So, dinner. We needed a quick dinner so we took to the streets. We saddled up to the kiddie table and pointed at the noodle soup. We safely chose eggs as our protein source rather than the delightful array of "meat" offered. I believe in France, brain, liver and sweetbread are considered a delicacy. God bless the French. This display almost put me off dinner (apologies is it has put you off yours) but this was such a great photo opp. Sweeeeet.
After our fine culinary experience, we popped onto a motorscooter taxi (yes, 2 of us + driver, sorry Mom) down to the Opera House.
We had a special evening with Vu Ngoc Linh, the famous pianist. He started his piano training in Moscow (former Soviet Union, I might add) and won a university scholarship to Rowan University in New Joyzee, USA (that's New Jersey for those who don't get the humour). He was a madman on that ivory - we loved him. And he had a posse of groupees running on stage to give him huge flower bouquets - quite a lovah, lovah, I'd expect.
For those who are interested in what we heard, he played Beethoven: Sonate No. 23 "Appasionata" op.57. He played Scriabin: Etude in C sharp minor op.42. He played Debussy: Estampes. And finally Liszt: Sonate in B minor. For his encore, he played the theme to Sonic, the Hedgehog - an old Nintendo videogame - it added a bit of geeky humour for the audience. I'm sure the song was famous before the videogame, but I couldn't tell you what it was - perhaps Gershwin (the American composer)? Eek.
Ok, finally, as a nightcap, we went back to our neighbourhood and had a final beer on one of the busy corner. Locals and tourists alike gather around on kiddie chairs and have people bring us beer from a keg.
In summary:
Two noodle soups and two beers on the street: $3
Two tickets to the opera house: $20
Two glasses of wine at the opera house: $10
Two beers after the show: 25 cents
Spending two hours with Hanoi's elite and ending up "back in our box" with the other travel w*nkers: PRICELESS
No comments:
Post a Comment