HELLO VIETNAM

"this is your life. be bold with it. live it with energy and purpose in the direction that excites you. listen to your heart, look for your dreams; they are God-inspired." Bear Grylls

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Almost home eve. Enjoying a hot steamy bowl of Pho Bo (Beef Pho) and Tra Da (iced tea) Hanoi style with the girls at my favourite place in the neighbourhood.

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Time to head home. The last sunset overlooking the city from the Bitexco tower. I will miss this place a lot. Especially all the people I have met along the way, the locals who I charade and smile with. My eager students who have taught me so much and more about their lives and Vietnamese culture, colleagues to rant and laugh with and my housemates who have made Vietnam a home. Time to bring on a bit of toast with marmite, family and friends in the homeland.

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Mulled wine for a little Christmas cheer. Guests rolled up in typical fashion.

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A little village market called Bac Ha is held every Sunday about 2 hours northeast from Sapa. The ladies dressed in their Sunday best were a real highlight. The market was full of beautifully sewn crafts. I successfully bartered for a brightly sewn bedspread which I will not be able to fit into my suitcase... will cross that bridge in a few weeks. The drive there and back was the real adventure, the roads are high and on cliff edges. The drivers have no quandary passing on blind corners on a cliff edge while on the phone. Freaky! One more bus trip back to Hanoi tomorrow and that'll be it for out in the wopwop road trips for me.

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A kiwi in awe of border crossings #china #acrossthebridge #neat #laocaivietnam

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Come dine with me #tofuinacupwithice #mmmm #laocai

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Sapa, northwest Vietnam is the most beautiful town I have visited. So stunning that I'm tempted to stay! The weather is cool and it reminds me a lot of NZ. The local H'mong people are so lovely. They follow you everywhere but in a non invasive way. Many of them carry on their backs baskets of handmade goods or children. They marry and have children at a very young age. Their husbands look after the rice terraces during the day and the ladies sell their crafts in the markets or to the tourists walking in the local villages.

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Looking up #halong bay #vietnam

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It's iconic #sharksjaw #hanoi

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Baskets of vegetables #hanoivietnam

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Who needs a truck when you have a bike... #hanoi #vietnam

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Move over flat white. This specialty coffee of Hanoi is called Caphe Trung Da - coffee with a silky smooth beaten egg white. The experience was similar to drinking coffee flavoured pavlova mixture. Delicious.

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Exploring with my old school friend Teresa, we set off into the highlands of Dalat. Our drivers were hilarious and gave us a wonderful insight into the rural life here. The air was crisp and the roads were quiet. A lovely change of scenery.

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Tarmac love #dalat #vietnam

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Four dozen roses collected on the sidewalk for the price of a flat white #hardtoresist #saigonromance

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Lunch with the lunch lady

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The never ending Asian summer. Just moments later we were bathing under wild rain and a black sky embellished with lightning and thunder #weekend #wetseason #saigon