Scenes of Hanoi, Vietnam

This week I'm back in Hanoi for workshops and meetings. Thought I'd just post some random shots from this charming capital city of Vietnam, taken over the space of many trips.

Mind you, June and July aren't the best months to visit Hanoi. The temperature can go up to 45 degrees C. Fortunately I am going between one air-con building and another, so don't have to bear the full brunt of the heat. Can really get "chau tah", man!

On 10th Oct 2010, the city (Thang Long-Hanoi) will be celebrating its 1000th year as the key capital. It was founded in 1010 as a city called Thang Long (Flying Dragon).  In fact, throughout its dramatic history, Hanoi has borne many names: Giao Chi (Remote Land), Tong Binh (Proper Home), An Nam (Peaceful South), Dai La (Great Belt, as in the dyke surrounding the city), Dong Do and Dong Quan (both meaning Capital), Dong Kinh (Eastern Capital) - which the French priests later interpreted as Tongkin. The name Hanoi, or more strictly Ha Noi, only appeared after the Nguyen Dynasty attained power in 1802, shifted the capital to Hue and renamed the city in 1831. Ha Noi literally translates to City in the River, City Surrounded by Rivers, City in the Bend of the River, or more romantically City in the Embrace of the Rivers. Despite the name change, even well into the 20th century, people still like to call the city Thang Long.

Sunset scene on Hoan Kiem lake in the centre of Hanoi

The Opera House, Hanoi

Want a "Mona Lisa" or "Sunflowers" painting in your living room? Want yourself standing next to the Mona Lisa? All can be done through the talents of these copy artists in the streets of Hanoi.

A candid shot into an alley way

Outside a souvenir shop near the Old Quarter of Hanoi.

A street in the Old Quarters

This photo by Jemima Yong (jemimayong@hotmail.com) captures the spirit of community living in the Old Quarters of Hanoi. If you look carefully at the individual characters, you can almost make up a story of what's happening.

A roadside fruit seller arranges her ware

The unique art form of Water Puppetry in Hanoi

Ok, more photos on Hanoi later. I now have a plane to catch ...


NEW ADDITIONS

For those who are asking for pictures of the Vietnamese lasses, this is for you ...

Sorry guys, I can't help it if they're shy lah!

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Ben's Adventures in China

As some of you know, our buddy Ben Wong is proposing a trip to various parts of China. And Ben does know China pretty well as he has been there some 7 or 8 times. Here are some photos that reflect adventures that he and his family took in the Middle Kingdom.

Ben, I'll need you to give a commentary of what's where ....

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Enjoy the scenes ... if you're nice to Ben, he may bring you to visit some of them !

Class Trips for 2010

Now that the excitement of the Grand Reunion has kinda subsided (I do hope most of you have recovered from your "reunion withdrawal" symptoms), it may be a good time to start thinking of our class trip or trips for 2010. I suspect it will be trips (plural), as quite a number of ideas have been floating around.

To date, I've already heard suggestions for

(A)   Thailand (possibly Bangkok or Chiang Mai or Phuket)

(B)    Vietnam (Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City or both)

(C)    Southern China Tour
        (I'm sure our old China hand, Ben Wong, will fill you in with his ideas. Soon I'll also be posting some pictures from his previous China trips)

(D)    Shanghai (around the Shanghai Expo 2010 time?)

(E)     Ireland (to visit Ta Ker and take up his offer to be tour guide)

(F)    Borneo Extravaganza (Kuching, Sibu, Miri, Brunei, KK, Sandakan  ...)
I'm sure you all have other destination suggestions to add, so do share your views & we can come to a decision and start planning soon. Those familiar with the locations listed above, please share your experiences and when would be the best months to visit.

Since you might be checking out airfares, let me remind you of the lovely lasses in red from our friendly supporter Air Asia.

Over to you guys ...

Travel Tips #1: Chongqing and Beijing

This is the first of a series of postings showcasing interesting places that our buddies in the Class of 76 have either travelled to, or where they are currently based. The objective to trigger ideas of places we can visit on our future vacations or class trips. I hope many of you guys will contribute photos and narratives.

Let me start the ball rolling ...

I had an interesting 4-day business trip to China last week. Cisco had a Public Services conference in Chongqing, and I was invited to moderate some sessions.

It was my first trip to the city of Chongqing, in the Sichuan province. Chongqing is a port city situated in the south-east of the Sichuan Basin between the Yangtze and Jialing River.The municipality, one of four directly administered by the central government, has some 33 million inhabitants. The place is known for its hot & spicy food (especially the famous Chongqing Hot Pot) and for being the place where those intending to take a cruise down the Yangtze River and see the Three Gorges Dam, usually begin their journey.

Chongqing skyline

Note the muddy brown Yangtze River (from left) and the dark green Jialing River (right)

Historically, Chongqing was the wartime capital of China during the Second Sino-Japanese war (1937-1945). Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek made it his base, and the city was heavily bombed by the Japanese planes. Fortunately, due to its mountainous environment, many people were saved from the bombing. One can still see some old air-raid shelters in the hillside. In late November 1949, the Nationalist KMT government led by Chiang Kai-shek, under attack by the Communist forces, fled the city and went over to Taiwan.

Recent statistics reveal that Chongqing is one of the fastest growing cities in China, and indeed everywhere in the city, one can see huge construction projects being carried out. The China central government is also trying to develop Chongqing as a major financial centre.

Standing in front of the Great Hall of the People, Chongqing

The China Three Gorges Dam Museum, Chongqing

(gives a lot of background about this monumental engineering feat. The Three Gorges hydro-electric dam is the world's largest electricity generating plant, and when fully operational by 2011, it will have a total electricity generating capacity of 22,500 MW)

Road Warrior meets Ancient Chinese Warrior

(In the background, you can glimpse the Chongqing Opera House)

I had a chance to walk through Jiafangbei, the main shopping district of Chongqing ...

The place was thronging with people - shopping, strolling, having family outings, taking in the festive mood (they had all manner of  X'mas decorations out too!) ...

I even sat down for a roadside snack with a "local resident" ...

(* This is added later, in response to John's comment *) That evening, we ventured to the restaurant district at Nan Bin Lu for dinner. This is just by the river bank. There were boat restaurants, al fresco dining, Chongqing hotpot joints, and all manner of brightly-lit eateries, bars and pubs.

On my way back to Singapore, I had a short stopover in Beijing, so I took the opportunity to take in some of the new sights of post-Olympics Beijing.

Outside the Olympic Birdsnest stadium, Beijing

China is an absolutely amazing place. Each time I visit, I find myself astounded by so many things - the culture & history, the people, the cuisine, the architecture, the development  ... and the relentless drive to succeed.