Hot in Hanoi

Hello everyone! We are happy to announce that we are warm!

Yesterday and today were travel days as we made our way down from Yungshuo, China to Hanoi, Vietnam. It took us a few trains and a few buses, a little trek across the border, and we made it! The bus through the south of China into Vietnam was neautiful! The blue skies came out yesterday and have followed us into Hanoi! Our bus took us through dense crowds of motorcycles and scooters to finally land us somewhere near the old quarter of Hanoi. We arrive in the early afternoon, so we were able to find a cheap, but nice hotel, strip off the layers, and put on our flipflops!!! This is exciting!

We have been walking around the old part of the city and really enjoying it! There is a buzz in the air, and there are people, lights, sounds, smells everywhere! A particularly momentus event was our first street crossing...mom you were right, just walk right out into the sea of oncoming traffic, nice and steady, and they swerve around and manage to miss you!

We are going to take a few trips from here, first to the norhtern region of Sapa to do 4 days of trekking and exploring with the indigenous people, then to Halong Bay to see the towers karts mountains jutting out of the water. We are hoping to be in Hue or Hoi An for Christmas. It won't be the same as at home...sniff sniff!!! But we will celebrate with cold beverages on a beach!

We are happy, healthy and warm! The fist two weeks in China were an eye opener and a great experience. We're really excited about Vietnam! We'll keep you all posted! Lots of love, Karina and Christian.