Weekly Highs, Lows, and Daily Joys
Highs: Farewell swan boat excursion, Pizza 4Ps date night with Alex, watercolor class
Lows: figuring out packing with restrictive weight limits, catching up on sleep, leaving Hanoi
Daily Joys: sunshine, hot showers, massages
The Details
My last week in Hanoi is almost a blur. Coming hot off the heels of an incredible adventure in Ha Giang, I found myself struggling to grasp the fact that our time had come to a close.
It was also quite busy. On Tuesday, our Community Leader hosted a Town Hall, where we learned more about our next stop (Chiang Mai, Thailand), check out details, and departure information, and had the opportunity to give feedback. It was nice to come together and get new information. I was excited to find out we all have our own apartments!
After Town Hall, part of our group went to participate in Positive Impact Day. This is an organized volunteer opportunity where we have the chance to contribute something positive to the city we've been living in. The nonprofit partner was Blue Dragon, a multi-faceted organization dedicated to preventing human trafficking and rescuing victims of human trafficking. I completely nerded out before volunteering by looking at their annual report and impact - I was impressed and excited to contribute in a small way.
We were tasked with repainting a room at a shelter. Having worked at a shelter myself, I know how much repainting, or tidying up, can do for a space and for the mindset of the residents. The first group did the base layer, and the second group brought some real talent with murals. It was a really fun way to bond with our group, and I appreciated the chance to connect with the staff about their passion for the work, too.
I had a long work day the next day and felt relieved to have plans in the evening so I could make sure to enjoy the day. Our City Manager arranged a farewell event - lakeside drinks and food, followed by a swan boat excursion. I took a Grab (Uber for motorbikes) to get there and Alex and I paddled our swan together. We felt like we were back in Echo Park Los Angeles, the last time we paddled a swan boat. The sunset was red and eerie, due to the high air pollution that day.
The following day, I wrapped up work for the month and began to pack. When I first packed for Remote Year, I was so organized. Everything was intentionally packed or organized. This time, I was stuffing things wherever they could go. This was in part due to the fact that we were flying Asia Air, who is incredibly and awfully strict with their weight limits. We were advised to pre-purchase extra weight and bags before visiting the counter at the airport because they surcharge 80% or more. Fortunately, I was diligent about these weight limits, and my bags were fine at check-in.
That evening, Alex and I went to Pizza 4Ps, an infamous location in our group, and a well-loved restaurant for tourists and locals alike. I ordered a kale salad, with a whole pizza. Half kale/ricotta and half eggplant/red sauce. It was amazing, and I was grateful for the leftovers for the next day. Before my late night meetings, we also went for ice cream at a place ironically called Bread Factory. They have shaved frozen coconut milk (I think), making it lighter and less sweet than normal ice cream. It hit the spot!
The following day - our last day in the city - I took the day off for what would end up being an awesome day. Starting with a two-hour massage and body scrub from the frequented Spas Hanoi, Alex and I had a fun afternoon of each of our favorite things: for me, watercoloring, and for Alex, climbing. I chose this class on Airbnb Experiences because I wanted to learn about Chinese-influenced, traditional Vietnamese watercolor, and calligraphy. We learned painting techniques from a master with more than 15 years of experience. Our host translated his teaching in Vietnamese, and he helped us by painting grass, bamboo, flower petals, and more, step-by-step. It was hosted in a cute cafe that I would never find myself in. I was so pleased with the finished product! Though, I must admit I had help from the master painter. I asked if he could write "peace" on my painting to capture how I felt in that moment. He even agreed to drop off a set of special paintbrushes to me later that evening! Best. Souvenir. Ever. I can't wait to practice!
We hopped on our own Grab bikes to wrap up the afternoon at VietClimb. I enjoyed the opportunity to be physically active, solve some puzzles, and practice that frustrating feeling of "just not today" on a few routes.
We had dinner at the perfect place for a final meal (or even your first) in Hanoi: Quan An Ngon. It's set up almost like a food court, except it's one restaurant. They have different kitchens, each of which produces only 4-5 Vietnamese dishes, which means things are made fast and food is diverse. It was truly ideal to enjoy sharing a Bia Ha Noi cheers and some of our favorite street food dishes with our City Manager, just one last time.
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