This scene always reminds me of Brooklyn.

Yes, Brooklyn, New York.

Animal feed sacks

Strolling along a big street that leads to Ga Ha Noi, I saw a bag that looked like it was made of an animal feed sack. The sack probably contained feed for pigs. I am not sure if this type of bags are manufactured for export in this country, but i have seen tote bags made with recycled animal feed sacks.

There were two women hanging out near the bicycle, and they just could not stop giggling as I ask them if i can take a picture of the bag.

It reminds me of my college years in Iowa.

Hanoi

I finally arrived in Hanoi. It's been about a week since I left New York, and it's been only 14 hours since I left my folks home in Ichikawa. It was a brief visit, but nice to see them - especially visit my brother and his wife's coffee shop which will be open in two days!

They seemed excited but anxious - who shouldn't be! Hanging out at his how coffee shop logistics aside - has been on of my brother's dream, but I never thought he would one day run one. I don't think he thought about it seriously until late July, when a good old friend of his approached him if he would be interested in taking over the coffee shop which was to be closed in mid August. My entire family is very animated by this new challenge, so as my brothers in-laws, i heard. My grand-ma who has been baking and teaching how to bake, instantly became a baker for the coffee shop. She bakes cookies, her signature cheesecake, and pound cakes. Well, my grandma was too busy this time and I only had a chance to eat two things of tiny cookies she baked.


After getting my suitcases and a huge duffle bag at one of the two baggage claim at Noi Bai airport, I pushed my cart and went of to the meeting area in order to look for a driver from our office. Originally I informed my new colleagues that I would be taking a taxi to the hotel I booked for a month, but the second time the office asked me regarding my flight, I said "yes, please." It was not only a driver, but also my new boss was there to welcome me.

I learned that I don't have a room at the hotel I booked a few weeks back, but the owner's brother or cousin own another hotel and I can stay there for a few nights until the room I booked becomes available.

It's a small clean hotel which comes with very basic amenities and unlimited use of the broadband connection. But it will nice to move to a room with more lights. The ceiling is really high, that makes me really happy.


---- note ----

I started writing about my quest in Hanoi originally in Japanese at mixi right after I arrived here. Now I am trying to translate some of the text I jotted down there, so it might take a while for me to do the same here but will do my best --- more to come.