Hanoi

1st March 2010




Hanoi, capital city of Vietnam
Over 7 million people... Over 4 million (!!!) motorcycles... Xe Om, they call them!
The traffic is crazy, drivers cannot take their hands of their horn and will never, i said NEVER, stop for anyone nor look to the side. The rule is: if you horn, you have the right of way! One needs to have three hands to drive in Hanoi: one for the wheel; one for the gear box; and other for the fk**n horn. It's freakn mental out there!







After a 40minutes ride from the airport on a mini-bus jammed with smelly Viet people got to the centre where I had to bargain for a Xe Om! There goes the bag...


Here goes miguelito!!!!








Statue of Ly Thai To, the founder of Hanoi as the capital.
Abdul asked me this, but I could not answer until I asked a guide.
'Do you know who's this guy?' Abdul asked. 'Hmmm, got no clue, let me check my book.. Nothing... Crap book.' So I asked this guide...





I hook up with Abdul an english student and we went to check on the Vietnamese History Museum, did some cultural stuff and had a proper european meal! Sorry, no asian this time, we were starving!

Found this 3rd century bronze pot...
But was is that?? Kinky vietnamese!!












Heads off! By: La guillotine française...






ma mate Abdul










Vietnameses Girls...









The Old Quarter.
Not so tidy as the French Quarter, but a bit more charming, as you can buy pretty much anything on the streets. It's an organized caos!
Shirt with vietnamese star 100% cotton: 2 euros! Sleeveless shirt 100%cotton: 2,5euros! Second hand old school RayBan glasses: 12euros!
Wandering the streets with Abdul or on my own at night (don't worry, it's quite safe), one gets constantly arrassed by motorcycle drivers: 'Hey maaaaaan!! (as leraned in the movies, or if we were americans) Moto? moto?' '-Nope, thanks' '-Marijuanaaaa..?' '-Nope.' '-Fun? Do you wanna have some fun? Girl? what do you want..?' 'I want you out of here... duuude!'







































At the local market...























Home sweet home. Guesthouse in Hanoi












Hoam Kiem lake
This small lake between the Old Quarter and the French Quarter is central to Hanoian folklore. A ghostly shrine (the Turtle Pagoda) standing on an islet at its center pays homage to a golden turtle. These days, the sculptured park along the banks plays host to postcard sellers, hawkers, old men playing chess, freelance money changers, lone photographers looking for a lucrative snap and, at about 5am every day, locals practicing tai chi.


















Street food!
People seat by the streets on these knee hurting short chairs and tables and just feast of local cookings to the romantic sound of more and more motorcycle engines and horns!
But the soup... oh the soup... is delicious!!! And nutritive... And miguelito is crazy about soup! Vietnamese food is aproved! Very very good!
































The French Quarter
Old colonial buildings left buy the french opressors!



















Ho Chi Min Mausuleum
Paying homage to Ho Chi Min, former president of Vietnam: the man who founded the Vietnamese Comunist Party and unified Vietnam against the French, Japanese and later, the American opression. Vietnam proclaimed independence on 2th September 1945.
Despite the suffering Vietnamese went through, these days vietnamese always keep a smile on their faces... Bless them!






He volunteered to explained me a bit more about Ho Chi Min... Thanks for show me the light!















Wreckage site within the city! An american bomber B-52, hit down during the american war.




















Shhhhh... Women at pray! No men allowed...












More Xe Om!
They transport pretty much anything...
































Oooooh... LO-VE-LY!!!






Hotties on wheels!!! They are everywhere!







Vendors and local people

























Don't know why this guy is here... But believe me, I found the Vietnamese a beautiful people!
Simple and clean beauty... And everyone is pretty fit!













It is late and didn't check for errors.
This blog is consuming me...
Bed time now!
Até amanhã!!