Today I left Hanoi and flew to Hue (pronounced hway) or heat if you don't stop iPhone autocorrect. Either way is appropriate in my mind. Holy humidity batman. I also quickly discovered why I brought five bottles of DEET infused bug juice (I would like to take this time to genuinely apologize to my nervous system). apparently incorrect application can " lead to health issues such as skin irritation, disorientation, dizziness and, in extreme cases, seizures or death". What exactly is incorrect application? For my own piece of mind I am not going to look that one up.
The flight was uneventful. I met a kiwi couple who knew the docs I worked with in new zealand. We traded stories and I learned a lot from them. The best story being theirs. On the way to the airport they saw a huge scooter crash where everyone and everything (including the scooters) was saved because of the mountainous loads of merchandise they were both carrying they apparently "brushed themselves off and all had a good laugh" and went on their way.
One of the more interesting facts: Vietnam has a two child rule unless you have twin girls first or twins second. It is heavily enforced in the urban areas but not so much rurally. One way it is enforced is the already large amount of money that it takes to send a child to any school is increased and then taxed absurdly. So there is not a lot of education happening to those who aren't wealthy and if you are the 3rd child good luck.
I was picked up at the airport with a big sign (it is weird to be one of those people) and I met one of the urologists, a pharmacist, and our host (who now has a very attractive UNC hat). They were all very nice however I am relatively certain they understood very little of what I said, except Mr. Kohn. Enter reason #1 why he is our host. Apparently I have a weird accent and I talk too fast (which was odd because I was making a concerted effort to slow down but not be louder).
The hotel is again amazing. Mr. Kohn went up with me to my room to make sure it was to my satisfaction. I had a welcome rose and big huge tub (although the water is more brown than clear. People pay for mud baths right?) and Vietnamese hbo (i watched jaws in vietnamese for a little bit) and espn (unfortunately they enjoy the wrong type of football).
I grabbed some lunch/dinner in the form of garlic roasted morning glory, which some claim is the national veggie. And then strolled around town saying "no boat ride shut up" repeatedly. In my defense this is before I knew and people did leave me alone.
The market was bustling, but not perilous, and the perfume river makes a nice sunset backdrop as it runs through the city (and may very well be directly linked to my shower and sink faucet). There are fun dragon boats docked along the river that can be rented for 5$ for 3 hours (picture double pontoon boats with bright colored dragon heads leaping off the front) that I might experiment with renting later. They supposedly hold 20 people.
Pics: the hotel room, and a hue delicacy made of rice cake and shrimp cooked in a banana leaf
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