Hanoi has yarn !

It’s all crappy acrylic and novelty yarn, but here is a picture of Mark buying some to make me a scarf.  30,000D for the hank, about $3.  I got some needles that seem to be hollow aluminium, and we also bought some rainbow coloured rayon stuff – couldn’t resist the colour.  Note the blue bag – returned this morning when we checked in to the Sunny Hotel.  All contents inside, nothing mising. We love these guys ! 

2006 has had it’s last fart at us, and 2007 is shaping up beautifully.

I had seen a woman knitting at a museum this morning, and asked her for directions to the yarn store she bought from, it turns out there is a knitting district, with about 4 shops all selling the same stuff.

We’ve booked the tour to Ha Long Bay, leaving tomorrow morning, for 3 days, and then a train to Hue overnight on the day we return to Hanoi.  I’m feeling crappy and have taken to my bed at the hotel, while Mark is out looking for my lost sock (a little bag with needles, yarn and a sock pattern) that I seem ot have left in a cafe today.  He’s also checking the dates for our travels so that we can pre book a hotel for our arrival in Hue.

This is the square where the concert was on last night, the ground is littered with bits of glitter, but its back to being a full time motorcycle car park.  This young  couple seem to be paying rather more attention than most people to the oncoming traffic – they must be tourists.  The wy most people cross a road is just to wander on to it without checking what is coming at them in either direction.  Apparently the cars, busses and bikes just flow around the pedestrians.  There seems to be no real philosophical distinction between “road” and “footpath” and “carpark” and “outdoor dining area” or even “playground”.  Just walk with a firm step, and have faith that today is not your day to die.

PS.  I am sorry mum.  I promised I wouldn’t get on a motorbike, but when the “taxi” arrived to take us to the Sunny Hotel from the Prince this morning,  it was two guys on mopeds.  I went white and started mumbling, but when the guys sad “OK?”, Mark said “OK”.  I kept mumbling “you said OK?!?”, but while I tried to think of a way out, the guy had my bag in front of him and motioned for me to get on.  We survived, and I wasn’t nearly as terrified as I might have been.  But I won’t be seeking out another ride.