Road trippin'!

Chao everyone! It's 4am and I'm up writing because I can't sleep on our hard-as-cement Vietnamese bed any longer, but more on that later. We rented a private car and driver yesterday to take us from Hanoi to Ninh Binh (pronounced Ning Bing), about three hours south. Keep in mind that it's only 68 miles so you can imagine how slow-going that drive must be. A note on the traffic: I've been fascinated by the driving habits of Asian countries since our first day in Singapore in 2009. I still haven't quite figured out how everything moves so in sync while looking to outsiders like complete chaos - people pulling right out in from of you while you're driving fast, drivers deciding at the last minute they have to turn left from the right-hand lane, and the endless honking. But they never get angry or upset...absolutely no road rage! Quite interesting.

So back to the road trip! After heading out from Hanoi, returning to Hanoi to get our passports that were left in the hotel room safe, and then heading back out from Hanoi, we were finally on our way. It's pretty much the same scenery the whole drive but I still find it interesting to watch. Families are sitting together having lunch, old men and women are sitting around at their small stores chatting with each other, children are returning from school in their matching uniforms. Litter is everywhere and sometimes you're shocked to see that the hut that is barely standing is someone's home. Always a chance to gain some perspective when you're in other countries. During the drive, I asked our driver if we could make a pit-stop and he obliged taking us to a store which ended up being closed. At this point options were limited (makes you really appreciate McDonald's and rest areas!!). Needless to say, I didn't imagine that I would end up that afternoon squatting in the backyard of an older woman's home with roosters and neighbors looking on. Priceless memory! We arrived at the hotel in the late afternoon to a wonderful family that is so hospitable. The beds, though, my gosh! I was told that Vietnamese beds are so hard because they were used to sleeping on the ground so anything soft had become uncomfortable. Not always comfortable for Western travelers but that's what Vietnamese massages are for, right?

We haven't had many picture-worthy moments yet but will hopefully have some today as we motorbike to Tam Coc and the surrounding areas of Ninh Binh. I hope everyone is doing well! Miss you guys!