Goddess On A Highway: Back to Hanoi (Day 5)

I traveled back to Hanoi, despite being a bit hungry, with a happy heart. My trip to Central Vietnam was a success. I didn't get lost, my expenses were under control, I was able to follow my itinerary, and enjoyed myself tremendously. I couldn't believe just a few weeks ago I was browsing photos online and now I've seen them all. Ahhh,so happy! After the calm and serenity of Hue and Hoi An though, I was a bit wary going back to Hanoi haha. But I was feeling a bit confident this time compared to my first day there and I said I'm gonna enjoy the rest of my trip as much as I can.

Anyway, back to the train ride. The following were my real time notes from my journal. Forgive me if it becomes incoherent at times, I was getting a bit woozy.

I thought I had the berth to myself and I was happy because there's an outlet so I could charge my phone and my laptop too. At least something to occupy my mind so I didn't have to think about food. haha. Anyway, I plan to just sleep it off. After a few hours, two women with two kids came on the berth. The kids were raucous but they're cute. They went off after a few hours. I was dozing on and off myself so I had no idea how long they were actually there. After awhile, a train officer knocked and asked me something, I blurted out my standard reply: "No Vietnamese". Apparently when their shift ends, they look for an available berth and sleep. Now I think I've read about this somewhere and that we were not to let them in but I wasn't in the mood to argue. The poor guy's sleepy, let him sleep. Looking back, it was not totally safe I guess but at the time trusted my instinct, good thing my instincts didn't fail me.:) It was a bit awkward of course since we were the only ones there but he just said "sleep" and went to bed. I woke up and the sun has already risen. The morning sunlight was dancing on the guy's face from the window. He was still sleeping. I thought he was cute. Too bad he doesn't speak English. After what seemed like an eternity to me, we are still in the countryside.I couldn't read the signs outside. I try to read the signs when the train stops but I don't see the one word I was looking for, "Hanoi". When the guy, woke up. I asked him if we're already in Hanoi. And he shook his head no. I must have asked him a couple of times more, and another passenger. I had no f' idea where we were. I wish I had a map. It was only later that I realized Hoi An was actually farther away from Hanoi. I thought I was traveling closer coming from Hue, not far from it. So anyway, he went out for his shift maybe and didn't come back til about 5 hours later. I was touched cos he remembered to come back to let me know we're in Hanoi. He went inside for a moment, sat down on the table across me. For a moment, I thought he was gonna say something. I was reminded of that Japanese movie about a Korean guy and a Japanese girl. It was awkward so I stared out the window. After an uncomfortable silence, perhaps realizing that we wouldn't understand each other anyway, he went out. Ah it was bittersweet. I just realized the sheer impossibility of holding a conversation when one doesn't speak the other's language. Really, what a shame.

April 18 Day 5

At the station, I called a motorbike driver and negotiated the fare going to my hotel. He didn't really have a choice since I only have 50.000 left. I checked in at 2pm, had a quick shower, and went out in search of food. I was famished!

Ordering food always involve a lot of pointing and motioning with my hands. Paying the bill includes
whipping out their calculator or mobile phone and punching in the VND digits lol

Chin Tai Chi

I left Da Nang at 4pm and arrived back in Hanoi at 11am the next day. I wish I flew in instead since I felt like I lost a day in my itinerary. I couldn't do any of the day tours, not that I have any energy left after that draining 17 hour train ride. I decided to just walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and attend the water puppet show. The show was great, really cute. I had a crappy seat though, all the way up in Row P. Couldn't complain really since I bought my ticket 15 minutes before the 5pm show. Afterwards, I headed back to the hotel since I have to wake up really early for my Halong Bay day tour.

Thang Long Water Puppet Theater

Address: 57B Dinh Tien Hoang St. Hanoi, Vietnam
Ticket Price: 100.000 VND

Dinner!

I honestly have no idea what I was drinking. I just pointed to whatever it was the vendor was drinking. Anyway, I've been curious about it since I see people having it everywhere.