![]() The ride became so much less daunting after that. I quickly climbed onto the top bunk, and soon after my roomies arrived, I heard a familiar accent - turns out my bunk mates were also 22 and coincidentally from my hometown. This meant that I would have to spend eight long hours in a tiny room with three strangers and no internet. I had booked a four-bunk cabin and skipped in-train Wi-Fi to save money. But I was also anxious for a number of reasons. ![]() I was really hyped for my first ride on a sleeper train. I got to try both top and bottom bunk on the sleeper train to and from Sapa. When the owner finally got around to my table to take the order, I succeeded with a combination of nods and headshakes. I looked around to see how everyone else was ordering their food, and tried to take note of the typical reactions to the owners standard series of questions. To avoid sticking out like a sore thumb, I got seated with a local eating alone. I was happy to see it was bustling with locals. One of the best meals I had on the trip was at this crowded Bun Cha – Hanoi's speciality dish of seasoned grilled pork served in broth with a side of rice noodles - restaurant tucked away in a small street. With this new life hack I had picked up, I managed to discover a lot of hidden local favorites, and did my best to blend in. That was until I discovered an even better way: spot and mimic the locals. Initially, I relied heavily on Google Maps to find nearby highly-rated restaurants, and Google Translate to communicate. It's an eight-hour train ride from Hanoi. Instead, I went ahead with exploring Hanoi for two days before I headed to Sapa, a small town in north-west Vietnam. I expected mishaps on the trip, so my mini accommodation crisis left me relatively unfazed. The famous Bun Cha restaurant was so crowded, but the staff were still so patient and friendly. Most importantly, I checked and double-checked my phone again to make sure all the essential apps - Google Maps and Translate, Grab, Agoda - were downloaded and organized in the same folder. I really liked the idea of not being able to edit or even see the photos I would take. For my last college winter break, I started planning an 11-day trip to Hanoi, from where I could explore the nature surrounding the city.Īs the day of my flight approached, I started packing the typical travel essentials, along with a disposable camera. I have always been one to like peace and quiet, and sometimes the fast pace and chaos of this metropolitan city in Southeast Asia - where I have lived my whole life - tires me out.Īfter finding out that one of the world's most beautiful mountains is only a three-hour flight away, I decided it was time to take that overdue break from urban life. Hanoi's gentle winter was the perfect weather for a warm bowl of Pho.įor years, I've dreamt of traveling alone to somewhere far away from the hustle and bustle of Singapore.
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