We are milionaires!!

We have 3 million something money in 100.000 notes and what a funny feeling to run around with that amount of money in your pockets.
Two latte's cost us 75,000, a taxi into town was 44,000, beef noodles for 2 and a beer cost us 74,000 and Jorgen bought 2 Vietnam caps for 40,000 from a very persistent little woman who followed us all around Hanoi gradually dropping her asking price from 60,000!!

Not only the money has some big numbers, also the numbers of mopeds on the streets is enormous and for an european who is used to ordnung, rules and well organized traffic, this experience is overwhelming, and it reminds me about the traffic in Cairo. Everything goes, just don't stop, keep moving and always expect something infront of you going in any direction. And very important; always use your horn. It is absolutely facinating to see how the traffic just flows in one onwards going movement, in and out and in all directions at the time. Mopeds and bicycles are everywhere around you and the locals use these to transport some times up to 4 persons or big loads of duvets, baskets, huge water containers and animals. It is terrifying to cross the road or even just to be a passenger in a small car. At any moment you feel as if it could be your last! I have watched what Hanoi pedestrians do and some of them walk slowly holding one hand in the air, others run. We were given one useful tip today and that was just to keep walking because the traffic will surely swerve to avoid the pedestrians!!! It was good advice, nothing hit us and we crossed the road several times.Another very cool thing about Hanoi is the power lines. Like thick black licquorice in tangled knots. Those black strips that look as if they are on the road on the photo above are some of the more organised looking power lines we saw today.
There are lots of shops selling original and copied art work, chopsticks, lacquered bowls,teapots, shawls, silk clothes, t-shirts, little magnetic dolls.... Then there are the many street vendors with fresh bananas, durian, mangoes, avocados, oranges. Everyone wants to sell you something or rent you a moped!!

Today's TrakToor is infact myself carrying goods around the streets of Hanoi with a traditionel Vietnamese carry thing.