All posts by Ann.drummie

I value creativity, exploration, and contribution. I enjoy traveling as a forum for all three. I also thrive on opportunities to coach in technical professions, as well as sports, that particularly involve teamwork.

Five Highs and Two Lows – Vietnam (Part 2)

And now the companion piece – the emotional highs and lows of a month in Vietnam.

I have already written about a quiet day on a boat in Bai Tu Long Bay, hiking in Ninh Binh, riding on a motorbike, and generally being surrounded by captivating architecture.  But here are a few other highs from hanging out in Hanoi:

Continue reading Five Highs and Two Lows – Vietnam (Part 2)

A Story About: Community

While in Hanoi, a Story Slam appeared on our group’s calendar for a Saturday night, with the topic of “community”.  I admit that my first reaction was that I would enjoy being in the audience to see my first slam.  I then reminded myself that I am actively working on story-telling skills, so I really should volunteer regardless of my uncertainties of the format and the elusiveness of the topic.  Below is a rough transcript of the story I told that night.  Perhaps put yourself with another twenty people, in a second floor lounge at a Hanoi bar with rearranged, mismatched furniture and the sound of motorbikes coming in through an open window, to get a little bit of the ambiance and spirit of the evening….

Continue reading A Story About: Community

Something in the Air

Today’s Travel Tip: Don’t take good air quality for granted.

My current approach to traveling hasn’t allowed much time to think about the next destination, as I have tried to soak up as much as possible where I am actually living.  This led me to land in Hanoi, Vietnam, rather unprepared for the air that hit me.  An app that I quickly befriended is called AirVisual.  Here are a few notes about my experience with it.

Continue reading Something in the Air

Welcome to Hanoi!

Fifth month with Remote Year, so fifth country – Vietnam.  This is no where near South Africa, so I had a chance to find out if I actually have skills for long haul flights, or if the enjoyable 11.5 hour flight from Paris to Cape Town had been a fluke…..I think I did alright with Cape Town-Dubai-Hanoi, even having already acknowledged that the malaria pills were making me a little prickly.  And when it takes 19 total hours to cross 5 time zones (only five???!), who knows what jet lag even means at that point!  I had to stay somewhat focused to navigate the free-for-all of getting through the crowd blocking the first few customs windows, to find dozens more windows, still with lines – it is worse than guessing which line to pick at the grocery store.  But once truly into Hanoi, I greatly appreciated being fully taken care of by the local team – giving me my new SIM card and taking me right to the door of my new apartment to start the next adventure!

Continue reading Welcome to Hanoi!