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.
We were invited on the first day of the year of the dragon to one of the local employees. Only me (Jocke) and Ruben could go. Carol stayed home with Ossian which had a fever.
They live nearby so we could take a walk to their house. It was really quiet in the streets. Almost no cars or motobikes at all, which is a rare sight here. The people we saw was very smart dressed, probably on their way hom to family and friends to celebrate. It was a very nice visit and we talked a lot with his son and wife. They did their Master degrees in Sweden so we had some in common.
The reason for inviting us on the first day on the new year is partly that it brings luck to have westerners as the first guests to celebrate the new year. According to our host we are so well behaved and friendly and that brings luck to his family. I hope it will work with the "luck" thing. Anyway, we had a lovely day with good food and drinks.
You probably wonder why I´m so late wishing you happy new year. Well, in Viet Nam is Tết celebration (New year) in accordance with the luna calendar and it accurs on the first day of the first month of the Lunar calendar (around late January or early February).
Ha Noi has been crazy for a long time now because of Tết. Everybody is going around buying stuff to give to family and friends. The traffic is horrific. A motobike ride that normally takes 15 minutes, takes another 1 hour (during rush hour). This is the most important holiday/festival in Viet Nam and everything will shut down for a couple of days. We have had to buy all the essentials, like food, before the holiday. Its not like Sweden when you can go to the supermarket on new years eve untill 9 pm.
Today was the last day in school before the leave. There where celebrations and all the parents was invited. The kids performed a play, sang songs and danced. There was also a dragondance performence by the kids and later on there was proffesionals doing the same. I´m so impressed that the teachers get the kids to perform like that. So different from Swedish schools.
Click on the link "read more" to the right to see more pics.
_It has been a while since I wrote on this blog. It´s because we have had guests and been away on holiday. We took Carol's sister Kaye and her boyfriend David to the Island Phu Quoc down south. It was warm, sunny and lovely. We stayed at Bamboo cottages at Vung Bau bay. A secluded beach with just us on it (to begin with). It was not only we, of course, but also the boys´s 3 friends they met there. In other words it was about 8 people on a beach that was about 2 kilometers. It was so nice. We explored the island on motobike. My conclusion of this exploration was that the beach was best where we lived.
Read and see more pics on the "read more" link on your right.
On Whale Island we experienced a brief storm. It's always exciting to be close to the elements. We and the Niklasson family howled with delight when the lights in the bar were hanging horizontally instead of vertically. The locals did not seem to care. 30 minutes before the storm the sky was incredibly beautiful. The picture down below is not even cloing reality justice.
The view from our bungalow
The kids had autumn holiday last week. Finaly we could do our first trip together outside Ha Noi. We went to Whale Island just north of Nha Trang. Its a lovely Island with just one resort. Perfect for honeymooners and couples. And for familys to. No roads and a shallow beach. You dont have to worry so much as a parent.
As it turned out we got company by another Swedish family. The Niklsasson family (Malin, Pelle, Linnea och Vilma). They where our neighbors at the Swedish camp where we used to live.
Read more and see pictures - klick on the link "read more" to the right.
Me and the boys went to Bangkok to join Carol at Ulrika, Gunnar and Veras place. Carol´s been working there for a couple of days and she´s been staying at their place. Bangkok, what a contrast to Ha Noi. Here you can get anything. You do not have to look for two days for shoestrings or socks size 42. And you can actually walk on the sidewalk without bumping into parked motobikes all the time. For me, the whole city seems to be built for shopping. You are totaly bombarded by advertising wherever you look. Is that what we really need in the world, more consumtion?
Anyway, the kids enjoyd Bangkok. The best part was probably to see mom, but according to them it was playing with Vera and swim in the pool. They also enjoyd Siam Ocean world and Moon bar (outdoor bar on 62 floor).
The Moon bar was awesome. Next time I go to Bangkok I want to go back and have a drink.
It´s so nice to spend time with Ulrika, Gunnar and Vera. They are such a nice family and I wish we could see more of them.
See more pictures click on the link "read more" to your right.