Day 4 - Getting to Hanoi

The flight to Hanoi had to be one of the most GHETTO flights in my life. The domestic wing of Saigon's airport is completely different from its international wing (go figure).

The concept of lines doesn't really play well here apparently. As we tried to check in, a crowd came in right behind us and crowded the check in area. The attendant told Jess's aunt that she needed some kind of approval for her son's pass, and she had to run up to the security gate on the second floor. We waited by the check-in stand because we had a bunch of luggage. Apparently though, we all had to be there, so we lugged our luggage up the crowded escalator where the security guy didn't even look at us. When we headed back downstairs, we got back in line, but Jess's aunt was afraid that we'd be late, so she cuts out of line and walks right up to the counter, which started another mini-rush up to the check-in stand. We load our checked-in luggage, but we waited at the stand while auntie ran to another stand to pay the luggage fee. When she pays, we finally get to go to the security gate.

We settle in after we board and the plane is preparing to take off. However, we are back on edge when we see a HUGE spider running across the wall on our side of the airplane (it actually ran right past Jess's cousin). When I say huge, I mean it was the biggest spider I'd ever seen. It probably ran the length of my index finger. Didn't help that the folks in front of us were saying "don't touch it, it might be poisonous." I was a bit paranoid about that thing the whole flight, but apparently, it disappeared somewhere because we didn't hear about it anymore.

We were the last ones off the plane because we had to stow our luggage a bit off from where we were sitting, and we were going against the flow of traffic. Getting a taxi was a pain in the ass though. There was a lady there who was SUPPOSED to get people taxis, but every time a taxi pulled up, somebody would just take the taxi. We get fed up after 10 minutes and start trying to get a cab on our own.

Other than that, today wasn't really exciting. I spent the morning studying actually, and for lunch we had caramelized trout, sour trout soup, fried tofu, veggies, and shaky beef. I was so full I fell asleep back at the hotel.

We got into Hanoi pretty late, so we haven't explored the city yet, but the hotel that we're staying at right now has a fantastic internet connection. That has been the highlight of the day. Tomorrow, we'll head over to a different hotel and party hardy. Andre, I'm getting you your ties bro.