Days 3, 4, and 5 Halong Bay

I took a lovely 3 day 2 night tour with V Spirit  cruises. I had read it was one of the nicer cruise lines, and it did not disappoint.  It was about a 4 hour bus ride from Hanoi to Halong Bay. On the first day, we arrived around 12:30 and boarded the boat. I had a lovely room with en suite and balcony, all decorated with lacquered wood.   Very nice. We then were served a very large lunch while we cruised through the limestone peaks in the bay. It was sunny and clear and the  views were spectacular ... it definitely deserves to be a wonder of the world!

Following lunch we visited the impressive Hang  Sung Sot   caves. Inside were three massive caverns each larger than the next with stalagmites and stalactites and interesting rock formations. We emerged from the  cave at a nice lookout with a panoramic view of the bay.

The second day started with Thai chi at 6:30, followed by pho, fruit, and eggs for breakfast. I then departed on another smaller boat for a more secluded area of the bay (Lan Ha Bay) to go kayaking. Like the first day, the weather was warm and sunny. We travelled  for about an hour  towing the kayaks behind.  The kayaks were not in great shape. One had a gaping hole in the bow, but it served its purpose and was steady in the water. We kayaked for about 1 hour, paddling through several caves and seeing about 8 sand coloured monkeys. The towering limestone cliffs were impressive and it was a lot less crowded than the main bay. 

They served us a gigantic lunch complete  with intricately carved fruit. We ended our tour with more kayaking and a  visit to an oyster farm where they were growing pearls. Such a painstaking process. One can understand why pearls  are so expensive. 

We returned to the main boat for another large multi-course dinner. The highlight was when the chef flambeed some shrimp. Flames lapped at the wooden ceiling and steam filled the  dining room.  Not exactly the  safest show! After dinner we played a traditional Vietnamese puzzle game and tried our hands at squid fishing.

On the last day, we did some more kayaking in a very spectacular grotto surrounded by tall limestone cliffs.  We returned to the boat for a fruit carving demonstration and a cooking lesson in how to make fresh Vietnamese spring rolls.  We had another large lunch complete with lots of local seafood and then headed back to Hanoi. 

Here are a few photos from the second and third days. I accidentally pocket deleted all my cell phone photos from the first day. How is that even possible! So disappointing but I do have some others on my Nikon.

Tomorrow I am off to the village of Bac Giang to see the school, which is in a rural hamlet outside Bac Giang. I was just told it is very difficult to change money there and they take no Visa. So I had to go out in search of an ATM to get some dong just now in a hurry.

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Day 2 in Hanoi

I started the day with a wonderful breakfast including tropical fruit, pastries, and pho. Then I headed back to Hoan Kiem Lake.  As I walked around the lake, I met numerous students who wanted to practise their English with me often while a friend videotaped. I am featured in at 3 videos!

I then headed north to the old quarter, which was jam-packed with all kinds of stores and motorbikes. It's really treacherous crossing the roads here. After about an hour of wandering I stopped at a touristy cafe back on the Lake. Expensive but the coffee was superb, rich and chocolaty with a touch of condensed milk. Yum!

I decided to walk a few kilometers to see the Ho Chi Minh Museum and One Pillar Pagoda. I stopped en route at a cafe frequented mostly by Hanoians where I had a very inexpensive Bahn mi (sandwich).

I checked out One Pillar Pagoda and the nearby Ho Chi Minh Museum.  I found it amusing that Ho Chi MINH was referred to as Uncle Ho. The museum we visually very interesting. I ended my day of sightseeing by visiting the Temple of Literature, which was the site of a temple and Vietnam s oldest university. 

Tomorrow I am headed to Halong Bay for a three day cruise.  I will not likely have WiFi on the boat so I'll post again when I get back to Hanoi.

 Beautiful spread for breakfast

 Tortoise Pagoda on Hoan Kiem Lake

 Some teenage girls from north of Hanoi who had come into town to practise their English

 A photo of me with two of the girls

 A taste of the Old Quarter.  Lot of motorbikes

 An interesting lantern shop

 Two brothers who also practise their English with me

 Enjoying a wonderful cup of coffee at a cafe by the lake

 Here it is ..... Yum yum

 Having lunch in a more authentic cafe

 Bahn mi ga

 Selfie in front of Ho Chi Minh Mauseleum

 Me in front of One Pillar Pagoda 

Me with Uncle Ho

First Day in Hanoi

 Less than flattering selfie in front of temple on Hoan Kiem Lake

 On balcony eating dinner, street view behind

Pho ba, a little light on ba and flavour

I arrived here yesterday at about 10 am. I flew Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong. It was generally a smooth flight but for some reason I had a couple waves of bad nausea.  Not fun when you are in a middle seat! Fortunately,  I had some Gravol which served the dual purpose of conquering the nausea and helping me sleep.

Upon arriving in Hanoi and leaving baggage claim, I was met a driver from the hotel I had booked.  Smooth sailing.  My observation driving into town was "wow there seems to be way more cars" than there were in Ho chi Minh City six years ago.

