A River Running Through Me in Vietnam

After a long trainride back to Bangkok, I flew from Thailand to Vietnam where I met up with a fellow tsunami volunteer. Although the NGO I worked for in Thailand turned out to be less than stellar, it did connect me with some fabulous people from the US and UK. Andrea made a splendid travel companion with her uncanny ability to make even mundane events interesting and quite humorous. (Luckily, after finishing at Columbia in NYC, she returned to her hometown of Boston and we get together every so often to reminisce . . . good times.)

Highlights from Vietnam include wandering the streets of Hanoi, dealing with pushy shopkeepers and sometimes violent city residents (I actually watched a man get beaten by a pipe after an argument--I ran into a side shop for shelter. I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time), being entertained by a water puppet show, exploring the city's past by visiting museums and historical sites, eating delicious Vietnam fresh rolls (I've had a serious addiction ever since and visit the Vietnam restaurant in my neighborhood at least once a month . . . I do have to say it was much cheaper in Hanoi and tasted better), and joining a 3 day group tour of Halong Bay.



Joined by throngs of other tourists clamoring onto boats to sail around the bay, visit floating villages, hike an island, and swim in the bay, I hardly expected to enjoy myself as much as I did. Although far from being off the beaten path, our tour group of 12 or so ended up being splendid company. Waking up on the deck of a boat surrounded by floating houses was almost magical. The humidity though--in the heat of summer with temperatures at 100 degrees F, and nearly 99% humidity, my body sweat like it never had before. I drank water and immediately a "river ran through me." In the photo, it may look like I just forged a river, but my wet clothes are simply drenched in sweat. Who knew it was possible to sweat that much? I could hardly keep my eyes open to enjoy the views at the top of the hike. Any water I poured in, came pouring right out. So there you have it--the sweatiest day of my life.

I began the trip to Halong Bay with a wallet--but returned without one. Some lucky person made off with all my forms of monetary exchange. At the mercy of Andrea's and a few other tourist's generosity, I pulled together enough cash to get to the airport, pay the departure tax, and return back to US soil. Otherwise, I could very well still be wandering around Hanoi avoiding street fights and begging for water.