Australia Day

Most people know I get a little excited about Australia Day, and this year was no different. I would have loved to have been at Balnarring Races with the guys, but it was a little too far to come. So we had a party in our yard. It is freezing in Hanoi and the idea of a barbie couldn't be turned around, even as people were trying to skid out of coming. So it was much luck I managed to borrow a second barbecue to act as a brazier with a fire blazing.

Depending on the amount people consumed the next statement is up for debate.

Kel and Cosmina warmed us all up with some mulled wine, some being about 15 litres. And to the non acquainted this put more than a few on their ear.

Me, I stayed well clear of the wine, opting to stay on beer until the wee hours.

We had some educational things hanging around the place, with some tips to the new PM on what should and should not be on the new citizenship test.

And two naughty hand puppets trying to swindle some time off school for Aussie public holidays and then to make matters worse a drunk kangaroo trying to steal beer. Honestly, the behaviour of the kids toys in the presence of Mark!!

Twins on Camp

The twins have now been on their first school camp. What a hoot! Could you imagine attempting this in Australia - I doubt it?

As part of the IB course the Biology students were short on hours and with little time to make up the hours it was decided the best option would be to head on a camp to Cuc Phuong. Having been there over the holidays meant I knew what we were in for and we had a great time. The first night we went on a night walk in search of wild civets and lorises. Unfortunately the park is in a dire situation whereby their conservation efforts are almost undone by the hunters still within the park.

Leanne, Jill, Falk and Tilo some biologists and vets at various centres within Cuc Phuong explained their difficulties and in one word it must be DEVASTATING for them.

Not to dwell on the bad, we had a successful time and the students had a good time, most teachers had a good time and most importantly we are back on track for completing the coursework on time,

The photo is Mark (Geography teacher) and Hai, Sabah and Flo

Hoi An

Trev's trip away had a false start, so it was a busy day at Hanoi International Airport as I farewelled Annie, met Greg and collected Trev, and also Maddi (Helen's daughter) plus the array of Hanoi International School teachers who were returning from the winter holidays. With Greg in town Trev became the guide around Hanoi and then on the weekend we all headed down to Hoi An for a bit of touristy things.

Hoi An is known for its tailors, shoe makers and beach. None of these let us down at all, and it was nice to be out and about again and in warmer weather as Hanoi is fast cooling down.

Greg was feeling a little crook, so Trev and I headed off to the beach on bikes with kids in tow. We didn't get far before the locals were shouting at us telling us we were doing it all wrong, Which did nothing but annoy the heck out of me. So we returned to the hotel, put the kids in the pram and went for margaritas.

Earlier in the day we had called in to the Hai Scout Cafe and found it really friendly. We made reservations for that night and had a pleasant surprise to learn that the manager Phi, is good friends with our travel agent Nam. They are both KOTO graduates, KOTO is an Aussie run organisation to train street kids in hospitality. A very worthwhile cause and the we must say all the graduates we have since met are excellent at their jobs and understand exactly what you ask for.

Cuc Phuong and Ninh Binh

On the 2nd of January Dad and Dorklag were the last house guests to leave, so Annie and I took the twins on a Vietnamese adventure. We headed about 3 hours south of Hanoi to Cuc Phuong National Park first and then on to Ninh Binh which is known as the Halong Bay of the rice fields here.

Cuc Phuong was great. It was nice to get away from the traffic and see some greenery. We met Tilo and Leanne who work there in different centres caring for and trying to conserve the local wildlife. I will be returning here in a few weeks with school for an ecology camp so it was good to have a bo peep first.

Next stop was Ninh Binh and we stayed at a terrific little place that was loaded with travellers. This really got us in the swing of things and we took a boat ride through some rice fields and caves and then decided we had had enough of Asian touts and hired bikes. The manager of the hotel we stayed at took me out so I could buy bike seats and then we took off down the back streets and out across the rice fields with two Kiwi girls. Our destination was Bich Dong Pagoda and along the way we saw turkeys, cows, kids of all ages, Grandparents of all ages, a funeral prosession and the odd tractor or 2.

It was a terrific ride and we could hardly believe we'd made a 24km round trip at the end of it.