Thursday, 2 December 2010
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
Updates from Vietnam
We have had an amazing 10 days or so in Vietnam. We left HCMC by private car instead of bus, Frunty's idea, to save time and arrived at our couchsurfing friend's home, Thien. She lives in My Tho in a home that is quite primitive but full of heart. We had to climb a steep ladder from a precariously perched stool in order to arrive in our room in the loft. Thien and her mother drove us around My Tho by motorbike, visiting the river, a snake farm and her teacher's home. It was Teacher's Day and we were warmly welcomed to steam peanuts and tea. When we got home, the kids fell asleep quickly and Papa and I tried snake wine with Thien's father.
The following day, the 5 of us drove to Can Tho to see the floating markets before arriving in Rach Gia on the coast. Thien said good bye and we had a lovely dinner by the river. The next morning, we took our boat over to Phu Quoc.
Highlights on the sunny island of Phu Quoc: our beach, Nhat Lan bungalow, seafood bonanzas bbqed on the beach, meeting new friends from France and Canada, fishing trip around the An Thoi islands, sunset rocks, and tubing on Bai Sao beach...white sands and clear, blue waters with great waves!
Yesterday we had an incredible, Italian lunch at the Park Hyatt back in HCMC and then Papa flew home and the three of us flew up to Hanoi to be warmly greeted by our couchsurfing family, Luyen, Robin and their 15 year old son, Nick. Photos to follow!
The following day, the 5 of us drove to Can Tho to see the floating markets before arriving in Rach Gia on the coast. Thien said good bye and we had a lovely dinner by the river. The next morning, we took our boat over to Phu Quoc.
Highlights on the sunny island of Phu Quoc: our beach, Nhat Lan bungalow, seafood bonanzas bbqed on the beach, meeting new friends from France and Canada, fishing trip around the An Thoi islands, sunset rocks, and tubing on Bai Sao beach...white sands and clear, blue waters with great waves!
Yesterday we had an incredible, Italian lunch at the Park Hyatt back in HCMC and then Papa flew home and the three of us flew up to Hanoi to be warmly greeted by our couchsurfing family, Luyen, Robin and their 15 year old son, Nick. Photos to follow!
Friday, 19 November 2010
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
After all the years of hearing about Vietnam, studying it in highschool and with my dad, here we are in HCMC! After an excellent 1.5 hour flight with Jetstar, we arrived and went through immigration with all of our paperwork: visa forms, applications, photos. In the end, they took two of my papers, none of Papa's and still issued us all visas, returning some of our photos. A bit confusing but anyway, we are here and have just had a good sleep at the Mini Saigon Hotel #5 and a nice breakfast on its rooftop cafe with views of the city in the sunshine. Lots of mopeds! We are in a quaint, old part but you can see modern skyscrapers in the distance.
Today we will take a bus for two hours to My Tho, the gateway to the Mekong Delta and couchsurf (homestay) with a university student named, Tien, and her family...if all goes to plan. Hopefully try the famous noodles from her city! Tomorrow we will try to head to Can Tho and Rach Gia and the following day, a hydrofoil over to Phu Quoc island where we will stay in a bungalow on the beach, then a homestay called "Freedomland" in the jungle and enjoy 3 separate day trips which include diving and snorkeling.
I am writing a lot in advance because I don't know what internet access will be like after this modern hotel which has free computer use. I will try to post some photos as we go along. Excited to be here and ready to head on our way to the bus station. Hope everyone who reads is doing well and enjoying their own excitement in life! Cheerio!
Gramma and Grampa: kids so excited for your arrival in Hanoi!
Today we will take a bus for two hours to My Tho, the gateway to the Mekong Delta and couchsurf (homestay) with a university student named, Tien, and her family...if all goes to plan. Hopefully try the famous noodles from her city! Tomorrow we will try to head to Can Tho and Rach Gia and the following day, a hydrofoil over to Phu Quoc island where we will stay in a bungalow on the beach, then a homestay called "Freedomland" in the jungle and enjoy 3 separate day trips which include diving and snorkeling.
I am writing a lot in advance because I don't know what internet access will be like after this modern hotel which has free computer use. I will try to post some photos as we go along. Excited to be here and ready to head on our way to the bus station. Hope everyone who reads is doing well and enjoying their own excitement in life! Cheerio!
Gramma and Grampa: kids so excited for your arrival in Hanoi!
Camping Trip Photos
Papa, Frunty and Pit were part of the yellow team during the TPS camp and arrived at my "Sudoku Station" at Pasir Ris park, quickly solved the puzzle, and ran off to the next station.
Happy and tired male campers assembled in the gym that night while the females were in the hall, one story down.
Frunty found energy the next morning at the Sports Event and did an amazing cartwheel that the principal commented on later!
