Am on the Saigon river delta, started in SAigon on the 22. Did nof like Saigon nearly as well as Hanoi,   Also the country and the city is very busy and the people that don't seem quite as friendly and Jenny wine as they do in Hanoi the next morning we did a tour of the tunnels where the Vietcong and the Vietnamese the north and the south soldiers lives and it started to build the deck please tunnel since 1945 by the time they were finished  we got on the boat very happy to be here I was lucky enough not to have to share so I have a lovely state room overlooking the river to myself very comfortable shower we had a good Vietnamese dinner the first night and the next morning we went to a floating market as well to see you at marvellous what is monastery and then a right producing  The barges in the open market with the whole sellers have a tie but they have to sell my fucking piece of our product on a tall bamboo stuff for you whether it was going to write or beer or both people sometimes pole 50 km away on their boat so selfish they didn't get rid of them all  they have to spend the night we then went home for lunch and after that we went to another bar where they were making rice popped rice is brother S. from down the man-made canal very wide which was on one side and I literally have 25,000 people all pretty well off before or that we had gone down narrow narrow narrow tributary of the Mequon River in little boats  which was a good experience I did show some pictures on Facebook are now back in the boat in the evil interesting thunderstorms around just wondering if those big park is full of rice are going to get wet there I eat twice three times a day here and there are many kinds of lies the highest quality of course been cashed and right recognized for me to type cheapest price is fair yellow looks like yellow flex  I had that right when I was on the train I was quite pleased to have our guy is from Cambodia he seems like a very nice person Gerry and Susie Astec we have been working for two adventures for several years and usually you do those very young folk to the bicycle tours but this is the focus of interesting because of course they deal with people who are roughly my age I'm probably younger I do really enjoy this trip

Hanoi to Danang to Hue

i need a string internet formthis blog spot to work I am now in Hie the ancient capital of Vietnam It was also the home of the. Emperor so today I toured the Citadel in Hue, having left HOI An early in morning.  We first stopped at a ceramics factory carvings out of locL marble and the thing I saw was an outstanding carving of dolphins, making me think of Craig. We also stopped at China Beach where apparently the American soldiers would go,for R and R..a gorgeous place, the drive over the Cloudy Pass is wonderful and the road is good. Upon arriving Imwas left at restaurant for a set menu lunch the on to the Citadel starting with a Vauban  huge fort a famous French designer of such things.  There are three walls  made of bricks and the interior is huge.  A large meadowmwhere the elephants and horses were kept. .  Some of,the buildings were destroyed frombombing and fighting inthenfrenchmwarmor,the America war as they are referred
Rather sad photos of the various Emperors one 8 year old,who lasted three years.  Another one who,had 500 wives and over 130 children.  Another who had over a hundred wives and no children, the problem being he had had smallpox as a youth...or so said the guide.
Hue and Danang not over crowded cities bathed in sunshine  were a pleasant change after noisy crowded rainy Hanoi.  At first traffic seems chaotic but actually they drive with a lot of give and take coming home today on a rickshaw as turned left into oncoming traffic it amazed me how we managed the turn Without dying.  Considering the density of motor bikes it is amazing .
Yesterday I went with a young woman to do marketing and then we went into the country and by a river which divides people into fish farming and vegetable farming .  I went into the tidy well developed Veg  garden.  A 79' year old woman. Came out of her house and dug into her soil, showing me how todo it also,  the we planted some morning glory which is green plant looking a little like spinach when cooked,
We the returned to her open air kitchen where we started  cooking.  Chopping lemon grass and green onions peeled turmeric putting it into mortar and pestle and crushing it  along with oil to b

Silk path to silkpath

I was met as arranged but nearly an hour passed before he came, he is a young man who will be with me for whole stay in Hanoi.
We got to hotel but found there were two of the same name and we were at the wrong one.  Climbed back into car, this new Silk Path Hotel where I am staying is on the lake ,a green expanse of water with walks circumnavigating it.  By the time I got checked in it was nearly five so showered and then set out to walk to cousin Sally s hotel
I was told it was 10 minutes away, but took 35 minutes and got advice from aggressive t shirt selling lady who took my hand to cross  streets  teaming with motor cycle s and cars.
Well it is noon Wednesday and not long awake. Was up about 40 hours so hope long sleep will end jetlag
Missed regular breakfast  so had pad thai
Am waiting for tour guide and have to change room.they brought me a coke and pour it into glass with ice I was not thinking and drank some then dumped ice, hope the coke killed what germs there might have been
The view from my window overlooks lake, people are exercising
Hope to add some photos
Hanoi is a developed city, modern structures lots of wide streets the highlight so far though are the very nice people.  Kind and apparently mean it.  I saw two women in bridal clothes, one walking briskly in bare feet her train tucked under her arm.  Another sitting. By lake having her hands hennaed.
Took taxi back from Red bean restaurant was less than one US dollar
Have been told I can stay in this room.  Which is huge   Reminds me of .s .africa on a ranch where the bathroom as large as this with a footed bathtub but there were oriental rugs on floor

U less things change I shall post photos on face book

Dinner alone in Hanoi

My guide took me by car and then by walking through narrow street along  many restaurants reminded me of a street in Paris and in Istanbul where there the street has a huge variety of restaurants offering foods from everywhere. There are no McDonalds inHanoi.
The one we went to upstairs into Aron with other foreigners, is this a good thing? All the waiters spoke good English or French.  It was a smorgasbord type but you do not wait on your self, they bring you small dishes until you say stop. There are fairly long waits inbetween dishes so I was there for two hours.  My guide had said he would be back in 45 minutes but I did think he would be mistaken. I did not get food until s30 minutes had passed.
Speaking of my guide he was born in'83. Married with one son And another on the way.  His English is ok...accent could be improved. So I ask him to repeat words until I figure things out, he kept  referring to. Penis. Which thought could not be right as he pointed out some architecture. Eventually I realized the letter L became N. and he was pointing  to Pillars.  He told me a lot about early times of 1500 years ago...going to a famous Pagoda. And then we went to another shrine where people were putting cooked chicken.or rooster onto alter.  Lots of people praying. Lots of food on alters which if I u derstood him correctly would be taken away to be eaten

BKK. Was changed to bike

Bike Bangkok

Well survived being a sardine in Swiss air 777.  Food ok. Window seat over wing but for take off and landing could see some of the country side, blessed as there was no one in middle seat.
Given wrong direction upon arriving and had to walk more than a kilometre in reverse, good to do after 9 hours ! Now waiting for Hanoi flight. Did not sleep so hopefully will stay awake to meet cousin Sally for dinner.   It is very hot and sticky.