We're moving to the Wing Hotel today. Much smaller and cheaper as well as closer to the lives of the 'real' Vietnamese people, instead of being divorced from it in something fancy, not that we mind 'fancy' occasionally. Giabao has been great, and the staff have been very friendly and helpful. Breakfasts have been excellent too.
Took a Taxi with all our luggage, plus a new bag we had purchased to take all our shopping to the Wing Office. Thom was dealing with some backpackers but made us tea which we drank in the 1m wide alleyway outside the office, When we had finished Thom asked the backpackers to mind the 'shop' telling them to 'help yourselves to tea or the internet and if anyone comes in tell them to wait here". "Come on Mum and Dad"- "I haven't seen my parents for a long tiome so you can be Mum and Dad. We were soon settled into the Wing ($12 per night). The room was small but has a tiny balcony overlooking the street. Just amazing how many wires are going everywhere at the first-floor level.
Off to the Post Office to post a parcel to Aylee. This took some time. Many forms to be filled in and lots of waiting. Next stop, the Green Bamboo's new Office. Passed several Embassies, government buildings, etc. in this part of Hanoi - police on guard outside the buildings.
Found Green Bamboo and An booked us a hotel in Hue, and a car and driver, plus a guide, to take us to the DMZ (De Militarised Zone), the old boundary between North and South Vietnam. He also booked transport to Hoi An. Apparently, this was no more expensive than taking the bus, and we could make stops at Marble Mountain and China Beach on the way.
Got a taxi back to the hotel, packed our toy koalas, kookaburra, book of Australian Animals, etc., and went to meet Linh from Hello Hanoi at the Water Puppets. Linh was able to arrange for us to go to an English class in a 'primary' school. Apparently, this was arranged as an after-school activity, and most of the students were the children of teachers - at least we think that was the situation. Some things get a little 'lost' in translation. The children were all quite happy to be there and practise their English on us. We gave each of the children a little Koala, and the teacher the kookaburra and book. They were all pretty tickled.
When it was time to go, Linh got us a taxi and directed the driver to take us to her favourite Hot Pot Restaurant. Well, that was an experience! When we arrived near the restaurant, the car was mobbed by young men trying to get us to go to their particular establishment. We managed to get out and up the steps to 'the one' the driver pointed out (not that we're sure it was the same one Linh meant or not). There were no other people eating at any of the four tables, but we sat down and hoped for the best. An electric heating plate appeared on the table, followed by a pot of broth with what looked and tasted like big sheets of the stuff tofu pockets are made of. Into this went lots of greens and then seafood. One of the staff stirred and fished out shellfish, calamari, prawns, tofu, taro and stuff that looked a bit like eel but may have been herring or something like that. She just kept fishing things out and putting them into our bowls - some pho was added to the broth as well. There was also raw cucumber to go with it, as well as a couple of Vietnamese beers. Richard even managed to order some chips by going to another table (others had come in by now) and pointing to them. There was a lot of laughter watching the tourists coping with what was obviously an uncommon experience. And it was an enjoyable experience for us too.
