As I start the formulation of this trip I knew that there will be moments when you get out of your comfort zone…that can’t be understated enough after today’s bike trip out to Banana island. Karen not known for sense of adventurism and risk taking had her moments that amazed me I’ll explain the following and highlight the moments of the Amazing Karen.
Neither of us are fervent bikers but we had to learn in a hurry navigating cars, trucks, a zillion scooters from the bowels of the meat/butcher district to an island about a mile outside of Hanoi, but would we make it back?
The trip started by being picked up at our hotel on a scooter (one each) and taken to meet our tour guide. There is almost no explanation as to what’s the traffic is like here in Hanoi it’s like taking one lane of Main Street Wetaskiwin adding 15,000 vehicles that don’t stop for signs, and constantly honking horns and the sidewalks are used as a parking lot for another 5,000 scooters. Scooters are expected to drive anywhere down sidewalks, walking paths but there are one way streets but scooters it appears are exempt from that rule. Crossing the street is just stepping out into traffic have your head on a swivel and proceed across as the traffic weaves around you. Karen is now a pro at jaywalking and weaving amongst the traffic. Amazing Karen #1
We make it to the start of our bike tour to Banana Island now we’re pedalling our bikes through the streets and back alleys of the meat market district in Hanoi. We’re both thinking what the hell did we get into as we watch freshly killed items being chopped and bagged up and being sold to restaurants and households all over Hanoi would we be fresh meat on the streets of Hanoi? Our bike tour group consisted of 2 Canadians (us) and an emergency room surgeon from Holland which would be good as he could perform emergency first aid after we get hit by a truck or a scooter and our tour guide Nathan. The first hour was quite uneventful as we crossed over the Red River to Banana Island toured the various farms that grow a wide range of vegetables and produce. So far so good. As we weaved our way back into Hanoi we peddled down the streets and back alleys to see some other sites we get separated from our guide and the Dutchman who thinks it the frigging Tour de France. It’s not like the streets run north south east and west. With no game plan from our guide in case we get separated we pull out the phone and try Google maps for directions back to the place we started our tour from only 4 miles away. I have to say that we were the only two caucasians in Hanoi peddling in bumper to bumper traffic dodging cars, trucks and 6 million scooters and thousands of pedestrians all the meanwhile getting honked at. An hour later we make it back to the starting point in one peice to the amazement of the other tour guides as the address we were given was not the same as the address we arrived at. Karen is now an expert biker in Hanoi. Amazing Karen #2.
The tour company then shoved us into a taxi and sent us to join our original guide and the Hollander at a restaurant across town. A few beers later and some awesome Vietnamese food all was good again. Now it’s off to train street to sit inches from a freight/passenger train. We joined hundreds of other people sitting trackside eating and drinking waiting for the train. As we sit track side the train came by inches away and the Amazing Karen didn’t flinch. Amazing Karen #3.
After our train street moment it was time for a foot and shoulder massage for both of us at a nearby spa for only $15.00. The didn’t offer massage’s for sore bike ass we probably couldn’t afford that. It’s been a great day that we won’t forget lots of adventures and being outside our comfort zones it really was an amazing day!
Train street
