We have spent a full day (plus a little) traveling to Vietnam, and most of that was quite good thanks to Korean Air. Now we've spent a full day in Hanoi. It has been a very rich day - fast and slow at the same time. Tons to see and do and absorb. The hotel has been great - especially breakfast and proper A/C! Even on a cloudy, post storm day with a high of 90, it was hot and sweaty. We tried to visit the Thien Thai Hotel, where we stayed with Tam back in 2008. They were closed for renovations. Kinda bummed - missed out on a great view from the upper floors, won't get the recipe for "green smack" - a mysterious drink of choice for the ladies - and especially won't get to show Tam the seemingly infinite number of stairs we climbed up to 4 times a day just to get to wifi back in the day... It might well have blown a gasket or two for Tam if some of the same staff was still there and got to oooh and ahhh over him. Got a bunch of shopping in too, as well as general exploring - Hoan Kiem Lake's temple, a good bit of the old quarter, the cathedral near our hotel. Have to say that Kangaroo Cafe was not all that memory said it would be, though...
The effects on Tam are just beginning... So very glad he came with us. He spent a good bit of the day concerned or complaining about needing a break or to be carried - mostly due to not breathing well. Barry felt a similar "tightness" because of the high humidity and occasional smoke and exhaust. So, on breaks, Tam spent more time in a squat than he has in the past month - clearly identifying with the Vietnamese folks doing the same. And there were times, early on, where he talked of being overwhelmed, with there being too much to see and take in. His wheels are clearly spinning - perhaps wondering what else ties him here...
Medko is still in recovery from sleep deprivation from the flight. Tough little dude - but wow, some little things - like fingers in the hair and mouth while eating, were popping up like crazy. Great on walking and handling the shopping though. Not so much on the using his words - certainly not compensating for the din of honking horns, motor bikes whizzing, and general bedlam that is the street. Very happy with his hotel bed though :)
Everybody's appetite was a bit suppressed by the heat too - much more interested in the juices than the chewable food. And pho - Tam had it at all three meals :)
And through all this, there is the growing anticipation of another shift - to China - and the addition of a little lady to shake things up even more. It has been great to have this time - both to share heritage and history and food, and also to help the boys recover physically with 3 hour naps today - before an even larger city experience in Guangzhou.
Hoping for some pictures next time.....
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