Best of Hoi An

There is an 'eye' on each boat to ward away the demons in the waters.  However our bike guide said it's probably more useful because then the fishermen will know which end of the boat is front after a night at the bar.

You buy a lighted lantern from a vendor( obviously they sell better if the vendor is a child)  Then you place the lantern on the river.  It's beautiful at night with dozens of lanterns floating on the river.

Ferry Crossing.  Full to capacity.

Tom on the hunt for a leather overnight bag

Crabs and fresh fish from the market to the restaurants or the street stalls.

I bet these eggs are really fresh.

Smokin' a cigar and probably 99 years old.  Love her sweater pinned together.

Pho noodles at the market

Best food we have eaten yet was from this hole in the wall.  Restaurant named Pho Xue.    Every bite was YUM.  Next time I'll take pictures of the food. Forgot.

Natalie, I am sure you could have done wonders with this window.

My Son Sanctuary relief

My Son Sanctuary

(Dad is in the blue jacket under the black umbrella)

My Son Sanctuary from 4th century AD to 13th century AD.  This is about an hour west of Hoi An.  Hoi An itself is quaint and picturesque, with the Central market of colorful stalls and shops.  

Hanoi

Hanoi is hard to capture in a few words.  Traffic, people, street vendors, sights, smells, food.  The streets are teeming with action.  The sidewalks are used to park the 2 million motorcycles, so you walk in the street.  The lights and crosswalks are only suggestions, but the chaos all seems to flow.  You learn quickly how to navigate through cars and cycles and motorcycles and vendors.  Some people would think the town is too crazy but we liked it.  The Vietnamese are a friendly, smiling, welcoming people.

Halong Bay Vietnam 2014

Stunning, jaw-dropping scenery.  I could have stayed here for the entire vacation.

Hard to capture all the layers and layers of the limestone karst formations

There were hundreds of cruise ships but it added to the ambiance

The ships tend to bunch at certain stops, but on the whole we felt alone on the sea.  It was very peaceful and relaxing.

The Tai Chi Instructor.  Class at 6:30am.  I attended.  It was held on the deck.

On the floating City Tour.  (Tom and Yeow)

Bike Tour of Cat Ba Island

The brightly painted houses of a floating village

Sunset Kayaking.  Definitely the Highlight. (and my personal favorite photo)

On Kayak trip:  visiting another floating village

We were on our own in the kayak and could go wherever we wanted.  It was a fabulous place to explore.

Our cruise ship:  Au Co

Fun to make new friends.  This is one extended family from Malaysia, the family Yeow.

one year ago today

We moved into this apartment one year ago today.  It still feels like we did find a pot of gold!

Christmas on the Grand Place

It's probably too long to view here on the blog, but I want to always remember it.  Beautiful music and stunning light show.  It sent chills up my back, and it wasn't just because it was freezing cold.  Very classy show this year.  Amazing.  Right up there with the flower carpet.  The show lasts 15 minutes and this clip is only 3 minutes.  

The First shall be Last

Went to dinner with the old Stake Presidency: Tom and Marc Vanuvel and Mike Scheurk.  During our meal they told us that the Gardners have moved back to the US.  (Specific destination unknown).  With them gone (American/Belgian) and the Casares family now in Den Haag (Danish/Mexican American) and the Teasdale/Wells back to CA this summer,that leaves us, the last of the long term expat families.  Of the families we knew, we were the first to come and now are the last to leave.

Monterey and Austin

Sunset on the first night in Monterey from our windows

Hard life

Barbies and Football

The chef

Pancakes make life so sweet!

I think it was a Western Movie!

Pretty sure they would have done it if we would have let them

Blueberries and ice cream with your pancakes