Beep, Beep...we have arrived in Hanoi!

After two, twelve hour plane rides, a twelve hour layover in Moscow and a minor panic attack about our Vietnam visas...we have arrived safely in Hanoi, Vietnam and have officially started our 106 day journey around the world...this trip just got real (and so has the time change, hello from our hotel at 2am)!

Once our plane landed in Hanoi and we realized that the dates on our invitation letter were correct (Vietnamese to English translation...not so hot), Kyle and I looked at each other with pure joy and excitement. For majority of the ride from the airport to hotel, we didn't say much and were just trying to take in every little thing around us...the unique architecture of the buildings, how even the fields on the side of the highway were a green neither of us have ever witnessed, or all of the random food stands. Oh, and how could I possibly fail to mention the traffic, specifically the motorbikes. Honestly, seeing it all, the only thing we could do was laugh because it is just that insane. My hat goes off to anyone that drives one of them because it takes some serious skills and bravery. And...for most of my family that will not let me live it down that I have fallen asleep on the back of a snowmobile and jetski (we were in the wake zone!)....I met a little girl today that has me beat....passed out on her dad as he going 50 down the highway, swerving in and out of traffic! I rest my case.

For our first day in Hanoi, there were two things we wanted to do and those two things were centered around food. Shocker right? Warning to everyone...we are total fat kids at heart and will 100% be eating our way through this trip so never visit the blog hungry! Not only because it is delicious but we truly feel that food says so much about the culture and for us, is the best way to immerse ourselves in it. So our Hanoi food bucket list for today included 1) Vietnamese coffee 2) Bun Bo Nam Bo (a recommendation from our good friend Jeff Bates).

With a little help from our hotel and our handy, dandy "I'm a tourist" map..wait, who am I kidding? We stick out without the map, we made our way to the first stop...coffee. Walking in and out all of the side streets, random shops and crossing the street...terrifying and exhilirating...we made it to a cute, sky lounge restaurant that overlooked Hoan Kiem Lake. It was the perfect spot to sit back and really take it all in without having to dodge motorbikes every .5 seconds. The traditional Vietnamese coffee was delicious and just the little pickup that we needed. We still have to try the one made with an egg and from Weasel droppings..but figured it was ok to ease in on the first day.

With a little pep in our steps and rumbling bellies, we ventured back out to find the famous Bun Bo Nam Bo and folks, there are no words to describe how amazing this dish was...perfectly cooked noodles, beef that melted in your mouth, the perfect combination of mint, roasted peanuts and spices....is your mouth watering yet? Because mine definitely is! And the icing on the cake...it was $2.50 and our jumbo, much needed beers, were a whooping .50 cents...I can definitely get used to this. Once Kyle and I downed the food and beers, the jet lag hit us like a ton of bricks. So we decided that it had been a pretty good day and going back to the hotel and falling asleep at 5pm was totally reasonable.

Tomorrow/this morning, we leave for Halong Bay....a place that we have been talking about visiting for over three years. To say we are excited is an understatement. So after a wonderful first day, we move forward on this journey with smiles on our faces, happy tummies and the feeling of being truly blessed.

Southeast Asia