Busy Busy Week

Easter was great around here last Sunday. The kids searched for eggs,

scored some yummy bunny treats,

and then we all enjoyed lunch with wonderful friends. Then, Easter mass right here in our own neighborhood!

 D had a great experience this week going to "Take your Child to Work Day" with T. She got her own cubical- with her name on it!

And spent the day doing all kinds of cool activities. She loved it and now speaks very coolly about when she "went to work."

Today, we decided to watch the wedding of William and Kate.

D had lots of questions and was amazed by the whole thing. I do wish I knew more answers to her questions. Why isn't Prince Phillip, King Phillip? Where to Beatrice and Eugenie fit in? But she loved the dress, the flower girls, and the horse-drawn carriages.

As you can see, C just eats this stuff up.

Dinner and a wedding for D and I.

A fun and festive week for the family! Hope your Easter and subsequent week were lovely too!

And So...

Vietnam was a fantastic family holiday. A perfect balance of learning about a new culture and enjoying the peace and relaxation that every vacation should have. I have placed several links in previous posts to places we stayed/visited/used but contact me if you want more info. Happy to share.

Our last 2 days were spent in the pool,

at long, lazy lunches,

on 1 more date on China Beach (where I got to try eel- not on purpose!),

and on the beach.

We had late check out and flew out on Saturday evening which seemed like a great idea, but after spending the whole day loving paradise it was that much harder to leave!

 We loved our vacation and know that even if our young kids grow up and have little memory of it, the positive and educational experiences with a different people in a different place who do things their own distinct way, will help shape them into the tolerant, compassionate people that the world needs more of.

Sick of Vietnam Posts? Too Bad!

 We read some Trip Advisor reviews about a bicycle tour of Hoi An that was kid friendly so this was on our list for our stay here. While we were in town T stopped at a tour shop and booked the 4 of us in for a bicycle tour of the area for Thursday morning. We were all excited to see the country- beyond the touristy stuff- and get some exercise as a family. 

 Things started our a little rough. One look at the bikes told us that their safety was questionable but the friendly guide was ready to go, so we placed a child on the back of each bike and started down the road. Moments later C and I found ourselves laying on the road when, while pushing off to gain some momentum, my ankle rolled off the uneven road and the bike went down. Several motorbikes stopped to help, and a shopkeeper ran to our aid. They picked us up, dusted us off, and we tried again. This time, with success.
First thing was to navigate through Hoi An's busy streets to the river where a small boat awaited us. He took us (bikes and all) to a nearby village known for their wood carving and boat building.

The big net below is used to catch fish. The net is lowered into the water, the fish swim over top, and then the net is pulled up. There were many in the river, along with fishing boats.

There were men hard at work building and repairing fishing boats. The kids really enjoyed the explanation of how these men do their work, using some of the same methods they have used for centuries.

Then, back through Hoi An and out into the country.

A stop at the rice fields. I think these farmers are used to people stopping for a rice farming lesson. They showed us the plants, picked flowers for D, and gave me several striking poses for the camera. And then asked for a tip!

Organic vegetable farm. This was a highlight as D has been learning a lot about plants in school and they've planted their own vegetable garden.

On route from a fishing village (where I took no photos, apparently) to a pottery village I was so impressed with D on the back of that bike. Never complained- and that little platform could not have been comfortable.

Next stop was a pottery village. D is getting to be an expert at this pot throwing thing. She and the little girl at this shop made fast friends.

4+ hours later, we were back at the tour shop, exhausted, hungry, but wildly proud of ourselves for accomplishing and loving our morning's adventures. Time for lunch and ice cream.

After having such a positive experience having clothes made for T and myself, we decided to take D in for something special. We've heard about a father/daughter dance coming up next month so I took D in to have a gown made. She knew just what she wanted (she had even drawn a picture of it) so we took her to the tailor after lunch and watched as she and the ladies there worked their magic.

Fabric choices- satin and silk. And taking measurements.

We returned the next day for a fitting. Happy girl with her pink color, short sleeves, and poofy skirt.

D requested a satin headband and satin roses for the headband and the sash. At first the girl said they do not do hair accessories, but then gave in and was able to have them made.

