PLACES: HANOI IS WHERE THE HEART IS, PART I

THE MORNING OF DEPARTURE, IMAGES OF CATHERINE DENEUVE AND OPIUM DENS AND MOUNTAINS OF RICE-PAPER ROLLS DANCED IN MY HEAD. ARRIVAL AT THE LEGENDARY HOTEL METROPOLE DID NOT DISAPPOINT: IT WAS TOTALLY GIVING THIS 'INDOCHINE' FRENCH COLONIAL VIBE, COMPLETE WITH AN EPICERIE SELLING A SPECTRUM OF PASTEL MACARONS. 

SKETCH AFTER SKETCH, DESPERATELY TRYING TO CAPTURE THE INCREDIBLE FACADE OF THIS CHARMING INSTITUTION, WITH ALL ITS REGULARITY, DENTICULATION AND PILASTERS, AGAINST THE LUSH GREENERY:

UNSURPRISINGLY, IT WASN'T UNTIL LEAVING THE COZY CONFINES OF THE HOTEL AND HITTING THE STREETS THAT THE REAL WILDNESS, THE SPIRIT OF THE PLACE PRESENTED ITSELF:

BONJOUR, MADAM!

STOPPING FOR STREET MEATS.

SO MUCH OF LIFE IN ASIA SEES PEOPLE CONVENING ON THE GROUND, TO WORK, TO SOCIALIZE AND TO EAT. THEY ARE A PEOPLE WITH STRONG ROOTS IN THE EARTH, A GROUNDED-NESS THAT APPEARS BOTH  PRIMAL AND NOBLE AT THE SAME TIME. 

EASTER LILLIES

AND WE MADE AN EASTER FEAST OF LES MACARONS (AFTER BOWLS AND BOWLS OF STEAMING PHO).