Into India

Friday, March 8, 2013 - Goodbye Nepal

We left  the Chitwan National Park Royal Guest House at 2:00 a.m. in a 12 passenger van, Thursday, March 7.  Our goal was to get to our next destination of Lumbini, Buddha's birthplace, before the roads closed at 8:00 am or sooner.  

It felt like a stealth escape leaving in the darkness and avoiding road blocks as we drove through a deep fog on a rutted road.  A few oncoming vehicles with their lights on pierced through the black fog and road dust illuminating the van and the fourteen of us squished together, heads at all angles trying to sleep or eyes wide, avoiding sleep,   The big trucks are colorfuuly decorated with luminescent paint.  Coming from the opposite direction toward us, they would catch the light from our head lamps and appear as glowing apparitions in the fog.

Occasionally we would stop at ramshackle huts to pay what appeared to be a toll for road use.  There was one stop where military personnel walked around the vehicle peering in on us.  Despite the sudden stops and swerves to avoid dogs, cows, potholes, and few early morning wagons and trucks,  we reached our destination safely by 5:00 am., three hours ahead of schedule.

Rooms were ready for us.  We tumbled into bed and picked up our sleep where we left off 4 hours earlier

We all awoke at different times, but gathered at 1:00 pm  after lunch to walk to the temple grounds which cover several square kilometers.  In the village of Lumbini across from the temple,  the village  of Lumbini was hosting a Hindu revival meeting with a traveling swami.  Hundreds of men, women and children milled around the field and streets.  The women and girls were wearing brightly colored saris and tunic pant outfits with lots of bling that twinkled brightly in the afternoon sun.  The men wore tans and plain garments.  Their rich attire was in stark contrast to the dusty, shabby, and filthy living conditions in the village and areas surrounding the temple grounds.

Even though Buddha was born in Lumbini, most of the people here are Hindu.  The Hindu religion is based on a complex mythology of gods.  Everyday there is a celebration for one god or another.  Buddha himself was a Hindu by birth.  When Hindus started to defect to Buddhism, the Hindu holy men added Buddha and his teachings which are compatible with the Hindu religion, to their complex list of gods stifling the need for seekers to jump religions.  The people are Hindu but also revere Buddha without being Buddhist.

The exact historical place of Siddartha the Buddha's birth is a stone slab within the ruins of a Hindu Temple and is covered over with bullet proof glass and a fort-like building covers a good portion of  the ruins of the original temple.  The temple and grounds of Buddha's birth place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Surrounding the birthplace, Hindu/Buddhist temples and monasteries from several nations are located.

Friday, March 8, 2013 - Holy Cow

Today has been a long travel day from Lumbini to Varanasi.  We left Nepal at 5:00 am, checked out of Nepal at 6:00 am, walked across no man's land to India and completed our entry paper work and India immigration at 7:00 am.  The contrast between Nepal and India is immediate.  We went from crowded, littered, impoverished, dirty and shabby, (CLIDS) from the power of 5 to 10 on the CLIDS scale plus Holy Cows and their droppings everywhere. 

We are now immersed in India where personal space is absent, streets are packed with vehicles, people, and cows.  Few people have even greeted us with Namaste which we became accustomed to in Nepal.  Yesterday, we stopped for a train crossing with a mob of people, vehicles and a large well-fed and shiny gray-colored cow stood right next to our car.  Everyone waited patiently for the trains to pass.  After a considerable wait, the gates lifted and everyone but the cow converged across the tracks. The cowed stayed stationery while the traffic moved around her.  We were still in the throngs of the crossing when we noticed the cow had moved behind our car, worked her way to the outside and and was crossing ahead of us.  There is an advantage to being a holy cow.

We arrived late yesterday afternoon in Varanasi with just enough time to glimpse the River Ganga with a dusk walk before dinner. Varanasi is where Buddha gave his first sermon.  Our guide told us there will be a big festival here on Sunday when we return from our river trip.  And there will be 100 times the people who are here today.  Our heads can't even get around that as it is packed now.  

