So we've been in Hanoi for 2 whole days now. It is my favourite city of the whole trip (so far). You don't get hassled like you do in Bombay, the people are so chilled out. The restaurants are small and lively and the motorbike traffic is immense! (But the city doesn't smell at all - Phew!) Initially, I was pretty overwhelmed by urban life in Hanoi. All we needed was a little nap to revive ourselves though, it had been a long flight.

Before leaving the hotel for dinner, it felt pretty daunting to go out in 'that world'. It might sound silly but it was so busy and vibrant - we hadn't seen that since Fiji, and even that isn't on the same league as this place!

Yesterday night was one night I won't forget. We went to a restaurant called Bar 69 for some amazing fresh local food which I've been longing for since leaving home. Both of us had a bowl of pho (pronounced 'fer' - rice noodle soup dish), which the locals traditionally eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner, accompanied by Hanoi-style pork spring rolls - to die for. After dinner we got lost around the Old Quarter and ended up near the Hoam Kiem Lake. There was this huge junction completely buzzing with locals and a 1000 or more motorbikes (being a Saturday night, naturally) and I saw a coffee place on this 4-storey high building. I thought it was the perfect place to take photos from so we went upstairs, still in a daze from the city. The coffee was good, but the photos were awesome. I'm enjoying taking photos in Hanoi more so than any other place we've travelled; There is constantly something to photograph, whether it be a pretty lake, a street vendor with those funny cone hats or the lights of the traffic in the night - there is always a challenge to take a great photo here.

We were still tired from the lack of sleep so we were home by 10.30 for an early night. The best feeling was knowing we'd wake up here and not in some boring, run-down Australian town. Walking around in the daytime was a bit different but I'm pretty sure we were unknowingly walking around with our jaws open just as wide as the night before. Later that day, I had read reviews on Tripadvisor about a place called 'Just Massage', which is run by a local not-for-profit organisation who train and help the visually impaired youth become massage therapists. They specialise in Shiatsu and Swedish massages for as little as 150,000 dong per hour (about 6pounds). The reviews were outstanding so we booked ourselves in and took a hilarious/scary-like-death motorbike ride there each, so fun! The massage therapists mainly use their sense of touch and just watching them was inspiring. We opted for the Shiatsu and the technique was like we'd never seen, the precision was incredible and unbelievably relaxing. The money goes to charities for the blind, so you feel even better knowing it's going to a good cause. So we're back in our hotel now after yet another scarily exciting motorbike ride. There is no lane discipline on the roads and you can come and go in either direction as you please, so naturally we can't leave Hanoi without a bike experience!

Mum and Dad arrive tomorrow so we're leaving all the sight-seeing till then. For now though, walking around town will do just fine :)