Hanoi Vietnam-Holy Hotness Hanoi

Yesterday, after arriving at the hostel around 10:00 am, I was able to use the bathrooms to take a shower and shave, and change, since I haven't done so since in about 24 hours.

After that, i went outside to walk around. Vietnam seems to be the polar opposite of Japan. Everyone follows the rules in Japan. People wait at crosswalks for the light and never walk into traffic.. Starbucks, Mcdonalds, and other chains are everywhere. Here in Vietnam, there is disorder everywhere. Motorbikes come from everwhere, and there are no crosswalks. The buildings seem old and crumbling, similar to what i remember in Havana. Little shops are at the bottom, selling everything from clothes to computer accessories. It was a somewhat interesting walk, but I had to idea where I was, (or where I was going), I was groggy from on-and-off sleeping on flights and airports all night, and it was hot, really really hot. I read somewhere it was 99 F with 90% humidity. I was becoming a sloppy mess. So after about an hour or so I decided to go back to the air conditioned hostel, and work on the computer, and rest a while until check-in.

At 2:00, I was able to check in to a bed on the top bunk, I rested for a while. and then tried going out again. (I still wanted to see the city). I was able to go for pho, which I believe is a thick soup, which was delicious with chicken and meat. i had it at a real casual eatery, with a lady and a big pot and foot stools on the street. i walked along, and found a place for a beer-again just foot stools be the side of the road, underneath a railroad trestle near the hostel. I relaxed. i watched the traffic, and the skies turn grey as it rained a little. I kept watching the endless motorbikes.

At around 5:30, I headed back to the hostel. The hostel serves free beer at 10 minutes past each hour starting at 6:00 am. I had a beer, and talked and waited for the next beer at 7:00 pm. After that, I went out for dinner. It cooled down to a point to comfortably walk around. I found a place that served some other spicy soup, which was good. I got into a fight with the server because it was more expensive then I thought, (still only about $2.00-$3.00 for the meal). I then walked into a downtown area, where there we're plenty of lights and stores, many selling clothing and souvenirs.

i walked around some more, found my way back to the hostel. It was World Cup night and everyone was watching Morocco vs Portugal, or someone. After a while, I went up to a movie room near the roof, and watched the end of some Leonardo Dicaprio/Kate Winslett film that wasn't Titanic and supposed to take place in the 1950's. Then I went to bed.