to Ho Chi Minh for 72$. This should cut out around two days of travel time. I'm starting to wonder if my 'ride' is going to show up or not...

I guess you'll know, if I post again soon.

So far, my impressions of Vietnam are jumbled and quick and bright and amazing and tasty. Pho my goodness is the food good! Zing.

I love and am thinking of you all. <3