Hanoi Day 1 : The Budget Terminal & "老 虎 机"

As in all tours. Day 1 usually begin with a journey to the Airport. You can think of it as "cheating" but it's a must to go to the Airport to begin your trip.

Summary of the Planned Trip

Place of Visit : Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Hanoi

Time : 17th Sep Till 24th Sep

Departure Flight : Tiger Airways, TR303 @ Budget Terminal, 1810

Arrival Flight : Tiger Airways, TR302 @ Hanoi International Airport, 2105

Flight Time : Estimated 3hr 30min

Exchange Rate : S$1 - 10,000 VNDong

Day start with work....Yes...I am still working on the day I am to depart for my holidays. went to the gym and reach home around 3pm. Departed in a cab with Mr H @ around 4.30pm. Thought that the timing was really late as we are "suppose" to check-in at 4.10pm.

It was my first time at this Budget Terminal. It is definitely smaller and have lesser shops and a lack of "class" look to the environment. The Entrance , aka car park look like some entrance to some aircraft maintenance building...lol

There was only 2 flights checking in at 5pm, TR302 to Hanoi is one of them.....the other being tiger flight to Bangkok. It funny how the taxi driver...who was blasting the vulgarity all the way from Hougang to Changi Airport and describing Tiger Airway as 老 虎 机, sound bit crude....and also wonder if we are going to vietnam to look

for prostitute, well come'on....aren't we decent?

There was already a queue when we reach the counter, but check-in was quite brisk.

We're all set for the trip...confirm seats...

Sadly only 2 of us is going on this trip....but it has been like over 5 year since we last been on a trip....Taiwan to be exact... so I kinda expecting the poor photography skills and the loud noise at night....

'

With advances in Technology. Now u can even use auto-clearance....without the need to go thr the immigration officer....cool ...I get thr this in like secs....

Though the budget terminal is relative small and has no sky-bridges to link to aircraft. It does have the necessary stuff....eatery, like Secret Recipe, a sandwich shop and a Chinese food place

The typical Perfume and cosmetics shops present in all airports...probably for people to get duty free stuff..

Another chocolate gift shops.....

They even have "drawing corner" for kids just in case they get bored waiting for the plane...Last I heard is that Budget Airline are always late...

That's why passenger might still be able to squeeze in time for a foot massage...

Before boarding the plane...we actually make a very "unforgiving" mistake of not taking note of the time the aircraft is to depart....my friend basically have no idea.....we realise that while we are having our dinner....our aircraft is issuing the final call.....This make this dinner tasteless....as i basically put whatever i can into my mouth...how sad...lol...(FYI, it cost some $10)

Still in time...as they are still checking the baggages....

I know u cannot take photos here....which i did for my friend which he did not return the favor...as he was not aware of this rule.....by the time his photos was taken the authorities are rushing us up the plane already.....well...what can u expect when i am the one holding the camera....(good photos for others...usually bad photos for myself...my experience say)

The Flight was a estimate 3hr 30min....and it a pretty full flight.....lucky we are seating at the rear(we choose it) and one of the seat at the aisle is spotlit.....meaning only 2 person (me and me friend) seating....GREAT...

This is 1 way the airline can make money look at the prices...I actually brought the "100% fruit juice" thinking it is genuine, all i got is a packet of drinks label...Orange juices....

We were pretty much on time...arrive at Noi Bai International Airport @ 8.35pm est. We quickly spotted our hotel pick-up staff....putting up my name.

The Airport is pretty small comparative to Changi.....and does not look as high-tech. but got no time to really explore it...though...was bit tired and just want to reach hotel in 1 pc.

We quickly change some USD100 into VND. Exchange rate was ~ 17187. We were later ask to wait outside the airport entrance while the staff drives over his vehicle....(a Car actually, which I thought would be a van)

The journey took us about 60mins to reach our hotel. Cost me about 26,000VND ~ 14USD. Not sure is this expensive...but since we are not familiar with the place...it pay to ask the hotel to provide this service...along the way....we can see the driver "horning" all the way...which i believe are horn to warn motorist of oncoming traffic....

