Hanoi and Ha long Bay, Vietnam...when can we go back?!?!

For our second adventure off the peninsula for the year, we went to Vietnam with five friends we have met in Korea and had a wonderful time!  For a country that, as Americans, we frequently associate it with war, I found it to be absolutely beautiful!  The people are friendly and kind, prices for food, souvenirs, and transportation were inexpensive, our hotel was very nice and comfortable and close to many historic places in Hanoi.  

We went as a tour group of six with one tour guide and one driver.  Our tour guide, Hao (pronounced 'Wa') met us at the airport and took care of us the entire time we were there.  Hao, incidentally only does tour guide trips on the side, as he is a PhD professor of tourism and economics at one of the local universities.  Having him as a tour guide gave us an accurate view of the area and a small insight in the economic status of these areas.  We all found his knowledge to add a background to our trip that made it feel even more worth-while.  (I've included several links, highlighted in green, to give more insight to the pictures below, hope they're hopeful.)

We spent a total of 3 nights and 4 days over the long MLK jr. weekend holiday. Our tour started in Hanoi, the next night was in Ha long Bay, followed by our last night in Hanoi.  While it may have been a whirl-wind trip, we used every single minute possible!  There are jokes, sayings and memories we will take with us for a long time from this trip!

Our first views of Hanoi

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh

Changing of the Guard at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum 

Citizens decorating the city in preparation for the Lunar New Year

The Temple of Literature
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Literature,_Hanoi

Inside the Temple of Literature

Due to the upcoming Lunar New Year, patrons bring gifts to the Temple to celebrate.
See link below for more info on the Vietnamese Lunar New Year:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tết

T.G. and I are both the year of the Rooster in the Chinese Calendar
http://www.viethoroscope.com/vietnamese-zodiac-calendar/

The 'Hanoi Hilton' is the prison where many POWs were held during the Vietnam War, including Senator John McCain.  Being inside this prison, even though it is now a museum, was 
very eery and cold.  No amount of tourism can take away the amount of torture and pain that took place here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hỏa_Lò_Prison

This is the layout of the prison, when still functioning.  They have since moved the prison outside Hanoi.

Our first evening's entertainment included a traditional "Water Puppet Show"...while we understand this art form dates back thousands of years, we all found it a bit creepy...sorry ancient Vietnamese artists...

Checking out the gorgeous crops growing on our way from Hanoi to Ha long Bay

Thanks, Mark, for the silly shot!

Setting sail on the Bahaya...can we go back, please??

The view of the sunset out our cabin window....absolutely beautiful!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hạ_Long_Bay

This is what our boat looked like with it's sails up.  So COOL!

We had an excursion off the boat to tour the floating village in Ha long Bay.  It is a very different way of life, but absolutely breath-taking views!  Kids even get to go to school within the village!

Our tour guides around the floating village...talk about a work-out!  

Our boats entering the village

Our last morning, we and an excursion to tour caves in Ha Long Bay.  They were so pretty and had some of the most picturesque views!

We enjoyed relaxing our last morning on the boat.  Needless to say, T.G. had to pry me off!

Back in Hanoi and The Silk Path Hotel (also where we stayed our first night)...it was time to see the city!

The artwork we bought in Hanoi with the artist...can't wait to have it stretched back out and handing in our living room!

Yes, this is for real...women carry various things around the city in this way.  Be careful though, if they offer you to have your picture taken with them, they will expect to be paid!

T.G. got my picture at the Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoàn_Kiếm_Lake

These pictures hardly do this beautiful country justice.  If you ever have the opportunity to see Vietnam, DO IT!!!

The World Travelers Visit Korea!

Happy 2014 everyone!  As you can see, T.G. and I have started our New Year off with exiting visitors, abundant travel and lots of fun!  (Yes, that's Mt. Fuji behind us in the picture!)  

Our New Year started with my Mom, Uncle Kenny and wonderful friend, Janice, visiting us from the States.  As many of you know, from reading my blog, this is my Mom's second visit to Seoul, so she was brave enough to lead the way for Kenny and Janice!  They all arrived on January 6th and we had a nice long and busy visit.  The first few days we toured around Seoul, took the subway and visited some of our favorite markets.  Then we all headed off on a jam-packed tour of Tokyo for four days.  Once back from Tokyo, we all took it easy, played games and enjoyed time full of games and fun food adventures!

