Officially now a member? :P
So every Saturday, the Hanoi Hash organizes a run through the countryside - every week a different site, a different trail. My friend and I went to the meeting spot, hopped on their bus and paid our $6 fee for the trip. As we filled out the sign-up sheet, we couldn't help but notice the member names that were listed. It said things like "sally around the block, monkeypenis, bacon and eggs, and my personal favorite - Huong like a camel." HAHAHAHA! Anyway, about 2.5 hours later we finally arrived at our destination. Once we hopped out we were greeted by people who had arrived in the morning to mark our trails with globs of flour and shredded paper every 100 meters or so in the country.
My running buddy/trainer. Haha, she's going to push me to start running 4.5 miles non-stop as our routine now!
Vietnam buses - no safety regulations whatsoever. :P
There were some weird, crude, and again lewd announcements, songs sung, beers were drunk (though I was good and drank H20 before my exercise), and off we went! There were two trails (walking or running) and my friend and I chose to do the "10K" running trail. Running trail my ass! We had to climb up muddy slopes, crouch through thorny bushes, get across streams, and jump over holes/big ditches (sadly didn't take the time to take pics of most of this - other things to concentrate on!). I don't mean the last sentence to sound like I'm complaining - as it was absolutely fun!!!! The countryside was beautiful, the views on top of the hills/mountain we climbed were amazing, and the country farms and homes we ran by were mostly friendly (minus their protective dogs). It was also pretty fun to run and then be startled by water buffalo and baby cows standing next to us every now and then.
The gaggle of running foreigners drew ALL the village children out
This is us when we got to the top of lookout point! The view was super amazing though not displayed in this photo.
Then...THEN...my friend and I got lost. The run was supposed to end before sundown but sadly not for us. We were lost with two really experienced Hashers so I wasn't that worried. It wasn't TOO BAD as we wandered; trying our best to find the trail again in the dark. We ran into the Hash search party about 30-40min later. YAYYYY, our heros!
Well, once we got back to everyone there was lots of cheering and then the club proceeded to do this traditional circle thing. It included lots of bashing on each other and kids serving beer. People who fell into certain categories were forced to stand in the circle and "bottoms up." LOOOL. I ended up in the circle 3 times!!! First because I was a Hash newbie. Ok fine. Then I had to go in the circle because I am American. Why I asked? "Because you guys are bastards." Then they made me get into the circle again because I was Vietnamese. Why I asked? "Because you are genetically beautiful." LMAO!
Did I mention the block of ice? Those who have been on 10 runs get "named." This entails sitting on a block of ice, receiving your name, and getting beer poured on you. Ha, what an interesting group indeed!!! I plan to go again...maybe find the San Fran group when I get back!
And now, the "fraternity" enjoying our $7 buffet.
