Tuesday
We were supposed to go to Ha Long Bay today, but our trip got canceled because a typhoon came in. Early morning in HaNoi it wasn't raining yet, but the storm front was moving inland and arrived by afternoon. We experienced the most wind that we did our entire trip--a gentle breeze!! :)
Since we knew the typhoon was coming in but didn't know exactly when, we canceled our plans to go sightseeing at museums (since one was outdoors), and we took the day "off" to sleep in and do some shopping. That is, most of us slept in--Mom was up before the city was awake and learned in a hurry that no one was at the home stay to start breakfast at 6am. After a late breakfast, Perfume took Mom on her motorbike to go shopping for material at the fabric village not far away.
Here is Mom on the motorbike!
After Mom & Perfume returned, Perfume took Mom, Joy, & I to buy traditional Vietnamese dresses.
On the way, we watched some electricians work on the mess of power lines.
Shopping for silk dresses
We went down the row of silk shops until we found one that we liked. The lady was really nice and turned out to be one very amazing seamstress!!! My co-worker had given me her measurements to buy a dress for her too, which I gave to the lady and when I got home, the dress fit her like a glove!
There were rows and rows of silks for us to choose from, all so beautiful!!
We sat & watched as the lady held up different silks for us to "try on."
First, she swathed Joy in the solid silk color for the bottoms...
...then she held up the top panel in front to get a good idea of the full effect...stunning!
The Rain Arrives!
Those on bicycles & motorbikes pull a rain poncho over their heads that covers both themselves and the front of their motorbikes--with a clear patch so their light can shine thru.
Water Puppet Show!
We had 5th row seats...
And here's looking behind us--so many tourists!!!
The introduction: All the musicians were arrayed in the Vietnamese traditional dress.
15 years ago, only Vietnamese was spoken...this time they also translated into English.
The puppet show was dramatized. The musicians all took part in
narrating and giving voice to the water puppets, adding drama.
The "Water Stage"
We got no pictures of the actual show--not that we couldn't have, but I took a video through it all, and as you can see, the pictures turned out a bit blurry anyway. These are actual real-live people, the puppeteers that came out to bow after the show. They are in the water for the duration of the show.
As Joy plays the Oboe, she was interested in their instruments.
This was the long-awaited event for Jesse. From the time we arrived, he kept asking about the show.
Water puppets for sale...$4.00 USD
An Entertaining Supper
We caught a taxi back to the Home Stay rather than trek the 20 min in the downpour. We didn't want to pay for 2 taxi's, so we waited a bit for a larger taxi/van, but none came along. Only small taxi's flooded the area around the Puppet Show Entrance as the show let out. So--we decided to hoof it. After about 2 blocks, Grandma decided to just ask a small taxi if he'd take us all--"hey, it doesn't hurt to ask!" she reasoned. The driver eagerly said yes (I don't think he really understood how many people she was requesting a ride for!!) and then looked a bit taken aback as we all piled in...Joy on Grandma's lap in the front with the driver, and James on Wanda's lap with Jesse on John's lap. Mind you, this little taxi was about the size of a Toyota Echo! I'm sure it was the fullest he'd ever filled his car! I'm also sure it was illegal. After we resembled sardines, the driver made it known to us that he did not know where the Home Stay was. Great. We gave him the business card with address that we always carried with us, but it obviously didn't ring a bell with him. We started pointing and he got started in the general direction. What ensued was a chaotic scramble in attempting to guide him in a language he didn't understand. It didn't help that we ourselves got a bit turned around since it was now quite dark (with no street lights) and raining. Finally, however, we pulled up at the end of the block of the Home Stay. We hadn't taken much money with us because Perfume had said to catch a ride back and she'd settle up with the driver and we'd pay her back (this way we didn't get taken advantage of). However, the driver was very fair with us regarding the price...he just had to wait a little for us to raid our purses/bags in the dark & pool our money together in order to pay him. We were quite pleased that we'd successfully hailed & paid for a taxi all by ourselves! :)
Upon arriving at the Home Stay, Perfume and Coc had supper ready...Perfume said this was the kind of supper that she got to take it easy on and we had to work to cook our own supper. (Hot pot) As it was, we had a super fun evening around the supper table. It was just us, Perfume & her family, Coc, and the Australian gentleman Neil.
The protein plate included beef, chicken intestines, and tofu. Guess what everyone's favorite was?? You guessed it--the intestines!...NOT! There was also a veggie plate with greens & garlic.
Cooking our own meat--it cooked really fast in the hot pot.
Just HAD to get a picture of Grandma drinking COKE!!!
She says it tastes like the coke she remembered growing up with.
I have no idea what this fruit is called. They had an English name for it, but it was no name we had ever heard of, so that didn't help. They were good, though. This is how they were served.
Grandma showing the whole fruit, the served fruit, and then the seed left after eating it.
It had continued to pour and pour all during our very long evening supper. As we headed out the door to return to our hotel room, Perfume lent Grandma a hat to keep her halfway dry. They just add a plastic covering to the hats to make them waterproof in the rain, & remove it when it's done raining.
Walking in the rain. Not much angle to the rain as you can see...just pouring straight down.
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