I Have Arrived!

It is 11:40pm Thursday, April 21, just checked into my hotel at Lucky Hotel 3, and it has been an exhuasting day.  The plane was delayed an hour out of Sea-Tac, but we finally got underway.  It was an 11 hour flight into Seoul, and I was tired, but not as tired as I was expecting.

My worry was that it shortened our connection time from Seoul to Hanoi.  By the time we de-planed, we had 25 minutes to get through a one line security check and "run" to the gate.  Then, I worried that our luggage would not be with us in Hanoi.  All worries were for nothing.  Our luggage arrived (after another 4 hour flight), we breezed through customs, and Jim (the nurse from Eugene, OR that I was traveling with), had arranged for Dr. Vy to pick us up and take us to our hotel.

It is warm, humid, but Dr. Vy was all smiles meeting us.  I had 2 suitcases, but Jim, had 5!  Lots of his cases were medical supplies that he brought with him.  I wish I had my camera handy to take picstures of trying to load 7 cases into a Kia Optima and still seat 5 people. Again, we managed.

The ride to the hotel was an experience all by itself.  Our driver, and other drivers, tailgate to vehicle ahead ìf they are too slow, flash their lights and honk, and the driver moves over. Now that's my kind of driving!  Once we got off the highway and into town, my heart skipped a beat a few times and it wasn't the caffeine.  Drivers don't stop at intersections, and there were some audible gasps from my lips.  Mopeds all over the place.  Lots of people out in front of their homes, cooking meals, eating, and watching the traffic go by, even at 11 pm at night!

OK, I successfully uploaded the pictures from my room.  Bruce, you taught me well.

Plans for tomorrow?  Sleep in, breakfast, which is provided at the hotel, walk over to Ho Chi Minh Mauseleum, the Women's Museum, go see the infamous "Hanoi Hilton", walk to the hospital where we will be working, and in the evening, see the Water Puppet Show, which is a tradition while in the city.

Now, time for a shower, and bed.  Nighty-night....