Vietnam Spices

Fall break from Quarry Bay School was last week. Our trip to Vietnam began in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). We arrived on a Saturday night in the dark surrounded by swarms of motobikes with multiple passengers on each one (some in high heels, some with infants cradled in the parents arms, some with bundles precariously perched on the back). There seemed to be no traffic rules to follow so I was thankful to be taken to the hotel by a local Vietnamese driver. We explored the Ben Thanh Night Market in District 1, which was a frightening short walk when we had to cross streets unaided by lights. The market was full of vendors wanting us to give over the US dollar or all our Vietnamese Dong. We loved the experience, but even at night it was so hot I was drenched.

We attended Catholic Mass in English at the Notre Dame Cathedral (built in 18th century) on Sunday. Another sweltering experience after arriving by a hired pair of cyclo drivers from the hotel. The motorbikes, cars, buses, bicycles, and cyclos all share the roads and sidewalks and again no one seemed to get hurt! Ho Chi Minh has a population of 8 million people and 5 million motorbikes, according to our literature.

Next stop after a five hour van ride with our somewhat English speaking guide was Phan Thiet City to the Victoria Beach Resort. The ride was absolutely great in that we saw alot of the city outskirts and much country life. It was beautiful, but lots of extremely hard living conditions. There was quite a bit of passing of vehicles, even a couple of times we passed a truck and another vehicle passing the truck at the same time--sort of a triple wide pass where we entered the shoulder of the opposite side while avoiding all motobikes and animals. I could not believe it was happening and I've been known to pass a bit when it might be best to wait.

The cows graze all over the place. We saw baskets of baby pigs, lots of green banana loads, and many small kids riding their bikes without helmets. Every other home had a stand out front selling cold water and drinks. They often times had multiple hammocks set up under shade with plastic tables and chairs for travelers to rest.

The Victoria Resort was beautiful. The flowers and gardens so spectacular. We did ocean swimming, boogie boarding, kayaking, tennis, horseback riding and visiting of the spa. The kids really enjoyed their daily milkshake!

One day we hired a tour guide to visit Mui Ne and see the sand dunes. He was a local who arrived in an army green jeep speaking not a word of English. The white dunes and red dunes were beautiful and soft. Prior to arriving there the jeep broke down and our guide left us behind while he walked to get someone to help out. He arrived on the back of a motorbike with a can of water to cool it down and off we went. The Vietnamese children earn cash from tourists by escorting them and carrying their slides at the sand dunes. We parted with lots of Vietnamese dong since Sam took 10 slides and Kate took 8 slides. At one point our driver exited the jeep to put spikes on his tires for the short ride in the sand. Kate wanted to know why he would put "spices" on the tires. We kidded her all week about her question.

We ate quite a bit of Vietnamese pho (noodle soup) which the kids liked very plain (no spices, just chicken w/noodles). The tropical fruit was great too--mango, dragon fruit, pineapple, watermelon, jack fruit, tiny bananas.

One night we took the kids to a spa. Sam had an aloe vera facial and kids massage. Kate had her nails done in addition to the massage. Both Ron and Sam had haircuts and the barber arrived after a few moments with his ancient clippers and his motorbike. It cost about 30 USD. Haircuts were 4 USD. I had foot reflexology and it was so strong it was hurting!! We had a large roll of Vietnamese Dong because one US dollar was equal to 16,500 dong. So dinner was averaging about 350,000-400,000 dong each night with a couple drinks. I had a several 100,000 dong bills to spend. It cost 9,000 dong to send a postcard to the US--several are flooding the streets in 15202 zipcode.

Fishing is big business here every day. We saw all live seafood in the markets and at night for BBQ. Our last evening we had a great meal with our Swedish friends and their family (they stayed in Mui Ne nearby) and when they brought the whole steamed grouper to the table it was impressive. We kept trying to order white wine and the staff kept bringing red, so finally once it was open we figured out they had no white wine at all. The Vietnamese coffee is very good as well so we enjoyed that all week. I just shipped some home to the US so if you know my parents or the Ramos family ask to have a cup!

I would like to explore more here if time and money will allow.

More recreation opportunities in HK

In October the weather is still very nice and warm, but slowly slowly cooling off and humidity easing back. Our outdoor pool is open till November, but when I look down from the windows of the apartment it is usually a solitary lap swimmer instead of a group of children and their mothers.

We've started swimming lessons indoors with a patient teacher named Ben. Kate is working with him even though he's (gasp) not a girl teacher! Sam is beat after one hour of laps which he actually has to complete (as opposed to his swim ethic with the Alligators at home). Tennis is great for me (not my play mind you, just the opportunity to meet with other lady players) and courts are nice condition right across the street. Kate does well at her lesson when she pays attention. Sam tries to play, but often times resorts to baseball swings.

We are going to join the American Club soon. It's a facility next to our building and downtown as well. I want to check out the "store" which supposedly has American groceries for sale that might not be at Taste or Wellcome (other groceries we get home delivery from). Their tennis courts are visible from our apartment and lighted for night time play. They have an all weather synthetic grass surface... I get to be a sub on a league of ladies! The pressure, the pressure!

Ron is going to use the downtown club for his networking and exercising.