Our beloved principal, Mrs. Wong, gave Frunty's class a thumbs up. Hats off to you, Mrs. Wong and thanks for a great camp!
Sunday, 14 November 2010
November 8: Papi turns 80
The biggest highlight of our week actually was knowing that Papa turned 80 in the chosen land. Hope Mami and Papi are having a fantastic time! Congrats and can't wait to celebrate in person.
Our week in Review: Highlight: School Camping!
Wow! Papa got back from Australia after our Deepavali party at Aliya's where we ate amazing, Indian food as usual. On Sunday, we enjoyed Ethan's first communion with the Branco family and the kids went nuts over the Subway wraps. (me too and the occasional item with gluten still produces no eczema for them! Maybe they have outgrown it?!) On Wednesday I hosted the parent support group at our home and the topic was about raising boys. Also very useful to chat about that!! But the grand finale of the week was:
School Camping!! With 300 children from P1 and P2 and a ton of support from parent volunteers and parent support group members, we pulled off the first ever TPS school camping, overnight trip! It was really fun and pretty crazy. We had a cook out and a bonfire at night and an Amazing race at Pasir Ris park. The following day, after a fairly good sleep, the children participated in sports competitions. I will post photos soon so you can see for yourselves all the fun we experienced.
You can guess that we were all pretty tired by noon when we headed over to the mall for Frunty to choose his end of school present at "Toys For Us", as our boys still call it. He chose a Lego truck and wind machine and sushi for lunch. We are so pleased with Frunty as with minimal effort, he got a 94% in English and 77% in Math. Excellent work!! His teacher told me she was so surprised because in class, he seemed to be unfocused. I bet he would get 100% if he put in a little effort!
Sunday we all tried to recover. It rained all day so we could laze around. Papa and I went out to do some chores (and eat lunch and have back and feet massages...oh, life is rough over here!!) And now it is Monday and our last week of school before holidays!!! Stay tuned for some camping photos!
School Camping!! With 300 children from P1 and P2 and a ton of support from parent volunteers and parent support group members, we pulled off the first ever TPS school camping, overnight trip! It was really fun and pretty crazy. We had a cook out and a bonfire at night and an Amazing race at Pasir Ris park. The following day, after a fairly good sleep, the children participated in sports competitions. I will post photos soon so you can see for yourselves all the fun we experienced.
You can guess that we were all pretty tired by noon when we headed over to the mall for Frunty to choose his end of school present at "Toys For Us", as our boys still call it. He chose a Lego truck and wind machine and sushi for lunch. We are so pleased with Frunty as with minimal effort, he got a 94% in English and 77% in Math. Excellent work!! His teacher told me she was so surprised because in class, he seemed to be unfocused. I bet he would get 100% if he put in a little effort!
Sunday we all tried to recover. It rained all day so we could laze around. Papa and I went out to do some chores (and eat lunch and have back and feet massages...oh, life is rough over here!!) And now it is Monday and our last week of school before holidays!!! Stay tuned for some camping photos!
Friday, 5 November 2010
Protecting our MegaMinds
Today I took the three musketeers, Frunty, Killian and Pit, to the movies to see "MegaMind", perfect for a rainy day. They enjoyed it and I was happy we could get seats together because when I bought the tickets, they could only sell single seats to me. Based on previous experience, I knew there would be seats together somewhere in the theatre with many no shows as usual.
I thought it was a perfect, rainy day activity but actually, it is not. The movie theatre is at Tampines Mall where most of Singapore seems to be loitering around. Unbelievably crowded and noisy...an assault on the senses. And then after the movie, as usual, my two started fighting and Killian joined in too. No one's fault. It seems that tv or movies have this effect on my kids and I have only just now put this all together after reading about the negative effects of this media on our minds. It is especially bad when Frunty and Pit watch something first thing in the morning which we banned a long time ago because of their negative behaviour. I think the craziness of the mall does not help either.
So what is perfect for a rainy day? The Science Center. You know why? It is virtually deserted and stimulates the mind in a positive way. Note to self!
I thought it was a perfect, rainy day activity but actually, it is not. The movie theatre is at Tampines Mall where most of Singapore seems to be loitering around. Unbelievably crowded and noisy...an assault on the senses. And then after the movie, as usual, my two started fighting and Killian joined in too. No one's fault. It seems that tv or movies have this effect on my kids and I have only just now put this all together after reading about the negative effects of this media on our minds. It is especially bad when Frunty and Pit watch something first thing in the morning which we banned a long time ago because of their negative behaviour. I think the craziness of the mall does not help either.
So what is perfect for a rainy day? The Science Center. You know why? It is virtually deserted and stimulates the mind in a positive way. Note to self!
