Anh Trinh (Mr Trinh) one of the local employees at the embassy was so kind to invite us to go with them to Phat Diem Cathedral and Bai Dinh Buddhist temple. It´s 120 km south of Ha Noi and Anh Trinh had rented a small bus to go in. He had also invited Leif och Eva from Sweden. They know each other since the late 80´s. Leif was in Viet Nam for 2 years working.
Anh Trinh and his family had arranged everything so nice. The lunch we had was at a mountain goat restaurant. A very good lunch with beer, and liquor flavored with goat testicles to go with it. The liquor was really nice. It tasted a little bit like anise.
The church is fairly old. It was built in 1890´s. The architect was not an architect according to our tour guide at the church. Nevertheless, he was talented. He was inspired from the old buildings in Hue where he had been living. The church is active and during our visit it was an sermon and the church was almost full.
Bai Dinh Buddhist tempel on the other hand is new. It was built just a couple of year ago. It´s a huge area of 700 ha on a hillside with a spectacular view from the top. It was hot and sweaty to climb all the stairs to the top, but it was worth it. On the way up it is at least 250 statues of monks aligned the stairs. And the same on the way down. It was approximately 500 statues, and they were all worn at their knees. It was because of a lot of people touched the knees of all the statues for good luck. On the way up you could stay on 2 levels with big temples and inside there where big statues of Buddha and people was praying. The Buddha statues is covered in gold. On the top was the biggest temple and inside there where three big statues of Buddha. Also covered in gold. Where do all this money come from?
During our visits we encountered a lot of beggars. In Ha Noi I have only seen 2 and at the church and temple it was a lot. That makes you wonder, why do they have to cover everything in gold. Why not give the money to those who need it the most. Anyway, I think many people would appreciate the statues and ornaments without gold.
If you want to read and see more pics click on the link "read more" to your right.
As you allready know I have bought a motobike. I thought at this point that I should have the license. But no, it was more difficult then I could imagine. I was sent home all the time with unaccomplished missions. If it not was enough photos it was something else that was wrong.
Finally Malin, at the Swedish camp, told me that she know of someone that helps expat´s to get their motobike license. She did´nt have to twist my arm to get me to hire this man. For 800 000 VND he fixed everything. I just have to go and do the test drive on Sunday. I do not even have to collect the license myself. He deliver it to me when it´s done. I can tell you, it´s worth the money.
I have my motobike, I have bought a brand new helmet and on Sunday I will probably pass the test drive. Viet Nam, here I come.
I did some changes in the post about Bangkok and also a new one about Ossians broken arm but they have dissappeared. I will try to find them with the help of the staff at Weebly.
We went to Mai Chau this longweekend together with a lot of familys. Most of them from the Swedish Camp. JP and Aimee organized the trip and they did a great job. They had rented a homestay for all of us. It was one of those Thai houses on pillars. Under the house was room enought to sit and have our meals.
We went hiking with the kids through the rice fields, rented bikes and went out on the small dirt roads, climbed the long stairs to the cave and we did also some shopping in the village. When its low season the Thai people do handicraft and when the hight season comes they sell it to tourists.
If you can cope with a 4 hours drive one way from Ha Noi I can recommend to go to Mai Chau. Stay at one of the homestays in the village. Its very cheap and the food the house owners prepare for you is very good and the portions are very generous. If you can, bring an extra sleeping pad. The matresses in the houses are very thin. If you´re looking for real beds you can always stay at the lodge. But it`ll cost ya!
See more pictures click the link "read more" to your right.
This easter the hole family went home to Sweden on holiday. 2 weeks with friends and family. It was so nice to see them all. The big event during our visit was Kayes birthdayparty. We went to the mountains up north to ski. It was us and Kaye and her partner David. At her birthday Lasse joined us all day. In the evening it was champagne, wine and good food. I hope Kaye enjoyd her birthday. (And her expensive presents;). I had a good time anyway.
Eeaster was spent at my aunts place as usual. And as always we had a good time seing them. The most exiting thing was to meet my sister. She is pregnant and I had not seen her since we left Sweden. Now she was round and big. I´m so happy for her and her partner Henrik. I cant wait untill I meet the new family member.
