A lot of roses.
So the next morning I got up about 0400, leaving Jonathan asleep, and went down to the lobby to work on my journal and wait for Truong to arrive. I was joined by Sheri, John, and Barbara. The flower market is located beside the main drag into town and motor scooters ran up and down the aisles of the market with the same insouciance as they do on the roadways.
Truong noted that because of the drizzle, there were not likely to be many people in the park for morning exercise (tai chi and other forms), so we went instead to the food market — about four times larger than the flower market and just as frenetic.
After returning to the hotel, a shower, and breakfast (this time of the Vietnamese variety), the group boarded the bus to Ha Long Bay. The four hour drive was broken by a rest stop where we stopped for refreshment as well.
A lot of roses.
Helliconia.
Sunflowers.
These look like (but aren't) peruvian lilies.
Processing the flowers.
Bundling what look like gladiolas.
Another flower stall.
John, Barbara, and Sheri.
Dragon fruit.
In the food market.
Chicken.
Limes.
Chilis.
Garlic and other ingredients.
Bamboo shoots - these were about the size of a softball.
A long view in one area of the food market.
The butcher.
Root vegetables and peanuts.
Departing with the day's supplies.
Shrimp.
Snails.
Fish and eels.
