Wednesday 30 May 2018

There are nine Starbucks in Hanoi. All no doubt have internet, which, although important in Australia if you can find one (not in Darwin) because of otherwise crappy, expensive or nonexistent service, is of little moment in Vietnam. Mobile data sims are inexpensive and every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse, not to mention every cafe and hotel in the country has fast, free WiFi. Madam Huong's French Bakery Cafe was no exception and, after a late start, became an additional delay en route to Lenin Park. She has croissant, pain au chocolat and Vietnamese coffee. Hey, priorities... it's just a park.

Have decided to transfer disapprobation for excessive walk times from Jan to Google maps as it's always excessively optimistic. Raters must all be long-legged people in open sidewalk cities with little traffic. They arrive sooner, but we have more fun.

Under mild protest, walked to one more temple in French Quarter. Same, same only different - bigger, slightly less tacky. Whoever has the gold paint concessions where Buddhists hang out must do scandalously well. Added feature of this one was constant high volume chanting over loud speakers that presumably a significant number of people find either soothing or inspiring that would soon have caused me to snap and begin beating monks senseless with a plastic Buddha.

National History Museum of Vietnam was a significant improvement - quiet, air conditioned, cold drinks. Oh, coincidentally presented an overview of its history from beginning of Bronze Age, around 4000 years ago, until French colonization. Pretty interesting. Geography gave kingdoms independence until Chinese finally took over late BCs with just a few interruptions for 1100 years. After that dynasties ruled for another millennium with the occasional civil war or intervention by Chinese, Mongols, Siamese and eventually the French late 19th century. (Not covered here, but except for Japanese during WWII, France maintained control until the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954 when Ho Chi Minh's guys got the north. South was independent until after Viet Minh and Vietcong tried to unify the country and eventually did at end of Vietnam War (called American War here)). Lots of cool artifacts are shown including gold, jewels and some big bronze drums. Some of the artwork was very good. Jan liked the beads.

Jack