day 33 ...... sunday strolls in hanoi

hitting the streets of hanoi

alphanumeric graffiti

troops take a morning run... i sweat just watching

hundreds wait in line to visit uncle ho (Ho Chi Minh) at the mausoleum

art at HCM museum

our first of many pho's

food for the dead at the temple of literature

up to us

a quick break before going off to war

museum of war and gloating

two very different star and bars

scooters occupy every square inch road and at times the sidewalk

long sleeves, pants, gloves, and face masks were all rage despite the jungle heat. it's not pollution they fear but an unwanted tan... aka buffalo skin. no joke!

day 31......... off to vietnam

updating the blog in Laos

and a sandwich for our flight to Vietnam

unfortunately our new friend couldn't join us

packing, an endless endeavor

waiting around in Luang Prabang "International" Airport

boarding our Fokker 70 jet with complimentary ashtrays on ever armrest

one car accident later and we were on the streets of Hanoi!

oodles of noodles on every corner

i opted for fries with mine

day 30.... and 30 years old, kamu continued

the surrounding rice terraces

crack shots with the bamboo crossbows

kamu tribe girl at the local village... quite shy

slowly the kids warmed up

someone was even tempted to put a few in her pocket

their dad's certainly seemed keen

off to try our hand at fishing... nadda

morning treks up to the mountain top rice fields

taking a break in the field hut

view down to the Mekong

remnants of the jungle that once was... slash and burn

making our way back down through last years fields

back to base camp and 90 degree heat