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Published On: Oct 30, 2006 02:28 PM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Oct 30, 2006 02:28 PM
Tue - June 6, 2006
Beginning Again
Hanoi has so many old trees. In fact, at
this time of year, the maintenance crews have to work overtime to try and keep
the trees well trimmed so that they don't drop branches on the
road.
A few weeks ago, we were walking along our street, and this big strong tree (like the one below) was lying on the ground right across the street. As far as we can tell, it blew down in some really bad storms we had that weekend.
Anyway, this past Sunday we were walking home and noticed that the old tree has since been replaced. It's got a lot of growing to do.
A few weeks ago, we were walking along our street, and this big strong tree (like the one below) was lying on the ground right across the street. As far as we can tell, it blew down in some really bad storms we had that weekend.
Anyway, this past Sunday we were walking home and noticed that the old tree has since been replaced. It's got a lot of growing to do.
Posted at 02:20 PM
Tue - May 2, 2006
Typical Boys
Every day on the streets of Hanoi you see
"types" of people: housewives, students, business men and women,
etc.
But one type that stands out for sheer stupidity are the young men. Usually 2 or 3 boys on a Honda Wave scooter. Normally late teen-age. Hair spiked or dyed. And an attitude of total invincibility. Sound familiar? Yup, young men everywhere! The usual story: just get their licence and drive as if they are kings of the road. In the Hanoi guys' case, they ride fast and they zig-zag quickly between the traffic. Not because they have to but because flipping the motorbike from side to side is considered *cool*. On more than one occasion we've seen them whizz past and clip other people's bikes, whilst cutting away and leaving someone and their bike collapsed in the middle of the road. We've also seen - far too often - young guys surrounded by pools of blood.
There is an attitude in Hanoi (I'd guess most of Vietnam) that having a boy is far preferable to having a girl. Considering that men stay in the family home when they marry, and usually take over the family business, it makes sense. Girls become women who are part of someone else's family (their husband's), and contribute to someone else's business. Boys in families have the first right to everything: education, money, etc. Many boys avoid any worries about household chores. Is it any wonder that they often become spoilt and arrogant? And then apply that attitude to their driving on the streets of Hanoi?
But one type that stands out for sheer stupidity are the young men. Usually 2 or 3 boys on a Honda Wave scooter. Normally late teen-age. Hair spiked or dyed. And an attitude of total invincibility. Sound familiar? Yup, young men everywhere! The usual story: just get their licence and drive as if they are kings of the road. In the Hanoi guys' case, they ride fast and they zig-zag quickly between the traffic. Not because they have to but because flipping the motorbike from side to side is considered *cool*. On more than one occasion we've seen them whizz past and clip other people's bikes, whilst cutting away and leaving someone and their bike collapsed in the middle of the road. We've also seen - far too often - young guys surrounded by pools of blood.
There is an attitude in Hanoi (I'd guess most of Vietnam) that having a boy is far preferable to having a girl. Considering that men stay in the family home when they marry, and usually take over the family business, it makes sense. Girls become women who are part of someone else's family (their husband's), and contribute to someone else's business. Boys in families have the first right to everything: education, money, etc. Many boys avoid any worries about household chores. Is it any wonder that they often become spoilt and arrogant? And then apply that attitude to their driving on the streets of Hanoi?
Posted at 01:39 PM
Thu - April 27, 2006
Tue - April 11, 2006
Signs of Summer in Hanoi
It's warming up here - thank
goodness!
We're starting to see all the signs of summer on the way. Ah, these things I've missed since last year:
* Sun-hat shopping frenzy (as opposed to warm-hat shopping frenzy of winter)
* Women with shirts and long gloves over their clothes to stop their skin getting dark
* Women strolling with umbrellas for the same reason
* Men rolling their shirts up under their chest to keep cool
* Ice-cream madness, particularly at night on Trang Tien Street. The ice-cream shop there is a Hanoi institution.
* Swimsuit displays replacing raincoats out the front of stores
* Lunch in the Au Lac courtyard
* People maneuvering to get under shade while riding along and particularly at traffic lights.
* Sugarcane juice (mia da) pressed freshly from the cane (see pic below) while-u-wait
Can you think of anything else that epitomises summer in Hanoi/Vietnam?
We're starting to see all the signs of summer on the way. Ah, these things I've missed since last year:
* Sun-hat shopping frenzy (as opposed to warm-hat shopping frenzy of winter)
* Women with shirts and long gloves over their clothes to stop their skin getting dark
* Women strolling with umbrellas for the same reason
* Men rolling their shirts up under their chest to keep cool
* Ice-cream madness, particularly at night on Trang Tien Street. The ice-cream shop there is a Hanoi institution.
* Swimsuit displays replacing raincoats out the front of stores
* Lunch in the Au Lac courtyard
* People maneuvering to get under shade while riding along and particularly at traffic lights.
* Sugarcane juice (mia da) pressed freshly from the cane (see pic below) while-u-wait
Can you think of anything else that epitomises summer in Hanoi/Vietnam?
