Now to Hue

So we get there and 20 minutes later we start a tour with someone we hired to take us around. We first go on the perfume river, which connects a lot of the historical sites so you can cover them all. I had a hard time understanding our guide and I was so worried about Daren passing out on the boat that I can't tell you much of what he explained to us. We saw bridges, and building new and old, and little water villages like the one below. I was recovering but Daren felt awful. I felt so bad for him. After the river tour we went to the Citadel. It is the imperial city. It's surrounded by canals and covers 2 square miles. It was impressive. Monks still live there today and we saw them walking around. So only royal family could live here at the time it was functioning. It is divided up into different parts and it was specified who could be in the different parts of the citadel. I wanted to know more of how every day life was what they did, who went where, etc. however our tour guide wanted to focus more on dates and empires. The whole time Daren was hanging on for dear life. I thought for sure he would pass out on this 2 1/2 hour tour but he didn't. He was so glad to get back to the hotel. He slept for the next 18 hours. So I hung out, read, walked the streets, got a massage, had dinner, watched some TV. It was relaxing. But Hue for us glad we went but wasn't our favorite. Though it did give Daren time to recover. do we look hammered? We are. This is right off the boat at Perfume River. In the Citadel the Entry way into the Citadel in the Citadel Some kind of fruit that grows all over here. Our guide told us what it was, I just can't remember. at the entry of the citadel

Perfume river.

Hue

So we actually flew into Danang and drove to Hue. We had read and saw this show on the travel channel which both raved about driving the Hai Van pass and not missing the scenery. We thought that sounded fun so we rented a driver to take us. I don't know what I was thinking because I get car sick and I did. Daren already wasn't feeling well when we first started for the day. He was dehydrated and pretty sick for the next 24 hours. So anyway we get in the car and I am trying positive reinforcement. I feel fine. Distraction. Wow look at the scenery it's incredible. Then I accept that it's not working and I put on these acupuncture bracelets. Still not helping. So I pull out this peppermint oil my mom had given me(she swears it cures nausea). I'm wearing the bracelets, sniffing the oil, deep breathing and talking out loud to myself saying your not going to throw up. You okay. You'll be fine. Meanwhile Daren looks half dead with his eyes closed head back sweating. I'm sure the drive thought we were the craziest couple he has ever had to transport. We both fell like junk. So we get to the top and he is all excited and encouraging us to go look around. I'm all shaky and Daren is weak and can hardly walk. We were happy to make it to Hue with out throwing up or passing out. Next time we'll take the tunnel.

still more Vietnam Hoi An

I have to get this done. Just remember it was 10 days of travel! We flew to Hoi An next. It was the tailor shop place. If you wanted something made this was the place to go. I don't know if Daren and I were just tired here but we were not interested at all. We had some ties made and a matching tie for Daren and Max and that was it. The ladies here were so pushy. they would actually grab your arm and try to pull you into their shop. As you walked down the street you hear hello you buy here come look. We just weren't interested. We walked around a lot. I would say aside from the ship this was my favorite food place. We saw a Japanese covered bridge, I'm not sure why it was such a big deal but it was so we went and saw it. Our hotel,the Ha An was fantastic. They had free bikes you could ride. Well we couldn't pass that up right? So we rode to the beach which was 6 Km away I think. it was a fun ride on the streets of Vietnam. So the first night at China Beach we arrive just as a storm is arriving. We decided to beat the storm home. We didn't, and it was crazy! It was raining so hard I don't know if I've ever seen anything like it. Just sheets. So we are just peddling hard and we pass these boys sharing a bike. As we pass I see them look up at us and then at each other and in a minute or two they race past us. So we pass them and next they speed by both peddling and yell lets go! Well Daren doesn't back down from good old competition so he starts racing them. I think I pass once more and then I just try to stay close. They finally gave up on us. But it was fun. We were soaked when we got back. I rang my shirt out and there was a huge puddle on the floor. But memorable. So we went to My Son, Which is Vietnam's most elaborate archaeological site. It was neat to see. It was the headquarters for the viet cong during the war so it was a free fire zone for the US during the war. So you could see huge bomb craters scattered around. 70 monuments were destroyed but it was still incredible. The underbrush is so thick and invasive I cannot imagine having to walk Thur it looking for the viet cong. You couldn't just walk you would be cutting down vines and greenery every step you took. It was beautiful though. The streets of Hoi An

After the bike ride in the rain. Still raining.

My Son

In the streets you could buy anything

so this section sold fish and up a little

ways under blue tarps produce

was being sold. It smelled this

something I cannot describe. But

it was interesting to walk past and

see all the different fish and sea creatures

that were being sold, which means someone

was eating them.

vietnam continued

So from Hanoi we went on a 2 day cruise along Halong Bay. We were on the Pinta Cruiser which was very nice. The food was incredible. We had 12 course meals with squid, prawns, chicken, pork, beef, fish, noodles, rice, and cooked vegetables, clams we tried it all. We didn't love it all be we tried. The scenery was incredible. There are 3000 islands covered with forest and you can hear the monkeys and such coming from the islands. There are caves all over as well. The dark picture is from inside the cave we walked through. It was pretty but also commercialized. But still you've gotta love mother nature. We also got to kayak around some of the islands and through a fishing village. It was neat to see and watch them just go about their daily tasks. We stopped at a school and it just had all these boats tied up to it and kids swarming around. We also swam in the sea, it was warm and the captain picked a clean spot for us. Anywhere near the fishing villages the water is so gross. The whole time we were kayaking Daren and I both were saying just don't fall in, the water was filthy. We also fished for squid at night. It was fun. You bob the hook in and out of the water while shining a light on it. When the squid tug you have to yank it up quick and the squid comes out squiring its junk at you. But that didn't stop us from trying it again and again.

