Finally ... a good day in Vietnam

I haven't written in a while cause, frankly, I haven't had anything good to say. I didn't want to use the word "hate" to describe Hanoi, but it was pretty damn close. There was just a constant cacaphony of sounds of motorscooters and horns and people pressuring you to buy anything and everything, or take a ride of a motorscooter or a cyclo (bicycle taxi). It was just too "in-your-face" all the time. I had a headache for a week, from all the pollution and noise, and I couldn't wait to leave.

When we got to Hue, I thought it would be better and quieter, but um ... a little, but not truly peaceful.

But today, finally, I had a good day. We went on a motor-scooter trip (don't worry mom, they were experienced drivers and provided helmets; we all booked together through the company we are traveling with). Anyway, we went around the countryside and got pretty well off the busy track, only saw a handful of tourists (at the unfortunately obligatory insense-making place and other touristy bits). But we also saw a really pretty pagoda and emporers tomb and had vegetarian lunch at a monastery. It was yummy and garlic free :) We also took a dragon boat trip down the Perfume River.

The best part though was just being away from the rest of the traffic and the beep beeps, and cruising through the back streets on the back of a bike. It wasn't as exciting as my Cyprus bikeride and not as harrowing as my wee quick accident in Laos, but it was just nice, feeling the breeze in my face, and the raindrops, but that wasn't a deterrent. It was a good day.

If anyone has tried to call/text, will you email me and let me know, my phone does not seem to be receiving. Or my mom can't figure it out, one or the other :) And thank you Rocky, Cathy, Marilyn, Harch and Ken for the insta-hugs after my last posting.

Next stop, Hoi An, another world heritage site, and hopefully a little bit quieter than my other cities. Photos will be up as soon as I can.