Packed!

Just the last few things to put in my main suitcase, the 'fabric bag' is ready to go 😉.

We had a big storm last evening, which demonstrated the lack of functioning gutters on the neighbouring building, and flooded the street below!

         

 It poured again around 6 this morning, but then dried up, but it has been overcast all day. It was very steamy outside this morning, 92% humidity!! 

I walked up to the Joma coffee house to meet Andrew and then on a little further to do some last minute shopping. A round trip walk of 2.5 miles.  On the way  I took the opportunity to try out a new app on my phone. It is PlantSnap and using it you can identify almost any plant in the world!!

This, I discovered, is Senna

 Look at those pods!!

I have spent the afternoon turning the heel on a sock, so I can knit on the plane. I did the leg section on the way here, so might almost complete one sock by the time I get home. 

I have become quite addicted to sock knitting but this is the first time I have knitted on a circular needle. 

Nearly time to meet Orlo from the school bus then change into my travelling home clothes. The taxi to the airport is booked to come in an hour and a half

The end of a lovely trip

Last few days

Sunday May 26th

On Friday I took myself for another walk exploring a little bit and enjoying a coffee in the St Honore bakery on Xuan Dieu. Back by lunchtime when it got just too hot! Orlo had a friend to play, watch a film and pizza after school, and Andrew and I enjoyed  Friday evening drink on the balcony!! Amanda arrived back late evening after a few days away working in Mongolia.

Yesterday, again was very hot. We had a lazy slow morning then went to watch Orlo and a lot of other kids in the end of year music concert. They sang and played a large variety of instruments.  It's is good training for them to sit or stand on a stage and give their performances.  Orlo sang A Million Dreams from the Greatest Showman, he was very good, despite a sore throat!

Amanda came home from shopping with some,lotus flowers, the first of the season. They come packaged in their own leaves

            

In the evening we went into the city for a meal at The Vietnamese Kitchen, where we met up with Orlo's former nanny, Mai, her sister  and their families.  They brought me a beautiful bouquet which included a lovely spray of orchids. It's a pity I won't be able to take it home but Andrew, Amanda and Orlo will be able to enjoy them.

Two lots of flowers in one day!!.....

The meal was really good, lots of different dishes to try 

Today, we went out for a late breakfast, more eating!! Orlo has gone for his swimming lesson and on to a birthday party, so I am using a quiet afternoon to catch up with this. I will need to pack at some time as I leave tomorrow evening, due home into Manchester early on Tuesday morning.

Hot again today 

29C 91% humidity at 9.0am, now changed to 35C 56% humidity at 2.30pm. 

Active days! Yoga and Shopping.

May 23rd

Yesterday I was out early with Andrew to go to his yoga class having been invited to join them by the teacher. She teaches Iyengar Yoga  and  she and I were surprised by how much I could do, it is probably 40 years since I took a yoga class! I really enjoyed it and felt the benefit, so I am already looking for a class at home. We walked over to the class down a maze of streets and lanes, I would never be able to find it again without a guide!! Afterwards I went to Lancy Spa for a manicure then back here for lunch and Lacemaking etc.

Today has been busier.  I walked up to Xuan Dieu, via Dang Thai Mai, passing the little shops and workshops again. On the way I stopped to look at the local Chua (Temple), a haven of tranquility in the midst of these busy streets. I had never seen durian fruit growing before, the fruit grows out of the tree trunk. Durian smells disgusting but tastes nice, I'm told!

       

            

I love these streets with the juxtaposition of traditional versus modern development 

After a further walk I got some cash and walked on to a well known patisserie where I had a late breakfast of almond croissant and coffee. It began to spit with rain as I came out, which was fine for me as I got in a taxi for the 20 or so minute drive to the fabric market. I was on a mission for certain things, but of course I ended up buying more than I planned for! I stopped when I really couldn't carry any more!

     I think I got some really good prices today, I did some negotiating, and used Google Translate to find what I was looking for, eg: fine cotton for lining and plain silk for a camisole.

