Today was my last, and possibly my favorite, excursion in Vietnam. Jamie and I spent all day in Halong Bay (3 hours northeast of Hanoi) on a private boat arranged for us by Long. Halong Bay, often called the eighth wonder of the world, is filled with roughly 3,000 limestone islands that look as though they were dropped into the water from the sky. Some describe the mountains as green teeth jutting out of the placid bay. It was sunny enough to hope for a tan (no luck), but there was also a light layer of mist that turned the jagged rock forms into silhouettes after a certain distance.
To begin with, we were served a massive seafood lunch, fresh from the water surrounding us. Jamie is allergic to all things aquatic, so it was up to me to eat enough crab, shrimp, fish, squid...for 2 (probably even 5) people. During the meal we pulled up next to this guy's boat house where he was catching much of what was on my plate. I lost my appetite at that point, but it was lots of fun looking at and playing with the marine life so intimately.
The following hour or so was the best: swimming in the bay and trying to capture cool photos of us jumping off of the boat. All of our attempts to dive were pathetic (we chickened out), but we have some awesome spread eagle and cannonball shots. To be posted soon...
And then the caves. On one of the many islands, there is an enormous series of caves (and more are probably yet to be discovered elsewhere). We explored the different sections illuminated by neon lights, entered the areas they said to stay out of (naturally), and took pictures of me sticking my head in the penguin-shaped trash cans. Also to be posted soon...
We got back to Hanoi 12 hours later, with just enough energy to bring food to our mouths and type a few paragraphs. On the car ride home we saw:
- a terrible bike accident, at least one dead
- a live pig (and we're talkin momma pig) strapped belly up to the back of a motorcycle
- a store called "Boyz & Men" and then underneath in smaller letters "+ women also"
...only in Vietnam.
Oh, and last night was indeed quite a party. I've never eaten so many spring rolls or seen so many fireworks in my life.
This entry was posted
on Saturday, September 3rd, 2005 at 8:17 am in II. Vietnam.
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No motorcycle helmet, exploring off-limits areas of caves, hitching rides… just glad you listened to your father’s advice. At least you ate enough crustaceans for both of us. Good for you! On home front, stitches came out yesterday. Incision healing fine. Sporting new, royal blue cast (goes with everything); two weeks of this sartorial spendor, then a walking cast, I hope. Back to work at least part-time on Tuesday (Monday Labor Day holiday); Andre and Shalini are getting married in a few minutes in upstate NYK, sorry not to be there. You mother continues to watch U.S. Open without mercy. Barry and Candace over for shabbat dinner last night. Had an extra piece of chocolate chala (natch) for you. Your mother’s off to Bradford tomorrow to visit Aunt Martha. Wish I could go (right). I’ve got a couple more days to keep leg elevated, then watch out, L.A. Rachel and Wendy are coming over for lunch (Nick currently shopping with your mother in BH and Century City for god knows what; bought Nick an iSight yesterday, his last day at Apple store, so we can all network soon; gotta get out of this parenthetical…) Teddy just called, wanted to make sure I’m tivo’ing the James Blake-Rafael Nadal match for your mother. It never ends…But this post does. Be well. And stay out of unilluminated areas of caves, will ya? Love, Dad
September 3rd, 2005 at 10:34 amHolla!
Just with Gabi right now who says hello. Spent the latter part of this evening with Teddy and Harris Letter, good times. Went to dinner with Libby Rosenbaum, her friend, Evan Schnair, and Gabi at Pizzicotto, twas a very fun evening.
Chief Justice Rehnquist died - I’m not sure if the news has travelled to Vietnam yet, just happened a few hours ago. So, as of now, two openings on the bench for Bush to fill - although he’s got very little political capital right now (especially after acting like a fuc**** idiot in regards to Hurricane Katrina (devastating news coming all the time from New Orleans, apparently the once cosmopolitan city has become more like a city you’d encounter in Sri Lanka overnight - 90% of the houses are underwater, people dying in the streets, floating through the city…in the last 24 hours food has been brought in, and people have been brought out, so we can only pray for an end to the loss of life, although the rebuilding of the city will take years and billions of dollars from a government that currently doesn’t believe in taxes and feels its National Guard is more suited to desert warfare than emergency relief…) we can also hope that Sandra Day O’Connor may stay on the Court for a little longer now, slim chance but I have my fingers crossed.
Anyways, I have to wake up in 4 hours (4:30 am) to take mom to the airport for her trip to visit Aunt Martha, so I’m going to crash. Miss ya lots. Tough times for our country, I only hope that upon your arrival in 9 months or so things will be looking up. Here’s to a better day…
Lots of love.
-LB
September 4th, 2005 at 12:17 amnick - got your gift today! think youll like it. about to go and get something cool for mom and dad, all to be shipped home from bangkok tomorrow (but nothing can be opened til i get home in 9 months!!) so far doin well with the daily posts - im impressed. and thanks for the political/global updates in addition to the personal ones. i was watching cnn in the hotel and it made me sick (bush: where things are bad, we’re gonna fix ‘em. where things are good, we’re gonna duplicate ‘em. and people say he’s not smart), so now ill just count on you to filter the news for me and present it in the bush-bashing form that i love. when do you leave for boston? oh, and i was told today by jamies dad that Mr. Bartley’s (or somtehing) has the best burgers in town - been there?
ps. you know “hola” only has 1 l, right? so good at spanish
pps. make sure teddy reads the message i wrote about the shotglass
dad - what an update! you really covered all the bases. royal blue cast - very stylish. nick shopping? surprise, surprise. ive been able to catch some tennis on tv, did blake really beat nadal?? i miss chocolate challah. and all of you too, of course
September 4th, 2005 at 1:01 am