Day 2 - Made it!

Being "in transit" is not a nice place to be. The flight was delayed, so I missed the connection to Hanoi! Loooong trip! Got the next flight.  Then there was a 40 min trip into Hanoi, and a lot of info to take on board, before finally sleep...

Ho Chi Minh City was very flat and sprawling. Odd to think of it as the same Saigon in a million war movies. Meandering river basin and swamp, even!

Hanoi so far reminds me a lot of Mexico City, lots of little shack shops on wide main roads, Bia Hoi vendors, phone shops next to watermelon vendors.  Three new bridges are being built and there are many tree lined "boulevards" ( large roads). Its all hazy to look at and I think Thao, my meet and greet, said the heat was 37 celsius today, with very damp air. Looking forward to seeing more tomorrow.

I've met most of the volunteers living in House #1.  I've been invited to come see an orphanage (which sounds very tough) and also to Ninh Binh ( near Halong Bay) by the other volunteers already. Remains to be seen what will come of it. 

Now watching Skyfall while waiting for sleep to claim me - trying to align my clock. Thunderstorm overhead and rain.