OR, WE ARE BEHAVING NORMALLY AGAIN. YES! WE ARE GETTING BACK. The horrendous brainwashing is finally being seen through. No’ we are not all the walking dead and maybe it’s the unpleasant dark forces have […]
Old Bird Travels Solo!
THE MATURE ART OF TRAVELLING ALONE. MY NEW EMAIL IS: OldBirdTravels@proton.me PLEASE LIKE AND SHARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST!
ADIOS HANOI, BEEP, BEEP! VIETNAM.
“Yes, yes,” he said now gazing blankly, incredulous that this mad Western old duck keeps quacking on.
HANOI AND ART. IN VIETNAM.
Off South next for some snorkelling and a look at the ransacking by the Soviets of the coastline and Nha Trang, a huge change for the more Chinese influence of Hanoi.
OLD BIRDS GOING SOLO. CAN I DO IT? YES I CAN!
My luggage rules are one carry on suitcase and a small under-seat rucksack for ALL trips. I will explain how to make this adjustment in your set thinking of how much to take.
STRONG BEAUTIFUL WOMEN. HANOI VIETNAM.
OR ART AND CULTURE HEAVEN AT THE WOMEN’S MUSEUM HANOI
Alert: Although lengthy this is worth the read, these women have proven themselves in all aspects of life and the Women’s Museum is a truly spectacular exhibit and for the sister birds of all ages, a must read.
I gave myself a day for just a wafer thin mint of culture before going on a boat tour of Halong Bay, (mistake to do that Rebecca you know you hate tours) and it wasn’t enough. I walked my little trotters off and totally exhausted myself.
Hanoi’s Women’s Museum.
I decided to walk from my hotel to the Women’s Museum. Mistake. It was far and in Hanoi you always have to add extra time for all those bloody scooters nipping in and out and whizzing round corners with piles of whatever they were selling that day usually impairing their vision. I was kinda tired when I got there and limped around a truly lovely historic foray of women’s role in Vietnam past and present. Small but ferocious, they impressed and entranced me in their many guises. You gotta give it to them they rock.
TRUMP VISITS KIM IN HANOI SO I’M OFF TO HALONG BAY. VIETNAM.
The journey dragged and the skies were grey and it all felt terribly depressing. We all were grim and it was super lucky that I met Janet and John, a lovely English couple who I could join in a good moaning session throughout the trip. I loved them.
GOOD MORNING VIETNAM!
I whimpered and white-knuckled the seat. I should have missed this flight and stayed in Hong Kong for fuck’s sake. I shouldn’t have been so obvious about how I hated their dictatorship I snivelled. I made a lot of promises in that ten minutes but hey, that’s what an atheist does when praying.
TIANANMEN SQUARE AND IT’S LEGACY?IN CHINA’S BEIJING.
ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY.
THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA.
OR I FINALLY MADE IT TO THE LONGEST GRAVEYARD IN THE WORLD!
Stirring from my uneasy sleep in my hovel I immediately started fretting about my MSS (Ministry of State Security, their Secret Service) ‘guide’ (I know you’re all snickering behind your hands about me being paranoid but I’m pretty sure I’m right) I dressed and had their hideous offering of breakfast then waited for her to turn up. She was late and I started freaking, because that’s what you do there, panic and be suspicious, but she showed up and when I asked to see her certificate she went shady. We went off and I had a strong feeling I was being abducted not going on a tour of the Great Wall. She started going onto this weird state sanctioned rant. She suddenly didn’t speak English when I asked her questions. She refused to go off piste with my wanting to talk about alternative subjects. Yes I know that she too could be scared but my story is better.
GLOBAL DEMONSTRATIONS AND A MELTING POT.
Time to open up shop again if indeed we don’t have a new surge?
Old Bird Travels Solo! 