retreating back to hoan kiem lake

because things are insanely happening all at once these days and i still yet to find the correct road for me to become a prolific planner, i just need to press the upright equal sign, which in the normal world, the pause. in this way, i can step back and gather enough push to go on!

with this conceived turmoil, i want to think some of the events that transpired during my precious days when i had completely detached from my everyday routine. these rare events that i locked up in pieces inside my mind and retrieve them once in a while. oh, how i wish i could be accurate as the "pensieve" in harry potter! i seriously need a memory booster!

anyway, my northern vietnam itinerary post was kept hanging for quite some time now and rightfully, i'm fetching my memory on how the hoan kiem lake was so serene and peaceful but not eerie, as i would have liked to imagine since i'm not really at my best in the water.

Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam

happy thoughts on jurong bird park

my unperturbed life lately, has been in a constant challenge of losing its equilibrium. this rare phenomena happened because for the first two weekends of december, i was out socially -- in the midst of people, who came across at some point in my life. but i'm just as glad that another set of wonderful memories unfolded to me during the most celebrated month of the year, december!

this brings me to a realization that december is a lean month for me on blogging because of social demands in life. another perfect excuse for my dearth in blogging!

moving on, 2012 has been a good year for me and before i'd entertain the thought of it leaving us behind, i'll get back to its month of august.

The Foliage at the Entrance of Jurong Bird Park

itinerary: hanoi and halong, vietnam

i headed to northern vietnam early this month and the weather that time had started to get cooler which i love! i was supposed to go during a long weekend in august but i had a lot of apprehensions that time, considering my dough was at its utmost scarcity. i was also a bit scared when the posted weather in those months would mean chances of typhoons and needless to say but i say it anyway, northern vietnam likely equates to halong bay. although news can sometimes be downright horrible, as human as i am, reading news about boats that sunk in the bay slightly deterred my yearning to visit the UNESCO world heritage site.

but i am just glad that i took the leap of faith!

A typical rice field in Vietnam on our way to Halong Bay

i purposely chose an unusual photo for an introduction to northern vietnam because there are already tons of photos of halong bay all over the online world. and i don't want to be predictable.

oh let me cut this vague chase.

Day 1: 10-Nov, Saturday

10:00 Head to Changi Airport Terminal 3 by train

11:30 Check-in Vietnam Airlines VN 662 bound for Nội Bài International Airport in Hanoi

13:25 ETD SIN to HAN

15:35 ETA HAN (UTC +07:00)

~         Head to hotel

17:00 Check-in at Rising Dragon Palace Hotel

~         Arrange Halong Bay Day Tour

18:00 Quick City Tour

        Hoan Kiem Lake

        Book tickets for Water Puppet Show

        Dinner around the lake

20:00 Water Puppet Show at Thăng Long Water Puppet Theatre

21:00 Roam around while heading back to hotel

22:00 Back to hotel

Day 2: 11-Nov, Sunday

06:00 Wake up

07:00 Breakfast at the hotel

08:00 Halong Bay Day Tour pickup

~         Transit to Halong Bay

12:30 Arrival at Halong Bay Tourist port

~         Halong Bay Tour

17:00 End of Tour

~         Head to hotel in Halong

17:15 Check-in at The Ky Moi Hotel

18:00 Roam around the area

        Night Market

        Dinner

        Hang out by the beach

22:00 Head back to hotel

Day 3: 12-Nov, Monday

05:30 Wake up

        Head to the beach for a no-show sunrise

        Roam around the beach

08:00 Head back to hotel

~         Hotel Check-out

08:30 Take a taxi to Bãi Cháy Bus Terminal to Hanoi

08:40 Depart from Halong to Hanoi

~         Commute

        Take a rip off taxi to Rising Dragon Palace Hotel

13:00 Hotel Check-in

        Arrange transport service to the airport

        Lunch at the hotel

14:30 Roam around Hanoi a bit more

        Random places

        St. Joseph Cathedral

        Hoan Kiem Lake by day

        Chase daylight by riding a motorbike

        Circle around an already closed Temple of Literature 

        Hopeless saga to a market for souvenirs

18:30 Not so fast-food dinner at BBQ Chicken

        Buy delicacies

20:00 Back to hotel

        Make use of the strong Wi-fi signal in the lobby

22:00 Sleep

Day 4: 13-Nov, Tuesday

06:30 Wake up

07:30 Breakfast at the hotel

08:30 Head to airport with the arranged car

09:30 Arrival at Nội Bài International Airport

        Last minute souvenir shopping

        Check-in for Vietnam Airlines VN 661 bound for Singapore

        Extended lounging due to a delayed flight

16:00 Back to reality  (UTC +08:00)

o-O