I am staying at the Impressive Hotel in the Old Quarter. While the accommodations are adequate, the service is beyond impressive.

I am centrally located here on a narrow street near the Cathedral and Hoan Kiem Lake. Yesterday I walked around the lake and visited the small temple at the north end. The path was busy with tourists and Hanoians enjoying a Saturday afternoon.

I then headed south to the Women's Museum, which I had read was worth a visit. It was interesting to see a museum devoted entirely to the work and role of women, particularly in a developing country and left me wondering what the men were doing! They showed an interesting documentary on the women who sell produce in the streets of Hanoi for weeks at a time to make money to support their rural families while the men stay at home watching the kids.

After the museum I headed back toward my hotel and stopped at a mediocre restaurant with a nice view of the Cathedral square. I ordered pho ba, which is really more of a breakfast dish.  It hit the spot although I have to say I prefer the more flavourful pho that we get at a local vietnamese restaurant in Mississauga.

Heading to Hanoi

I am heading to Hanoi tonight!

I will try to blog regularly about my adventures.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Merry Christmas!

As usual, the Christmas season was busy.  We didn't have a chance to visit with Santa this year but I did take the traditional Christmas card photo at home.  We managed to get to the Distillery District Christmas market (which was jam-packed) and our neighbours had a nice Christmas house party.  Of course right before the end of school, the kids have their holiday concerts.  This year Maya was excited that she got chosen to introduce the primary choir.  She did a great job... no nerves for this girl!  Aidan also had a major part in his play.  He played Santa who had gone snowboarding and broke his leg and then the elves tried to find his replacement. Aidan also handled the sound for the concert and played trumpet in the school band.

We were looking forward to the visit of Mike's parents, who would spend Christmas day with us for the first time. Unfortunately, they were turned away at the airport due to expired passports. So disappointing for all but they will come and visit us in the Spring instead. Maya did play jingle bells over the phone for them as she had been practicing for the last few weeks.

Apart from being awaken at 4 am(!) on Christmas morning, we had a nice time on Christmas day.  The children liked all their gifts, and enjoyed the visit from their cousins in the afternoon.  Maya loved everything she got, even clothes.  And Aidan liked all his gifts, especially the gift he saved up for all year to give himself. Here are a few snaps from the season....

 Christmas card photo

 Maya getting ready to introduce the Primary Choir at her holiday concert

 Here's Maya after reciting her Canada poems and singing "This Land is Your Land".  I love the red hats the teacher bought for Maya and her classmates.

 Aidan handling the sound for the Senior Christmas concert

 Aidan was Santa in his Christmas play. 

 Maya opening her stocking Christmas morning. She and Aidan had awakened at 4 am! I said they had to go back to sleep until 7:30 am.

 Maya with a new blanket and stuffed animal from Cora and Paw Patrol bank from Santa

 Aidan was happy to receive some cords and ski pants for Christmas

 Maya enjoying her new karaoke machine

Aidan happy to get a new video game from Santa

 Mike got a new ski jacket and speakers for our new T.V.

 Aidan happy to receive some video game controllers.

 Maya was thrilled with her new guitar from Santa!

 Aidan was most excited about the gift he gave himself... a new PS-4

 Aidan received a subscription to Popular Science and an iTunes card from Dexter and Justin

 Justin got two new books and an iTunes card

 Same for Dexter

 Maya was thrilled to get a jewellery making kit

 She insisted on wearing her Elsa costume instead of the Christmas dress I bought her but it did look good with the Frozen guitar!

Here she is with Uncle Johnny (who had kindly fixed her guitar strings) and Auntie Pammy

Lights, Camera, Action!

This year I finally got to go on one of Aidan's school trips.  We had not had the opportunity since he was in Grade 2 as the other parents seemed to beat us to it.  Of course, by the time your kid is in Grade 8, like Aidan, they are embarrassed to be seen with you!  

Aidan's trip was to the TIFF Lightbox where they learned about documentary film making and got to make a little documentary film of their own.  I was impressed by how bright Aidan's classmates were.  It was fun to see him in various roles, like Director, Interviewee and Cameraman.  He even relented to a photo of the two of us at the end :)

I think some of what he learned rubbed off because for his book report this term he was given the choice of doing a written summary or a movie trailer.  He chose the latter and did a really nice job!

Hangin' on Halloween

After two years of lobbying to be Elsa, I finally relented and let Maya dress as her favourite princess complete with wig.... how cute is she?!  

Aidan said he was not going out for Hallowe'en (which I knew was crazy talk).  He decided the day before he was going out and we had to grab an old costume from a few years ago out of the basement.  

Maya went trick or treating with Aidan's friends and, because it was such a lovely night, we stayed out too long and they got way too much candy!  Here are a few snaps from the evening...

Maya and Aidan

Luckily Aidan could still wear his costume from 3 years ago!

Maya in the Elsa pose

Aidan's pumpkin

Maya surrounded by Aidan and his spooky friends

Another group shot outside

The most intricate  jack-o-lantern I've every seen