Market Day

We are heading back toward Hanoi. Many people in our group want to stop and get some things; we have run out of supplies, some people in our party have souvenirs to purchase, we all want to get some coffee.

The market is very crowded. It is difficult to walk in the crowd without breathing in someone's ear. I notice at one point that someone has grabbed me around the middle - a woman in the market. Apparently she wants to see just how affluent I am; my midsection is squeezed a bit - then let go. I suppose she has found out what she wanted to know. I am not insulted or even bothered. I know the culture is curious about foreigners, I can't blame them.