Noise and Chaos

Hey look! An animated gif! (Only repeats five times.)As the city (and entire country) begins its slow shutdown for the New Year's celebration, being the Chinese New Year to bring in the Water Dragon, we thought we'd give you a couple of shots of life here. Here, as has probably caught your attention if your browser allows viewing of animated gif images, is the intersection immediately outside our hotel. What you're seeing (but not hearing) is the on-coming traffic at a stop light starting to creep into the cross traffic that still has the green light! The on-coming traffic (from the left) begins to push the cross traffic out of the way in anticipation of their green light. Add to that constant horns blaring and you have a tiny insight into how annoying this city is for everyone trying to go somewhere.

Click on image for larger size.This morning we had a wonderful tour by Daniel, a local, of the West Lake Temple complex, where over the next few days thousands of people will come to pray and meditate.

Last, in Rowan's Pano section, is this shot (actually two wide panos combined) of Hanoi. If you're thinking it looks crowded, try crossing the street down below!