Soccer, Bia Hoi and goodbyes

Well at first the game was a bit lackluster but then towards the end of the 2nd half all took off and Australia beat Japan 3-1. Nobody was more surprised then the Aussies I was with in Jaspas (expat bar in a posh expat apartment block). Cool though. They had a bet, that if Oz won they would jump into the swimming pool. So Liz and some of the others came in dripping wet, after doing the deed surreptiously, as they were afraid they would not be let back in. Had a really good chat with Paraic, a guy from Westmeath (Ireland) who was on a UN program recently started by the Irish govt. He was one of 10, scattered thought the world. It was a really good night.

Jun 13. I hooked up with the USA girls (Tiffany and Donna, we met in Nha Trang) back from their Halong Bay trip. We met at the hotel and had to meet one of their friends at this kind of makeshift bar which is basically this old ladies home. The main room faces completely onto the street. She has a few kegs of beer, actually placed on the street by the entrance where she serves local beer “Bia Hoi” to anyone prepared to pay 2000 dong and prepared to sit on plastic stools about 10inches high, at some crossroads in the old quarter. There were 2 of these establishments on opposite sides. However, the other was male/local dominated and according to Ange was not women friendly even though the beer was better and colder there. Two of the guys went over there. However, I discovered that this beer was great, cos it was very light and not too fizzy. Bummer discovered this way too late. The atmosphere was great there just watching everyone passing and loads of travelers sitting around chewing the fat at this Bia Hoi bar in the middle of Hanoi. It improved my feelings about Hanoi. Met a guy from Kilkenny (Ireland) and had a good chat with him. We went to Little Hanoi, a really nice restaurant joined by an Aussie, and 2 Finns.
Next day I spent trying to sort my life out. Well some of it. I decided after much searching and thinking etc. to go to Laos for 2 weeks then fly home so I can go to Poland for the ICR convention.

I met Ange and Liz again at the Bia Hoi place where we partook again of the local brew. I said my goodbyes to Donna and Tiffany as they were leaving for Bangkok tomorrow they didn’t join us for dinner. I joined Liz and Ange’s and their colleagues in the Laybak café which again served great food. Andreas, one of the guys here on the Aussie program with Ange, told me a few things about Vientiane the capital of Laos. He said it was the cutest capital city in the world. He is sooo right.