Hao Lo Prison

Our visit to Hao Lo Prison was interesting.  It was built and run by the French  from 1896 to 1954. Prisoners were treated with vicious brutality and some were sent to the guillotine( I'm sure it was a welcomed release).  After its closure, the prison was used to remand captured downed American pilots from the Vietnam War, and Senator McCain was one of its prisoners.

Venturing Out Into The Streets of Hanoi

Our first walk about the streets of the Old Quarters of Hanoi was a feast for the senses.  The streets are narrow, busy, noisy, and wonderful.  Delicious smells of steamy, hot, food from street vendors tantalize your appetite.  Small motorbikes and vespas rule the road.  The rules of the road indicate that you drive on the right side of the road, but we observed that Vietnamese drive wherever they see an opening!!  As a result, you have an intertwining of vehicles making their way along the streets of Hanoi. As a pedsetrian, you need to make your way across the street dodging, trucks, cars, motorbikes, and other pedestrians.  You need to be highly alert to stay alive!!  If you hear someone honking their horn it's a good idea to stand still and let them maneouver around you. We even saw mothers with children on scooters managing the traffic while talking on cell phones.  Amazingly enough there doesn't seem to be any accidents.

No Room At The Inn

When we finally arrived at the Hanio Guesthouse, at midnight, we discovered there was a mix up in our reservation and we had no room.  But, with many apologies and one quick phone call the owners of the guesthouse had us a room halfway down the block.  He grabbed our bags and quickly delivered us there.The room was small, but inviting.  The building and our room was on the cool side.  Hanoi is about 20 degrees celcius this time of the year, and the buildings have no heat.  Due to exhaustion I was cold and decided to sleep in my yoga clothes and socks.  Morning came much too soon, but we were up and had a wonderfully hot shower, had a delicious breakfast, and moved our belongings to our original lodgings, the Hanoi Guesthouse.  Guesthouses are family run, small hotels that include a breakfast with your room.  Because of the previous night's mix-up we were upgraded to a deluxe room.  This room was North American sized.  We have a king sized bed, and an ample sized bathroom.  We were very happy with all the arrangements!

Travel, Travel, Travel.....Jet Lag!

We left Regina at 9:20 AM January 1, 2013.  A two hour flight took us to Vancouver, with a two hour layover, then a two hour delay, due to an antenna switch out.  The flight to Seoul, Korea was long and uneventful.  The two hour delay in Vancouver put us into a hurried rush in Seoul because we were now late for our next flight.  A Korean Air Canada employee met us at the gate and hurried us along so we could catch our next flight to Hanoi.  We needed to be cleared by immigration and our approval letter for a Vietnam visa for needed to be checked.  But, due to the poor quality of the printed out letter our passport numbers were unreadable, so we needed to fire up the computer so Air Canada could check its validity.  Finally, after a few anxious minutes the computer showed them a readable version of our approval letter for a Vietnam visa.  We then had to run like mad men to our gate to board the plane, and just in the nick of time.

We flew Korean Airlines to Hanoi, Vietnam.  The plane was a brand new 330 airbus.  What a beautiful, modern plane!!  This last leg of our trip was 5 hours, and I did catch a bit of sleep.  We landed in Hanoi at 10:30 PM.  We needed to receive our visas which took about an hour only because we weren't the only people doing this.  After getting our visas, baggage and immigration was a breeze... no line-up!!  We found our cab driver waiting for us to take us to our hotel.

After 25 hours of traveling we were finally at our destination.  Totally exhausted we eagerly anticipated a good night's sleep!

The Bags Are Packed

Yes, the bags are packed, new batteries in the camera, documents organized in a file folder, and the wait begins for our ride to Regina.  We'll spend New Year's Eve with friends by having a delicious meal(2nd seating, 9:00 at the Fireside Bistro), then going to bed early to rest up as much as possible for the long trip over the Pacific Ocean...22 hours of travel.  Sleep won't be an option for me, I need to be in the prone position to get some decent rest.  So cat naps it will be!  A movie here, a chapter there, and the occasional walk up and down the aisle to stretch the legs.

