Flying around Hanoi

Have literally been flying around Hanoi the last few days- organising everything!

Hmm think I am paying too high for the apartment- but not sure what to do about that. But I have figured out that I can RENT a scooter from around 50USD (25 GBP/250DK) a month so over 6 months that would be a bit cheaper and easier than buying- plus if it goes wrong they will fix it and insurance (hopefully) is coveredhttp://www.offroadvietnam.com/eng/18-59.php :)

The following is pretty much notes to myself, but feel free to feel envious- or just come visit! :p

Hey I can fly to Thailand for 80 USD return (that's around 40 quid or 400dk!) weekend in thailand maybe.. I can also fly to kuala lumpar for around 200 usd (96 quid or 960dk) K.L is a four hour flight and bangkok is a one hour flight away! Both flights are with http://www.airasia.com/ so check if you don't believe me :) With http://www.tigerairways.com/ I can reach singapore in 3 hours for around 240 usd (115 quid/1150dk). With pacific airways I can reach Saigon in 2 hours for 127usd(60 quid/600dk). Airasia also offer packages 2 night stay in 5 star hotel including flights and breakfast= 257 usd (thats 123 gbp/1230dk!!!). With cathay pacific it's 2 hours to Hong Kong.

Anyway lots of information about Hanoi airport and the routes serviced here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noi_Bai_International_Airport

And a return ticket to europe? 838USD (400GBP 4000DK) Hmm.. should I come "home" for christmas..or stay in the sunshine...? :) or maybe more communism in russia/prague/budapest for 630USD... with vietnam airlines...

and visas required?
singapore - no gain visitor pass on entry
hongkong - no
malaysia - no
thailand - no

Anyway- off to dinner this evening at Ha's parents- my first time in a Vietnamese home. Ha's parents don't speak english so I get a chance to try my Vietnamese...wish me luck! :)

New home in Hanoi

The day before yesterday I ventured out alone- I went to the british embassy to register- after I went for a walk whilst I waited for Ha to come with me to look at apartments. I discovered a mall- and realised that I am a bit of a queen here! Everything is so cheap it's unbelievable. You can pick up an ipod for 20 quid (200dk)... the shoes are 9 pounds (90DK).. in the evening two of us ate for under 2 USD!!! I saw one apartment but it wasnt good.

My friend Ha is helping me a lot- I am very glad I have her- she is a lovely person and a good friend to me!I feel quite bad that my money is worth more here- but it's not my fault. It's very embarassing, especially as she uses her petrol and phone to help me out, I want to help her pay but she is very proud and wont let me sometimes! This makes me feel worse!

I really like it here. Despite the obvious language problems (starting lessons soon)and I have a huge challenge at work - but I like a challenge!

I'll be buying a local phone and a moped soon- necessities here in Hanoi it would seem :)

Yesterday I actually found an apartment. I had to choose between a beautiful house by the lake, and a duplex in a skyscraper. The house by the lake was 750USD a month, and was in between lots of other similar 3 storey houses. It was 2 minutes to moped to work on a quiet road, but supermarkets were a way away.

The apartment was on two floors also with 3 bedrooms. It was a bit newer, had also 3 bathrooms, but the security was better and it has a rooftop bar- I talked to the owner and he would like me to sing some saturdays in his bar :) The bar has wifi internet so I can also work there whilst sipping cocktails :) SO although there's no outdoor area- theres the roof bar which is a bonus... and a supermarket and bank on the ground level. Banks are very useful because 500 kroner (50 pounds) is about 2 million Dong!! And this is a LOT of money to carry around!!

Also the apartment people will supply everything I need machine-wise so although it's more at 900USD it seems the better option. Although I loved that house- the apartment is only 5 mins on moped from work.

But negotiations are still going on- the house owner wants 6 months money up front!! I don't have that kind of money!!! So the agent is negotiating now- I am very nervous about handing huge sums of money over- in Vietnam that is a FORTUNE!!

So anyway today I am trying to find a moped. I will try find a second hand one as new ones cost around 500 quid (5000DK)

One more thing- who are these mystery people writing on my blog?? Email me or something because I REALLY dont know who you are???!! :)

By the way the pic today is me in Vietnam- click it to see it big sized :) That's Ha's moped- I will buy one like that :)

At home in Hanoi

Here I am in Hanoi. arrived yesterday and it felt like I'd never been away! Haven't seen much of Hanoi though- arrived around midday and spent the rest of the day recovering from a very bad journey. I don't recommend thai air!

Also read the not very clear luggage rules wrong and had to ditch half the things I brought with me at the airport. This was surprisingly easy- it's amazing how much you dont need stuff you think you need!

Currently in a hotel in hanoi, which is very luxurious, but laid in bed last night and felt a bit lonely- but thats only to be expected.

It's raining here right now- very warm but light drizzle- I'm off to the embassy today and see some apartments. Venturing out alone! It's amazing how I don't feel any different, this could be denmark or anywhere and I just feel fine. Wherever I lay my computer is home...

Total panic

So I fly on tuesday. The moving men come monday, the cats go sunday, visa to be picked up tomorrow, same leaving drinks with work. I am packing as fast as I can, but there just seems to still be stuff EVERYWHERE.

Danes don't seem very helpful (apart from you Doc ) and rather shy away from offering to help. So I am all alone packing, doing paperwork, still working from home, and a little tiny bit stressed out. I'm gonna need that drink on friday!

One of my friends told me the other day he was also fed up with selfish Danes. He even thinks I won't come "home" again...

Right now I'm so tired and everything seems a mess... I'm about to drive to my friends house with the contents of my freezer, and then go say goodbye to my language school. Oh no i forgot to pick up the dollars I ordered! Tomorrow I guess!!!

This is crazy. Moving life in one week. At the moment I don't recommend it!

Heading to Hanoi

So flights are now booked. I fly ouit October 30th.. next tuesday. Panicking a bit now, haven't much time or energy to pack. Have leased my apartment, sorting out all the visa documentation today has been crazy. And now I'm starting to think, of all the people I will miss, now peopel have started to say they will miss ME! I mean it's only 6 months- and it will fly by, but I will miss people. And my cats :(

But it's all for the good if I come back a better person, right? And I intened to see some of asia, hardly seen any of it- so I can use hanoi as a base to see as much as I can :)

Can't wait to eat proper food again- getting fed up with burgerking/mc d's now!

All I need to do now is find my home in Vietnam..oh and pack these darn boxes!!! Where are all these people that call themselves my friends now when I need them???!

Finding myself in Hanoi

If you had told me this time last week that I would have been packing my life into boxes to move to Vietnam- I would have probably laughed at you. But here I am in a frenzied packing spree, and organising an apartment in Hanoi! Life is funny like that.

Am I scared. Not at all. Should I be scared? Maybe...

I will miss my cats, and I hate giving them away, they are like family to me, and they know something is going on, but theyre not quite sure what...

I know life in Hanoi is going to be different, but I am ready for chnage, and I need to change myself and my outlook on life. I need to find myself :)

Falling for Hanoi

Just back from Hanoi and I loved the city so much. It has such a nice peaceful feeling and the people are so nice.

So I have decided to move there for 6 months, and if I can access my blog (this blogsite is banned from vietnam) I will blog my experience and leave pretty pictures :)

I need to shake myself and life up, and I need to get away and think about where I am going and what I am doing. Where better than to do this in an exciting city I love.

For the next 6 months I plan to take good care of myself, and my health and work hard. I have a lot of thinking to do! I need to develop more as a person, and perhaps learn more peace and less stress the buddist way.

Wish me luck!