Flying Home

Sunday, 16th February 2014

We had the hotel packed our breakfast since we had to check out and leave at 6am, to be at the airport in time for our 930am flight.  I arranged for a morning call as well, just in case we oversleep (you see, I'm taking all precautionary methods now so we do not risk being late, or missing our flight).

We used our remaining Vietnam Dongs and topped up with USD to pay for the balance of our hotel charges.  The reception even discount off a little bit just so that we can match the currencies (it wasn't a lot - a couple of USD cents but it was very kind of them).

We returned the adapter we borrowed from them the night before, and thanked them for their hospitality.

Upon arrival at the airport and after checking in, we walked straight to the gate, where we had our packed breakfast while waiting for the gate to open.  We walked around the shops, but didn't shop and periodically eyed the gate.

Moved our seats nearer to the gate and waited.  And waited.

Still chatting when an airport staff walked up to us and asked if we were headed to Kuala Lumpur, to which we replied, "Yes!"  Then he told us to run and hurry towards another gate a hundred metre down.  Ran we did, and when we checked in at the gate, the staff told us that there was an announcement (funny neither one of us heard) and we were the last to enter.

To think we almost miss our flight home... *shake head*...

Our flight was full, and our booked seats were right smack in the middle of a group of 10 (or more) boisterous, chatty Indian men who thinks they are musically inclined with their hands that go beating the arm rest or their thighs like drums!  A big sized, BO man who burped a few times during the flight took the window seat whilst poor hubby had to take the middle seat and I sat next to the aisle.  

Other than that, the flight was uneventful - thank God!  We arrived on time and took a cab to Seremban to reunite with our kids at Mama Yeh Yeh's house.

The next day was school day - so we didn't stay for dinner in Seremban.

That is all about Hanoi - our shortest trip overseas ever!

16 years since he held my hand to cross the road and our first romantic dinner in Sheffield, 10 years of marriage, 2 children... we survived!  The journey had not been smooth all the way, and the tears were not few, but laughter we share and hugs are still plentiful,  you - my honey - is my source of confidence - there's no regrets and if I could marry you all over again, I'd do that... (maybe this time, in a quaint little countryside church in Europe, hehe)

Halong Bay, Hanoi

Saturday, 15th February 2014

Wakey wakey

I think we woke at 630am.  Just in case we oversleep and embarrass ourselves by being late for our Halong Bay pick up (at 815am), I asked the Reception last night to give us a wake up call this morning, on top of my mobile phone alarm.

Day view of the hotels opposite our room.

View on the left from our window.  Taken at around 8am

Mobile phone alarm went off, and I got up with no trouble as this has been almost my daily routine this year since the kids started morning school.  The reception called us at the time requested - not bad for a 2 or 3 star hotel.  And who would have guessed?  They have everything to cater to our needs and more, plus the facilities and accommodation is new and clean.  They even have TURNDOWN service la wei!  But then, we didn't have a chance to mess up our room to test out their turn down service, because we were out the whole day today, and back very late.

Breakfast 

Breakfast was continental buffet - a small table offering only the basics - bread, cheese, ham, yogurt, milk, cereals, buns, juice, fresh fruits and some stirfry noodles on another table.   

Breakfast.  Neat and simple.  Don't expect much, but it's sufficient.

The customer service lady, Anna, who booked us in via email, dropped by our breakfast table to greet us and introduce herself.  She also confirmed with us our change of room for tonight, as well as asked us for our plans for the day.  Pretty Vietnamese lady who speaks perfect English with a little accent *like*.  Her face is even on the hotel website. 

We headed upstairs to packed up our luggage so the hotel staff can just move them to our room for that night.  Yes, we are downgraded now... haha!  Back to reality and no more suite!  But oh well, it was a nice surprise, and the hotel did their best - considering their full occupancy for the Valentine weekend.

Our bus transferring us to Halong Bay came a bit earlier than expected.  Our tour guide for the day is Mr Loc, and the bus went around picking up a few other tourists from their hotels.

Our tour consist of a mother-daughter from Europe, a Singaporean married couple, a Singaporean man with his Thai wife (this couple is quiet quiet like mouse), a Canadian-African couple who lives in Malaysia, a dating couple from Melbourne (Japanese and Chinese) and ourselves.

We later made friends with the Canadians and the Australians.  : )

Along the way, Mr Loc shared with us a facts on the population, the meaning of Vietnam, the reason by the narrow frontage of the house designs, the meaning of the national flag, cultures and superstition of the farmers, simple local language we can use, etc.  Since I did not wikipedia before coming to this lovely country, I noted these information down into my iphone.

Our tourguide, Mr Loc obliging for a picture

The 3.5hr journey was pleasant and we passed through the country side of Red River Delta.  The ride however was a little too slow for our Malaysian standard.  Then again, there was no proper highway and the vehicles were going at their own pace, some faster some slower, and motorcycles and even little trucks were weaving in between.  At one point, I noticed a truck coming from the opposite direction ON OUR LANE!

Paddy fields along the way

A mansion

Local fruit for sale along the roads

A hotel, probably.

