Friday, 4 June 2010
Saturday, 22 May 2010
At the dentist...
I'm not sure this will ever catch on in the UK....
...fancy being in full view of anyone walking past as you grip the chair, white-knuckled...?
...fancy being in full view of anyone walking past as you grip the chair, white-knuckled...?
Thursday, 20 May 2010
It's very hot this week in Hanoi.
A rice seller having an afternoon nap among her wares. (She is there... hidden under the conical hat)
Even the plastic flowers outside my front door look wilted in the heat.
Even the plastic flowers outside my front door look wilted in the heat.
Saturday, 8 May 2010
Reunification day. 30th April
It's been a long while since my last post... Since I suffered a snapped Achilles tendon, I have been recuperating back home, but I am now back in Hanoi teaching English. On Friday 30th April I had a text message from my TA (teaching assistant) inviting me to go and see the fireworks at Hoan Kien lake in the centre of Hanoi.
We decided to walk to the lake from my hotel, which was a good decision as Pho Hue was mobbed with people. We couldn't get to the lake because of the crush so we had to watch the fireworks from near Pho Hai Ba Trung. We were standing next to a shop blaring out the Vietnamese National Anthem (apparently) as the fireworks cracked overhead and people cheered and clapped.
The fireworks lasted for about 15 minutes, from 9pm to 9:15, then it was a while until we were able to move as the crowded slowly thinned. We took a walk up to the lake, where there was still a carnival atmosphere. I tried some candy-floss (something I haven't eaten for many a year) made by hand on a hand powered machine on the back of a bicycle. These people work hard to make a living.
We decided to walk to the lake from my hotel, which was a good decision as Pho Hue was mobbed with people. We couldn't get to the lake because of the crush so we had to watch the fireworks from near Pho Hai Ba Trung. We were standing next to a shop blaring out the Vietnamese National Anthem (apparently) as the fireworks cracked overhead and people cheered and clapped.
The fireworks lasted for about 15 minutes, from 9pm to 9:15, then it was a while until we were able to move as the crowded slowly thinned. We took a walk up to the lake, where there was still a carnival atmosphere. I tried some candy-floss (something I haven't eaten for many a year) made by hand on a hand powered machine on the back of a bicycle. These people work hard to make a living.
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Charcoal cooking
The street restaurants around Hanoi usually have charcoal stoves for cooking the food.
The charcoal blocks (or moulded coal dust?) are sold by men or women cycling around town on bikes modified to carry their cargo.
After use, the spent blocks are simply discarded into the road with all the other rubbish...
The charcoal blocks (or moulded coal dust?) are sold by men or women cycling around town on bikes modified to carry their cargo.
After use, the spent blocks are simply discarded into the road with all the other rubbish...
The Tofu Lady
I sometimes have lunch on the street from the "tofu lady". A common sight around Hanoi. She arrives in the morning carrying everything with her in the two baskets carried on her shoulder. Stove, little plastic stools, plates, chopsticks, napkins, toothpicks...
The tofu and spring rolls are deep-fried and the cut up with scissors, and served with blocks of cold noodles (also chopped up with scissors) and salad herbs, and a bowl of dipping sauce with fresh chilli.
15,000 VND (About 50p)
The tofu and spring rolls are deep-fried and the cut up with scissors, and served with blocks of cold noodles (also chopped up with scissors) and salad herbs, and a bowl of dipping sauce with fresh chilli.15,000 VND (About 50p)
Thursday, 27 August 2009
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