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Eating Out

Coffee and a Catch Up 05 @ KOTO

21st March 2021
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Pho Mau, Hanoi

Pho Mau (Phở Mậu), Hanoi: Photo Story

25th August 2019
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Coffee and a Catch Up 01

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One of the things I love about Hanoi is how 'fancy One of the things I love about Hanoi is how 'fancy' and 'simple' are juxtaposed so closely. I live in a lovely, modern apartment and I took this photo on my road. Elsewhere in the city, skyscrapers stand tall while old colonial and Soviet style buildings are nestled between. Fine dining restaurants and contemporary bistros are dotted around, while just outside, banh mi and pho are sold from a cart or stall. 

Of course, there are different districts and areas, but unlike some Asian cities, in Hanoi, local, authentic life stands together with western influence. It's a great concoction to have in a city. πŸŒπŸ‡»πŸ‡³
Wednesdays are for wine and putting the world to r Wednesdays are for wine and putting the world to rights πŸ·πŸ§€
Excited for long summer days and evening drives to Excited for long summer days and evening drives to the coast for seaside sunsets like these β˜€οΈ

Less than 3 months before we go back to the UK. It's all getting pretty real 🌊
Happy Easter! πŸ’πŸ£ Happy Easter! πŸ’πŸ£
Wandering along Hanoi's pavements means skirting a Wandering along Hanoi's pavements means skirting around motorbikes (and sometimes fires), ducking under hanging wires and admiring cute houses. I've always been a fan of this one!

Honestly, I'm craving a stroll during which I don't have to be quite as *aware* of things around me and the likely tripping hazards. But Hanoi has its quirks and charms and the sight of its packed pavements is probably one of them!
March, you've been... a lot. Some lows, some high March, you've been... a lot.

Some lows, some highs. I doodled a few of the good bits the other day (+ ☁️ which for some reason seemed worth noting when I made this).

My birthday at the start of March seems like so long ago, yet each day flies by in a blink.

April, I'm ready for you to bring some sunshine and some much, much needed rest 🌼

Now to head to bed at 7:15 to see if I can finish American Dirt before dropping off (unlikely).

What are you looking forward to this April? xxxx
Get me to the beach, pronto πŸšπŸ¦€πŸŒŠ The sea Get me to the beach, pronto πŸšπŸ¦€πŸŒŠ

The sea is my happy place. I'm in urgent need of some sunshine on my face, salt in my hair and sand on my feet. Waking up to the sound of the waves is my favourite. 🌞

πŸ“· Taken on one of my fave bits of coastline in Vietnam: Quy Nhon.
Another day, another door πŸšͺ Another day, another door πŸšͺ
My mind is feeling as messy as this place ☝🏻 My mind is feeling as messy as this place ☝🏻

Feeling run down and exhausted despite long sleeps and no big plans. 7pm and I'm ready to crawl into bed for a couple of chapters of American Dirt, a little bit of journalling and a very early night to set me up for the week.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend 🌼

πŸ“· A building just round the corner from my old flat in the Truc Bach area. Always caught my eye as I strolled by.
When I own my own coffee shop, it will be filled w When I own my own coffee shop, it will be filled with lovely things that perk you up, like yellow mugs, plants in cute pots and perhaps a choice of biscuit on the side. Good biscuits. Chocolate hobnobs and custard creams maybe. β˜•πŸŒΌ
Another pretty Hanoi building, because my camera r Another pretty Hanoi building, because my camera roll - and this city - are full of them. πŸ’›πŸŒΌ

Ol is forever having to stop mid sentence or wait for me while I snap a pic of something that I guess a lot of people would just walk straight past. 

To me, this photo sums up so many of Hanoi's streets. Low hanging cables, bikes parked up, washing drying and random tarp sheltering something or other from potential storms.

About 12 or 13 weeks left. Bets on how many more buildings I'll photograph before I leave? ⬇️
What are your Sundays for? β˜• My Sundays are for What are your Sundays for? β˜•

My Sundays are for brunch with friends and setting myself up for the week, and if that's the case then this Sunday has been a successful one 🌹

I enjoyed breakfast @kotovillahanoi (despite the halloumi portions being far too small for this halloumi fan).

I also got tapping away on my latest Coffee and a Catch Up blog which is now live. Link in bio.

🌼
One of my favourite buildings in this city, on a f One of my favourite buildings in this city, on a far sunnier day than today.

As we start planning and preparing to leave in 3 months or so, I'm full of excitement at being reunited with friends and family, starting afresh, hopefully buying a house and lots more!

But I'm also having real waves of sadness that I'm leaving this city. As I was on the commute the other day I actually welled up that maybe the buildings in the UK aren't as unique and interesting as they are here πŸ˜‚ (I'm sure there are some that are!). It's a weird time, but I'm so grateful to have lived here, for it to be somewhere I'll miss and also so grateful for the hugs with my family and friends that I can have soon 
πŸ’›πŸŒΌπŸŒž
What are you hoping to achieve this year? What are What are you hoping to achieve this year? What are you working towards? How is it going?

New blog post today all about *looking back* (geddit?) at 27 and the progress I've made on my big 30 before 30 list! In some areas it's going well... In others, not so much! But that's okay. It is what I call a 'might do' list and there's no issues if I can't do it all, but I know I'll try!

πŸ“·πŸ“A walk across Long Bien Bridge at the end of 2020 with Ol. Two people scared of heights walking along a bridge with wobbly paving stones and bikes zooming past wasn't the best idea πŸ˜‚ we were happy once we got to the other side, and I'm pleased to have walked across this Hanoi icon. Probably won't make it a habit though!
Forget transport, I'm in need of some fuel to get Forget transport, I'm in need of some fuel to get me through this Monday 😴😴
Happy Mother's Day @ticking_stripes! 🌼 Oceans Happy Mother's Day @ticking_stripes! 🌼

Oceans apart but you're still here with me ☺️

What has your mum taught you? Let me know in the comments if you like, but more importantly, let her know today if you can! 

There's a new post on my blog today all about the life lessons I've learnt from Mum through the years. Link in bio!

My thoughts go out to anyone who can't be with their mum today, whatever the reason, and especially if that's the case every day. πŸ’›

This photo from one of our favourite places; I can't wait to go here again with you soon, Mum! 🐚
I took this photo about a year and a half ago in H I took this photo about a year and a half ago in Hoi An. As we've seen this week, bicycles aren't always used in the conventional way. This lady was using hers to produce food to sell. I don't remember what it was, and am confused because it looks like meat but there's clearly no heat source. What do you think?

Anyway, I'm always struck by the  resourcefulness of the Vietnamese people. In some ways it's sad that this lady has to rely on this as her livelihood, but I also think it's shows a clever and innovative way to use a bicycle for a range of purposes. 

🚲🍜🚲

This week, for #iwd2021, I'll be sharing some of my favourite photos I have taken of Vietnamese women - and their work ethic.

The hustlers. The grafters. The women who work tirelessly, always persevering and putting in the effort to do what they can for their families. The backbone of Vietnam.
This week, for #iwd2021, I've been sharing some of This week, for #iwd2021, I've been sharing some of my favourite photos I have taken of Vietnamese women - and their work ethic.

The hustlers. The grafters. The women who work tirelessly, always persevering and putting in the effort to do what they can for their families. The backbone of Vietnam.

There are some more to come, and I've been so pleased people have appreciated the stories and the photos.

But I want to drop in an illustration I did based on women at a market - though this could be based on a group of women anywhere in Hanoi. Noodles and chopsticks at the ready, prepping their bun cha and chatting and laughing together. Real community.

🍜🍜🍜

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