It's Christmas morning and I've come out to my office to write this inaugural Virtual Vacation blog post for my trip to Vietnam. Tonight, after Christmas dinner at my son and daughter-in-law's house, I'm being picked up at 8 PM, by my friend Joanie, to head to the San Francisco airport for our 1 AM flight to Hanoi. Joanie and I are heading out three days before my partner Karyn (our yoga teacher), our two youngest kids (Yeah! They wanted to come!), our tour partners Judy and Surya, and the folks who signed up for this trip from Australia, Mexico, Canada and all over the US. I wanted a chance to de-jetlag and get oriented in Hanoi before welcoming them all. And tonight is the night we depart. Right now, I'm sitting in front of a glowing space heater in my unheated, uninsulated office, ... [Continue Reading]
Vietnam: Always Expect The Unexpected
Wouldn't you know it? My first blog post practically wrote itself before we even checked into our Eva Air flight to Taipei. Joanie and I chatted our way through the check-in line and as we approached the front, we reached into our respective purses for our tickets and passports. I grabbed mine and when I looked up, Joanie was holding her ticket and rooting around in her purse with a very concerned look on her face. I recognized that look and knew it could only mean one thing: her passport wasn't where it was supposed to be. I found a still place inside me because panic never helps at moments like these. I dragged my duffle bag out of the pathway, motioned for people to pass us in line, and waited. Joanie searched through her purse a second time. Then she opened her suitcase and ... [Continue Reading]
Vietnam: Across the International Date Line
We made it....14 hours in the air and now we're in Tapiei and the airport is full of some of tackiest art ever. Lots of fake scenes of nature. And...we arrived at the airport on the 25th and it's now the 27th. Whaaa? We are definitely not in the US anymore. With my propensity to seek out the unusual and quirky, this room for nursing mothers definitely caught my attention. There were no mother-infant pairs inside, so I opened the door.... Hello Kitty EVERYWHERE! See what I mean? I wish I had a baby just to change it here. And this sign for a "Muslim Friendly Meal." Halal food, I guess! ... [Continue Reading]
Vietnam: Learning About the Women of Vietnam
This morning, our first in Hanoi, Joanie and I woke up from our respective twin beds (with very nice down comforters, I might add), remarked on how well we'd slept, and starting kicking around what wanted to do with our wide open day. I got on Trip Advisor and read about Women's Museum, a likely choice because it was one of the only Hanoi museums open on Mondays. One of the reviews said, "Absolutely amazing and it made it very clear which gender runs Vietnam." That description sold us for sure. The Women's Museum was going to be destination #1. The other thing we both wanted after our 24 hours of travel was to get a massage. I'd written to Judy, our tour leader, to see if she had a favorite massage place in Hanoi. She told us about a great foot massage salon, but there wasn't enough ... [Continue Reading]
