Getting to Ha Noi and Settling In

Xin chao, tat ca nguoi!

Tonight's my last night in Ha Noi. In a few hours I need to pack up and meet Scott at Noi Bai Airport to fly to Da Nang this evening. Scott arrives late morning so I agreed to meet him around noon to keep him company. Besides, I think I have to check out of the hotel by 11am anyway. 

Internet has been lousy at this hotel and I noticed it works best at ungodly hours of the night- although it isn't working right now and it's 3:30ish in the morning. Don't you worry though, because as soon as I'm done writing I'm going downstairs to hack into another neighboring hotel's internet. The guy up front, Tuan, gave me the code yesterday only I can't get a signal up here on the "3rd" floor (it's more like 10th floor with all the stair climbing I need to do) so I need to run down to the lobby.

Well I said I would tell you about my arrival to and out of the airport and into Ha Noi. As we came in for a landing I noticed I couldn't see much of anything from the windows. The air appeared hazy and thick- it was! As soon as I entered the customs area I couldn't help but giggle to myself and be pleased that I really made it back! I was so excited that the first thing I did was take a shit! Wow!! If you've read about my 2009 experiences or have heard my stories, you know this is big and good news. Yay, I'm home, I thought to myself. For me,  if I can't shit then I'm stressed or my body senses the unfamiliar so really, truly this is important! Customs didn't do anything but stamp my passport and gesture me through to baggage claim. It's a small airport and not very complicated to navigate. My baggage claim area was literally right next to customs. They have a really cool conveyor belt by the way- it's like a giant "U" with belts on the inside and out so nobody's pushing or huddling around in one place. 

Got my giant bag and exited the area into the lobby where I knew I would be approached immediately by drivers asking to take me into the city. When I came in 2009, the group we were coordinating with, sent 2 women by taxi to pick me up. Huong (a director from the HaNoi area for a legal advocacy organization supporting gender and disability rights) and  Anh (a former teacher of the Deaf and current director from the Ho Chi Minh City area for an organization advocating for Deaf and disabled adults rights and employment) showed up at almost 11pm, took me to dinner then dropped me off at my hotel. In 2009, I arrived and left the country at night so it was very interesting and confusing to figure everything out. This time I arrived in the morning and my departure will be during daylight as well. 

Sure enough though, I was approached by 2 different men offering me a ride into Ha Noi before I even made it through the crowd of people waiting for their loved ones with flowers and gifts. Everyone exiting into the lobby has their passport in hand so people know who to target first- the blue passports are from Hoa Ky! I've seen green and burgundy ones, but it seems different countries have different colors. I declined the offers and walked over to the information kiosk to ask for a map and stuff my passport into my bag away from view.

While some taxi drivers charge by the distance or time, some charge a flat rate so I asked for help at the information desk. Some drivers also drive regular unmarked cars. I took one of those alone when I returned from Hoi An to Ha Noi  on the last trip and I felt some fear (the situation was a definite trigger for me). At the last minute, 2 other men hopped into the car to join me and it seemed like a scam. My Vietnamese was good enough to tell them I knew where I was going and that I was from Mexico, haha! They know the economy in Mexico is similar to that of Viet Nam so they seemed to back off on the questioning to size me up. I did arrive safely but I wouldn't want to do that again. I thought I could even take a city bus this time just for the experience and safety. Don't let me influence you negatively, I've had nothing but awesome experiences in Viet Nam but I can't be stupid either. In the northern area, people are pretty much friendly and kind. I've heard different stories about the south. A friend of mine was mugged for his electronics and he is a tall dude...and a guy! So you just never know and that's in any country with anyone. Hell, I got mugged for 50cents in San Jose one evening in a well lit and busy area! Who remembers that shit?!?!? So I just need to do what works for me.

City bus would be 3$ and an hour ride to who knows what bus stop. A taxi would be 30$ and less than an hour directly to my hotel door...hmmmm... I thanked the helpful women and stepped outside into the humidity, ooooo, hellllo thick air!! It's wasn't too hot for me yet but give me a minute. Several men came up to ask if I wanted a taxi and I asked how much. One guy named Tom (uh-huh, right) jumped in and said 18$ one price- SOLD!! Well that is if it's really a marked taxi car. He asked if I was married, if I had any children, if I wanted to marry a Vietnamese, and if I had been to Viet Nam before. I answered his questions while we waited for a car. He said he wasn't married either and women "lots of problems!" I said "men same!" and we laughed! Then he said he would leave his number to call him for the return trip. The "Jolie" car showed up and had a taxi label- yay cool! The driver loaded my bag and off we went. He put on his music and hit the freeway singing away, too cute! I looked out the windows to see what I recognized and took some pictures. The driving was crazy just I like I remembered it and the view was beautiful. What a great way to arrive- took my first shit already, got a good deal on a taxi ride, the driver was singing. Big sigh! All was well!!

