Here we are, at the tail end of my sojourn around SE Asia, finishing up with two cities whose names start with “H”-Hanoi and Hong Kong. Hanoi was my favorite city on this trip, celebrating its 1,000th birthday this year, it exudes a faded gentility and worn grandeur. We visited the Temple of Literature which was crowded with students doing end of school year good fortune ceremonies. A small thunderstorm broke out while we were there and as we sheltered under the eaves listening to the chanting, drumming, thunder, and rain on tile, I kept expecting someone in period dress to come drifting onto the scene. It felt like we had traveled either back in time or to a movie set!
The urn in the lower left corner holds incense sticks in it. The flag on the bottom right is a pattern that denotes a pagoda or temple location.
I loved the lanterns in the upper floor of this building. I wonder what they were doing up there!
Hong Kong is a bustling modern city, full of skyscrapers and lights. As a major financial center there were a lot of people wearing suits which at 90 degrees with 90% humidity, looked like madness to me.
We rode the Star Ferry across Victoria Bay and visited the old prison complex (on the right with pink skyscrapers above it), now a cultural center.
Inside a very old temple in Hong Kong. Extremely atmospheric!
We had a 7 course meal at the Peking Garden and got to watch them pull the noodles right in front of us.
The Hong Kong skyline is impressive! On a small island with millions of people, the only option is to build UP.
Traffic in all of the countries we visited on this trip were madness. Some places had very little in the way of traffic lights or directions and in places that did utilize traffic rules and conventions, they mostly seemed to be ignored. The only rules seem to be “Don’t Get Hit” and “Don’t Hit Someone Else” and that’s it! Who cares about helmets, driving on sidewalks or load limits? Crossing the street meant taking your life in your hands, but the people watching was never boring.
Scooters are the main mode of transportation, though Cambodia was very fond of tuktuks. Sandals and croc look a likes were the shoe of choice. Some people wear helmets, many do not. I was very entertained to spot helmet decorations and helmets with space for a bun or ponytail to poke through!
I had a fabulous time and enjoyed the adventure immensely but it was equally wonderful to get back home and sleep in my own bed. I love where I live as it is but truly there is nothing like travel to inspire both wonder at the world and gratitude for what you have.