Will be sure to blog about that event when it rolls around.

Hoi An- Fun for Grown-Ups Too!

The kids were aching to visit the kids' club at the resort so T and took advantage of some time sans children. We had read online and heard from friends that Hoi An is teeming with tailors who can practically make you an entire wardrobe over night. T wanted a few new dress shirts, I had a few garments in mind too. So we set off for town. Our guide recommended Yaly Tailors and we really liked what they made for us. I had dresses and shorts made. I also stopped at a swim suit shop across the street and and had 2 suits made. So nice to have clothes made just for me and my shape!

We also enjoyed lunch and some art shopping before going back to the resort for...you guessed it, more swimming!
Does any of you bring sand toys with you on beach vacations? It seems like they would be widely available in beachy areas. If any resort manager/owners are reading this, may I politely request that you have toys available to rent, buy, or borrow. This little set took us ages to find!

Beware the crazy goggle man!

Lucky us, we also booked a babysitter so that we could enjoy a date night. 

We visited Mango Mango Restaurant for dinner. Yum! My chicken and T's beef

Then to Cargo Restaurant and Patisserie for dessert. I can't believe I didn't take a photo of my enormous slice of chocolate cake. Grrr.

 And White Marble Wine Bar for wine!

A really lovely night in Hoi An. Below, see the river through town, and the (somewhat) famous Japanese Bridge. The town was bustling and had such a fun atmosphere.

We slept well that night, and good thing because the next morning would bring a 4-hour bicycle tour of the area that was full of surprises!

A Walk Around Hoi An

Included in our stay was a guided walking tour of Hoi An. The town has a beautiful Old Quarter that is a pedestrian only area and it was bursting with character. Vietnam has been heavily influenced by China, Japan, and France and it shows in the architecture, food, and art throughout the town. But the place is still so uniquely Vietnam.

It was really fun taking photographs here. I hope they look good here on the blog because I am really excited about the way some turned out. If you notice a few photos tucked in here and there, that lack explanation, it's because I just like them so much!

It was a beautiful day to spend walking through this charming town.

  Everyone was so friendly, especially when the kids said "hello" in Vietnamese. What a difference it makes to greet people in their native language! This little old lady scooped C right up. Love this photo.

 Then came the hat purchase. I was SO pleased that D and C were so very willing to wear them (all week long!). I just could not snap enough photos of them with the hats on. And, of course, they were a hit with the locals.

 Time for lunch! Cafe des Amis was recommended by our guide and did not disappoint. Both Vietnamese and Western food were offered and the proprietor, Mr. Kim, was quite the salesman. He even shared his guestbook with us so we could read all the testimonials.

 After lots of tasting, D was ready to add her own testimonial.

 It reads:  "It looks good. And it smells good. And it tastes good!!!!!

                              D, 5 years

                                 America"

Family photo at the end of the tour.

Back to the resort and into the pool!

"Xin Chao" Hoi An! (Hello!)

After a marathon of cultural encounters in Hanoi, we headed to central Vietnam. We flew into Da Nang and had a quick 25 minute drive to Hoi An and our resort. Our guide granted our request to stop at a marble shop along the way. Vietnam is known for its marble and they create beautiful pieces at the place we stopped. Above, D gets hands on as she polishes a marble statue. They did not let her bring it home- but it was a bit beyond our luggage allowance anyway.

The area is growing fast with all the major hotel chains buying up beachfront property and building big, beautiful resorts. We saw a difference just in our 6 days there. It will soon be a travel destination with many, many more choices for accommodation. (The downside is that local people have to no public beach in Hoi An anymore!)

However, we were very happy with where we stayed. Le Belhamy Resort was just 5 kms from Hoi An and a gorgeous place to stay. We rented a 2 bedroom pool villa with an ocean vew.

We arrived, grabbed a bite at the restaurant, and went straight for our pool. Once that had been thoroughly enjoyed, we swimmers decided to wander down and check out one of the resort pools.

Fun and relaxation have begun!

 After cleaning up for dinner, we enjoyed a nice meal at the resort restaurant, and some drinks and dancing- kids included! I think there was an opportunity for karaoke, but I don't think the family was quite ready for that yet. Let's cut a rug!