I haven’t been doing much exploring or photographing lately. It could because of the heat, or the working full time, but I think it has more to do with my feeling towards this place. I chose to come to Hanoi, not for the delights of the city, not for the people or the food or even for the exoticness of it all. I came here because I had an opportunity to live here easily and rent-free. This has really been living-overseas-lite for me and for many reasons I haven’t connected with Hanoi or Vietnam. I cringe when I see myself living here and not learning Vietnamese (I honestly have no desire), I’m camping here in my little handmade Australia in Hanoi. Most days I venture out, I ride my bicycle, I eat on the street  and I explore, but this isn’t home and it will only ever be a temporary layover.

Since they demolished the house across the way (building is supposed to start today after the site was blessed) I have been seriously thinking about what I am going to do next. There are so many options and that makes me both giddy with excitement and exhausted with the weight of it all at once.

Despite everything I still enjoy this city. There is so much more food to discover and I know that I will never be able to taste it all. Hanoi isn’t all bad, but the reason why it has been quiet around here is that I’m not terribly inspired and excited to talk about my life here.

Some scenes from a lovely morning stroll around town last weekend.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 14th, 2010 at 9:52 pm and is filed under Hanoi, Old Quarter.