I arrived in Hanoi Sunday night. It was dark by the time I was in the car on the way to the hotel, and just as we left the airport, it started pouring rain like a tap was turned on in the sky. The storm had the strength of a thunderstorm or more, but went on for a couple of hours. Even with the windshield wipers on high they couldn't keep up. Traffic slowed to a crawl. When we arrived, the car parked just outside the hotel door, but even going the few feet from the car to hotel got me totally soaked. I kept thinking "Denis, Denis... what are you thinking, planning a motorcycle trip during monsoon season?"
The next few days were busy with preparations for the trip, dealing with things that came up, and drinking beer with the guys who are on the trip. It turns out there are only four of us, including Denis. The other two, Claude and Luc, are also old friends of Denis'.
Hanoi has a special character, especially the old quarter which was where we were staying: the narrow streets lined with trees, tangles of electrical wire, tall narrow buildings of musty colonial architecture, people eating pho from vendors on the sidewalk, and motorcycles.
I'd been to Hanoi before so I had no urge to go sightseeing, but it was interesting to take in the feeling of the city while we were walking around shopping for things that we needed for the trip. I also got a haircut right on the street.
Something that came up was that a filling in my teeth fell out, so I had to go a dentist. Luc lives in Laos but he comes to Hanoi to go to his dentist, so I went there. Serenity International Dental Clinic. The equipment was completely modern and they did a through job. All for $60.
We picked up the motorbikes from the rental company today and tomorrow we head out first thing in the morning.
The next few days were busy with preparations for the trip, dealing with things that came up, and drinking beer with the guys who are on the trip. It turns out there are only four of us, including Denis. The other two, Claude and Luc, are also old friends of Denis'.
Hanoi has a special character, especially the old quarter which was where we were staying: the narrow streets lined with trees, tangles of electrical wire, tall narrow buildings of musty colonial architecture, people eating pho from vendors on the sidewalk, and motorcycles.
I'd been to Hanoi before so I had no urge to go sightseeing, but it was interesting to take in the feeling of the city while we were walking around shopping for things that we needed for the trip. I also got a haircut right on the street.
Something that came up was that a filling in my teeth fell out, so I had to go a dentist. Luc lives in Laos but he comes to Hanoi to go to his dentist, so I went there. Serenity International Dental Clinic. The equipment was completely modern and they did a through job. All for $60.
We picked up the motorbikes from the rental company today and tomorrow we head out first thing in the morning.
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