Today we will be driving two hours up the Ganges and taking a two day down river trip in a row boa back to Varanasi.  There will be three boats.  Twelve of us plus our guide will divide between two boats with two oarsmen per boat.  The third boat is a cooking boat and carries the tents as we will be camping on an island on the Ganges tonight.

Should be an interesting experience!  Life is a journey.  All is well with the Worrall Travel R's.

PS SPOT IS ON, if you are interested in following us down the river.

Day 6 Lumbini,

Travel to the border town of Lumbini, the sacred birthplace of Buddha.

Day 7 Varanasi

The change of scenery from Nepal to India is immediate. Enter Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, and be greeted by holy cows ambling along the highway.

Day 8 River Ganges Boat Trip

What better way to experience the sacred River Ganges than by boat? Journey down the waterway and experience life on India's holy river. Enjoy a delicious meal before spending a night camping on the riverbank.

Nepal Chitwan National Park Part 3 Safari by Elephant

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Breakfast at the jungle guesthouse was at 6:30 am and we were packed in an open air 4 x 4 jeep truck and bumping down a jungle track in the early morning mist by 7:00. We only have an hour and a half ride back to our base camp, but there is a people's political strike starting to close the main roads beginning at 8:00 or sooner. The government has doubled the price of cylinder gas, and the people complain by shutting down the roads...parking cars sidewise in the middle of the road.

We will be avoiding main roads and doing some cross country and village dirt tracks back to the base camp. Driving through sleepy villages just waking up, villagers starting cooking fires, milking goats, pumping well water, squat sitting in family groups close to their shelter are a photo vomis we jadn't anticipated bonus we hadn't anticipated.

As we approached the broad river we had canoed down the day earlier, our jeep rolled forward into the river. We could see the road on the other side. Fortunately, the driver had local knowledge and did not drive straight across. Instead we arced down river and and back up to the road avoiding a deeper area that could have swamped us. By 8:30 we were back at our ho,e base with a whole day, until 3:00 p.m. and our elephant safari, to just relax.

Our clothes from our jungle trek were filthy and sweaty, so for all of us laundry topped our list of "free time" activities. We sent ours to be beat on a rock at the river, and others did their own. One of our fellow travelers is a yoga instructor, so between laundry, taking walking excursions tothe village, and catching up on email or naps, we had a yoga session on the shaddy lawn.

Our entire group signed up for the 2 hour jungle safari in the late afternoon. This time we wouldn't be trekking ourselves, but would be high above the ground on the back of an elephant. We were excited about having the opportunity to actually look around and not at our feet. Rhinos, tigers and bears apparently are disinterested in attacking elephants, so our chances of getting closer to the wild life without fear was definitely appealing. Our mahute was Ali

There were 12 of us, four of us on 3 elephants. Our elephant was Sompakali. She had a square platform on her back with a guard rail attached by short poles in the four corners? Two of us straddled the poles forward facing, and two faced backwards. The ladies were in front and had a more comfortable ride than the men who sat backward on the downward slope of the elephant's back and had their chests pressed against the rails for two hours.

We crossed two rivers and each time the elephants would suck in the water and with their trunks swinging, spray themselves and us to cool down. I was quite nervous that the camera would get squirted, but I took fewer photos when we were in the water to keep the camera more covered.

We thought it was a great experience being so high looking down or high enough to not look so high for monkeys. We saw deer, wild bore, monkeys and three rhinos feeding. Even though the rhinos were disinterested in the elephants, the elephants had to be coaxed to get within 10 feet of the rhinos. Each rhino encounter, we could feel Sompakali shuddering and raising her trunk to puff indignantly, She didn't like it. We felt sorry for her.

Our safari came to an end and we parted ways with our elephants. We ate at a local restaurant and retired early. We would be leaving at 2:00 am,! The strike would be continuing in the morning and we couldn't wait or the roads would be closed. Our trip is expected to take 5 hours, so we will be in Lumbini, birthplace of Buddha, by 7:00 a.m.

