We arrived back to Hanoi at around 5.30am. It has been a relative good night on the train for me...all the sleep I have, thought the journey was bit short as I am still relatively tired. The Sky was still dark, so taking this photo is challenging..
(I was told by Mr H, that the guy we met on the train...went up to the bed of his wife....to sleep together)
A Flash is needed when Mr H is handling the Camera as he can't handle the camera under these conditions...lol (his hands not steady enough).....my photo don have the "environmental" lighting lo...(sianz)
The Green Train, does not equate eco-friendly....it's relative smelly here in the station, filled with fuel smell....
This is the front section of the train.....this is where the motor is I suppose.
Having to re-take my photos so many time ....really make me tired....at least this one appear good though still is taken with flash...(And I took tired..lol)
The Hanoi Train Station....We were told to only get on white cabs...as they goes by "meter" and are more reliable. (tip from hotel)
We took a cab back to your hotel. Mr H actually ask the cabby about interesting pubs and places to visit at night...and the cabby actually thought we are looking for "Sleazy" places....the cab ride to hotel cost us around S$8. It took a while to reach as the cabby actually couldn't find the way to the hotel....he seem to be not too long on the job.
(Tip : to get to know night life in a country....check with the cab drives - Mr H)
It's unusual how Mr H is always falling asleep during the trip to Hanoi, back in the Taiwan trip, I was always the one falling asleep everywhere...while Mr H keep waking me up...lol
MR H got his rest.....a loud (less noisy than SAPA's ones) one though and got himself ready by 12pm+.
Mr H decided to re-try out the Vietnam Western food which we did not get to taste it properly when we departed for SAPA the other time round. It's seem like language is probably the cause of why we think the beef is not up to our standard....we didn't know how to tell them to make it medium rare....the Beef is tough and hard..lol
After Lunch, Mr H wanted to go massage again!!....think this is probably one of his best past-time in Bangkok and that's why he keep wanting to go massage like "everyday". Another reason I think is that massage in Hanoi is cheap, only about USD $7 - $10
I didn't want to ...so i just took a 90mins foot massage while he went for the 2hrs body massage so that he can snooze again.
I actually finish my massage earlier so I waste no time in getting all the "food stuff" for my friend and colleagues back home
Here are some of the stuffs I got from the provisional store just behind our hotel.....I even show them photos asking them to help look for the stuff for me (those photos are from Chicken's web lo)
(3-in-1 Coffee pack, from G7 Trung Nguyen, It's very common in Vietnam here)
The Pure Coffee powder, I hope I can achieve what the store here serve...they usually serve their coffee in a mixer with drip...and looking at their mixer, there is coffee powder in it..These coffee powder ranges from 1-5 where the higher the number, the deeper is the taste...more bitter i suppose
Another type of Coffee series.....this one is Cappuccino with Hazelnut favor. They have other favors as well, such as mocha and Irish.
The coffee cost around 25,000 VND to 32,000VND with the Coffee-powder being the most expensive...I actually brought a few packs of every series here....
This is the coffee-mixer I was talking about......it's everywhere in Vietnam. This cost about 22,000VND (S$2.20)
These are the collections that I have gotten from the provisional store....probably spend around 300,000VND on these stuff alone for colleagues and friends.
I waited for Mr H at the hotel as he is still snoozing from all the massage at the shop......after which we approach the hotel's staff to check out how to go to Temple of literature.
We actually tried to walk around town a little to to try to walk our way there.....we came upon The Cathedral St-Joseph, it actually quite near our hotel....but after seeing how hot the temperature is and it's only about $3 to get to the Temple of Literature...we decided to ask the hotel's staff to get us a cab
Some of Hanoi cab even have LCD TV on board.....something new....seldom see it in Singapore..lol
The most prominent structure when we arrive @ the Temple of Literature is this "temple-like" structure acting as an door-way to the place. Cost around 10,000 VND to enter....(S$1)
The landmark was founded in 1070 as a Confucian temple. Only parts of the Văn Miếu complex date back to the earliest period, although much of the architecture dates to the Lý (1010 – 1225) and Trần (1225 – 1400) Dynasties. Look like China's history plays a part here in Hanoi
Walking in to the middle of the park, aka the first courtyard, we came upon this structure. This place was basically a Temple for Confucius, devoted in memory of Confucius and the sages and philosophers of Confucianism.
