Hanoi
Kilometers Traveled: 35
We landed in Noi Bai Airport at past one o’clock in the morning. The airport was silent and empty. We, and a couple of airport employees, were the only souls there.
First agenda of the day: build the bikes.
G-third and Levi rolled the bike boxes (many thanks goes to Al Terra Cyclery for them!) into the passenger lounge, and proceeded to put together frames, wheels, pedals, racks, group sets and so forth. They worked for a couple of hours or so – and soon enough, the bikes were built and ready to rumble.
Second agenda: Get some sleep.
Since it was the wee hours, it was still dark outside so we couldn’t roll out just yet. It was quite nippy in the airport, and the metal benches were not entirely conducive for restful sleep.
In a stroke of ingenuity and resourcefulness, Pen retrieved one of the bike boxes, laid it out on the floor and slept on it.
At around 5:00 am, the airport started humming with activity as stores and stalls opened for business and local travelers started streaming in. Now, we knew before we left for Hanoi, that it would be cold this time of the year. We assumed that "cold" meant "Baguio-cold". Were we ever so wrong! The locals coming into the airport were wearing boots, scarves, down jackets, earmuffs and gloves. Were we ever so under-dressed!
It was starting to get light, and soon we'd have to pedal out of the airport. So we all changed into our cycling gear. For the ride I wore : my cycling shorts, my outdoor pants (which I folded up to mid-calf), black long-sleeved top, cycling jersey and fleece jacket, and gloves, helmet and shades.
It was starting to get light, and soon we'd have to pedal out of the airport. So we all changed into our cycling gear. For the ride I wore : my cycling shorts, my outdoor pants (which I folded up to mid-calf), black long-sleeved top, cycling jersey and fleece jacket, and gloves, helmet and shades.
Locked and loaded, ready to ride. Here we come, Hanoi!
Motorcycle Mishaps, Hanoi On Foot
As we rode away from the airport, we found ourselves in busier streets. Now and then, we'd stop on corners, and our two gents would pull out the map and ask for directions by way of broken English and arm movements pointing this way and that. Ride, stop, ask directions, ride, stop, look at map, ride, stop, ride, ride, ride...
And somewhere along the way, this weekend warrior had a bit of a fall.
The motorbike came out of nowhere. I was making a U-turn then the next thing I knew, a motorbike had somehow collided with me and my bike had fallen to its right, and me right along with it. It was a rather soft collision - we were not going at high speeds, thankfully. Nothing was broken, although my confidence was a little shaken. But I couldn't let that incident get me down for long. Had to keep riding!
Eventually we got to the Hanoi city proper. And boy, what a feast for the senses. You had motorbikes crisscrossing this way and that, and parked here and there. Shops, stores, and hotels at every block. Pedestrians and peddlers. The cold was biting and we were hungry. We parked our bikes and wolfed down hot bowls of Pho Ga (chicken noodle soup). Our first Hanoi meal!
After lunch, we checked in into our hotel, freshened up and went out for a walk around the city. We navigated ourselves to the Hoan Kiem Lake, strolled along the bank, trying out fruit snacks from street vendors, and taking in more of Hanoi's sights, smells and sounds.
In the evening, we had dinner at a nice corner resto a few blocks away from our hotel after which we had our first taste of Vietnamese coffee. They were served in small teacups, on top of what looked liked oil burners, looking dark and dangerous, and sure enough packed a serious caffeine punch with each sip! Yowza.
On our way back to our hotel, we stumbled upon a nifty outdoor shop selling branded gear (The North Face and the like) and decided to get some cold weather reinforcements - down vests. All at a very, very, very good price. ;)
And somewhere along the way, this weekend warrior had a bit of a fall.
The motorbike came out of nowhere. I was making a U-turn then the next thing I knew, a motorbike had somehow collided with me and my bike had fallen to its right, and me right along with it. It was a rather soft collision - we were not going at high speeds, thankfully. Nothing was broken, although my confidence was a little shaken. But I couldn't let that incident get me down for long. Had to keep riding!
Eventually we got to the Hanoi city proper. And boy, what a feast for the senses. You had motorbikes crisscrossing this way and that, and parked here and there. Shops, stores, and hotels at every block. Pedestrians and peddlers. The cold was biting and we were hungry. We parked our bikes and wolfed down hot bowls of Pho Ga (chicken noodle soup). Our first Hanoi meal!
After lunch, we checked in into our hotel, freshened up and went out for a walk around the city. We navigated ourselves to the Hoan Kiem Lake, strolled along the bank, trying out fruit snacks from street vendors, and taking in more of Hanoi's sights, smells and sounds.
In the evening, we had dinner at a nice corner resto a few blocks away from our hotel after which we had our first taste of Vietnamese coffee. They were served in small teacups, on top of what looked liked oil burners, looking dark and dangerous, and sure enough packed a serious caffeine punch with each sip! Yowza.
On our way back to our hotel, we stumbled upon a nifty outdoor shop selling branded gear (The North Face and the like) and decided to get some cold weather reinforcements - down vests. All at a very, very, very good price. ;)
All in all, a good day. This weekend warrior's adventure is off to a great start.
<3
ReplyDeleteOhgosh, does it make sense that this makes me "happy in the stomach?" Same essence as having butterflies there!
Fast forward to January 11 please. Hehe!