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Showing posts from December, 2018

Boat Trip on Hạ Long Bay

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Hello and xin chào! Winter has finally descended upon Hanoi: it's been in the low 60s, and a few days have seen highs as low as 58°F! I'm actually using a space heater in my apartment, and the wind that comes from riding my motorbike is not pleasant. Otherwise, I'm really liking the lack of sweat! And I feel a lot less disoriented about what time of year it is! Anyways, fresh off my first-ever bout with food poisoning and working through an ear infection (this country is trying to kill me), I bring to you a post about a lovely day trip I took to Hạ Long Bay two weeks ago. Karst, karst, karst as far as the eye can see. Roughly three hours by bus from Hanoi, Hạ Long Bay is easily one of Vietnam's most famous sights. The large bay consists of thousands of karst islands jutting straight up out of the sea. A boat nearly identical to mine. Trying to save some money, I opted for a day trip. (Most guides recommend a one- or two-night cruise, but I can e...

Three Days in Hong Kong

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Hello and xin chào! Or in the case of this post, 你好! It's finally winter here in Hanoi: puffy jackets and sweaters abound, my landlord brought me a massive blanket, and the temperature is… in the upper 70s. On a recent rainy morning when it was about 70°F, I had a student quizzically ask me if I was cold in my button-down and jeans. No, I absolutely was not, to which my ever-present sweat in the classroom can attest. The craziest part is how much my body has adjusted to the heat: I need a light sweater if it's below 75°F and there's no sun. Anyways, today I've got some pictures and stories to share from my trip to Hong Kong about two weeks ago. (The weather was perfect when I was there: 70s and sunny the whole time.) The trip was fantastic, with the very notable exception of immigration on my out of Vietnam. My school totally botched the timing of getting me my work permit and long-term visa, so my initial three-month visa expired the day before I was due to depar...