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.