On the ground in Vietnam. We are staying in an older hotel - lovely curved stairs and entry. Rooms tidy and functional. We met the rest of the team ( 4!) and had a typical Vietnamese dinner. The food is not as spicy as Thailand but lots of interesting new tastes. Even after dinner and sunset it was dark and hot. Saturday night the Reece's a huge market on many of the streets in our area. It is typical random variety of men's underwear to shoes to knock off or real (?) North Face clothing. Not being in the market for any of those our goal wAs to be out with the locals. They were all there.
Actually I think it was that all of them we outside to stay somewhat cool. There are tiny garage like shops with typing tilting upper stories for the family. So kids, babies, grandparents - everyone was outside sitting or fanning or eating. Lots of looking - not too much buying. How many pair of Calvin Kline's does one really need?
We heard live music and stumbled into a square with a stage for performers in costumes, instruments. But the big attraction was the guest singer. Age introduced her son in what sounded Asian to my ears only to have the MC translate it into...what still sounded Asian to my ears. Finally figured she was Chinese or Korean and he was translating for the locals. After a lot of settling and clapping she began to sing. In Chinese or Korean. After a minute I looked at my fellow volunteer and we both said, "She is lip synching!" It was like watching a movie with the sound track slight off. Very strange.
But it was a happening night in Hanoi!
Actually I think it was that all of them we outside to stay somewhat cool. There are tiny garage like shops with typing tilting upper stories for the family. So kids, babies, grandparents - everyone was outside sitting or fanning or eating. Lots of looking - not too much buying. How many pair of Calvin Kline's does one really need?
We heard live music and stumbled into a square with a stage for performers in costumes, instruments. But the big attraction was the guest singer. Age introduced her son in what sounded Asian to my ears only to have the MC translate it into...what still sounded Asian to my ears. Finally figured she was Chinese or Korean and he was translating for the locals. After a lot of settling and clapping she began to sing. In Chinese or Korean. After a minute I looked at my fellow volunteer and we both said, "She is lip synching!" It was like watching a movie with the sound track slight off. Very strange.
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