A typhoon hit the area. It poured overnight but the brunt hit Ha Long (1 ½ days after we left).
We have become accustomed to the crazy drive and no longer get nervous about all the people we almost kill. Bo made a presentation to 50 students and faculty. They first sang to us. They are extremely polite and appreciative. We were informed that lunch would be on campus. A small room with the 5 of us at one table. Strange food. The local hootch this time was a liter bottle of Vietnamese vodka. After 10 rounds it appeared we would stop but they said one last. Then they said the guest should pour the last. I filled all glasses to the lip, killing the liter bottle. The 3 college officers were incoherent, but I was OK. Of course I ate 3 times the amount of food I normally would to absorb all the alcohol.
The ride back (the driver does not join us for lunch) included a stop in a city/village that contained hundreds of silk shops (selling and manufacturing). The guild system appears to be extant. Streets and areas seem to specialize. The 4 blocks around our hotel contain about 500 shoe shops. Other streets are also specialized – streets with lots of electronics; streets with one large appliance store after another, etc. They dropped us off at 3:30 and said they would pick us up at 4:45 for dinner. The drive to dinner took an hour through Hanoi traffic. A shortcut through dark small alleys was spooky. Dinner was in a restaurant with a dedicated room for us. There were 20 from the college. Heads of each department. They each wanted to drink a toast with me individually (NO WAY). Strange food. First was small bird (fist size ) with head and feet, then tofu, then morning glory, then small beef and cold French fries, then fried corn kernels, then pickled greens, then fried shrimp, then soup, and finally they brought rice and French bread with butter and sugar. Dessert was logans.Overall, a great visit. People are great and very eager to collaborate with ECC.
We have become accustomed to the crazy drive and no longer get nervous about all the people we almost kill. Bo made a presentation to 50 students and faculty. They first sang to us. They are extremely polite and appreciative. We were informed that lunch would be on campus. A small room with the 5 of us at one table. Strange food. The local hootch this time was a liter bottle of Vietnamese vodka. After 10 rounds it appeared we would stop but they said one last. Then they said the guest should pour the last. I filled all glasses to the lip, killing the liter bottle. The 3 college officers were incoherent, but I was OK. Of course I ate 3 times the amount of food I normally would to absorb all the alcohol.
The ride back (the driver does not join us for lunch) included a stop in a city/village that contained hundreds of silk shops (selling and manufacturing). The guild system appears to be extant. Streets and areas seem to specialize. The 4 blocks around our hotel contain about 500 shoe shops. Other streets are also specialized – streets with lots of electronics; streets with one large appliance store after another, etc. They dropped us off at 3:30 and said they would pick us up at 4:45 for dinner. The drive to dinner took an hour through Hanoi traffic. A shortcut through dark small alleys was spooky. Dinner was in a restaurant with a dedicated room for us. There were 20 from the college. Heads of each department. They each wanted to drink a toast with me individually (NO WAY). Strange food. First was small bird (fist size ) with head and feet, then tofu, then morning glory, then small beef and cold French fries, then fried corn kernels, then pickled greens, then fried shrimp, then soup, and finally they brought rice and French bread with butter and sugar. Dessert was logans.Overall, a great visit. People are great and very eager to collaborate with ECC.
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