Blessed

I’m back in Hanoi and while fighting off a cold it was a joy to get out today.

In the very centre of town there is currently something akin to a flower festival. The whole of Dinh Tien Hoang, which runs alongside Hoan Kiem lake, has become a quite spectacular garden. It all feels very reclaim the streets.

It’s hard to shake off recent events detailed in the last post but, if it’s not too crass a statement I’ve never felt luckier to be alive and I’ve never been as determined to make the most of each day.

Today, what started as typical grey January morning had me peeling off layers by lunchtime when the sun eventually came out.  Hanoi, once more, reached that level of sheer gorgeousness that leaves me utterly humbled.

There are enough people out there who just don’t get Hanoi for me to realise that its beauty isn’t what you might call either classic or even traditional, but on a day like this I can’t help but see it everywhere and in everything.

Oh and the Hoan Kiem turtle even made an appearance.  (See here for the first time I saw it).

There are Hanoians who have spent their whole lives here and never seen this gargantuan, centuries old beast.  I feel truly blessed and it’s hard not to believe what locals tell you – that seeing it is a sign of good luck.  Right now I feel like I have more of the stuff than anybody every deserved.

More flower pics below.  The rest of today’s shots here.