Lights out. All is well with the Worrall Travel R's

Chitwan National Park Part 2 - Rhino Charge

Tuesday, March 7, 2013

We awoke early this morning to pole down the Rapti river in long tippy wooden canoes. "Sit still, and don't move" for two hours numbs the butt and cramps the legs, but each time there was the slightest movement by anyone of the six occupants, the canoe would rock. Since we were all carrying cameras that weren't waterproof, and we were right at waterline we stayed still and practiced yoga breathing as we glided down the misty river. The bird life was rich and wonderful.
What a wonderful way to start the day. We even saw hige crocs sunning themselves. It's quite different being in a rocky boat at eye level with these huge creatures. Be quiet we are told, they might come after us if we talk.

By 10:00 am, we reached our down river destination to start our jungle trek which would be five or six hours long depending the speed of our walk and the wildlife we would see. Our Intrepid group had four park guides, each carrying a big stick, no guns. We would be walking unarmed through a jungle filled with tigers, bull elephants, rhinos, and sloth bears. Hmmm, time to consider the wisdom of this expedition had passed, and we were in the jungle now!

We have all worn neutral blending colors for the trek so that we would not cause undo attention to ourselves..no white, red yellows, etc. We are carrying 5-15 lb. backpacks with water and overnight stay gear in a jungle guest house. Russ and I are in Khaki long pants and long sleeved shirts, Our guide now gives us additional instruction on jungle protocol and survival. Spray ourselves well with deet particular the bottoms of our pants and shoes. The jungle at this time of the year is tic infested. Luckily it is not the wet season, or we would be calf deep in mud with lots of leeches.

No talking or noise. We are to whistle or sh sh sh sh to get group attention, hand signals and pointing toward the direction of the animal with finger count of animals. Much of the initial part of our walk was through a control burn of elephant grass. The unburnt grass grows so tall and thick and closes itself around you it os easy to get lost and to not be a le to spot the animals lurking in the grass. The burned areas open the view so expeditions can see one another and potential threats, but the burnt grasses make for crunchy, pokey, tangling walking. There is a hand signal to walk quietly. That is a near impossibility for a line of 17 people. Each person must relay hand signals to person behind them.

We can take photos of wildlife, but be sure we are safe...distance, animals eating or watering are less aggressive. There are safe times and not safe times to photograph.

If we see a tiger, gather together, keep eye contact with the tiger, don't turn your head and run. They love the chase and will go for your neck and take you down. (not a safe time to photo)

If we see a bear, huddle in a group, look outward, raise your hands above your head, scream and yell. (not a safe time to photo)

If we see bull elephants or rhinos, and they charge, run! Rhinos can run fast 45 km per hour, but have a hard time turning. Sp we are to zigzag, hide behind a tree, climb the tree at least 10 feet up. I'm sure I wasn't the only one thinking "holy rhino sh&@!", I'm going to die here! (not a safe time to photo).

I couldn't scale a tree ten foot high when I was 20..we aren't talking trees with low branches and footholds, we are talking trees where the first branch is 30 feet high and we are wearing backpacks.

We look at the elephant grass and the trees seem a long way off in the distance. Our guide reassures us that these are worst case scenarios and none of this will happen, but he needs to prepare us. I look longingly back at the canoe and wonder how hard it would be to pole it back up stream.

We trek for about an hour before we stop and Suk our lead guide climbs part way up a tree to look over the grass lands for animals. We follow him past some watering holes with lots of rhino prints and sloth bear holes and dens. We hear sh sh sh sh, and Suk puts one fisted hand with extended index finger to his forehead indicating rhino. He points and holds up three fingers indicating number and gives us the walk very quietly sound.

Less than 20 feet to our right, we can just barely see three rhinos through the elephant grass cooling themselves is in a mud hole. It' s hot and sweaty at midday, and we can see how the cool mud might feel good. We are at a standstill, being very quiet. Suk motions for us to give him our cameras. He stealthily moves forward to a position where he can better photograph them. The rhinos are probably aware of our presence, but seem unbothered. Individually, we edge a little closer.

One of our party coughs! We freeze, but the rhino doesn't. His head pops up and he stares right at us. Russ whispers, "Did you get that shot?"

Hell no! I frantically tuck the camera in my front pouch, before the rhino starts to move toward us, and the guide tells us to RUN! All of us start pounding down the trail, backpacks flapping behind us. There is a lot of crashing behind us.

