Thuesday the 23th it was UN day. At UNIS it´s a big day. This year especially because it was UNIS 25th anniversary. It was speeches, dancing and singing students and a flag parade (as usual).

The day ended with at lunch together with all the kids in their classroom (two kids - two lunches :) At UNIS there are 64 nationalities (and they speak 44 languages). It was food from all over the world.

It´s a great honor and a great benefit for the boys to go to UNIS.


See more pics from the UN day. Just click at the link "read more" down below.

I said a couple of weeks ago that I would publish some pictures from Norway. Here they are.

One of the most beautiful countrys in the world. It helps to get this attention from me when the fly fishing spots are many and the fishes are quite big.

To see the pics, just click on the link "read more" down below.

Our boys are soooo thrilled. A couple of weeks ago a new family moved in next door. Three boys, and they are all 12 years old (yes, triplets). You can imagine how Ossian and Ruben was the first days. First thing in the morning they said "I´m going next door". They spend as much time as possible there. They are Ossians and Rubens heroes. I can understand them totaly. They are really nice kids.

Welcome Selin Family!

After a cold and rainy summer in Sweden it´s good to be back in Ha Noi. It´s raining here to, but it´s still not the same as back home in Sweden. The rain here freshen up the so otherwise stuffy air.

The boys are back to school. They both said, after coming home from school the first day, "I´m in the best class at UNIS". As a parent you really like to hear stuff like that. It makes everything much easier if the boys likes to go to school.

As usual I have been out walking with my camera. Please take a tour if you want, just click on the link "read more".

I´ll be back with more news from Ha Noi soon and maybe some pics from Norway.

During the last 6 months I participated in two training courses in photography. Everything done through internet. For all of you who are a bit curious, here you go, have a look at the photos. I have only published the ones that i think is best. The rest is only learning material and of no interest for you guys.

For the first time we took the boys to the opera. It was the italien national day on the 2 of June, and they celebrated with an italian opera evening. Italian and vietnamese singers sang some of the most famous aria´s from Italy.

Unfortunately most of them was about tragedies and lost love. Some cheerfull songs would have helped the boys to enjoy it. If you are 7 and 9 it´s hard to like a 10 minutes long very saaaad and painful aria.

When you take the kids to opera you can not be sure to stay the whole evening. We had to leave when it was still half an hour left. The boys where so tired. Ossian had been up since 5:30. Jonah, Ossi´s friend, had a sleep over at our place and he is an early kid.

At last we have got one more motobike. It is mostly Carol´s bike but I will use it when she´s not and when I´m driving in rush hour. The Minsk is more fun to have when you can go faster.

This is a short version of the previous post about the Bangkok trip. When Weebly updated something my post disappeared.

Anyway, it was a really nice trip. We stayed at Ulrika, Gunnar and Veras place and they took good care of us. We whent so see a loooong laying down buddha, Siam Ocean world and Moon Bar at the 62 floor. Awesome!

I hope we can go back to Ulrika, Gunnar and Vera. Maybe next time we head out to the ocean. Get some pool time with colorfull drinks and nice seafood.

If you want to see more pics click on the link "read more" down below.

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.