Wednesday, January 30, 2008

The Last Day in Hanoi

Many souvenir shops sell wine with cobras or other snakes in the bottles. It is supposed to make it more potent. I couldn't imagine traveling with such a thing in my suitcase or having it on my shelf.
The water puppets up close. These are particularly pretty with arms that clap on their sides.
And there is a parade of many of the puppets.

Aren't these electrical wires something else? This is a typical street in the Old Quarter. The entrance to a tiny temple in the French Quarter.

This is one of the gorgeous hand embroideries I saw in a restaurant. A meat shop. Apparently you just haul out your stock and set up in a closed doorway.
Another typical street in the Old Quarter.
In this section it was shops selling items for home altars.

Again, you just set down your shoulder baskets and set up shop.

Interesting fruits and vegetables being sold in the street.
The famous water puppets in Hanoi. They are based in a lovely small theater on the north edge of Hoan Kiem Lake. Musicians play traditional instruments before and during the performance.



The water puppeteers.

Ngoc Son Temple in Hoan Kiem Lake. A beautiful temple sitting in the middle of the lake and reached by a small causeway.



It was built in the 18th century and dedicated to Van Huong who defeated the Mongols in the 13th century andLa To, the patron saint of physicians.




There is a legend that giant tortoises inhabit the lake. This one died in 1968 and there is a photo of one sighted here in 2000.



View of the lake from the Temple on a rather gloomy afternoon.

Two men playing a traditional game in the Temple courtyard.
And, of course, some bonsai trees.

Plaques on the Temple entrance.




Tortoise tower at the Temple entrance.

The Martyr's Monument dedicated to those who fought and died for Vietnam's independence.

A typical room in my hotel. Cable TV and private bath and a wonderful breakfast. Some rooms had internet right in the room or it was free in the lobby. And it was $29 a night. (I was only $25 in October...prices are going up everywhere).






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