Anna Casey

Hoi An: Day 3

We returned to Phin Coffee for our morning cup. The events of the day before had proven that when you find a good thing, you stick with it–novelty be damned. Everything we want to try or do is closed for the Lunar New Year celebrations. If y’all thought we took Christmas seriously, you ain’t seenContinue reading “Hoi An: Day 3”

Hoi An: Day 2

Sometimes, my desire for novelty trumps all else. It is an all-too-frequent problem of mine that I will end up somewhere disappointing, just because I wanted to try something new. Phin Coffee was good. It was actually kind of perfect. But we’d been there, done that, so I suggested we try Coffee 11, on theContinue reading “Hoi An: Day 2”

Halong Bay: Highlights Reel

Author’s note: we are skipping “Best Meals” and “Blooper Reel,” because there were none. We were only there for two days. Best Experiences: Anna Not dying while scrambling up and down the treacherous rocks on Cat Ba Island. It was both scary and very fun! Happy houring with our fellow international passengers. I’m going toContinue reading “Halong Bay: Highlights Reel”

Hoi An: Day 1

I am going to skim past a couple days here because I’m sure you don’t want to read about us waiting in the airport for six hours for our delayed flight, or the two times (two!) we ate Burger King, cause we’re disgusting. Suffice it to say, we disembarked our Halong Bay cruise after breakfastContinue reading “Hoi An: Day 1”

Halong Bay: Day 2

Breakfast was served at 6:30 in the morning. We were told this the night before, but Last-Night Aaron and Anna were fine with making that Next-Morning Aaron and Anna’s problem. Those guys can be some real jerks. The reason for our early rise was that we were trying to beat the crowds to the mostContinue reading “Halong Bay: Day 2”

Halong Bay: Day 1

The ride to Halong Bay from Hanoi is about 2 and a half hours. We rode on a bus with the other tourists on our cruise, as well as our tour guide, Binh. Binh was to-the-point, but also charming and funny. He spoke impeccable English. He asked us all to introduce ourselves. There were aContinue reading “Halong Bay: Day 1”

Hanoi: Highlights Reel

Best Experiences: Anna That unforgettable canal ride in the Ninh Xuan area. From now on, when someone tells me to go to my happy place, I’ll think of that quiet, concealed cove. Coffee on our first day in Hanoi, out on the balcony of Coffee A. I enjoyed my first ever egg coffee, looking outContinue reading “Hanoi: Highlights Reel”

Hanoi: Day 8

The Temple of Literature is a centuries-old botanic garden and temple complex dedicated to the exaltation of Confucian ideals and learning. It has several pool-embellished, garden courtyards, and ornate pagodas, leading to a shrine at the back of the complex. I was enjoying my time in the historic temple, but Aaron seemed listless. He keptContinue reading “Hanoi: Day 8”

Hanoi: Day 7

After lunch, we trekked around the karsts some more. Our overstuffed bellies couldn’t have handled much more than a leisurely pace. We enjoyed one hour more of Yin’s company, discussing our cultures further as we ogled the mist-shrouded landscape. We took a few photos, then it was time to return to Hanoi. The ride backContinue reading “Hanoi: Day 7”

Hanoi: Day 6

I wish I could tell you that we’ve taken advantage of every second of being here. But for one full afternoon, Aaron and I stayed in our room at Cocoon Inn and watched Rick and Morty. I don’t regret it, but I am properly ashamed. As our time in Hanoi draws to a close, we’reContinue reading “Hanoi: Day 6”