This is arriving at our boat. We were ferried

to it. The guy with the backpack

was our guide. This pictures doesn't give justice to

the view of what you see as you look

out.

these ladies came up to our boat all the

time trying to sell us food. She is standing

in this little crawlspace in the boat. Since

no one was buying she pulls this little

boy out of there around 3 years old.

She just leaves him out for a few minutes

and no one buys so she tried to stuff him

back in. He was crying and screaming

it was sad. Daren commented maybe

I should offer to buy something if

the boy can stay out for the day. fishing village

the cave This is who was with us. You can have up to

17 people on the boat but our was a nice

small group. The first couple were from

Australia, then us, Another Aussie couple

and the last were from France. We had

a fun group. Funny thing Daren left his

"sunnies" in Hanoi after we returned

from the cruise and Ben and Christie (the

first couple on the left)

picked them up from our hotel

and brought them to us in Hoi An

when they arrived. It's a small traveling

world I tell you.

We only met three other Americans (aside from church) and all were there on business. For some reason Americans do not frequent Vietnam. It was mainly Australians I think.

vietnam

So this post has been so daunting that I haven't even dared try to post it. So I am no taking baby steps. I will not cover our whole trip tonight but I will try to cover at least one city. So we started our adventure May 15th. My mom agreed to come to Boise and stay with our kids while we were gone. It took a lot of planning (mostly by Daren) a few stressful moments, and a lot of good friends who helped drive my kids and babysit for my Mom. So we made our will official May 14th at 11:00 pm and we were ready to finally go. I'll just say long long flight, crazy time changes (they are 12 hours ahead of us), and a lot of granola bars and trail mix but we made it. The humidity is very high but honestly I didn't feel it was oppressive I enjoyed it. We had air conditioning in all our hotels so we had recovery time from the heat. We would go inside and I would have to put on my sweat shirt or step out side to warm up. So first city... Hanoi This place was bustling I thought. The streets were organized by what goods they sold. So you had hat street, kitchen tools, kids toys, etc. It was fun to walk around but sooo loud and a little smelly if I must admit. We took a cyclo tour (man pushing you on his bike) around and I felt we covered what we wanted to see that way. We walked down to a famous red bridge ( the sunbeam bridge). This lake had a walking path all the way around (which we walked) and it was fun to watch all the people. Our hotel was incredible and so helpful. They arranged the cyclo for us and the manager told us to wait here (inside) and went out where the cyclo drivers are just waiting for you to walk out so they can try to get you on their bike. He was out there giving this man the business. He told him exactly what route to take, how long it will take him, and how much we will pay him. It was awesome. We went to Hoa Lo prison a.k.a. Hanoi Hilton which is the prison where us POW's were incarcerated and some tortured. I never felt any animosity from the people but in this prison museum (and all the other war areas) the war is called the American War. The pictures posted on the walls are of smiling US inmates decorating a Christmas tree, playing chess, hanging out having a great time. Interesting how the story gets told on the other side. We also got our first 2 massages here and they were both fantastic. We went to a nice place of course and I think we paid 12 dollars for an hour. The last picture is the view from our hotel room. I loved watching what happened on those balconies.

Meg

Our sweet Meg turned 5 this past week. I've said it before and I'll say it again I cannont belive she is 5! She is such a sweet girl.

Meg has always been the best sharer I know. If somebody has what she wants or is upset about something she will almost always give up what she has to make the other person happy.

She loves to tell us jokes and make us laugh

She has fire in her. She likes to compete in racing you everywhere and if no one will race her she will "beat the clock".

She also has a tender heart and if you look at her wrong she crumbles right before you eyes and cries and cries.

She tells me she wants to live with me forever in our house-I love it.

As always I put a little slide show of Meg together. Don't watch unless you have time, I tried to par down but I love old pictures.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

some catching up

Oh so much to say so little time. I will work backwards a little because Daren may want input as to how I display and explain Vietnam. I will say it was fantastic and we made it back alive (which was really my #1 goal). I was more afraid of dying in a plane crash than of Vietnam. So First bit of good news..... Lizza can ride a bike! After years of missed goals, dead lines, and threats she did it. Daren just took them off and she took off. She is so proud of herself and before school was over she would hurry and get ready and go ride her bike in the morning. 2nd news.... School is out yahooo! I am so happy to be done with school. We can now dictate our own schedule and I think it will be great.

3rd.....

No more gymnastics!

It has been fun and both

Abby and Lizza have enjoyed

it. Lizza will just sit down

and start stretching out

of the blue, trying new

moves and trying to push

Abby. It was good for both

of them but it will be nice to

take a break.