We are somewhere in the middle of the pack and we can't tell if the crashing is the rhino or members of our group. Where are the trees? We have run about 25 yards. I see a tree slightly uphill, and am about ready to veer off the trail toward the tree when the back guide yells for us to stop running. The rhino has veered to the right and we can see him charging through the thicket, parallel to is. He is now ahead of us and seems to have changed his interest! Phew!

My knees are trembling. I guess now we can say we successfully survived a rhino charge! It wasn't on our bucket list, but we are checking it off anyway and hope it's the only one.

The rest of our jungle trek seemed pretty tame. We saw a wild bore, monkeys, deer and sleeping crocs. We made it to our jungle guest house about 3:30 pm. Made good time....must have been the runnug! We order cool beers, recount our experience, and watch the sun drop into the river before our Nepalese home cooked meal, and sleep under the mosquito nets. It's been an exciting day.

Tomorrow we must rise really early and be on our way to our base camp. There is a strike happening tomorrow and the main roads will be closing by 8:00 a.m. We will need to take a lesser used cross country, village road network back to our base guesthouse where we have left the bulk of our luggage.

Lights out. All is well with the Worrall Survive R's

Chitwan National Park, Nepal Part 1

Monday, March 4-6, 2013 - Days 3-5 Chitwan National Park

 

Day 3

Take a local bus down to Chitwan National Park at the base of the Himalayas (approx 6 hours).

Declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 1984, Chitwan National Park offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Asia with rhinos, deer, monkeys and a wide array of birdlife including the infamous Nepalese wild chickens.

We were to take a local bus today out of Kathmandu.  I personally thought the first 10 minutes might be an interesting experience, and the next 6 hours, might be hell.  Riding with locals, chickens, and goats in an old bus with no shock absorbers, bench seats, with open windows, no air conditioning on bumpy dusty roads with only one planned toilet stop along the way didn't sound alluring.  

There are twelve of us on this trip plus our guide, and it was mind boggling to think all of us and our luggage would even fit in a local bus.  Guess you've guessed by now, we are not on a comfort trip.  Intrepid is about real life experiences with the locals.  Fortunately there have been threats of transportation and fuel station strikes, so our guide decided to play it safe and hired a private mini bus.  Just to make sure we got our "real life experience" this was no posh mini bus with cushie seats, seat belts, or air conditioning.  This van didn't look bad on the ouside, but inside it was a bit rough with hard seats.  All  of our luggage with the exception of our day packs was tied down on top of the bus, and we were sardined into the 13 small seats with our knees presses into the seats in front of us.  We used the 13th seat for day packs.

Kathmandu is a high mountain valley approximately 4,000 feet high.  The goal today was to descend out of the valley down to the river canyon, follow the river for a while then head toward the park.  Our driver lives in the park and had left at 3:00 am this morning to pick us up at 8:30 in Kathmandu and drive us back.  He was, I guess, an excellent driver as we arrived in one piece and alive, but it was the scariest ride we've ever taken.  

The road out of Kathmandu is a narrow, windy, descent.   It is a two lane major road with no lines so drivers can weave back and forth to avoid rubble, potholes, cows, and other vehicles doing the same.   It is crammed with buses, trucks, and motor bikes, going to and from Kathmandu.  

In order for us to make it to Chitwan National Park in six hours, our driver followed no one and passed everyone.  Vehicles coming the opposite direction were doing the same.  There were numerous times when our vehicle and an on coming vehicle were both on the wrong side of the road doing a dosey-do swerve and pass...Yipes.  We passed several trucks and buses that had broken down along the way, one over turned truck, and passenger bus that had gone partially over one of the steep river embankments and was being towed back.

Okay!  Needless to say, that was an experience, I am not looking forward to again, but am afraid that is the norm here and this only day 3!  The scenery was very interesting and we saw slices of rural village life and lovely terraced vistas as we descended.   It was not spectacularly beautiful as we had hoped.  The air here is smokey-dusty-hazy, the villages are shabby, and rubble and trash border the road.  The people however are beautiful.

