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Reaching Ninh Binh was a long drive from Hanoi. We only spent three days in Ninh Binh. The first place we visited was Emeralda for two nights. Mr. Min, our driver pulled up into a large multi-building out in the middle of nowhere. The place was huge! The entry way was like a temple with a traditional Vietnamese roof. T helped us with our bags. We were greeted by the owner who gave us steaming hot towels and tea. We took a golf cart to our room. There were tropical trees everywhere and the path was made of bricks that curved around. Each set of rooms were neatly spread around with a gated fence around a large selection of area. An arch was centered in front of the path way and indented for bikes and carts to park at. Each part of the so-called “neighborhood” had a name. Our neighborhood was called Banana Garden. The driver gestured to a tall white and red building and told us that’s where we would have dinner and breakfast. As we entered the room I couldn’t help but laugh a little. It was such a nice place. There were three separate beds as you turned the corner. The room contained a closet and a big flat screen TV in the corner. Walking into the bathroom you could peer through the windows and see the different types of bushes and trees. The two sink bowls we engraved on top of a long slate of dark red granite.

To the other side was a bathtub in the shape of a flower. There was also the shower and the toilet. All in all, the whole room was really quite a treat.

My mom and I explored the hotel. It was deserted and quiet but at the same time peaceful and serene. There was an outdoor pool. The pretty sky blue water rippled in the soft wind. Inside the restaurant is was kind of dark. The room was fairly big especially the way it seemed so forsaken and bare. I wasn’t expecting a big heated indoor pool. I tested the water and it felt really warm. It was just like a gigantic hot tub.

That day we visited a National Park with all different species of monkeys and turtles. There was one type of monkey that had arms longer then its feet and swung from branch to branch wildly.

That one was my favorite. We learned about baby turtles and what happens to them as they grow. Then we took a hike to a thousand year old tree. I guess it was worth it, but it could’ve been better. But I can’t complain. Dinner that night was okay. I had spicy pasta.

In my opinion, the following day was a lot more adventurous. We traveled awhile until we reached the county and there weren’t any tourists. Looking out the window you could see lots of villagers preparing the rice paddies for planting.

We took nice bikes around the village.

My mom stopped a few times to take memorable pictures of different scenes you wouldn’t see in America. There was one scene when a man was gliding on a wooden board that was attached to a machine. He began to surf around spraying mud on his bare feet and legs. He was plowing the rice paddies. Peddling down some more, we saw children biking home from school. They smiled and shouted, “Hello!” One time some little village boys came running after us laughing and calling after us. “Da, da,” they said. T told us that it meant “foreigners”. It was interesting to see how life is like in the fields.

After about an hour we stopped at a small gated home. It was hidden to the side of a skinny ally way. A kind elder couple welcomed us to sit and have water and tea.

One of the men showed us how to package up a Vietnamese spring roll. So far, we’ve had experience with that. The way they cooked the spring rolls was different. There was a fire and a black frying pan that was placed above the fire. Oil was popping and bubbling in the pan. With some chopsticks we placed the completed spring rolls neatly into the pan.

  

We flipped them over and waited until they were finished. In the end we had a big meal that would tied us over until we got back to the hotel. When we reached the end of the bike ride we washed up a bit and got our coats. We were going to go on a boat ride into the caves. I went with my mom and dad went with T. As we cruised along slowly you could almost hear the purring of the far away tractors, the whooshing of the bugs and bushes and the sound of the rowers dipping into the water just slightly prodding us forward.

 

The boat thunked to a stop and we carefully climbed out. We ventured on into the forest. Seeing the inside of the cave was fun. It wasn’t anything special, but the color of lights shining down of different parts of the cave resembled the similar taste of the other caves we visited. My mom got claustrophobic and had to leave. I didn’t blame her, but I didn’t want to miss boating inside the cave. The same boat drivers came with us through the cave and met us at the end of the cave. The opening was dark and eerie but it seemed fun. Flickering my flashlight on parts of the mysterious cave was cool. My dad and I had to duck in some parts. We even saw two small bats curled up in a cocoon that hung from the top of the cave. After the cave I got to row the boat a little.

I didn’t get anywhere. It goes to show: sometimes things look easier when you’re not doing it. But then you have to try it to really know the truth. That goes for everything.

It was time to leave Emeralda. We rolled our bags hastily down the rocky road because we were late (it’s kind of a repetitious habit!). Once again, we were driving on the road. We were headed to Ky Son. Finally we arrived at Moon Garden Home Stay.

I was expecting it to be dirty and unsafe, but it wasn’t. In fact, it was a really comfy place. Even my mom said that it was her favorite place yet. Staying there was very traditional.

The threshold was like a pretty Vietnamese house. The roof was slanted upwards and there were more than one door to enter. You left your shoes outside. The beds were just mattresses placed on a wooden board. I think I got the comfiest mattress.

My mom and dad tried the traditional way of taking a shower. You would sit on a stool and pour lemon grass herbs inside a round wooden bucket. Fill the hot water into the bucket. Then you would take a ladle made out of a coconut shell and pour in over your body.

My mom loved it. At dinner we were served Vietnamese food. Shrimp was presented on a tall festooned platter with leaves.

A woman shared a story about their famous rice cake. I was told to help cut the cake. You didn’t use a knife. Instead, strings were pressed into the cake and the cake was flipped over. Then you would take the strings and pull away from each other splitting it in half.

That night I took the time to do some work and relax.

The next morning we had breakfast and my mom and dad went for a bicycle ride past the rice fields. I stayed in the room to work. Lunch was served soon after. A lady presented us with our lunch in baskets strung together with a bamboo stick. The spring rolls were my favorite. They also had rice that was red and in the shape of a heart!

 

One lady motioned us to sit down at three chairs. T told us that we were going to have a hand massage. The lady poured hot water into a big wooden bucket and told us to put our hands in.

She started with my hands. The lady took holey basil and began to rub it all over the palms and the top of my hand. She did that for each of us. Then she started to massage our arms and hands with her thumbs. At the end we all felt relaxed and it was time to pack up and go back to Hanoi for the last time. We wrote in the guest book and collected our bags. When we were ready to go, we thanked the staff and owner and stepped inside the van. Throughout the trip, I notice how fortunate we are to have heat, safe food, electricity and a clean environment. In Laos and Vietnam, people don’t always have that. They have to keep warm with coats and scarves. Even if they might have less of an advantage they are still very kind. They always say hi or smile. Just because you may not have all the things you need, doesn’t mean you’re life isn’t good enough. You can still enjoy the company of friends and family. You can still hope for a miracle to happen.