Settling in

This was a first for me – I had to change my plans a few weekends ago because of a typhoon. Well, I used to change my plans in Manchester because the weather of course. I’d bring in the washing because of a bit of drizzle for instance, but this was on a totally different scale. Apparently, Typhoon Nesat was rolling in from the Hong Kong direction and so a group of us cancelled our day trip to the Perfume Pagoda.

We went the following weekend instead and a jolly good trip it was too … a two hour drive, a boat up the river and then a cable car (which wouldn't look out of place in the Alps) to the top of the hill.

The pagoda turned out to be inside a cave so we walked down a series of steps. Inside there were some pretty impressive stalactites and stalagmites which worshippers believe will bring them good luck. There were also a range of shrines with a variety of offerings on them.

I made a friend (who just happened to be standing around in traditional dress) ...

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As it turned out, the typhoon headed south, missing Hanoi. To be on the safe side though, the staff were given the contingency plan to deal with the (fairly likely) scenario in which the street outside the school is flooded and nobody can get there. Basically, I'd get a call saying stay at home. I'd already know of course as it's fairly obvious when there's a typhoon - cats, bicycles and assorted other items are flying past your window.

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I feel I misled you about the food here. The photos I took in the local market are not what I’m living on. This is more typical…

… and very nice it is too.

Being a veteran of many trips to Chinese restaurants, I already had some idea of how to use chopsticks but I'm getting a fair bit more practice now. Noodles are easy enough but it doesn't pay to chase that last, elusive grain of rice around the bowl. either give up or do as the locals do - lift the bowl to your mouth and scoop.

Hanoi is a very cosmopolitan place though - it's full of expats and tourists, so it's easy enough to get any sort of food if you want it. There's even a chippy.

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The roads continue to amaze me. Anything that can fit on a bike is transported by them. This includes children, who often stand. It’s common to see three or four people on a bike and I’ve even seen five. There is a helmet law in place now but they don’t appear to make them for children.

Spot the direction of traffic ...






Bike photo of the month.

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I've settled into a flat near the centre of town. It's in some narrow backstreets in a Vietnamese area (some areas are largely expats) and I feel like I'm getting to know some of the locals - the grapefruit lady (who would sell me one every time I walked past if I let her) , the small grocers shop etc ...

I walk down these streets ...


Once home though I'm in a comfortable modern flat so it's the best of both worlds really. I share the place with a small gecko, but that's better than the cockroach which used to live here and thought it owned the place.

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This is where I work. A rather nice place, not least because it's air-conditioned. There are twelve classrooms but most of them are on the ground floor so we plan here and then catch the lift down to the lessons. It's unwise to forget something!















The view from the offices (on the 12th floor) is pretty good - over Hanoi & West Lake.

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It's time I started visiting some of the sights around town so I'll write about them in my next blog.

Take care.