Hanoi is an urban jungle if I’ve ever seen one. It’s loud, dirty, polluted, congested and crowded. If you’re in it for nature well then you’re barking up the wrong tree. But at the same time, Hanoi is magical, beautiful, tantalizing and fascinating. I’ve heard about Banana Island and it’s charms for some time now but life always got in the way of me venturing down there. It sadly took me two years to basically go explore my own back yard but I’m so glad I did. This nature oasis is exactly what I needed on this polluted day. So, Les Go to Banana Island.
First les have a magical morning…
After climbing out of a shit start to 2020, I’ve been all about self-love and being the best version of myself. I truly feel like I am living for myself for the first time in my life. I am taking chances on myself, getting to know myself, and making decisions that will honestly fill my soul. I am livin my truth and I am here for it.
Part of that journey involves going to therapy/having a life coach. I.love.it. My therapist, Nomie – CBT practioner and Life Coach, is everything. I attended my last session this morning and my soul feels fortified. I wish I had discovered the powers of therapy years and years ago, but it is never too late. After this last session my conscious felt cleared and I knew that it is OK to live for me, to validate myself and not look to others for this. These therapy sessions have been one of the main components on my journey for self love. If only mental health services were affordable and readily available back home. Imagine that…
Explorin’
After my therapy session I knew I had to keep the positive vibes up so I ventured to this bright ass kafe that has been intriguing me for years. From the outside it screams, “I’m here, I’m queer” but on the inside it jus gets real weird real quick.
The ambiance was giving me fantasy play and my grandma’s house. The music, slow jazz, was the absolute oddest choice you’d ever find with this setting and there was a distinct gramma’s house smell thoughout the entire kafe. Maybe the smell was trapped in the oddly layed faux-grass carpet.
I rarely walk around these days and that is a crying shame. I made it a point to explore my favorite neighborhood in Hanoi, Truc Bach, and can we jus take a moment?!
Banana Island
So, Banana island is this natural oasis that is hidden in plain site in the belly of Hanoi. To get there you have to hug the railing of the glorious Long Bien bridge as motorbikes, bikes, tourists and a random train whiz past you. Endearingly so, my friend’s dog was having a tough time mastering this task.
Once you slide down a step passage off the side of the bridge you are magically transported to another world. The nature along the pathways engulf you and suddenly it is quite. Down in the realms of Banana Island strangers actually smile at you. Just about every stranger I passed smiled in all their glory. It was a profound statement that’s hard to find in Hanoi.
It’s almost urban legend of the nudist colony on Banana Island. Yes, you read that correctly. There is a vibrant and healthy nudist colony of men that exercise and socialize along the river of Hanoi. I thought in the best case scenario I’d see a few stragglers from the colony and that’s it. I was so wrong! They were out there today in all their birthday suit glory. It’s not every day that you see a group of stark naked Vietnamese men playing badminton. Oh, and they invite you to drink tea. I politely declined. If that is the last memory I have of Hanoi I’d be completely OK with that.
After spending hours free roaming the Banana Island (which I saw no actual island…) it was time to come back to reality. As I emerged to the traffic, pollution and horns of Hanoi I realized the Universe always knows and you get back what you put in. I’m putting all my self-love and positivity out there and the Universe is sending it all back. I am ready for it.
Les Go... 