This past weekend we got to take the office junk boat out for the day with other families. It was beautiful. The kids enjoyed jumping from the top of the boat and calling me fraidy cat because it took me awhile to get the guts to jump again (last time I had a wardrobe malfunction when hitting the ocean). The kayak was going in circles as went paddled to Lantau, but we got there and back. The speedboat took out the water skiers and tubing enthusiasts. Tiger, our driver, let Sam steer the boat.

HK has a week fall break from school. We are heading to Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City first and then to a beach resort Phan Tiet). My running partner, Anna, in the picture is going to be in the next resort over so we have Swedish/Hong Kong friends to go out for dinner with while we are there. Anna's youngeset is playing guitar with Kate in the pictures. The website says they have bicycles for guests and I am missing being able to ride a bicycle for leisure. These two, Anna (gray shirt and kayaker) and Ellen (yellow shirt), want us to sign up for the Hong Kong marathon in February. Ron and I will probably do that, along with Anna's husband. Ellen's husband will be moral support.

My bank card was turned off yet again for suspicious foreign activity and when we are in Vietnam it will happen again I believe. Makes it hard to buy stuff when the ATM denies all access. Maybe this is good! The foreign transaction fees are quite annoying.

I am thinking of fall at home and missing all the activities (Fall Festival, political signs popping up, leaves falling and raking, Light the Night walk for MR, pumpkin carving, etc.) that go along with it. At least the Quarry Bay Halloween Disco is coming up!! Does anyone want to send bags of candy over? The bags are 70 HKD apiece (7.8 HKD is equal to 1 USD) so I have to get my ATM warmed up.

It's not Kennywood, but Hong Kong's Ocean Park is for families

Before we arrived here Ocean Park was a family destination we kept hearing was great fun. Finally we made the trip to check it out last Saturday after Sam's soccer practice in Kowloon.

We bought family passes so anyone who comes over be prepared to be entertained there. It has exhibits with dolphins and sea lions that were great. It reminded me of a cross between the PGH Zoo & Aquarium and Kennywood. The dolphins "rescued" a visitor who fell in the pool, they jumped over sprays of water, and performed for fish treats. The sea lions did some tricks too. We didn't get to see everything like the giant panda exhibit because we ran out of time. It is open year round so it had Kennywood beat on that aspect. The rides were a distant second to Kennywood though. Kate was just under 122 centimeters (48 inches I think) so she couldn't go on the roller coaster. The cable car ride between the different sections of the park was a terrific view. They have a Halloween promotion going which looks fun at night. http://www.oceanpark.com.hk/ is the website.

The Stormy Dragons had an open tryout for their dragon boat team on Saturday morning so I got to try paddling. It was not easy and I got all wet. I'm going to try again and maybe join the team. They didn't mind novices and were recruiting men for their men's team. Ron might try one of the evening paddles.

We found a local Catholic Church, St. Anne's, and tried CCD this week on Sunday morning. Kate's class has 29 other students so I tried to be a helper with our teacher. They did well considering it was in a really hot classroom. I think it will teach me too. Now I'll find out what my grade school friends were going though in Watseka at St. Edmunds since I always wanted to go! My helper, Verlyn, goes to the Filipino mass they have on Sundays, but since it's her day off we don't go together.

Not sure how this blogging will work...

Well, thank you Bobbie Goettler and Jennifer Wagner for your inspiration to try the blogging route while our family is in Hong Kong. Bobbie's family went to Qatar for a semester so her husband Ron could teach economics overseas as part of Carnegie Mellon University and she kept her blog to describe their experiences and posted cool pictures. I loved it and was disappointed when she didn't write more often!!! Now they are in Chicagoland as Ron took a new job teaching there. I keep checking back to see when or if she's going to keep us posted on their new city....

Jennifer suggested this would be easier to manage so here goes! My intent is to keep friends and family entertained by our experiences here in HK and save myself time typing the same stories to multiple people!

So far as some of you heard we moved from our hotel home of two weeks into our four bedroom apartment on the 18th floor of our building in the Pacific View. Our rental furniture looks sparse when compared to other places with families who have been here for years and shipped over contents of full homes from other countries. Our South island section of Hong Kong is called Tai Tam.

Ron works in Central (what you'd call "downtown" in any major city). He can take a shuttle bus from our building or use public transportation or catch a taxi. He is trying to integrate a firm called Richards Butler into the rest of the ReedSmith fold. The office here has 13 equity partners and about 100 attorneys/staff total. Last Saturday we went out on a large boat with another partner and had lunch on a small remote island, then were pulled behind a speedboat on "rings of death" (innertubes...). Ron would like to rent or partially own a boat after that experience!

Sam and Kate started at Quarry Bay School. They catch a charter bus each morning and wear uniforms. Several other kids get on with them and they have been meeting alot of kids from all over the world. They should start tennis and swim lessons once a week soon. Sam's going to do a soccer team based afterschool as well. They are in the easiest Mandarin "pathway".

I am enjoying the chance to explore using public transportation. Today I got to play doubles with several ladies and tomorrow I might try to dragon boat race, which I never tried in Pittsburgh! Yesterday I went hiking in Tai Tam County Park with two other American women and it was a great view of mountains, water, fog, with high humidity. We made it about 6 miles before we caught a cab home. The "hiking" is on paved cement roads but it was very steep in some sections.

Now to figure out how to show pictures!