It seems our group is now called, da da da...The Bongos! As that's how we were introduced by the Vietnamese MC.
We were invited to play at a fund raising event, raising money to ensure kids in remote villages have access to schooling, including transportation, books, pens, clothing and proper health and nutrition.
Puku Cafe is a hidey hole cafe, frequented by expats and locals, and well known in Hanoi for ambient decor and ridiculously good food! Last night it was packed to the rafters with musicians, photographic exhibits and Vietnamese supporting a great cause.
Afterward, the group, still in a drumming mood, wandered down to Hoan Kiem lake to play in the green evening lights...until the police came....which is always to be expected!
Puku Cafe
60 Hang Trong
Hanoi
Photo The Bongos from Dat Tie Suc and David Pricco.
Last night saw us playing at the soft opening of a very hip poetry cafe/art gallery..another gallery has sprung up in Hanoi!
Eager poetry lovers and artists crushed close into a hazy retro brick walled room for a multi-lingual bonanza of poetry, art and music... (there was at least one beret.)
American poets spoke passionately about the death of honey bees, tortuously beautiful Vietnamese poems, a Rastafarian rap, a humorous ballad to 'the Bitch That Broke My Heart' and a tribute to Joni Mitchell (including an all in love fest sing-a-long) ..
...and ending with an avant-garde Vietnamese contemporary something... involving throat singing, space and well, whatever it was, it was a pleasure to watch.
We contributed our small part to the overall bohemian vibe playing rhythmic spiraling beats that had people on their feet, salsa-ing and generally shaking it in the centre of the narrow bar.
In a communist country emerging, cutting edge creators and free speech wielding poets are a unique breed. It was exciting to be around so many passionate artists!
And reminiscent of the rare, raw, artsy underground bars I've visited in Spain.. so, all in all a very nice find in Vietnam...
...plus they served excellent pastries :)
Tadioto Bar
113 Trieu Viet Vuong
Hanoi
The best thing for current culture, culture shock is a few beers and a beautiful dinner at one of the coolest little restaurants I have seen. Set in a pencil thin house, with French architecture, dark rich wood, great art covering the walls and low tables and cushions it was a great setting to relax and chill out for a delicious dinner. The ambience alone is a reason to come here!
The food ranges from traditional Vietnamese to French fusion. Green mango and prawn salads, pumpkin flowers in
garlic sauce, rich beef with mustard, pho noodles (and it'll take me my entire stay here to learn to pronounce them properly as 'F-ur' not Pho), crunchy fresh French bread and all for about $10 AUD.
What an introduction to Hanoi! If food in this place is a good as this little restaurant, I say woopee!!
www.chimsao.com
Chim Sao Restaurant
135 Ngo Hue
Hanoi
It seems our group is now called, da da da...The Bongos! As that's how we were introduced by the Vietnamese MC.
Afterward, the group, still in a drumming mood, wandered down to Hoan Kiem lake to play in the green evening lights...until the police came....which is always to be expected!
