The Purple Gypsy

If you missed any of my vlogs I uploaded on YouTube while I have been very quite on this blog, (don't worry I'm back!!) click on the links bellow to see what I got up to in Vietnam. First up is Halong Bay....... And then I headed to Nha Trang..... Let me know what you think. Also I want to know who has been to these two amazing places in Vietnam. Lots of Love xxx

So my blog has been extremely quite lately, due to an unfortunate visit to a local hospital. Wait WHAT??? So lets start from the beginning. On a lovely Sunday morning, the day after my birthday, I was on my way home on the back of an Uber Moto(scooter taxi). A garbage truck decided to over take us, because there are no rules in Vietnamese traffic, and I landed up lying in the middle of the street. So I checked I was okay and everything seemed lovely until I got to my right thigh. Turns out a metal piece on the truck had cut my thigh right through to the muscle and I could see the inside of my leg. Thank goodness I had so many amazing angels around me and I managed to get to a hospital. As we drove into the hospital I freaked out because it is very different from what I am used to back in South Africa. The emergency room was tiny and I had a million Vietnamese doctors and nurses trying to help me, however I had no idea what they were trying to say. The language barrier contin...

I just uploaded a Haul video to my channel. It is from Miniso. A Japanese store I have come to love here in Vietnam. Let me know if you love it too. Lots of love xx

Here is a little video I put together to help you find your way around the gorgeous Old Quarter Streets. This is definitely my favourite place in Hanoi so far. Which street is your favourite? Lots of Love xxx

So I have been in this busy city for 3 months and I am slowly starting to feel at home. Among the crazy traffic and beaming city, I have truly found the inner beauty of it all. Now obviously, when you move to any country in the world, there are always going to be negatives. I guess the extent of the negatives will impact how long you continue to live there for. So, yes there are negatives but I definitely think that the positives out way them, in my case. So on that note, what don't I like about Hanoi so far??..... well pollution is a big thing. I know pollution is all over the world but it just is so much worse here. It is also very visible to everyone making it that much worse. However, there are precautions you can take to limit your intake of it. The second thing is the traffic. I still have not had the confidence to rent a bike because I am so incredibly scared of the roads. I do drive a car back in South Africa, so I am familiar with roads but these are on another le...

I visited the Van Phuc Silk Village in Hanoi, this week. Check out my vlog. Lots of Love xx

Check out my new video all about Teaching English in a Foreign Language. If you have any questions about TEFL please don't hesitate to contact me! I am very willing to help. Lots of Love xxx

As most of you know, I will be calling Hanoi, Vietnam home for the next year. Hence, I have made a huge list of all the things I want to do and places I want to see whilst here. Once I have done each thing I will write up a little post about it and let you know my thoughts and feelings. So here goes: Explore the Old Quarter - 36 streets of pure shopping heaven in Hanoi. Spend a night at a traditional Homestay - Experiencing a night the way a traditional local would. Cycle through the rice paddies in Mai Chau - Beautiful views and experiences. Walk down Hanoi's famous Train Street - And capture a few Instagram's of course. Take part in a Vietnamese food tour and cooking class in Hanoi - Hanoi is a city with an amazing food culture. Spend the night on a junk boat in Ha Long Bay - No, a junk boat is not a boat filled with rubbish. It's an ancient Chinese boat. Visit Ho Chi Minh Museum. - Probably the most popular museum in Hanoi. Explore Cat Ba National Park - H...

So the Old Quarter very quickly became my favourite place in Hanoi so far. I know I haven't been to many places as yet but wow the day I spent here was so much fun! My day was filled with a lot of shopping, of which I could have done a lot more haha, as well as a little treat to myself! Let's start with the shopping part. The Old Quarter is made up of 36 streets that are lined with many different shops. They are more or less sorted according to which goods or items they sell. So there is a street that has mostly jewelry, one mostly linen and so on. However, every now and then you will find a shop that is different to what the street is 'meant to be for'.   I had the best time in the Old Quarter. I bought a lantern, some lights on a string, amazing peppermint tea, a beautiful backpack, an embroidered money pouch and some linen. I could have gone a lot more crazy however I decided I'm going to wait for my first pay check and then I can go a little cr...

  So in the few days I have been here in Hanoi, I have seen many beautiful and wonderful places but one that stood out to me in particular was this beautiful pagoda. Tran Quac Pagoda is situated on the East side of West Lake. It has a history of more than 1500 years and is regarded as the most ancient pagoda in Hanoi. It is situated on the tranquil West Lake which makes for a picturesque atmosphere around the pagoda. The architecture of this place of worship is so intricate and beautiful. The pagodas have to abide by the rules of the Buddhist architecture. These rules include having many layers of buildings and three main houses. The Pagoda can been seen from far by what is known as the stupa. It is the red and yellow tower like building. It has 11 floors in total, each with a window. In each window there is a statue of Amitabha, made of gemstone. On the top is a 9 story lotus also made form gemstone. Buddhist people still go to the pagoda today...

So today I will be embarking on an adventure of a lifetime. I have decided to move to Vietnam and become an English Teacher to young learners. I have decided that I need a change in my life and to try an build on my passion for traveling.  Today I sit with so much excitement as well as a few nerves but I am ready for the next stage of my life and I can't wait to see what's coming. I will be taking you with me on my adventures every step of the way!  To the future!  Lots of love xxx