strange the places one finds oneself

Heya Folks,
Before Tet I found myself helping out with a radio broadcast right here in Hanoi! It was for an online forum of Vietnamese young people who really want to practice English, and as well as the weekly conversation classes they have an online comunity and a monthly radio broadcast. This month it was all about Tet, Tet, Tet. Click on the link below to here the piece. Scroll to the last broadcaster for yours truly...

http://watavn.org/forumvbb/showthread.php?t=893

And if you're really lucky, I might just post the many, many bloopers involved in the recording of this broadcast!

SarahHeadsEast xx

Tet Trekking

Heya Folks,
Mindful of how quiet and dull Hanoi is in the days following Tet, I decided to head north to the hilltribe region of Sapa for some trekking and generally rural adventures. Getting the sleeper train on monday evening was a fabulous exciting experience, really felt like an adventure what with hauling my little backpack into the tiny sleeper carriage. I shared my cabin with a very sweet Vietnamese family taking their Tet holiday in Sapa too. I'm so lucky to have the opportunity and ease to travel overseas, when for many even having a passport is just not an option.

We arrived sleepily into Lao Cai, and after a minibus ride to the hotel and a quick refresher we set off on the trek! It was FAB, cold and muddy, walking among and through remote hilltribe villages and skirting around rice terraces, all of it surrounded in an eerie but atmospheric mist. It would have been nice to see the scenery properly, but it didnt dampen the experience at all. We stayed overnight in a village house in Ta Van, which was very cosy and comfortable. The evening was spent chatting and laughing around the fire in their kitchen, and then we slept under heavy blankets and mosquito nets on raised wooden platforms. A fab experience indeed.
Next morning's trek was equally fantastic, a tough climb up the side of a hill and then across a waterfall, before climbing up to the road and getting a bus back to the town. All in all it was a fab experience, and already I've made plans to return in september when the weather should be better, I might even be able to describe the scenery this time!The days and nights were VERY cold in Sapa, so during the evenings in town I parked up in a cosy bakery with a hot chocolate and an open fire. It was a perfect end to the days here, staying warm and chatting with new trekking friends. In the bakery there was a very small and very cute puppy (pet, not dinner) which went to sleep, first underneath the fire and then in my lap.

I found myself sad to leave SaPa, it really is such a beautiful place, a real adventure and a perfect rural escape from Hanoi. For some reason the 'hardsell' to the tourists didnt seem as prevalent this time around, unless I'm just used to it now. I'm looking forward to heading back up there for some more walking soon.SarahHeadsEast xx

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Tet 2010

Heya Folks,
Now that the crazy holiday season is nearly over and things are returning to normality, I can update you on whats been going on! Tet is the official Lunar New Year celebration in Vietnam, and easily the biggest holiday of the year. This is a time for Vietnamese people all over the country to return to their home towns and families to celebrate. Hanoi itself shuts down for nearly a week, hard to believe but the streets are empty of motorbikes and all the shops are shut.

I celebrated this new year by going down to Hoan Kiem Lake to watch the fireworks at midnight to welcome in the new year. Although they were more impressive in noise than in aesthetics, it was still an awesome experience and especially great to see Vietnamese families celebrating and enjoying themselves. On the way back to the hotel we saw loads of people in shops and houses and out on the streets celebrating and having fun. It is customary to visit a pagoda as soon as possible in the new year, to pray for good luck and success in the year to come. We also saw many people burning incense and throwing rice onto the streets. I later found out that this was for the souls of people who have died on the street, without a family to celebrate the holiday season with.

The first person that enters a household after new year is responsible for bringing good luck throughout th year. They must be born on a special date as determined by a fortune teller and related to the age of the owner of the house. This year, my friend and fellow volunteer Brenda fit the bill so it was back to STA house on sunday morning to have tea with Mr Hung and do the honours.

All in all, I'm very happy to have been in Hanoi to celebrate this special holiday.

SarahHeadsEast xx

Hanoi Lately

Heya Folks,
Hanoi Lately has been full of great and fun experiences. Sunday last I went along to a 'conversation club' run by some very enthusiastic Vietnamese friends, who desperately want to practice speaking English with each other. The meeting was held upstairs in a cafe (thats the kind of meeting I like!); we had a debate on the relative merits of cosmetic surgery, and then played a game of charades. I can honestly say it was one of the funnest nights I have ever spent here, met some awesome people, lots of laughs and I cant wait for the next meeting this sunday! Here are some pictures taken on the night, and earlier this week whn we went to a student cafe for grub and cards.


Continuing our quest for Hanoi's speciality food streets, this week we have tried 'che', a fruit salad covered with ice and, yup, you guessed it, that alltime favourite of Hanonians...condensed milk. It actually tasted really nice, though I rather prefer the sua chua nep cam option.

Tet holiday is nearly upon us, which means that the shops and streets are getting really busy here...its just like the week before christmas with everybody doing their last-minute shopping! Tonight is the Tet party here at the STA house, which should be really fin, and tomorrow is the last day teaching at Children's Palace before the holidays. GAMES GAMES GAMES!

Until Next Time

SarahHeadsEast xx