Hanoi, Vietnam

Arriving in Vietnam, we got our visas, and then spent about half an hour trying to figure out how much Vietnamese money (dong) we should pull from the ATM. The tourist info desks weren't very helpful, both because they spoke very little English and because it seemed like they weren't very eager to help us westerners. We each took out 1,000,000VND (approx. $50), and then found a map and a minibus to take us toward the hostel filled block of Hanoi.
On the plane from BKK to Hanoi, we met 3 guys from England, who we ended up splitting the bus with, and then as things happen, also ended up finding a cheap room to split with them.
As soon as we got off the bus, we were bombarded by Vietnamesemen on motorbikes - who had been following our bus since the airport - trying to get us to come to their hotel...and probably also seeing what valuables we had.
We compared prices of a few different hostels, and then settled with a private room for the 5 of us with hot water, free beer (until the daily keg ran out), free breakfast, paying only $4 each (all the other hostels were $5 and up for a bed in a shared dorm room)!
We spent our first night and day in Hanoi exploring the city, as well as searching for motorbikes for the 3 guys, who planned to travel to the south of Vietnam on them.
Our second full day in Vietnam we took a tour to the famous Hallong Bay ($15 each). (I'll try to stay possitive here: ) We got on the bus at 8am, and 4 hours later arrived at Hallong Bay. [By the way, where we were - northern Vietnam - is not warm and sunny like southern Thailand...it's cold, foggy, and rainy almost every day] After waiting (in the cold) for an hour, we got on the boat and were served a delicious lunch! We then sat on the boat - which was still parked in the harbor - for another hour. Finally we set off, the tour guide telling us that the visibility was very poor at this time of year, and also that we had to rush through the activities of the day in order to get back at the planned time.
We first went into a cave (all lit up with colorful lights, and jam packed with tourists). It was quite an impressive, huge cave! Then, we hopped back on the boat and were taken to a fishing village. It was quite a sight with the floating houses and young children selling fruit from small boats, but we were soon told that np one actually lived there, it was just to serve to to tourists. :-\ we then sailed back to the harbor, supposedly passing right by the famous, "beautiful" Hallong Bay Islands, which we couldn't see at all thanks to the fog. Then we were carted back onto the bus for the 4 hour return journey.
It was a relatively cheap tour, but still felt quite cheated and disappointed by the end. ...oh well...

The next couple of days were unexpected and quite undesirable and uncomfortable, but in the end, the results were the only thing imaginable. I don't really want to write too many details, so I'll sum it up as best I can:
Ever since Kels came back and joined back up with me, things were different between us. We noticed it, talked about it quite a bit, and kind of pushed it off thinking (and hoping) that it would pass and that we just needed to get used to each other again. It turns out though that we have both simply changed, and grown. We set off on our journey, first on the Appalachian Trail and then on our world travels, together and with equal (or similar) goals of growth and exploration, worries, hopes, etc. We lived soooo much together, depended and leaned on each other for support, trusted and confided in each other, hated each other beyond imagination...and then made up realizing that the other was all we had - and it wasn't all that bad, etc. The great times were sooo great, and the bad times were complete suit, but in the end we always had each other!
But now we have different outlooks and plans for the future, and to put it simply, that makes it difficult to see eye to eye on big decisions regarding our trip...and before we knew it, on any decision at all.
Many very difficult discussions later, we were finally able to agree on one thing: that it was time for us to go our sepparate ways. The decision was not lacking in "what I really want" and "what's right for me" dilemmas, and worries of what the consequences would be, but in the end, it was the only option.
So, like mature adults, we split our shared belongings as equally as possible. $400 later I had bought myself a new tablet and camera because traveling without either... I'm sure I could, but I just wouldn't do it. We had dinner together a couple times, leaving nothing pending, nothing unsaid, and then parted ways with a longgg hug and kind words!
I highly doubt you'll ever read this, but...All the best to you Sita! May your travels bring you unlimited joy, liberating freedom, (rational) risk, ceaseless growth, and carefree dancing!!!! I love you girl and will never forget all the amazing experiences we shared...and I hope there are more to come! :) take care!!!!
~Iolani

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