Thailand - Hanoi, Saigon Oh What a Trip!

We made a tri-monthly visa renewal trip and this time chose Thailand. We decided to hit Bangkok and Chiang Mai and scheduled our flights accordingly. The airline did stupid stuff which caused a 70 minute layover in Hanoi to turn into a 25 hour layover (yes we got a hotel and went out to see some cool places but still, an unplanned layover) and gave us only three hours in Bangkok (which we took a taxi out of the airport for an hour a half to see how the downtown looks like). So off to Chiang Mai. We went to an elephant nursery where we got to feed them, Reena and Thuan washed one.

We also went to another elephant santuary/camp where we fed the elephants some more and watched them do some stuff like painting and play soccer, play music. We had a good time, and the kids enjoyed it a lot. I was kissed by several elephants which was cool, but also kinda gross. Those trunks are strong. We then went to a tiger camp. Reena was brave enough to want to go in with them, which is the point of this particular place, but her parents were only brave enough to let her go in with young ones. Lots of pictures were taken for the purpose of identifying the tiger later at trial, but thankfully they were not needed for that. The rest of our time there was spent looking at various buddhist temples. In old town Chiang Mai – about one square mile – I counted at least twelve wats with dozens more within a few hundred meters of the old city border. I took Ronin and Darion inside one with an unapologetic sign out front stating women are unclean and thus prohibited from entering. Thuan liked a Thai wrap dress called a sinh that she saw a tourist wearing, and somehow got the lady to let Thuan borrow it for a couple of pictures.

Gorgeous temples all around

Brave girl our Reena

 Real or statue???  If you said statue, you're wrong.  How trained are these magical and majestic animals!!!!

Lovely view of Chiang Mai from our hotel room.  I wish we had more time here.  I could see us living here and loving every moment of it.  Inexpensive, full of things to do, beautiful natural tropical landscape, what more do you want??!

Hanoi

Water lotus lake was so beautiful...

  We love every opportunity to run away, just the two of us on dates.  Healthy outlets is what keeps a relationship going strong.

 Being in Vietnam meant we are able to expose our kids to true Vietnamese tropical fruits.  The kids have tried so many fruits, some of which were spiky on the outside and scared them.  Many of which surprisingly they liked.

From Dan's Newsletter:

Despite more flight delays, we made it back to Da Nang in time to have a farewell party for the Halls before they moved back to the States. That Sunday was their last and was an emotional time for them. We went to the airport with them a few days later to say our last goodbyes. We will miss them.

Some other bits: We took some of Thuan’s family out to a nice taco place we ate at before. They were not impressed. To be fair, it wasn’t as good this time, but I still thought it was great. They barely touched the food. Thuan’s cousin Thi had a missionary lesson in our home over Skype along with a friend of another member here. During the lesson, one of the missionaries texted me to ask if we could give a Book of Mormon to Na. I asked who that was and they told me it was Thuan’s cousin. After knowing her for thirteen years, I found out her real name from a missionary and that I had been calling her a nickname. You think you know a guy! We took her and the kids out for duck bowling and roller coasters before she had to go back to Tien Phuoc for school. We went to Tien’s university graduation and in keeping with Vietnam’s more practical side, there were no talks. Students sat in an auditorium with no friends or family until their name is called, they are handed their diploma, and then they walk out to their loved ones for pictures. Maybe there is a bigger ceremony for the students, but no one else is invited so I was happy and we were happy for her.

Saigon For Us

As exciting as traveling sounds and look it always takes the energy out of us bringing all the little people we made.  But as tiring as it looks and you can see it in my eyes and face I wouldn't have it any other way.  Dan and I traveled to Europe for 2 weeks and I missed the kids so much I paid an extra $400 to change my flights to come back home sooner.  When we bring them I don't have to say "I wish the kids could see this" or "I miss them so much"

Big news: Darion has stopped wearing a diaper.  It made for a great traveling experience.  Didn't have to pack diapers??!!!  Yes more room for nicer clothes such as these from Thailand.