In 1076 Vietnam's first university, the Quốc Tử Giám (國子監) or Imperial Academy, was established within the temple to educate Vietnam'sbureaucrats, nobles, royalty and other members of the elite. The university functioned from 1076 to 1779.
It's extremely difficult to pass the Doctor Laureate exams in this university and those that make it have their names on the stone stele every year, records 2,313 students graduating as doctor laureats.
These stone stele can be found in the 3rd Courtyard, Entrance to the third courtyard is through the dominating Khuê Văn Các (constellation of literature), a large pavilion built in 1802. Central to this courtyard is the Thien Quang Tinh ("Well Of Heavenly Clarity"), either side of which stand two great halls which house the true treasures of the temple. These are 82 stones steles. Another 34 are believed to have been lost over the years.
They sit upon stone turtles and are inscribed with the names and birth places of 1306 men who were awarded doctorates from the triennial examinations held here at the Quốc Tử Giám ("Imperial Academy") between 1484 and 1780, after which the capital was moved to Huế.
This is the 3rd Courtyard. On either side, we can see those stones tortoise where the graduate names who make it through the exam are engrave on it.
While visiting the compound, we notice quite a number of professional photographers holding on to SLRs on the like of Nikon/Canon shotting shots of beautiful ladies believe to be students....this is probably some University photography club outdoor activities...
A married couple was also in the area taking their wedding photos...and they become these student central of attraction for creative photo-shots....I must say...it's rather cute....the guy...have so many loves....
A shot of the steps toward the "pond" in the 3rd Courtyard..Thien Quang Tinh ("Well Of Heavenly Clarity")
Me at the 2nd Courtyard....behind me is the dominating Khuê Văn Các (constellation of literature), a large pavilion built in 1802
At the 3rd Courtyard, with the Thien Quang Tinh ("Well Of Heavenly Clarity") behind me. It's already evening time now with the sun shinning low...
We entered the main hall, where the temple of Confucian is. According to history, this place use to contain altars of 72 of Confucius' greatest students but now contain offices, a gift shop and a small museum displaying ink wells, pens, books and personal artifacts belonging to some of the students that studied here through the years
The time of visit was not crowded probably due to the weekday agenda. We only saw the photography clubs people and a few tourists, also the timing of visit plays a part as the place closes at around 6pm
Incense offered to Confucian. Common sight as this is a Temple after all.
While we were there, there is a TV crew inside the main hall, probably there shooting a documentary.
I thought the red doors provide an interesting photo-point...but the sun-ray is giving the photo mix results..
A photos of the door-way where we come into the temple...
We left the Temple of literature at around 5.30pm. Our next Agenda --> Shopping
Looking at the research I have done for our trip, we actually ask the Hotel's staff to help guide us to the shopping center around the region and how to get there. 2 were recommended as they are nearer and one of them is opened recently (From the list above, item 1 & 2, Trang Tien Plaza & Vincom City Towers)
We took a cab to Vincom City Tower, this place known to be the larger shopping center in the region....looking around the region, it seems like we have enter into a mid-class level part of Hanoi.
By Singapore's standard, this place look like our town center's shopping mall like Northpoint or sunshine plaza..
We actually saw a branch of BATA here...
And Best Denki, they call it "Best Carings" here..
There are actually 2 towers here, one with the shopping , the other one with the Cineplex. There is even a game-center here, similar to timezone in Singapore
We went to visit the cineplex located on the top floor of the shopping center...their theaters are huge...didn't expect to see this kind of cineplex here in Hanoi, ticket at at 75,000VND make it expensive for locals, bit I can still see alot of youngster here...
We actually brought the pop-corn combo consisting of 2 drinks and a medium size pop-corn for S$11, expensive by local standard....honestly speaking, their pop-corn tasted bland...
If u have not know, Mr H used to work in a cinema...and I think he still misses all the good old days back there..then..he now left and work for an "investment" company...
A dessert @ Sweet recipe closes the long but relaxing day...in Hanoi.
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