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Sally Murphy, Australian author

Poetry Friday: Oi from Hanoi

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It’s Poetry Friday and also time for my first post from Hanoi (wondering what I’m doing  in Hanoi? See this post.)

I’ve been here five days and so far I have:

  • Walked a gazillion steps (well, my step counter is certainly happy with my new, more active lifestyle)
  • Adapted to the tropical heat. Today was 37 degrees Celsius, with humidity that made it ‘feel like’ 43.
  • Crossed many busy busy roads without getting run over even once (you have to see the traffic to believe it, and understand that a crosswalk is not where cars  or motorbikes stop for pedestrians, but where pedestrians are encouraged to cross, for reasons that are not yet clear to me).
  • Ordered, consumed and loved local food including the very famous pho.
  • Went on a street food tour with an amazing guide, and cook, named Y (pronounced Ee) who introduced me to above named delicacies).
  • Met the staff at The Gioi Publishing House, who I will spend some of my time with, and who have welcomed me very warmly.
  • And managed not to be too dreadfully homesick.

I have also been writing – notes of my experiences, some ideas for the book I’m going to write while I’m here, and other bits and pieces. And I’ve been taking photos. So, since it’s poetry Friday I selected just two of the photos for little vignettes. First, the swans on the lake across from my apartment building. I’m not sure just how many of these swan boats there are but on the first two days I was here, the lake was dotted with them being pedalled by families enjoying Vietnam’s National Day and the subsequent Monday holiday. In the days since there have been fewer out and about – I’m guessing because people are working or at school, and I managed to get a photo of them all lined up at the boat dock. I’m a bit taken by these swans, and am pretty sure they will make an appearance (or two) in my book. Anyway, in the meantime, here’s my reflection:

Another creature I am fascinated by is more lively. Each evening little geckos climb the glass windows of my balcony. They are a little camera shy – I guess because I am big and scary – but luckily I bought a new camera just before I left home and it has big lens, so I was able to get a few shots. The light effect in the background is from the lights across the water outside.

That’s it for me for this Poetry Friday. I’m off to explore more of Hanoi, and then  to check out all the other Poetry Friday goodness from my fellow poetry loving friends. You can follow the Poetry Friday goodness by visiting the roundup at Beyond Literacy.

PS. This post, and my visit to Hanoi, are made possible by the amazing Asialink Arts Program, and with the funding support of the the Western Australian Government through the  Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.

Comments

  1. Wow, Sally! How did I miss the initial post detailing your exciting adventure!? What an amazing experience you’ve signed up for! I’m full of admiration and can’t wait to follow along vicariously. Love the shared experiences and the photos. I, too, am keen on your little gecko photo and those contrasts “on the outside looking in” and “on the inside looking out “. Happy writing!!

    • Thanks Dani. I am doing my best to enjoy and absorb every single experience. It is such a privilege to be here.

  5. Sally, enjoy every minute of your travels in Hanoi. I love how you captured life there and added in your reflective thoughts. The gecko is an amazing little creature and what you did with capturing the background of light effects is wonderful. At first, I thought you used a digital tool to create the light effects. What a wonderful eye you have. May I capture your gecko image poem for The Art of Summering Gallery. I think it fits with the theme (especially if I focus on your photography)?

  6. Your hello from Hanoi evoked memories of my time there last year Sally. Thank you for sharing your observations and your poems celebrating living things in this bustling northern city. Explore onwards!

    • Ahhh. It shouldn’t be surprising, Matt. Highlands Coffee was actually founded in Hanoi, by a Vietnamese American. (I have to admit I didn’t know this until I googled) They are everywhere here!
      There is also Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (which I think is a US company – we don’t have them in Australia, but I’ve seen them in Singapore, too) and I even saw a Starbucks yesterday. And of course I’ve seen McDonald’s and KFC and Burger King and….

  8. What a marvelous adventure. I’ve been on the Boston swan boats & we have paddle boats here in our large city park, but alas, no swans. It’s a beautiful view, then looking close at your visiting geckos makes an inviting evening, too. Best wishes for more, and more that you’ll share.

    • Thanks Linda. I haven’t been in a paddle boat since I was a child (makes me wonder if my own children ever got this opportunity – oops), but am keen to give these ones a go.

  9. Boston has swan boats, too, so I felt oddly at home looking at your photos of Hanoi. Your philosophizing on crosswalks made me word-associate. Cross-section, cross-stitch, cross-patch, crossfire, crossed-off. Then I wanted to linger there, where my mind could freely move. How inspiring.

    • Cross patch
      draw the latch
      Sit by the fire and spin –
      see where your word association took me Brenda?
      I have seen pedal boats in many places (even, for a time, in the town where I live) but only seen swan ones on television. I love them – they bring out the child in me!

  10. Dear Sally, look at you, out there living your poem… love these Hanoi sharings… I can see it/smell it/taste it… thank you! And wow, that gecko with the light behind.. very cool. xo

  11. So MUCH to respond to here! Well, I was all prepared to tell you, just you WAIT until I have a ticket to Australia and then we will meet in person….but you’ve packed up and gone to Viet Nam. Oh well, I love to travel so I don’t mind some tropical heat…so long as it involves a bowl of Pho as big as my head. mmmmmmmmmm.
    I love your first impressions…that gecko shot is super. Isn’t it great to be new to a place? There’s so much to observe which makes for good writing. I will keep up with your travels and books! Good luck this week.

    • Thanks Linda. You would be very welcome here. There is plenty of pho to go around – and bun cha and egg coffee and and and….. I went on a street food tour one day, and came home so full I had to nap!
      And yes, the new setting is certainly getting the creative juices flowing!
      Thanks for dropping in.

  12. I had to stop and ponder those crosswalks for a minute! (Sounds like you are not only getting a lot of steps, but some running, too…)
    Love your photos and poems! That gecko especially — what a shot!

    • Thanks Tabatha guess I should have called them zebra crossings for my US friends? And yes to the running. It’s kind of a special shuffle. Might have to write a poem about it specially.

  13. How exciting that you are in Hanoi!!! I’m partial to your second poem about the gecko as I have had a couple of water dragon lizards as pets. Love the “outside looking in, inside looking out” p.o.v. Though that swan boat sounds intriguing too, and the pics are great, thanks!

    • Thank you Michelle. I’m hoping to have a pedal one day in the swan boats, if I can find someone to pedal with me 🙂

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