Saal Mubarakh from Ha Noi

Hanoi, Vietnam

Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarakh (Happy New Year) to everyone!

Just got into Hanoi this morning after a 12 hour overnight train ride from Hue. I think sleeping in buses/trains/minivans truly is an art form. People use the trays, arm rests, curtains anything around them to get comfortable. I some how managed to get myself in the fetal position in the space of 2 seats (i decided to go cheap and get a seater instead of a sleeper). Not the most comfortable but got in a few hours of sleep thanks to my continental airlines eye cover and headphones. I got in around 5am and headed straight for the old quarters to find a place to stay. Finally found myself a guesthouse with a room available although i had to wait around for 2 hours until it opened. Of course i occupied my time with having a great bowl of pho for breakfast

The streets are already bussling with people, some out for their morning excerises - we rode pass Lenin Park on the train and you could see hundreds of people practicing tai chi and walking around - others getting ready to setup their food stands, somethng different every 10 meters, fresh donughts, baguettes, pho, com (rice), veggies, fruit you name it. Looking forward to exploring the city

Okay my $5 room has been cleaned so i'm going to shower and take a nap...lots to see in the next couple of days, including hopefully a trip up to the beautiful Halong Bay. Penne i think has just arrived in hoi an to do her own damage with the tailor shops and will hopefully make it to Hanoi before i leave on saturday for India.

Speaking of India i'm sure many of you have heard about the 3 bomb blasts in Delhi. Like the 2nd strike in Bali it wasn't something anyone was expecting. I haven't heard anything yet about who might be responsible but it makes me so angry that at a time like this with India and Pakistan trying to work together on aid relief for the earthquake victims and with the opening of roads through the disputed kashmir-jammu area that there are people out there who want nothing to do with peace and will kill innocent civilians to destroy it. Even if those responsble have nothing to do with the pakistan/india conflict people can not help but speculate and assume that it does.