The lack of any nicer restaurants along the way also meant no toilets either. We relieved ourselves along side the road in the bush.  Glad I had the she wee with me.  We stopped in one quaint village area by the river, and it had a single outhouse toilet that was well used.  By the time we reached The Royal Park Hotel in Chitwan about 2:30, my stomach was a rumbling volcano.  I stayed close to our room until dinner, skipping  a late lunch and a bicycle ride.  Russ took some lovely photos of the village life and a Nepal sunset.

We were treated to a cultural dance program this evening.  It was very entertaining.  The dances we saw are warrior dances by men with bamboo rhythmic sticks.  The men danced to bongo type drums and with great eye-hand coordination clacked their two sticks together and then those of other dancers as they whirled and twirled.  The performance ended with a fire dance.

All is Well with the Worrall Travel R's

Day 4

Set off with our local guides for a full-day jungle excursion. Begin by canoeing on the Rapti River into the park (approx 90 mins), before jumping out and embarking on a trek to Ghatgai, a village in another section of the park (approx 12 km, 7-8 hrs). Our trekking pace will be slow and quiet to try to maximise our chances of seeing some wildlife and we can soak up the atmosphere with a couple of breaks and a lunch stop along the way. You'll need to carry your own day pack, including your picnic lunch.

 

Day 5

The next day, trek back into the park for about 90 minutes and visit the crocodile breeding centre, then take jeeps back to our hotel at the edge of the park.

Kathmandu Unfolds

Saturday and Sunday, March 2-3, 2013

Today was our first day in Kathmandu. Russ and I, along with a fellow Intrepid traveler Sandra from Texas struck out on our own through the gates of the Kathmandu Guest House after breakfast at the cafe.  Our formal group gathering with our guide wouldn't start until 6:00 pm, so we made arrangements through the Intrepid office for a half day tour to Baktapur, a UNESCO World Heritage site, after lunch, but for now we had the morning free.

Sandra had also come in the night before and was as curious as we were about the dark alleys we had traveled through and what they would like in the day light.  The shabby steel doored alley ways were still shabby, but  the steel doors had lifted and the alleys had exploded into a profusion of people, vehicles, and brightly colored textiles, rugs, clothing, masks, scarves, shawls, fruits, vegetables, jewelry, musical instruments, incense, rickshaws, purses ,bags, and so much more.  What an absolute feast for the eyes.

Here is what the Intrepid Itineray looks like for the first two days.

Days 1-2 Kathmandu

Namaste! Welcome to Nepal.

Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm on Day 1.

Kathmandu is the largest (and pretty much only) city in the country. It can feel like another developing-world city rushing into a modern era of concrete and traffic pollution, but take a walk in the back streets and the capital's amazing cultural and artistic heritage reveals itself in hidden temples overflowing with marigolds, courtyards full of drying chillies and rice, and tiny hobbit-sized workshops largely unchanged since the Middle Ages.

Day 1 optional on your own:

Take a trip to Bhaktapur, located about 20 km east of Kathmandu. Known as the 'City of Devotees' and Nepal's cultural gem, Bhaktapur is filled with monuments, palaces and temples with elaborate carvings, gilded roofs and open courtyards.

After a tasty lunch of momo (similar to pot stickers) and Thukpa  (noodle soup), we hired a taxi and guide to take us to Bhaktapur.  This is a city built in the 1400's.  The temples and carved wood work are wonderful.  UNESCO is assisting with financing the restoration of this site which needs repair as much of it has gone to ruin.  The locals who live here have limited electricity and still draw water from the well to take up to their living quarters.

Nepal is primarily a Hindu country.  Hinduism is a complex religion based on mythologies and reincarnations.  

Day 2 optional on your own:

Early AM:  Take-off on a flight from Kathmandu airport to see some spectacular mountain scenery. Those who don't have the opportunity to go trekking can get panoramic views of the Himalayas in just an hour.

