July Photos

Vietnam 2007 July

Here are all the photos of Vietnam in July. Just click on the picture and it will take you to another website. Handy tips are for the computer illiterate friends and family.

Halong Bay

With everything sorted in Hanoi until the weekend it only made sense to use this time to see some of the sights in our new country. Something away from motorbikes and walking was on Dad's agenda so we booked a 2 day tour to Halong Bay. Halong Bay is about 150km north east of Hanoi and is known for it's thousands of limestone karsts jutting out of the sea. The scenery was reminiscent of Guilin only coming out of the sea not land this time.

We booked through the Kangaroo Cafe and had a terrific time in the comfort of larger tour buses and airconditioned cabins on the junk. Zhung Zhung our guide was a treat, he kept things moving yet relaxed and with a limit of 16 on the junk there was plenty of space.

The kids had their first swim in the sea and were terrific little travellers. Once again a hit with the crew of the boat and the locals on the beach.

Now it's back to Hanoi for a few days of mulling around, perhaps we'll go off and see Uncle Ho's Mausoleum and some water puppetry.

Not a bad first week

We have been here 6 days now and in that time have ticked off a lot of important "need to know" to live here stuff. The kids have finally got cots with mattresses (A big thanks to Glen at the pub for his drawing) as we headed all over town saying Noi which we had been assured meant baby bed only to finally realise there is a difference between a cradle and a cot here, with a completely different word. The outcome is that the cots and mattresses came from different places but Big Tom is off the floor and sleeping soundly.

I had been doing some futile house hunting then wisened up and headed to Finnegan's for the Thursday night quiz. I was put on to a ruthless broker called Mr Long. I called him this morning and half an hour later he called me back with a list he wanted to show me then and there, much better than last night's broker taking me down dark alley's in the night to visit his filthy Aunt's home. Mr Long's first place was perfect, close to school, close enough to the Old Quarter and the right price. We didn't bother looking at any others. The house is still being renovated after the last expat tenants left and will be ready next weekend.

I have also decided on the nanny for the kids, both ladies seemed lovely but as my Vietnamese is still non existant I think it is best if I choose Hue who has some English over Mrs Phuc who has none.

So there you go, in a week the kids have beds, we know where to buy formula and nappies, have lined up a nanny and a home. Pretty simple really ....... if only you'd seen some of the situations!

Ahoy Hanoi

We have arrived safely after much anticipation. Tom and Claire are hits already and handling all the attention quite well. The truckster pram is right at home on the chaotic Hanoian streets and we are currently living on Hang Bong Street for when we get lost. Our first afternoon was a sight to be had for all. I thought the locals were shouting "Excuse Me" everywhere we went, but soon realised that Xin Loi and Sinh Doi sound too close for the untrained western ears and infact they were shouting TWINS TWINS as they rode by on their motor bikes or came up to take a peak in the pram. I should have guessed a pillion passenger 50m down the rode wouldn't be shouting excuse me, shouldn't I??

We are getting used to the frustrations which go hand in hand with being in Asia. And the truth be told Vietnam is 1000 times easier than China ever was. I have been to school to meet the HR Manager to find out more of what is expected of me. This was insightful in itself as there was no clue shown by anyone. Helen is away until the 14th of August, so any plans of coming early to get the kids settled and then plan for a new school year seem to have already gone off track. The shortlisted house the school had decided would be good for us has also turned out to be a dud, but that's OK as I've already met some nice people here and they are only too keen to help.

Dad arrived late yesteday with Dorklag from Chiang Mai to add a spare pair of hands which will be fantastic. The big plan while they are here is for Dad and I to scope out the joint further, find a place to live and cots and formula for the kids etc while Dorklag happily plays with the sprites back at the hotel. Yes Dorklag is loving the kids, and gets a bit jealous when we are out and the locals have cuddles and she misses out. Suzy J, you'd have it sussed out I'm sure that one would be in your arms while the other was being passed around.

So that is our news for now. We'll keep you posted as things change and hopefully we will have a new address in no time, not that Room 203 at the Phuc Loi isn't nice, it's just a home would be nicer.

Xin Chao, Doi Di.