I then got in another taxi to go the 15  in drive in busy streets to the KOTO restaurant on Vân Dieu. This is a training establishment  KOTO  stands for Know One Teach One, and I like to support them......and the food is good.  One of the waitresses was delightful and she practised her English conversation with me. I had a green mango salsa with prawns followed by a coconut panna cotta. All very good. 

Then I made a quick visit to Craft-Link which is another not for profit shops supporting artisans around the country. Didn't spend much thogutm by then I was getting tired and hot, so I got back into another taxi for  home. The roads were busy  and we were diverted from our route via the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum much to the driver's annoyance
The temp today has been up to 32C and 60% humidity, it was a bit cooler yesterday. 

Relief at last!!

May 21st

Rain!! Wonderful rain! This morning the temp was 24C down from 34 yesterday. It rose to 28C in the afternoon, the humidity was high, but altogether it felt much more comfortable to be outside. 

Yesterday I walked out up to a shop called the Emporium, which sells clothes, quality crafts of all types and some fabric remnant ends. It was hot, but there was still lots going on on the streets. I passed little 'shack 'shops and cafes plus all sorts of other enterprises; Beautician, take away pizza place (the pizzas are excellent!), workshops, a temple etc etc,. At the top of the street is a large new mall which contains a cinema apparently, then further along another mall with Starbucks where I went for an iced americano and a cool down in the air conditioning! The shopping malls are below tower blocks of apartments.  I did a little shopping and walked home. That was enough of the heat for one day. 

I spent the afternoon tying off the joined in ends of my lace project as I know I won't want to do that when I have finished the length. I got the tape measure out too, and it measures 93", so only just under another 40"to make!!! Here it is so far:

We woke to grey skies this morning which were followed by a shortish storm and  welcome rain. Later I walked to Tô Ngoc Vân to  the Lancy Spa for a pedicure. There are spas everywhere, but I have been to this one before with Amanda and they do a good job. The prices are extremely reasonable, £5 for a full pedicure!! It would be silly not to, while I am here!! Tomorrow I am booked in for a manicure! The walk is about 3.5km return.

As you know we are beside the Tay Ho (West Lake) and there are always one or two fishermen along the side. I came across this unexpected obstacle on the pavement this morning, and it was alive! 

                                         

                      

A wet morning                      

Raindrops on the lotus leaves

This afternoon I have been working on my lace again, I really want to finish this project this year, and I have other lace projects I want to work on too.

Tomorrow I have been invited to go to the yoga class Andrew attends, it's about 40 years since I did any yoga, so I am not sure how much I will be able to do, but I will have a go!

All for now

A Hot Weekend!

May19th

The temperatures have reached 40C ( that's 104F) and have consistently been between 37 to 39 C (98.6 to 102.2)  since Friday.  The humidity has been between 51% and 79%.  The upshot of this is that we have stayed indoors as much as possible, as has everyone else!

Yesterday was the final performance of Seussical to a packed theatre full of parents, grandparents, adult friends, lots of kids etc. One of Orlo's friends had spent his own money and come on his own to support Orlo! The whole cast performed at their best and were rightly praised by the School Principal. Afterwards there was a Cast Party with lots of food provided on a Jacobs Join basis by filling out a form online, so that the sweets and savouries were balanced. More speeches and well deserved thank yous to the cast and the staff.  They have been rehearsing for 5 months, three times a week after school plus on Saturdays. A huge commitment for everyone, the children, their parents and the staff! I am so pleased I decided to come to see it!

Today, Sunday, has been another easy day. Orlo had a friend over to play, then went for his swimming lesson. Amanda and I followed on half an hour later and we all swam at the school pool. It's a long time since I was lane swimming in a 25m pool! Altogether I think I swam 12 or 14 lengths. Afterwards we went to a Japanese restaurant for a late lunch, another first experience for me. I had heard of Bento boxes but never seen one, well now I have!!

