The Big New Blog 2020

Tet is probably the most important celebration in Vietnam. It has been going on for longer than the revolution. For a period of at least a week everything is  closed as everyone goes home to thier family and the family village. One of the features of Vietnamese culture is the significance of the village from where a person comes. It is the foundation of thier culture and thier identity. Like in Australia with the first Australians the importance of land and thier belonging to it, it is the same with respect to the Village. This can present problems for the unwary tourist or traveller. It is very hard to find a  Bus, train or plane that is not full. Prices are always much higher sometimes as much as twice the price! All the shops are closed as are the restraunts and some hotels because everyone has gone home. The main streets of Hanoi are empty, you could swing the preverbial cat with impunity. Then on actual Tet day the world lights up and there are  massive parties every...

I have been saying for the past week now that I want to go to Co Loa. I have found where it is, I've plotted the route (I know most of the way) but things have ganged up on me. It's been too cold and wet, the bike is not working any excuse really. It actually my own inertia. I am slack! I get up early and go to breakfast by 8am. I am full of enthusiasm and energy. I have a large breakfast that involves Pho Ga, fruit, yoghurt and some munchies from the ban marie. I start with tea and end with coffee. I go back to my room , take my pills and have the insulin injections and promptly fall asleep till midday. This time it's different, this time I'm determined. Co Loa was the capital of Au Lac in 257 BCE. Au Lac was one of the ancient kingdoms that predated the development of Vietnam. It was I think started in the period of the Hung Kings, the earliest kingdoms in what is now Vietnam. It is about 40mins north of Hanoi. The place is now a big town that has grown mosslik...

I've been back in Hanoi since last Friday (10th of Jan). It has almost been a year since I was last here and things have changed, little by little. The 3B is gone, replaced by a very glitzy upgrade. Out of my pocket range,  I have moved to the Hanoi Buddy in Hang Bo. It is a sprawling place hidden behind a Travel and Tour agent shop which is hidden behind a coffee and Ice Cream shop. The whole thing seems to be a project of my good friend Nancy Nguyen. This is her third business, she has another hotel and a  Backpacker hostel. The Irish Wolfhound bar has gone these last 2 years. Last year I replaced it with the Shabeen a South African styled bar. That has now been sold and is now closed completely. I was worried that I would have no friendly bar left in the old quarter. But lo and behold I have found a new place! It is called the Balcony Bar. It is upstairs on Ma May st. It is very quiet, run by very young people, so the music is a bit "modern" . Notwithstanding it is m...