Posted at 10:44 AM
Leaves
I'm not sure why this happens, but in late
spring, we get a touch of autumn in Hanoi. Falling
leaves.
Posted at 10:24 AM
Fresh Continued
I recently wrote about the range of fresh fruit and
flowers available on the side of the roads here. The great thing is that the
range changes throughout the year, reflecting the changing
seasons.
At the moment, the flower that is everywhere is the one below (on the right hand side of the picture). I think it's a type of lily. It doesn't look like much being sold as it is (unopened), but within a day or so, the flower opens and looks stunning: big and bold. In the newly arrived hot weather, the perfume is so delicious, heady and exotic. A perfect introduction to summer.
At the moment, the flower that is everywhere is the one below (on the right hand side of the picture). I think it's a type of lily. It doesn't look like much being sold as it is (unopened), but within a day or so, the flower opens and looks stunning: big and bold. In the newly arrived hot weather, the perfume is so delicious, heady and exotic. A perfect introduction to summer.
Posted at 08:53 AM
Tue - April 4, 2006
Old and New
Virtual Doug has done some really interesting
posts lately about Vietnam in Transition. The Old & New meet in unexpected
ways in Vietnam.
I just thought I'd add my 2 cents with a couple of pics.
First is the electric banner sign in the Old Quarter in Hanoi... bit of hi-tech advertising.
Second is the classic yoke so typically Vietnamese... used here for carrying away scrap metal.
I just thought I'd add my 2 cents with a couple of pics.
First is the electric banner sign in the Old Quarter in Hanoi... bit of hi-tech advertising.
Second is the classic yoke so typically Vietnamese... used here for carrying away scrap metal.
Posted at 11:08 AM
Tue - March 28, 2006
Fresh
One of my favourite sights around town are
the people on the side of the road selling fresh fruit and flowers. The great
thing is that they reflect the changing seasons. Different flowers and fruit,
changing throughout the year.
In this photo, a huge basket of fresh strawberries. Next to that is a bike with jackfruit. The sellers cut up the huge fruit and sell bags of the pieces of fruit, ready to eat. Hanoi provides nothing if not convenience.
Pineapples are skinned by the seller while-u-wait. These tiny apples are kind of sour, but, as with the pineapple, are often dipped in a savory chili-salt mixture.
Riding along seeing enormous bunches of flowers is *so* nice. I love it. Certain streets - including the main street away from our house - have a lot of sellers grouped together, and it just looks so fantastic. An explosion of colour.
So you can just pull up, not even get off your bike, get some flowers and fruit, and be on your way in seconds.
In this photo, a huge basket of fresh strawberries. Next to that is a bike with jackfruit. The sellers cut up the huge fruit and sell bags of the pieces of fruit, ready to eat. Hanoi provides nothing if not convenience.
Pineapples are skinned by the seller while-u-wait. These tiny apples are kind of sour, but, as with the pineapple, are often dipped in a savory chili-salt mixture.
Riding along seeing enormous bunches of flowers is *so* nice. I love it. Certain streets - including the main street away from our house - have a lot of sellers grouped together, and it just looks so fantastic. An explosion of colour.
So you can just pull up, not even get off your bike, get some flowers and fruit, and be on your way in seconds.
Posted at 09:45 AM
Accidental Adventure
2 weekends ago we were trying to fit in a
load of chores in the break between my classes on a Saturday. In a fit of
efficiency, we decided to try and take a short cut. Going along our new short
cut, we came to an intersection. And we.... well, we took the road less
travelled the wrong turning. Onto the huge bridge heading out of town.
D'oh.
The whole time we've lived here, we've been either busy and working, or else on vacation elsewhere. We really haven't done any exploring around Hanoi. Tragic, I know.
Anyway, it was kind of cool just to see the change right over the bridge. Less than a kilometre from our house, things are quite different from inner-city Hanoi.
The river is huge, as you can see below. And yes, it really was that grey and overcast, as it has been for WEEKS.
Looking back at Hanoi. Looks a *bit* ramshackle, I know. See how few really tall buildings there are? The whole city is 3-5 stories because of the normal house height (narrow and tall), but the number of buildings higher than that is very small. However, with the building work going on around the city, this situation won't last.
The whole time we've lived here, we've been either busy and working, or else on vacation elsewhere. We really haven't done any exploring around Hanoi. Tragic, I know.
Anyway, it was kind of cool just to see the change right over the bridge. Less than a kilometre from our house, things are quite different from inner-city Hanoi.
The river is huge, as you can see below. And yes, it really was that grey and overcast, as it has been for WEEKS.
Looking back at Hanoi. Looks a *bit* ramshackle, I know. See how few really tall buildings there are? The whole city is 3-5 stories because of the normal house height (narrow and tall), but the number of buildings higher than that is very small. However, with the building work going on around the city, this situation won't last.
Posted at 09:22 AM
Haaaang On...
We get used to loads of stuff being piled
onto motorbikes, but something that simultaneously cracks me up and concerns me
is when the overload is actually a person. This is on the main dyke road in
Hanoi, which is busy AND quite
fast.
