As you can see, after few chapters of The Lost Symbol, and a severe bout of cramps which forced me to nap a couple of hours (with strange dreams of me kissing a guy, whom I am not even sure if he does exist, just a simple chap, sleeping on a bunk bed in a boat, clean cut, smelling great after a shower, finding food for me, and with such soft, thin lips, and such, sensual, gentle kisses. Oh gentle kisses!), the book isn’t engaging enough for me to trudge on with it, so here I am, writing instead.

I first wrote about Hanoi when I was there.

And then, as I tried to piece the experience together through pictures, I only got so far with recounting the first day.

***

The only reason to get up early on Day 2 was the hotel breakfast, with views of the lake right beside us cos we have the entire morning free as the meeting wouldn’t start till 2pm (quoting a colleague, “And I told my mum I am here for work!“)

We had Pho every morning, and though the breakfast was impressive, we soon realised how it would be the same menu for lunches and the following breakfasts to come.

Since the food wasn’t too bad, our appetites were quite healthy

Right after breakfast, we all chilled by the pool, sipping juices and getting tan in the scorching sun. It is a waste not to utilise the sun and the pool with the weather being almost burning.

The best feeling was when we finally dip in to the cooling pool, and it was absolutely heaven! We got out intermittently for the juice, brief relaxing chats, or just the occasional “breathers“.

Such a delightful start to a Wednesday

(All pictures of scenery sans human beings are by Ian Tan, except the lousy one below the group picture. Haha, me “stealing” the use of his masterpieces, must credit him)

On our way to the meeting venue (yes, that’s what we wear to ballroom meetings), saw the interesting backdrop of a castle and it was the closest I can afford to a roof over my head at this moment.

***

The day was quickly over and we were told to rush to get dressed for our group photo taking session in the early evening before the sun sets.

I guess that was probably one of the most fun moments of the trip (okay, sans alcohol, I mean), when all of us had to dress up in Vietnam’s traditional outfit, and the girls get to keep theirs.

The only thing I was joking about was the prints, it makes us all look like we are prepped for the coffin instead of a photoshoot.

The Aodai is actually meant to be a strangulation tool, really. We had to wear them THIS tight, and then it is slit all the way up to your midrift, and exposing the fats at the sides, and is worn over this sheer pair of white pants. So check out how we managed to fit into one of the sexiest national costumes:

And tadang! Here and me and some of the most lovely colleagues I ever have. Though we aren’t exactly closely-knitted like how I was to my previous colleagues, but this is the bunch of highly-capable people who are most willing to share their knowledge and expertise.

And how can I forget Janice, the one who pieced the trip together, and someone I used to work with for events. She’s an absolute darling and I just adore the girl to bits.

As you can see we were all trying to act demure since we all know how docile and demure and gentle Vietnamese girls are (sibei chio also!).

And yes… now you get what I mean about the prints and colours… cough.

***

Right after our phototaking session, we all headed back to the room to change (yet again!) for the gala dinner within the hotel.

As I wanted to keep costs low and the luggage minimally-filled as possible, I just made do with whatever I could find within the wardrobe, and settled for my jersey instead.

I didn’t expect most people were really gamed and dressed up for the occasion and it was a pretty hilarious evening, and though many pictures were taken (a colleague joked if we want to get ahead, have a raise, promotion, and maybe an early retirement, we could have great use for the pictures we took), most of them are not for the public’s eyes.

I was thankfully spared from the alcohol session, and I didn’t manage to capture all the ammonition we had with us for the night, but it definitely was enough for us to have to carry some of our peers (or even, seniors) back to the rooms.

I am such a natural blond. Giggles.

Coincidentally, I wasn’t the only one who turned up with girlie plaits, and everyone really made an effort.

The winner of the dressing up was the lady in the bathrobe, she gave us all a surprise when she took off her robe, and underneath was a sexy ensemble of netted stockings and ultra-short shorts with tight fitting low cut top, ala a WWF female wrestler.

YES, BAYYYYBEEEEEEH! HAAAAAWWWWTTTTT!

For post-dinner, we ended up at one of them rooms, and sat at the balcony having conversations of many things that gave a deeper glimpse of the people I have known for a while, but never quite had the chance to go deeper.

It was nice, and the night was one I would remember for a long, long while, for lotsa reasons.

When I finally retired back to my room, the mood was one of evaluative, and I took one peek of the Hanoi’s night after a nice shower, then I burrowed into the duvet and braced myself for the long meeting the next day.

***

The last day of meeting was a full day event and we were rewarded to a nice dinner at Bobby Chinn’s restaurant in the evening.

The highlight to the restaurant was definitely meeting the charming, quirky man himself, who is dripping with ample sex appeal. He had just returned from LV grand opening in Singapore, and it was just coincidence that he was around, and thrilling the ladies.

After a day and half in the hotel and not venturing out to Hanoi town centre, we almost forgot how hectic the traffic was, with the honking blasting our ears again as we made the short trip to the quaint restaurant.

Love the velvety, scarlet-y feel to the restaurant,with the tongue-in-cheek decorations, especially the “G spot” we found in the loo.

It was a romantic place to be in, though we were expecting more from the food, but since it was set dinner, we couldn’t quite check out the other specialities.

By the time we got back to hotel, we enjoyed the rest of the night at the hotel’s drinking hole, and just chilled under the moonlight.

We headed back when it was getting late, and concluded the night bidding goodbyes to the other teams from the region, as most of them were heading back the very next day. For another colleague and me, we would be checking out even earlier as we would be extending the trip with some exploring done on our own, to see what more Hanoi had to offer.

I am not sure if this would be the last trip I would have with them, but this is definitely one I would remember dearly for years to come.