Thursday, April 29, 2010

Cafes of Hanoi

Bar and Restaraunt 69
Vietnamese tea with caramalised nuts.
Fresh shrimp rolls with sweet and sour sauce

Freah Vietnamese rolls and eggplant in claypot


La Place
Located around the old Cathedral with a rooftop terrace and propaganda art, this was one of our favourites.
Go for the baked eggplant in a claypot and the carrot and ginger juice for $3 and enjoy the beautiful decor.
There are three floors, the 3rd being a rooftop terrace. This place is cozy and trendy, the bathroom is a 'must see' and the street faces the Cathedral for the perfect location.



KUPU
The coffee selection is all espresso based. There is no such thing as ' a cup of coffee.' Would you like a latte? cappuccino? or a long black?
Peter was very confused about how he could order 'just a coffee.' I was upstairs holding our precious seats on the roof overlooking the street and had made it clear I was in dire need of a coffee.
Lucky for me, Peter ended up asking of a 'long black' which has been a consistent order of mine while living in Australia. It is the closest choice to black coffee and I add a splash of cold milk.
The discrete entrance way makes it all the more exciting and special.










Art Cafe
Around the corner from the Cathedral and home to expensive restaurants (by Vietnamese terms) This little art cafe had three pieces of beautiful art hanging and we chose to come here because of the amount of locals we had seen sipping tea here earlier in the day.


Luc Thug Garden Cafe
Opposite the central lake, it was worth paying the extra 25 cents per beer for the luxury feeling you enjoy.
Even the toliet in the ladies room was painted gold. A beautiful garden made it feel as though we had escaped the city for under $7 for five beers with a fruit shake.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Barber Shop

In Danang on the side of a busy street. This man took so much pride in his work and seemed excited and proud that we asked if we could take a picture.

This street barber shop was in a small alleyway in Hanoi. We didn't see the barber, or any customers, but it seemed to be the 'trendy' kind.

This one was just outside our hotel in Hanoi that we stayed in during the last two days of the trip. This little boy is sitting on a small, plastic, red chair to raise him up. He was still in his school uniform and had just arrived on the back of the scooter with his mom.
A dollar gets you a hair cut from three ladies that look a touch like lady boys. However, I chose to splurge on a $4 shampooing. It brought a whole new meaning to a 'shampoo.' I had cold cucmbers placed all over my face, a soft face mask and an hour of massaging. Do I want to live in Vietnam? silly question really^^

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Work it out!

It's 5am in Hanoi in the old quarter
Tai chi
It's 7pm in Hanoi in the old quarter

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Bells Beach Surf Competition

An afternoon at the Rip Curl Pro
I had no idea who the surfers were, but I'm so happy we went!
It was $5 to go down to the beach and watch the men's competition.

so funny!