Our early morning flight suffered many before and after delays due to ground fog, but we had a beautiful sunrise and the views of the Himalayas were wonderful.  As we flew back to Kathmandu, the pilot informed us that the Kathmandu airport had closed because of the fog and we could not circle indefinitely or we would run out of gas.  So we had to wait it out in Pakhara,  20 minute flight or 8 hour car drive from Kathmandu.  We could just see a ghost of the Anapurna range through the fog while we were on  the ground.   It was an altogether different experience seeing these massive mountains from the bottom looking up

Day 2 as a group:

Mid-morning, early afternoon:  See the ancient Swayambhunath Stupa (known to tourists as the Monkey Temple) - Kathmandu's most important Buddhist shrine. The sleepy, all-seeing Buddha eyes that stare out from the top have become the quintessential symbol of Nepal.

Join the pilgrims at Bodhnath Stupa - the largest stupa in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. It's the centre of Tibetan culture in Kathmandu and rich in Buddhist symbolism.

Our morning flight was delayed, so we didn't start our temple tours until afternoon.  We visited the Swayambhunath Stupa and the Bodhnath Stupa, both Buddhist  temples.  The first one was the oldest and the second is the biggest in Nepal.  We visited an art school where Buddhist monks and students work to paint the Mandela.  It takes ten years to become a master student.  It is amazing the patience and fine hand skills these students develop.

Tomorrow our group heads out tp the Chitwan National Forest for some trekking.  I think posting photos, blogs, etc. will be difficult if not impossible.  

For now though, all is well with the 2 Worrall Travel R's.

Arrived in Nepal

Arrived in Kathmandu Guest House last night at midnight. Brrr. Glad we had on our long pants and fleece jackets. Had a voucher for a taxi transfer and room, but lots of confusion as we weren't on the list. Eventually it all got sorted out.

We asked our driver how long the drive was from airport to hotel. He said, 6 km-20 minutes...short distance, long time?? And indeed the narrow rutted, dark road through curvy alleys and shabby buildings seemed other worldly and took us 30 minutes. Crossed my mind that we were being kidnapped and our bodies would be found in the morning. The guesthouse is behind iron gates. The daylight adventure begins today as we step through the gates.

We will be exploring on our own today. Plan to take a sunrise air flight tomorrow through the Himalayas then we start our touring after breakfast

All is Well with the Worrall Travel R's

Halong Bay and Goodbye Viet Nam and Goodbye Worrall Wind

Wednesday-Friday, February 27-March Day 19-20-21,  2013

HaLong Bay

Itinerary:

​​You can leave luggage behind at our Hanoi hotel and pack an overnight bag. It is a three-hour drive to famous Ha Long Bay, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of Vietnam's most spectacular natural wonders. Views of sailing junks navigating past over 3000 limestone islands and rocky outcrops jutting out of the bay are nothing short of spectacular. We travel to Bai Chay (Halong City West) where we board a boat for an exploration of the bay, enjoying a seafood lunch and dinner (non-seafood also available), as well as spending a night on board. We visit one cave in the area and, in the warmer months, there is a chance to enjoy a swim. Conditions may be somewhat more communal compared to staying in a hotel, however it is a wonderful experience to be spending a night on the bay – weather permitting, the views at sunset are incredible. Bedding and towels are provided. All boats used by Peregrine have twin-share cabins with en suite facilities and air-conditioning. There may also be the chance to do some kayaking (optional and extra cost involved) on Halong Bay. ​

*****************​

Today is Friday and we are back in Hanoi after a two day sojourn  to Ha Long Bay, UNESCO World Heritage site.  Last night we bid farewell to our hearty group of traveling friends.  We also received word that the proceeds of Worrall Wind are in the bank and our beloved boat is now in the hands of new owners.  This is the first time in 4o years we have been without a boat.  Feels both sad and for Russ liberating.

We just finished breakfast, Russ's is off to mail some packages at the post office so that our luggage for South China Airlines is under the 20 kilo max.  Our taxi arrives At 10 and then we are off to the airport and Nepal.  Our Indochina adventure is ending.  Viet Nam has indelibly left an imprint in our memories.  The rice paddies, gardeners, quaint shops, wonderful food, Buddhist Pagodas, historical sites where so many of our Americans died in an attempt to prevent communist take over of Viet Nam, and the craziest traffic we have ever seen.