P.S. 2 days after this pic was taken we saw a horrific accident on this same road. Looked like several motorbikes crashed into each other.
P.S. 2 days after this pic was taken we saw a horrific accident on this same road. Looked like several motorbikes crashed into each other.
Posted at 09:01 AM
Thu - March 9, 2006
It's p**sing down
Wednesday morning timetable, Hanoi
style:
8.30am Both leave house
8.45am Emma leaves Russell at work
8.45-9am - Emma rides home. On the way rides past several parks. Number of men seen urinating in parks, side of streets, etc. = 8. Number of men seen striding purposely, legs apart, hands fiddling with trouser zipper = 4
***** Side note, on the way, 5 public conveniences. See 1 man attempting to enter public convenience haggling for more toilet paper
***** No other people spotted at public conveniences.
9.05 am - Emma decides to wash dishes.
9.10am - Emma decides to have preparatory cup of tea
9.25am - Emma starts dishes. Conveniently, kitchen window has view of pee-corner.
9.25.02 - Emma spots first man jump off motorbike and head into pee-corner
9.26 - Emma sees next man go to pee-corner
9.27 - Woman approaches, spots man peeing, backs off
9.29 - Man finishes, woman decides coast-clear, squats
9.30 - Emma sees man go to pee-corner
etc.
9.45am - Emma finishes dishes
* Number of people seen urinating in 1 x 1hr 15 min period = 18 (not including "urinatory" preparation)
* The reason? It costs 1000d to pee in a public convenience. Also, they are not placed all that conveniently
.
P.S. You will note that I have carefully photographically documented pee-corner so as not to offend any sensitive viewers.
8.30am Both leave house
8.45am Emma leaves Russell at work
8.45-9am - Emma rides home. On the way rides past several parks. Number of men seen urinating in parks, side of streets, etc. = 8. Number of men seen striding purposely, legs apart, hands fiddling with trouser zipper = 4
***** Side note, on the way, 5 public conveniences. See 1 man attempting to enter public convenience haggling for more toilet paper
***** No other people spotted at public conveniences.
9.05 am - Emma decides to wash dishes.
9.10am - Emma decides to have preparatory cup of tea
9.25am - Emma starts dishes. Conveniently, kitchen window has view of pee-corner.
9.25.02 - Emma spots first man jump off motorbike and head into pee-corner
9.26 - Emma sees next man go to pee-corner
9.27 - Woman approaches, spots man peeing, backs off
9.29 - Man finishes, woman decides coast-clear, squats
9.30 - Emma sees man go to pee-corner
etc.
9.45am - Emma finishes dishes
* Number of people seen urinating in 1 x 1hr 15 min period = 18 (not including "urinatory" preparation)
* The reason? It costs 1000d to pee in a public convenience. Also, they are not placed all that conveniently
.
P.S. You will note that I have carefully photographically documented pee-corner so as not to offend any sensitive viewers.
Posted at 09:26 PM
Sat - March 4, 2006
Just a small thing I love about Hanoi (2)
I love how, when I've had my hair cut or
coloured, everyone I see says to me, "new
hair!".
Even the cleaner at work saw me this morning and declared "toc moi!".
It makes a visit to the hairdresser seem so exciting!
Even the cleaner at work saw me this morning and declared "toc moi!".
It makes a visit to the hairdresser seem so exciting!
Posted at 07:11 PM
Strange small thing about Hanoi (1)
At supermarkets and other parking lots, you
have to drive up, the entrance-checker writes your licence plate number on a
ticket, and writes the ticket number on your moto. You take the
ticket.
Then, when you leave, you hand in the ticket to be (allegedly) checked by the exit-checker against your moto. And you pay maybe 1000-2000 dong (6-12cents).
But in many situations in Hanoi - supermarkets, my school, Russell's work, etc. - we get excluded from this process. We roll into the park, get a nod of acknowledgment, and a wave on through.
Why don't we have to do the ticket-park like everyone else?
Strange, huh?
Then, when you leave, you hand in the ticket to be (allegedly) checked by the exit-checker against your moto. And you pay maybe 1000-2000 dong (6-12cents).
But in many situations in Hanoi - supermarkets, my school, Russell's work, etc. - we get excluded from this process. We roll into the park, get a nod of acknowledgment, and a wave on through.
Why don't we have to do the ticket-park like everyone else?
Strange, huh?
Posted at 06:33 PM
Fri - March 3, 2006
Just a small thing I love about Hanoi (1)
I just rode home from work at about 9.15pm
on a Friday night. As I passed a quiet intersection near our home, a kid was
running from a side street about to cross, saw me, and slowed down so I didn't
run him over.
Then he realised I was a foreigner.... "Oh, HELLOOOO!", he yelped happily.
"Hiiiiiii" I yelled (equally happily) as I zoomed past....
It's just nice....
Then he realised I was a foreigner.... "Oh, HELLOOOO!", he yelped happily.
"Hiiiiiii" I yelled (equally happily) as I zoomed past....
It's just nice....
Posted at 09:36 PM