By the time we reach the hotel...it was almost 9.40pm local time....and it pretty dark as our hotel is in a small street.....no street lamps...

We settle our next few day i itinerary with the counter staff...and went up to our room on the 6th floor for some wash-up. By the time we are done is almost 11+, we walk around the street and come upon a shop that sell donuts....though we find the donut is like been there for the whole day....we did buy any...but we try some of their drinks....just for fun...cost about $3 sing dollar...though

feeling hungry from the unfinished food @ Budget Terminal, we took some risk to communicate with the local to order the bowl of chicken mee....there was't any beef available at this hour....it was quite tasty and healthy.....lot of vege and chick meat without the skin....cost us 20,000, aka $2 sing.

The thing different about this noodle is the type of noodle they use...the Vietnamese uses this thin white noodles....

The Environment we have our meal was pretty "dirty and smelly" along the roadside and sine drainage system and the plastic chair and table seem like they have not been clean at all....but when your tummy is "rumbling" ....u don really care much...lol lucky no LS after these though...

Tomorrow is another Free and Easy day @ Hanoi city..... Tour does not begin till on Saturday....

8 Days in Hanoi - Updated with Summary photos

It's a trip which i have wanted to go..since my early blog entry. Finally got a chance...and enough money to make this trip possible, plus find a travel buddy is hard nowadays...(most of them are either attached or just want to save $$)

So we stay in Hanoi for about 2.5 days, Halong Bay - 2 days, Sapa - 3 days, from 17th till the 24th.

I must say...traveling to Hanoi is like traveling back in time into the 50s where Singapore use to be like.(I think)

Road looking like full of motors..and traffic light does not work here....I meant....the motorist doesn't obey these rules.

Hawkers look like they don have $$ for proper tables and chair....they use stools and low tables and are place near the roads and drain....(u can imagine how dirty it can get)

Cabs look like they are out to get more $$ out of u, by taking u on rides and charging u slight extra which u don even realize it...

People look like they can only understand their local language and asking for directions and food become a challenge...but they are generally friendly people...

The Trip will be best remember for it's scenery @ Halong and Sapa, the winding track of Sapa, the aggressive sapa's tribes ladies for selling souvenir and the motorcycles of Hanoi...

Photos are coming up....in a short while.....I have over a 1000s of them but I need to edit some of them....though....as some of them are framing badly...lol...check out my facebook for more photos...as well

All Pack and Ready to go!!

Will be flying off in about 3 hours time. Done with packing since last night. Some last minute touch up here and there.

Consider the fact that I still am working this morning. Damn was work bit rush today. Doubt I did a good job today...but cannot help it...my mind is already in some other places...

Will sure to post more photo both in facebook and my blog, Was wondering should I do something like my friend's blog(Chick's one) that have detailed description of every single thing it do....

Weather Forecast - Hanoi

It look like Sep is not a very good month to travel to Vietnam. I check out the forecast, It seem to be raining almost everyday. As of Today, it is raining. The Day we are arriving is Thursday, 17th, and the forecast is already Scattered - T-Storm. Let hope that the storm are scatter enough such that it will not affect our trip...Let's pray...

With so many "Red" Cloud around the region of Hong Kong and Hanoi, no wonder there is rain...let hope this cloud clear off soon.

Friday, our 1st full day in Hanoi look to be affected by Rain. There is some hope at least on Weekends as forecast is sunny. Look like we have to rearrange our plans a bit...Maybe weekend @ Halong Bay, Mon/Tues @ Sapa. Wed/Thur @ Hanoi City.

Temperature seems like it will be something like Singapore, Hot and Wet....

2.47 was this year timing...Damn I getting Old...

I would like to think otherwise...a lack of long distance run training may have been the cause of this year poor timing...I was actually targeting a 2.30.

