day 5 - hanoi

Ventured out into Hanoi streets on self-directed walking tour. This gives you an idea of what pedestrians face
Or better yet, have a gander at this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC4BN9kInXg

You can tell our separate passions - while walking Jennifer said "ooh a bookstore!" and Martin said "ooh, barbequed chicken!" Checked out the water puppets, markets that specialized in bamboo ladders, lacquered tins, drums, games, silk, shoes, flags, tape, metal work, and of course food and flowers. The street corners are littered with people squatting on tiny plastic stools drinking beer or coffee from small glasses. Toy dogs (alert) and kittens (asleep) and roosters (atwitter) dot the little space there is between parked motos. Landmark day - Jenny's first squatter!

Tomorrow we are off to Halong Bay and then up trekking near Sapa, so will be in touch on our return.