Left our motel and spent most of the morning at Tai Bai (Hue) airport as our plane was late. Arrived in Hanoi and it was cold (OK cold according to Cayte). Got on our far too small bus and headed for Sapa. Interesting journey crammed in with our luggage, a continually protesting fan belt and no working windscreen wipers (and yes it was raining!), and for the first time maniac drivers driving at 100km. Our driver was Vietnamese and only spoke German - not English. I tried to have a conversation and think that I told him that one of my daughters was in Germany for a year as a student (well that is close). The road to Sapa is the closest to freeway that I have seen, and is new. Sapa is far more touristy than I would have thought with very windy narrow streets. From about an hour out the road was shrouded in fog. Our driver is a miracle worker. A few more facts:
* the Vietnamese can't decide which power plugs they like. I have now used every type of adaptor except the Australian plug. It appears each region in the country has its own type of power grid.
* in Vietnam you must wear a helmet to ride a motorbike, and usually so must the passenger
* the bread (except for baguette) is sweet just like the rolls at McDonalds - yuk
* soup is normal for breakfast - and really nice (pho, pronounced Fir)
* geckos are actually very noisy - and a problem if they are in your room at night
* the sky is rarely blue and I really do miss it
* 2/3 of the population of Vietnam is under 40 due mainly to the effects of the Vietnam war
* wedding photos are taken about eight weeks before the wedding. They are then included in the invitation that is sent to the guests
* Vietnamese women are paranoid about the colour of their skin. Many will not go out in the sun without being covered by a hat, a mask, a jacket and long pants, regardless of the temperature
* all the chairs everywhere are really heavy. I don't understand the logic of it
* passionfruit and pineapple over here are spectacular. They taste so different to home
* music emanating from the shops/motels is all classical European
* I have always thought that I really liked the taste of butter, but the butter over here is unsalted and I've discovered I actually like the taste of salt