Like it, Buy it!

We stopped by a souvenir shop - to exercise our legs, go for toilet break as well as help the tour guide earn some commission from our purchases.  Since our visit to Hanoi is not long and we are not sure if we'd find anything at the shops tonight, or even be in time to shop, hubby in his wisdom told me the four magic words, "Like it, Buy it!"  Don't you just love him?!  Hahaha... OK, I love him... for more than that, of course!

So I bought an ao dai which I have always wanted.  A sweet pastel yellow it is, with a little haggling for the satisfaction.  Paid in USD, and after conversion it seemed pretty reasonable still.  The ao dais for little girls seem so sweet but my girl would not like it.  As for the boy and man, the salesman told us there is no traditional wear for male.  ; P

We arrived Halong City a little passed noon.  Mr Loc passed us each our tickets and later took it back to be kept safely.  This is a multi pass ticket.  Once lost, you won't be able to join in the other activities and attractions.  We walked to our junk, already waiting for us at the pier.

Wooden junks

We sat in groups of four and that's how we got to know our these Australian couple in our group.  We were served fresh seafood for lunch in small portions - just enough for four.  For example, if it was crabs, it's only 4 crabs.

Deep fried Vietnamese springroll in rice paper

No fighting.  One each please. 

Steam fish.  Don't know what fish is this. 

Stirfry beef

There were steamed prawns, clams and a couple more other stuff too.  The seafood was fresh, so no complains except that portions could be a lot more. 

This is the signature, popular symbol of Halong Bay - the Fighting Cocks or Kissing Cocks, whichever way you see it. 

Limestones all around

Passing by other wooden junks

We sat on a boat like this, in our little group of four with a local rowing the boat around Ba Hang floating village.  Some other groups not in our tour opted for the kayaking - looks like a lot of work and pretty unsafe too, as the boats can get too close to the kayaks

Beautiful creation on the limestone ceilings

Going through a little tunnel

I'd journey with you anywhere, hubby

Then we headed back to the harbour and walked up some stairs into the Thien Cung or Heaven Palace Grotto to explore huge chambers adorned with stalagmites and stalactites. 

We arrived back in Hanoi city after a very slow ride home at around half past 8.  The night was still young, though so we didn't go straight back to the hotel, but instead hopped off the bus near the shopping area.  Bade our new friends farewell and thanked our tour guide for a fantastic day.

Double parked motorcycles. What a sight!  I didn't see any car parking though.

Started our night adventure at a shop selling clothings and textile.  Couldn't resist another ao dai - this time I chosed a dark purple with 3/4 sleeve.  Cost me a little lesser than the earlier one, and naturally felt a little ripped off, but oh well, win some, lose some.  Got some decorative mats too then we walked around looking for dinner and saw...

Street food!  Since it's our last night... why not?!  Feeling hungry and daring here.  No regrets.  

This mama here makes the delish noodle soup! 

Don't mind the deep fried fish fillets (not dory, ok?), this dish is so wholesome!  Look at all the vege and herbs she added in.  Hubby drank up till the last drop and did NOT feel thirsty at all after that.  That means, no MSG

Night market.  Don't go against the human traffic flow.  Lots to see.  Traders here don't speak English, so they show you the price by showing you da money. 

This old popo here peeling and selling water chestnut.  She smiled at me after she realized I took her photo

Second round of street food, just minutes and metres away from the first one.  I shared this with hubby.  Braised pork, pork cake and fried egg on top of soft steamed Vietnamese rice.

Hubby took this photo of me about to dig into my noodle soup.  Whilst eating, he told me someone is taking a pic of me... *perasan me* I looked up and saw a caucasian man smiled and walked off.  Eh, he forgotten to pay me?? ; P

A street food seller hard at work.

And we called it a day after we have gotten our coffee and some souvenirs for the kids.  A magnet was a must to add to our collection on the fridge of places we travelled to and visited - checked at Halong Bay.
  
Weather was getting too cold for hubby who was not in a jacket.  So we headed back to our hotel.  The next day, we had an early flight departing at 9am.

Our Valentine Weekend in Hanoi, Vietnam

Friday, 14th February 2014

A Valentine not so romantic

Our bags packed, our passports ready (and still valid), boarding passes, hotel and tour confirmation printed, no visa required (checked and double checked) and taxi booked to picked us at 3:30am this morning.

Kids settled, and instructions given to maid.  Mama and yeh yeh have offered to help. Hubby and I said our goodbyes to the kids the night before they slept.  Vic insisted that we wake up before we leave so she can say goodbye to us again, and we did just that.  She stirred, open her eyes a little then mumbled she loved us and off she went back to sleep.  We left the house excited.

Vomit along the highway

Richard, our taximan sent us to the airport that morning.  Somehow that morning I didn't feel well.  Vomitted a little before I left.  I figured it must be the tossing and turning and over excitement that led to me waking up a few times that night worrying that we'd overslept.  I was quiet the whole journey whilst hubby chatted with Richard, but nearing LCCT, I knew something was about to come out.  Quickly, I told Richard to stop when he can.  He said there's a rest stop further up, but thank God hubby told him to just stop now... and immediately I opened the car door and out came my vomit... all onto the drain next to the emergency lane.  A lot more came out, I guess indigestion from the dinner before - can't be those chicken drumsticks and if it was, I hope the rest of the family was fine.

