holiday with family and friends

We spent all our waking hours on the sun deck.

Vikky enchanted everyone with her needle and thread!

Guat Looi was not interested in the bread, she just wanted to take a picture with the women. But like everything, we have to pay to take a picture with them, too.

Around Hanoi town.



Smile!
On the deck
Kai-en and Guat Looi had lots of fun.



Two love birds.
No 4 and 5 sisters. We have very few photos of us together.

Guess what was he doing?

Answer to the photo above..



I think it was September last year that we bought the tickets to Hanoi. The ticket was on sales and as usual, I had to be the tour group leader!

It started as only eight of us, but by the time we traveled, we had another five from Fay's family who traveled from HCM city , Prema, Ryan from Cambodia and Vikki from Canada. The group had doubled by the time we met in Hanoi.

We arrived at Hanoi on the 7th of April, few minutes after Fay. Thanks to her, she had arranged all the ground travel. We went on a Halong Bay Cruise on the 8th, stayed one night in the Junk. I am sure all of us enjoyed the cruise very much. We ate, chatted, sang, played scrabble, cards, and by the end of that day, we got to know other tourists as well. I think Kaixuan and Kai-en enjoyed the most, being the two youngest, all attention was showered on them. Oh ya, I forgot, we went kayaking, too!

Unfortunately, four from our group had to go back on the 3rd day and the rest of us traveled to Hoi An by train. It was an experience that we will never forget, especially for the two youngest travelers. This may be their first and their last time, thanks to their popo (and Prema-ee)! It was a sixteen hour train journey and we did what we did best, talk, play scrabble, cards and relax.

Hoi An reminded me of Li Jiang of China, the ancient city. Some how I thought this was the best part of my travel. I did nothing except walk around town, in and out of the shops and buy nothing. Here I found peace and tranquility! This is one place I do not mind going back again because I know that I missed out a lot. I saw so many beautiful photos in Dan's facebook on Danang and Hoi An and realized that I had missed out on all that.

Two days in Hoi An and we flew to HCM city on the 3rd day, stayed there for another 3 days and came back to KL on the 16th of April.

By the way, I am writing this blog in Singapore. Came here on the 29th, missed my doctor's appointment and blood test (realized it only after I purchased the ticket to come)!

Hoi An is the best

Having lunch, playing cards and scrabble and chatting outside our hotel room!

Beautiful hotel and yet so cheap! For less then USD 30/- a room for two and breakfast provided too.

Walking down the streets at night

Town center by the river

Early Chinese settlers came to Hoi An first then moved on to other cities in Vietnam

Night in Hoi An
Town center at night






Hanoi was too busy and disorganized. It has its own charms like the place we stayed, coffee by the lake at night , crossing the streets and the water puppet show.

Halong bay was most relaxing and enjoyable, the main reason was because all of us were in the same Junk for two days and one night and there was nothing else to do other than get to know each other. By the end of the trip, we made friends with everyone on board. (will post some photos later)

As for me, Hoi an was the best ! I simply love this place. We took the train from Hanoi to Danang and another 45 minutes ride by taxi to Hoi An. The train ride was so exciting (as Kaixuan put it, he wished the train would break down so that he could stay in the train longer) It was like Malaysia 30 years ago. I asked Fay to book the train for tourists but she waited till the last minute (trying very hard to convince me to fly ) and we could only travel like the locals but I am not complaining because it was such fun and the scenery was breath taking !

We did nothing but walk around the town by the river, went in and out different shops, looked at all the ancient buildings and the many lanterns that were produced. This place has the most 'ang moh' tourists and most shop keepers speaks English.

It was especially beautiful at night when all the lanterns were lit up ! How I wish I had a good camera and eyes to capture the beauty of this small town.