Light in my eyes and winter on its way!

Hanoi has become one giant city of LIGHT! There's light doing amazing stuff everywhere here. Each day is more beautiful than the last with bright, blue skies, wispy white clouds and gorgeous dappled light filling the city. November's a popular time to travel to Vietnam and I can see why!

Apart from the spectacular deluge that hit the city a few weeks ago, days here are sunny with a cool, crisp feeling in the air. And with the steady stream of new tourists in the Old Quarter each day, it's obvious most people enjoy travelling in the cooler weather. Personally, I enjoy a tropical environment and have been quietly freaking out about our steady journey into what will be a cold, cold winter.

For weeks shop fronts have been displaying padded jackets and fur lined coats, colourful scarves and gloves and the inhabitants of the city are rugging up and showing off their winter attire. I've invested in comfy tracksuit pants, mittens, head gear, socks etc etc ... Since this is my first Hanoi winter, I don't know if I'm overreacting, but there's nothing worse than being too cold in my books.

Speaking of cold, I've just gotten back from a few days chilling in the mountains. I visited Sapa.. July I think.. it was gorgeous but the weather was cool even in the middle of summer. So again, I packed my backpack and caught the night train to the town of Lao Cai then up the snaking mountain to Sapa.

I stayed in a nice guesthouse with a balcony overlooking the mountain range shrouded with bamboo and white mist. I was literally, chilling, haha, an Aussie icicle, and glad I packed a few extra pairs of warm socks. Because of the fog and the cloud that envelops the high mountain town most tourists have stayed away ensuring I had a full few days of peace and quiet in the fresh air. It was as beautiful as I remembered it.

Living in such an aggressively busy, smog filled city really affects your sense of inner calm...throw in the traffic, a few constantly barking dogs, one very sick sounding rooster, crying babies and the occasional jackhammer and you find that stress builds up quite quickly if you don't take a break.

A quick visit to the mountains is always a good way to reconnect and stay sane :)

Independent travel to Sapa is easy as pie! A train ticket to Sapa will cost you 200, 000 for a soft sleeper. Guesthouses scatter the town and you can find a nice, clean room for around $4 - $6.

Tickets can be bought directly from Hanoi Train Station (Ga Hanoi)
Le Duan Street and bus tickets from Lao Cai station to Sapa town are 30, 000, easily purchased when you arrive in Lao Cai.


Photo of St Josephs Cathedral from Ben Payne.