Millions of motor bikes and cars vye for space and ignore laws.  In Viet Nam green light means go, yellow light means go, and red light still means go.  Why there are cross walks, one can only wonder, as pedestrians have no more right away here than anywherelse, which is basically none.

 Motor bikes don't make 90 degree turns on cross streets, they start a block away moving into the on coming traffic to make the turn, and if it is too busy or one way street, they pop upon the side walk.  Honk, honk.  Horns are continually sounding to warn others to get out of the way.

We've learned to cross streets in horizontal lines, walking slowly and deliberately forward with mo quick movements as the traffic gauges our moves and weaves around us. I gave up watching our bus driver passing cars on narrow two lane roads with obvious oncoming traffic.  It was too disconcerting so I sat farther back and tried to ignore all of his weaving, and horn blasting.  It is truly an amazing feat to have survived the traffic here.  Definitely and adventure.

 We've learned  much and appreciated our local guide's candor and knowledge of the country.  He was very small when the war was over.  His father was in the South Vietnamese Army and left when the Americans pulled out.  Today his mother and older brother and family live in Texas while he makes his home here in Viet Nam with remaining siblings, his wife, and children.  He dreams of sending his two small daughters to America to study when they are a little older.  He wants them to broaden their perspectives beyond the politicized history and limited freedoms in Viet Nam, today.

We leave for our next leg of our trip, but not without sharing some of our photos of the last few days.  Fortunately or unfortunately the weather was foggy and we did not get the stunning photos of greens and blues one would expect in travel brochures.  Instead we captured the silhouettes and layers of the craggy limestone mountains in an ethereal mist.

On Our Way to Ha Long Bay

Artist at Work - We bought a an embroidered piece just like this one.

Junk Passenger Port

Boats in the Mist

Captain Russ Couldn't Resist a Pose by the Wheel

Our Stateroom

Gliding into the Mist

World Heritage Caves

 

We spent the afternoon kayaking in protected bay, but first we had to glide through a cave opening

Monkeys jumped from rock to rock, and swung from trees.

All is Well with Worrall Travel R's

Hanoi, Viet Nam

Presidential Palace

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Day 18: Hanoi

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch

Activities:

​We are transferred to the airport for a morning flight to the capital. Hanoi is one of Asia's pmost enchanting cities. This northern capital is a quiet, contradiction of its southern counterpart. Its relaxed ambience is a joy, with exploration best on foot or bicycle. The shopping is fun and the many lakes and parks provide enjoyable escapes. We take a guided half-day tour of Hanoi, visiting the major sights, including the Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda, and paying a homage to Vietnam's most famous revolutionary, Ho Chi Minh. We also include lunch at KOTO restaurant – an amazing project aimed at providing vocational training and experience in the hospitality industry for underprivileged young people. All the staff you meet at this café have come from poor backgrounds. In the evening there is an option to enjoy a performance of the unique Water Puppets.

*********

It's been a long day with an early start.  We were boarding the plane from Danang to Hanoi by 8:30 a.m.  By 10:30 we were in Hanoi and visiting the Temple of Literature which is a shrine to Confuscious as a great teacher.   Graduating high school students often have photos taken here.

Original Flag of Viet Nam on Left

Shrine to a Great Teacher - Confucius

Chinese Greetings

Posing for High School Graduation Poto

We visited all of the above plus the Hanoi Hilton, French Colonial prison and site of POW camp in Viet Nam.  The propaganda of how well US POW were treated was so thick, we should have worn muck boots.

Mausoleum where body is preserved for viewing

One Pillar Pagoda

Hindu Influence

"Hanoi Hilton"

John McCain's Flight Gear

With Folded Arms these Pilots do not look like this was a voluntary photo

Lots of Photos of the Hanoi Hilton's Hospitality

We walked around Hanoi last night enjoying the sites, sounds, and northern cuisine.

This is where we are going today, Wednesday, February 27, 2013. There will be no Internet access, so we will catch up later with blog.  Looking forward to being on  the water.

All is Well with the Worrall Travel R's