This is just the 2nd year I am running in this "Singapore Largest Running Event". Last Year timing was 2.37. It's also the first time I brought along a bag and have to deposit it @ the deposit area. The queue was quite long and I was running bit late..as I mis-judge the timing and met some traffic jam along the way into the Marina Bay area. By the time I make it to the starting point...most of the runner are already off...running

I was actually wondering how come there are so few people...am I really that late...most of them are still doing warm-up and walking slowly to the starting point. That when I realise I probably started quite late.

Was progressing quite smoothly....I thought I was running ok speed. but when I reach my u-turn @ ECP, I thought I did well. Then I saw the 10Km mark, and the timing = 1.12. I realise I will be late...

By the time I re-join with the 10km run group, I am dead tired. Feel like walking..but press on until the slope come along..near still road..

This year running route, remind me of 2008's Std Chartered Marathon. I was a very well plan route with lot of water point, Fruits, 100plus and motivational performance to cheer runners. I saw 1 guy motivating a complete stranger to press on....We even run along the route with this year F1 night race will be...by the time I reach here, I am kind of like 5km away from finishing point...and I am already walking....(better than last year as I last some 17Km non-stop)

3km from finishing point...running and walking....now...and the sun is out...lucky the organiser make the 21Km run starts @ 5.30am else it could be worst.

Less than 2Km to go.....I was actually thinking that we will sped toward the Esplande, but instead we went thr the starting point, making an u-turn towards the finishing point. I think this is slightly different from std Chartered Marathon. Last Year SBR, we came from the opposite side(shenton way area)

The sponsor are providing a massage for the runners, but there was a long queue. Free 100plus

And I must comment, that this year's Event Tee is much better than last year. The material is more cooling and more tight fitting.

This year run did not bring us to the barrage though

Nothing special with regard to the finisher medal. I added another 21Km Marathon, making it 2 now.

and I definitely be back for 2010 with target timing of 2.28. Let hope I find motivation to run long distance. ECP run is a must for the training. But running alone is bit boring at times...lol

The Toys and Cartoons are attacking the Theatres..

It seems like a trend that Hollywood is re-inventing the toys, popular back in the 80s or 90s into movies

Transformer and GI Joe are good examples.....explosive at the box-office. T2 - $400M, GI Joe - $150M. But bit poor on the storyline. Some of them are quite "noob" to be exact. It's probably difficult to have a good script based on these toys. But I wonder, why Star-trek, a boring theme movie can be re-invented with such superior story, make me wonder is these just because of shareholder interest.

But Still I enjoy both movies alots.....just that u won't be watching them again....and again though

Transfomer 2 : Revenge of the Fallen

Story goes ...Deceptcon goes to revive megatron who in-turn revive the fallen to come to earth to activiate the energy source which will allow them to conquer earth. Autobots act to prevent this from happen. Optimus was killed while saving sam and sam use the energy source key to revive optimus.

New Characters (Some of those I remember only)

Mudflag and skids, the 2 twin that transform at first as a ice-cream car, to later a Chevrolet Trax and green Chevrolet Beat

The Fallen, As the title character, he spend most of his time lying around. Only after Optimus die, was he able to fly to earth to create chao....He transform into a figher plane.

Wheelie, the Decepticon that turn autobots....kind of cute...

Devastator, the combination of the Constructicons. Huge in size but easy to destroy. 1 shot from the gunship is all it takes

The Human Actors, Shia LaBeouf plays Sam Witwicky, Megan Fox plays Mikaela Banes.

Look at the toys...these movies created....

Amour-Optimus Prime...

Iron-Heart

The Bee...aka bumblebee..

Another Toy and Cartoon Related show. Story goes...Some Company created some metal eating weapon and launch into the creating chao and controlling the world. This evil organisation is lead by the "commander". On the good ends, we have GI Joe, fighting for a good cause, stopping these from happening...they manage to do that though, but the ending suggested that there will be a sequel.

I wasn't a fan of the series. But I must say..the bad guys are stronger here. Same goes with Transformer...

He is the leader of GI Joe

Summary of all the GI Joe Characters, We have a black(good) and White(Bad) Ninja here to.

The GI Joe's Girlfriend, who was with the bad guy, but turn for the good.