Then all of a sudden the driver pulled to the side of the freeway,  murmured something to me in Vietnamese, jumped out of the car, and ran off!!! WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?! hello???? It all happened so fast!! He left the keys in the ignition with the car running and even left his cell phone!  ...huh???? Hello, what's going on?!?!? I filmed a clippet of this since I was in the middle of taking pictures when this all took place. I hope to add some photos/video soon when I get the cord I need or find a computer that can read my SD card. I waited for a bit and watched the traffic go by...well let's be rational...Viet Nam style...people often stop for a snack on the side of the road, this is true. I looked around for vendors, none in sight! Ok ok well there's also needing to use the restroom. Maybe he ran to pee somewhere? Our driver from Cao Bang did that. It's normal...yeah maybe that's it...should I get down or at least move the car off the freeway? Ahp! His cell phone started ringing, should I answer? Maybe he had to meet a friend or pick someone up so he went to get them? People do that here so that's ok too. I took off my seatbelt and decided I would go look for him. Just as I was about to get out of the car, here he comes running back! Oh, ok, whew! I asked in my choppy Vietnamese "ban di ve Sinh?" and he busts out laughing saying yes and sorry then drove off again singing as if nothing had ever happened....hhhmmmmaaaaalritey then!!! Viet Nam!!!!

We arrived into the city and then further into Hoan Kiem District looking for the Old Quarter. Up and down the streets through the street markets. I saw a lot of foreigners, wow! In 2009, I was one of about 3-4 I saw roaming the streets when I was in Ha Noi for the first few days. Now we were everywhere! Must be peak season. Immediately I noticed the streets weren't as cluttered. Yes there is still crazy traffic by car, moto, bike, and peds but there seemed to be less shops n booths. I would have to do some investigating later! 

We pulled up to the address on my card from 2009 with the same hotel I requested, classic II. I looked up and saw a different name- OH OH!!! 

I told the driver it was the wrong place and he asked to see my paperwork. Uh, what paperwork? :o/ we went in to find out if they had my name. NOPE! No record here, shit! Ok well how about we call Tony's travel agency in Hai Phong and talk to Ms Minh who made all of our arrangements? It was a good thing I brought all of the business cards I had collected during my time here last time- found Tony's card, score! Now I was afraid the numbers might be different there too, fingers crossed! One of the workers of the hotel took a liking to me instantly and pulled me aside. She told me not to worry and asked another worker to bring me some water. How sweet! She told me in choppy English how a new company had bought out the old company and I explained what I knew in choppy Vietnamese. We seemed to understand each other just fine. She convinced me to unload my bag from the taxi, pay the driver (who's name was Cuon I came to learn), and let him go- okie dokie! The water came, ice cold and was much needed, mmmmm!!! 

So if taking a shit was the first thing I did when I arrived, I have to say drinking the water was the 2nd thing I did- to be continued...

Back to my wrong hotel situation: after 20 minutes of phone tag and misunderstandings with Ms. Minh, the gal and I discovered that my hotel was just right around the corner from there. Yay!! Doesn't this sound like a fortunately/unfortunately situation my Valemadristas?!?!? Well it was indeed!!

A guy helped drag my enormous bag around the corner and I started the check in process. No name on record! Here we go again!!!! Since I now had 20 minutes of experience with hotel confusion I was able to repeat the process: call Tony, wait for Ms. Minh to call back, let Ms. Minh explain to the hotel folks in Vietnamese then explain things to me in English, back n forth, back n forth...annnnnd DONE! The young adorable guy, named Tuan, took my passport, gave me a key, then pointed up the stairs...WHAT, no elevator!?!?!? Now I sound like a spoiled lil rich kid but seriously didn't I mention that my bag was 80+lbs?!?!? Ugh!! The other hotel has an elevator :o( bad choice on my part...and wait til Scott finds out it isn't the same place. I know he isn't going to like this place :o( shhhhh, don't tell him! We already paid!

A woman showed up and ordered Tuan to carry my bag- oh no! He's so thin! He lifted my bag, threw it over his shoulder n started running upstairs panting and moaning and shouting by the time he got to the next floor. Omg, poor guy!! I laughed n laughed til we got to the second floor then I was gasping for air. Damn, these stairs are crazy!! I'm on the 3rd floor but there are at least 8-9 zigzagging flights of stairs to get up here. The floors are tall in height. Poor Tuan! I gave him 5$ and he was shocked. He wouldn't take it. It is a lot to tip but 80+lbs?? Come Tuan! Besides I need him to carry it down for me today when I leave to the airport and then again when I return at the end of the month, haha! He shrugged and bowed n ran off. Wowie, made it to destination #1 and it only took about 2hours. 

I turned on the ac- working? Check! Logged onto the internet to let my family know I arrived? Fail! Ugh! It took me a couple of more hours to get situated in my room then I forced myself to get out to the visitor's center to use their complimentary internet to contact my family. I was soooo tired! I tried to stay awake with the day to adjust but by 5pm i was back at the hotel and calling it a day.

I've been crashing every evening between the hours of 5-8pm then awake at night from 2-6am and dozing off in the mornings. Yesterday I stayed out from 8am to 10am then napped and went out again from 3:30pm until 7pm. 

By the way, I had a fun and interesting evening yesterday. I made a new friend who plans to come back at the end of the month to visit me when I return to Ha Noi but I have to tell you about that later :o) I haven't made it out to the lake yet like I've wanted, to see if everyone still exercises in the morning so I'm going to get ready and do that now. 

Then I have to pack and head out to meet Scott at Noi Bai so I may write while there if there's Internet. I can't wait to meet Da Nang and its people!

Happy Monday!!!

PS- having trouble posting again :o(