I felt alot better after that, and off we went on our way again, not delayed at all.  But Richard was obviously very concern and secretly I'm glad I didn't soil his clean taxi, otherwise so paiseh!

We arrived almost 430am.  No checked in luggage, and we did a web checked in the day before.  So after getting our documents checked, we proceeded to have a light breakfast at the Taste of Asia.

Darn!

We chatted and lost track of time.  25 minutes before departure time, hubby checked his watch and we make a run toward the gate.  Passed the first security check point, passed the second security check point, then headed to immigration, which was where I got through but hubby's passport had problem detecting the smart chip.  He told me to go in first, which I did, but I didn't realize that he wanted me to go into the plane first!  I got to the gate, and pleaded with the ground crew to wait for him.  By the time hubby arrived, it was about 10 minutes before departure time, but they didn't allow us in despite many pleading and appeal.

So we missed our flight.  The only flight out to Hanoi for the day.

Feelings?  Cannot be explained.  We have had close calls before - from almost missing our flight to our honeymoon in New Zealand, to almost missing our flight back to KL from Seoul, to almost having to leave William behind because his passport was about to expire - discovered a day before we flew to Jakarta, and then there was the Melbourne holiday which we almost couldn't go because we didn't have a visa (assumed we didn't need), and I believe another one or two more of close calls that slipped my mind.

But this was the ultimate!  We really missed our flight, and I wish and wish it was just a bad dream.  But come on, the people around me were real, we were walking, the people here were talking, the bags felt solid, the floor was not giving way, I could swallow my saliva and the feelings were real.  Shitty.  Sad beyond words.  Regret.  Angry.  And did I mentioned sad?

We booked the next available flight to Hanoi, departing via Vietnam Airlines at 925pm the same day.  We burned our pocket to get back into Hanoi, but at least we didn't have to burn the hotel fare and Halong Bay cruise that we already paid.

We made our way back to our house.  Got home at 930am - about the same time we would have arrived Hanoi.  My head has been spinning since the morning puke and my legs seemed to be giving way.  I went to rest and later popped in Panadol when I felt feverish and the headache was too much to bear.  The kids came home from school at lunch time, surprised to see us.

In the afternoon, Yeh Yeh gave us a lift to the airport, on route down to Seremban with the kids and maid.  For the second time, we said our goodbyes.

This time, we sat right in front of the gate hours before it was due to be opened, and to pass time, we watched a downloaded movie on hubby's Smartphone.

The flight was full.  The ground crew informed us that this flight was always full, and it's a miracle that we manage to get seats at a good price.

I sat along the aisle whilst hubby sat across the aisle from me.  I had beef rice on flight but didn't finish my dinner when my stomach started to feel squeesy.  Despite my efforts to hold it all in, I felt the vomit coming out again about half hour before we were to land... and quickly I grabbed a plastic bag in front of me.  There was no sick bag.  I was given one only later when the air stewardess passed by, and that was the only help she offered, not even a word of concern.  Oh well, maybe because I'm not a child, but at least I didn't stink up the whole place!

Food wasn't too bad on Vietnam Airlines.  I tried everything, but didn't finish everything except the soft bun with President butter. 

I managed to bring the whole bag of puke into the small sick bag, then half run to the end of the plane to dispose it into the toilet bin.  

We arrived at 1030pm, and our hotel pick up was already waiting for us.  Young Viet chap who drove us in a Vios to our hotel, the Hanoi Glance Hotel located in the Old Quarter in Hoan Kiem District.  The hotel staff was helpful.  We were given a complimentary upgrade for the night to their Suite Room on the 6th floor, complete with an anniversary cake from the hotel - but I have reasons to believe that these were orchestrated by none other than my hubby!

Our complimentary suite.  Rose petals on the bed even!

A simple sponge cake which we ate for our supper after the night walk to the Lake.  The wine - which I had all along thought was paid for - was not paid for.  Thank God I discovered before we checked out, else they'd have thought we were dishonest.  Quickly, I placed it carefully back on its holder and left it in the room. 

The small lobby area.  Tastefully furnished - as with the other parts of this boutique hotel, and yet clean and modern.

The view from our suite on the 6th floor.  See how high the shops can go.  Narrow front, but tall. 

Since we didn't have much time for this trip, we decided to take a walk out to the Lake as we were told by the Reception that there were many people by the Lake to celebrate Valentine's.  It was a nice walk out, and we love the cool weather, a much welcome change from the hot hot Malaysian weather.

We were amused by balloon traders ON the road, and in THE MIDDLE of the road.  They were everywhere, and the cars and motorcycles were just weaving in between them. 

The youth hang out in groups - some played a simple ball game by the road which was similar to our local sepak takraw, and dating couples sat around chatting or having a simple meal and coffee by the road side.