My next post will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam.  The weather is around 20 degrees, and a bit rainy.  Hopefully, the rain will subside, but the temperature won't until we get a bit further south.

A final Christmas gift arrived today... the beginning bloom of the Christmas cactus, I was worried that we might miss it!

A Winter Wonderland

People are always excited to get away from the frozen land that we endure for months on end to a warm and sunny destination.  Summer clothes are washed and packed, sunscreen is located from the back of cupboards, bug spray rounded up and off we go with e-tickets and passports in hand.  The get away is always enjoyed and reminisced about for months on end.  But living in a northern climate has its wonders that no one can deny.

Our four seasons brings nature alive to its grandest and finest glory.  My mother, who was an artist, taught me to appreciate the colours of mother nature.  She pointed out the June green which has become an all time favourite for me. Every June, during the last two weeks, the foliage on the trees and bushes is a marvelous green.  It is a light, fresh, beaming hue.  This shade is short lived and eventually succumbs to the heavy dry green of July and August and gives way to golden colours of September.  

Autumn radiates golds, and oranges, and reds that bring a sense of calm to every cell of your body.  There is nothing like getting on your bike on a warm autumn day, the sun shining brilliantly, with only a slight breeze and heading down the road knowing the last days of an Indian summer are slipping away and allowing a pathway for a colder era to take control. 

Winter... talked and complained about endlessly.  It sends us scampering to the inner sanctity of our warm homes.  The brave ones head out to outdoor rinks and play hockey until the witching hour(at least our two kids did).  Others jump on their sleds and and carve up the fields enjoying a fresh new snow fall.  Many dust off their skis and head to a variety of slopes.  Nevertheless, it is a brilliant time of the year that makes you reach for your sunglasses faster than a sunny July morning.

Yes, we will be heading for warmer climates, getting away from the grip of winter.  And yes, I do appreciate to climate we live in.  The change of seasons, brings out the glories of nature.  This past week has sent many  Saskatchewan folk grabbing their cameras to capture the winter wonderland  that was brought before our eyes.  Those that live in a southern climate miss out on the changing seasons and can only appreciate it through visual displays in books, TV and internet.  The pictures don't capture the scent of lilac bushes, the crunch of snow, or the chill on the cheeks. Only us hardy northerners have the privilege of these delights!  

Christmas Craaaaziness!!

Christmas is on the doorstep, and most of my buying, baking, wrapping, and decorating is done.  I`ve always enjoyed Christmas, and it was a magical time of the year for me as a child.  I enjoy the busyness, carols, singing, parties, spontaneous visits from friends, the sparkle of the season, and of course all the food.

This year, of course, was much more relaxing for me.  Being retired has given me the opportunity to slow the Christmas season down.  I fill my days cooking up a storm while watching sappy Christmas movies, and  I absolutely love it!!!  My son laughs at me, saying, "sitting around watching B rated movies again, hey Mom."

But with Christmas on my mind, I have also been busy with travel plans.  Lonely Planet books needed to be bought, and internet searches began.  Many people ask me where we are vacationing this year, but in my mind, we aren`t going on a vacation, we are traveling.  To me, the two are very different. Independent travel isn`t for everyone.  It takes a lot of work, no one does it for you, and any screw-ups are your own!! People ask, "Why?"  Good question!!  Cost is a biggy!  The decision to be gone for three months has an impact on the pocketbook, and indy type travel provides the option for lower costs. Don't get me wrong, all inclusives are a great choice, and you can get some pretty awesome deals if you're on the hunt. They are also great if you are going for a week or two and just want to hang out and relax in a sunny destination.  But for us, and especially now with being retired, indy is the way we like to go.  Our choices give us a better understanding of a different culture, unique foods, fantastic geography, different people and their view of the world.  We have always traveled this way, excluding one experience we had at an all inclusive in Mexico, in which we had an awesome time.
  

As of now, flights have been booked, visas granted, and a couple of accommodations planned.  A turkey has to be cooked and a suitcase needs to be packed.  The waiting is almost over, and I feel like a kid again, anticipating the joy of the unknown, and unexpected.  Asia, here we come!!