Our schedule was also busy when it comes to visit friends. We had such a good time seing them and it was hard to go back to Ha Noi. I hope you all enjoyd our visits as much as we did. Thank you everybody for having us.
See more pics by clicking on the link "Read more" to the right.
Since we got here I have wanted to buy a "motobike". It´s by far the best way to get around in Ha Noi and the countryside. Why have´nt I got I motobike then, you might wonder. Well, because of Carol´s job we must follow the vietnamese legislations. And the legislations says that foreigners must have a vietnamese driving license. Maybe it was a bit exaggerated. You should follow the rules of society no matter where you are. But what seems to be in Vietnam is that everyone is driving without a license, even some Vietnamese people. As an employee at a embassy and accompanying spouce it is a bit different. We represent Sweden and it´s not good if we not comply with the country's legislations. (And I also think it is a good idea to comply with the legislations when it comes to insurence. If something happens and you have ignored the legistlations your insurence is not valid).
Again, you might wonder, why I do not have got a driving licence yet. I sort of lost my good mood and it is because of changed rules at the embassy. In the middle of the procedure they stopped to help us getting the license. Therefore I got stuck with a list of things to do in order to get the license. I have finally got my, as we say in Sweden "arse out of the wheelbarrow" and tomorrow I will get the official translations of our passports.
The final step to get the license is a testdrive. I have heard a lot of this testdrive. It should not be a problem for me. The test is to go slalom between cones and at the end you have to drive over a bump. I think I will pass with flying colour. But nevertheless, keep your fingers crossed for me, will you!
My new motobike!
For 9 whole days we had Cina visiting us. It was 9 days that went much too fast. We missed some things that are essential to have done and I hope Cina can forgive me for that. We missed fresh springrolls for exampel. Big misstake. Sorry Cina.
Instead we got to see a lot of museums. The Women museum, Prison Museum, Etnographic museum, the Temple of Litterature, Hoan Kiem pagoda and a great tour in the old town with a great guide. Other than that we spend a lot of time walking in old town and the alleys. We also visited the Dong Xuan market in old town which was a nice surprise. Fabrics and clothes as far as you can see. The food department was very interesting. We could not tell what half of the selection was.
It was a bit sad that we could not se the inside of the Opera house. It is a very nice building and it would have been nice for Cina to have seen it from the inside. Maybe next time, Cina.
See more pics just click on the link "Read More" to the right.
We have had a visitor from Sweden. Cina Östman was here for 9 days and we had a lovely time together. I was her tour guide in Ha Noi and we got to see a lot of things. The whole family and Cina also took a extended weekend trip to Hoi An. It was a very pleasent surprise. Hoi An is, so far, the best place I´ve visited in Viet Nam. I will definitely go back. I want to explore the ancient city more. It was not easy to do when the kids was nagging about going back to the pool all the time.
Our stay was very relaxed and it was a lot of pool time for the kids. They really love to swim, dive and jump into the water. Unfortunately, for me the relaxing part was manifested in two extra kilograms around my waist.
We did also go to My Son. The boys was thrilled to see the ruins of the temples. It´s like an Indiana Jones movie.
I will defenitely go back to Hoi An.
To see more pics just click the link "read more" to the right.
For a couple of days we have had a little boy who have done his homework without us nagging to get him to do it. He has done it so well that we asked him to stop. Actually, we have been nagging at him to stop, or at least go up to his room and shut the door when doing the homework.
Is this a bad thing, you may wonder? If you ask me, yes. When it comes to practicing the recorder it can just be to much to cope with. When you have had a recorder approximately 2 meters from your ears for 1 hour playing "When the saints" (not allways correct) it can eventually become too much. Please do not tell Ruben I wrote this...
By the way, is´nt he cute. I have probably been anoying Ruben (revenge) as much as he annoyed me with his recorder. I´m practicing to take photos with my new toy. A speedlight flash and a homemade beauty dish. So much fun. What do you think of the result to the left?
This Saturday Ruben and his new friends at Saturday basketball at UNIS played a game against a team from another school (nobody told me which school). The kids performed so good and they won by 9 to 2 points. I think Rubens contribution was 4 points. Given this was his first basketball game ever he did really good. I´m so proud of him.
I took a whole bunch of pictures and on the link "Read more" you can find them.
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