While our visitors were here, it got quite cold...especially down by the river.  That wind bit straight through our coats even though we were so bundled up!  Needless to say, we didn't stay out long exploring that day.

While on our way to Japan, we ran into a 'Hello Kitty Cafe' and had to have our photos with the kitty!

Our first day in Tokyo, we went to the Tsukiji Market.  We saw some crazy looking fish and HUGE tuna!  

The Tsukiji Market (築地市場 Tsukiji shijō^?), supervised by the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market (東京都中央卸売市場 Tōkyō-to Chūō Oroshiuri Shijō^?) of the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs, is the biggest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world and also one of the largest wholesale food markets of any kind. The market is located in Tsukiji in central Tokyo, and was a major attraction for foreign visitors^[1][2]. Currently however, access is no longer permitted to the inner market, and the outer market is open to visitors only after 9:00 AM. While this regulating was in place for quite some time, recently it is enforced.

 See, HUGE tuna!

After the fish market, we visited the opposite side of the bay, which is a lovely beach with gorgeous views of Tokyo Bay!  Not to mention, endless shopping!

Even though the water was very chilly, being near the water and the beach always outs a smile on my face!  And how could it not, with the beautiful scenery and fantastic company!?

They even have their own Statue of Liberty...not sure about the back-story on this, but it was very pretty!

Day two was our tour to Mt. Fuji!  We set out early on a tour bus headed outside of Tokyo.  Seeing this beautiful sight is one that will leave you with chills and makes you just sit back in awe.  

Mount Fuji (富士山 Fujisan^?, IPA: [ɸɯꜜdʑisaɴ] ( listen)), located on Honshu Island, is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776.24 m (12,389 ft).^[1] An active stratovolcano^[5][6] that last erupted in 1707–08, Mount Fuji lies about 100 kilometres (60 mi) south-west ofTokyo, and can be seen from there on a clear day. Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone, which is snow-capped several months a year, is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and photographs, as well as visited by sightseers and climbers. It is one of Japan's "Three Holy Mountains" (三霊山 Sanreizan^?) along with Mount Tate and Mount Haku; it is a Special Place of Scenic Beauty, a Historic Site, and was added to the World Heritage List as a Cultural Site on June 22nd, 2013.^[7]

The mountain has been selected as a “cultural” rather than a “natural” heritage site. As per UNESCO, Mount Fuji has “inspired artists and poets and been the object of pilgrimage for centuries”. The 25 locations include the mountain itself, Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taishaand six other Sengen shrines, two lodging houses, Lake Yamanaka, Lake Kawaguchi, the eight Oshino Hakkai hot springs, two lava tree molds, the remains of the Fuji-kō cult in the Hitoana cave, Shiraito Falls, and Miho no Matsubara pine tree grove.^[8]

 We got to play in the snow...Mom enjoyed eating the yummy snow!

Views from the highest station we could get to due to the cold, windy weather.  It was very fun and beautiful!

T.G. got some great shots of the mountain with our large zoom lens!

We had lunch provided at a Japanese restaurant at the base of the mountain.  It was very yummy!

They also have their own amusement park!

After the station views, we boarded a large boat for lake views of Mt. Fuji and the surrounding area.  It was a really nice way to see the mountain and the where people live around it.  

After spending time outside of Tokyo, we returned to the city via the Bullet Train, which travels very fast!  We were back in Tokyo in no time and relaxed the small amount of time remaining in Japan.

Once back in Seoul, we spent the last few days inside, taking it easy and spending time together.  We played a lot of games and cooked fun dinners together.  We even had a farewell dinner at our house, where several of our Seoul friends came over to visit our family before they returned to the States.  

Julie took us for a traditional Korean BBQ lunch on Wednesday...Rachel came too!  We all had a blast!

T.G. and I really enjoyed having our second set of visitors here and cannot wait to host our next guests!