  

The restaurant was quite close to here on Tô Ngoc Vân (Tu knock van). It was a short walk along the street to deliver Orlo's friend, Sammy, home then a short taxi ride for us. Normally we could have walked home, but it really was too hot at 40C!!

I have been making my lace today, I need to make over 130 inches for a special project and think I have now done about 100!  I am hoping to make use of the time here to crack on with it.

   

Tô Ngoc Vân Street scene on a very quiet afternoon, usually this is buzzing with scooters, motorcycles, taxis, and cars!  There is construction going on everywhere!

We are expecting this weather to break with a bang....possibly tomorrow.  Wellington boots might be most useful footwear but I haven't brought any!  No firm plans for the day yet.

Hanoi walkabouts

Friday May17th

Yesterday Andrew and I joined a local volunteer heritage organisation for a walk around part of the original French quarter of the city. We began at the Opera House with  potted history of Vietnam and the history of Hanoi then walked a rectangle of streets where our guide, Stella, pointed out buildings of interest.  We also took off down side alleys to hidden areas beyond. One was into an old village area with pagoda, temple and a room where they honour the dead with plaques on the walls.

            

Another fascinating detour took us into a large courtyard, full of motorcycles and surrounded by "condominiums". These are built stacked haphazardly on top of one another.  Viewed from the street they have 'balconies' and are over very stylish shops. The view from the courtyard was another matter!

                 

Many of the original French buildings are still there and amazingly a lot of them still have the same function. They created wide streets in contrast to the Old Quarter to the north Of Hoàn Kiem Lake.

            

Today I took a taxi to one of my favourite haunts Cho Hom, which has an amazing fabric market. Hundreds of stalls with fabric piled high and just very narrow alleys to get between them. Most are run by women who seem to happily chat together despite being in direct competition with each other. I bought several lengths of cotton, linen and one piece of silk which I couldn't resist. 8.5 m in total for £27.00.....and that includes the silk and the linen!  I will go back next week!!! I walked back north to Hoàn Kiem lake and indulged in some refreshment. I think by this time the temp was 34c with humidity at 79%.  I had a quick look at the old hat shop then got a taxi home. Off to see our Grandson in his school musical again this evening, it was the first night yesterday and they were really fantastic !  It is Dr Seuss's Seussical and Orlo has the part of the Mayor of Who.

Temp now 37 but the humidity has dropped to 51%.

Acclimatisation

Wednesday May 15th

I landed in Hanoi at 9.45 on Tuesday 14th May after two good flights, via Hong Kong. The immigration and baggage collection was amazingly quick and I was through and meeting Andrew at 10.15!! It felt like going into a sauna when I walked out of the airport. Andrew and Amanda and Orlo have moved since we were last here and now live in an apartment close to where they lived when they originally came to live here. They have got a lovely view over one of the lotus ponds at the side of West Lake, in the Tay Ho District .

If you look back to one of the first posts I did when I came 6 years ago you will see how much development there has been. At that time the six cream coloured red roofed apartment blocks dominated the view across the lake, now they are overshadowed by high rises, this is indicative of the changes in the whole of the city.

I spent the morning exploring old haunts and had a coffee with Andrew and his yoga instructor and friends, I have been invited to join the class next week!

We then retreated to the air conditioned apartment and I made lace this afternoon. I have a project which I want to finish! 

Early this morning the temp was 29C with 89% humidity changing to 33C, feels like 42, with 61% humidity. A storm yesterday evening has cleared the air so we had a mostly sunny day. 

Off on a Heritage walk in the morning and the first performance of the school musical, Seussical, is tomorrow evening.

Here I go again!

Final packing to do before I set off to Hanoi tomorrow. This is a Granny-visiting-family trip, but friends have asked if I will blog again......think they just want to keep tabs on me! I am looking forward to seeing the family but not the hot humid weather in Hanoi. Also looking forward to exploring the fantastic fabric market at Cho Houm again.