Nomad Life: Where Goodbye Actually Means "See You in Another Country"
In Hanoi, several reunions happened when I least expected them!
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This batch of daily diary entries marks another week of my solo-travel voyage throughout Asia! If you missed last week’s batch, you can read it here!
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December 11th, 2024
West Lake, Hanoi, Vietnam
In New York, chance encounters with friends are commonplace – expected, even. But here in Hanoi? The odds seem impossible, yet magic keeps unfolding. Today, walking through the labyrinthine streets of the Old Quarter, I spotted Juliana, a fellow teacher from Namaste El Nido. We'd practiced together for two weeks in the Philippines, and now here she was, thousands of miles away, her smile as bright as the Filipino sun.
The coincidences didn't stop there. After posting about my arrival in Hanoi, I received a message from Lia – my dear friend from Germany whom I'd met during my yoga teacher training in Nepal back in January. She was the one who gave me the courage to leave my band and embrace this nomadic life. Our first meeting in Lakeside Pokhara had been purely chance, yet we'd spent hours in deep conversation. Now reunited in Hanoi, we've fallen right back into our rhythm, sharing yoga classes, lingering over brunch smoothies, and savoring steaming bowls of pho while catching up on life's twists and turns.
As if that wasn’t shocking enough, Q – my generous Korean friend who'd played host during my week in Seoul – also messaged me upon my arrival: "My brother, I'm in Hanoi." We've been inseparable since, cycling around West Lake, hunting down the city's best banh mi, and creating playful videos together. Our little circle has grown organically, merging friends from both our hostels: Jeremy from Montreal, Christian from San Francisco, Lia, Juliana, and whoever else the city's magnetic energy draws into our orbit.
Exploring Hanoi, whether with Q or in solitary wanderings, has revealed a city unlike any other. After Manila and Kathmandu's beautiful chaos earlier this year, I expected more of the same. But while motorbike horns pierce the air and voices carry across crowded streets, there's an underlying serenity here that catches me off guard.
The weather has thrown me a curveball – my endless summer chase has met its match in Hanoi's unexpected chill. I've had to invest in an ultralight down jacket to ward off the evening shivers. But the food – oh, the food! Every dish is served with a mountain of herbs: perilla leaves, lettuce, and cilantro dancing in steaming bowls of soup that warm both body and soul.
There's something deeply charming about this place: the warmth of its people, the street performers' melodies, and the whimsical sight of adults perched on kindergarten-sized stools at street food stalls. I can't help grinning as I navigate these ancient streets, whether on foot or clinging to the back of a motorbike. These past five days in Hanoi have been a testament to life's beautiful randomness, and I'm eager to uncover more of its surprises!
Thank you for taking the time to read about my week. Next week, I’ll be sharing my next batch of daily diaries.
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I hope the rest of your day brings presence and gratitude.
See you soon!
Love,
Etai
🤍