We convinced grandpa to have his nails cleaned and cut by a lady in the park.. and while his shoes were off a guy picked up his shoes and worked on them... he was overcharged but his fingers and toes have NEVER looked so clean!!!
OK a few will fall over from shock.. esp Ashley or Grant!!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Shopping
Well our bags will be full on way home. Most of the souvenirs for sale are junk, first class j u n k.
Halloween tonight and the motorbikes are out in full swing.. the other night we got taxi to water puppets the humdrum of taxis all around our cab were like nothing we had every experienced. There was a traffic jam (no doubt an accident).
Can't remember if I mentioned how many people missing legs from accidents here.. so many with 3 wheel motorcycles.. we got pulled up by a few girls with fathers/grandfathers that are blind today so handed out some cash.
We also made a donation to the orphanage. The other group with Vietnamese children singing before us brought bags and bags of lollies, biscuits, milk and toys for the children (hence why they were probably strung out a bit). The kids seem very used to people bringing handouts.. you would have to adjust an older child to learning that they don't need to push in so much to get things.
Halloween tonight and the motorbikes are out in full swing.. the other night we got taxi to water puppets the humdrum of taxis all around our cab were like nothing we had every experienced. There was a traffic jam (no doubt an accident).
Can't remember if I mentioned how many people missing legs from accidents here.. so many with 3 wheel motorcycles.. we got pulled up by a few girls with fathers/grandfathers that are blind today so handed out some cash.
We also made a donation to the orphanage. The other group with Vietnamese children singing before us brought bags and bags of lollies, biscuits, milk and toys for the children (hence why they were probably strung out a bit). The kids seem very used to people bringing handouts.. you would have to adjust an older child to learning that they don't need to push in so much to get things.
Orphanage visit
The orphanage is in a poor area over the river. IN the area they are demolishing the old buildings no doubt to either put in high rise buildings or flash new houses.
There were rats (note we have seen a few) and on way down to bus I was not feeling too well and wish I had my asthma pump.
Anyway the orphanage has a budhist temple at the front complete with beautiful water lillies. When we got there a group of young children were performing singing etc with an adult comedian as fill in, for a show for halloween.
We waited for that to finish before my father did a show. The orphanage kids did not sit down too well for him and any chance they could get into your bag they tried re anything my dad had. Survival of the fittest for sure.
The babies were generally held. Budhist monk ladies had their heads shaved and grey suits, and other young workers helped with the children. Another foreigner was visiting but didn't stay as long as we did.
The kids just really wouldn't let my father finished what he had planned but there was a cerebal palsy boy around 3 years that a lady carried out after he finished so I got my father to make him a balloon which he had a ball with.
Some of the kids are really really pushy and they would practically pop the balloon before my father finished blowing it up. You had to pull them back...
Now would I bring any of them home?? Two little boys, yes but the younger one in particular. There were little girls but they were not freely available for us to interact with as they were usually with a carer. I got a few photos but didn't want to over do it but will post once home.
Even the boy around 2 years old was used to snatching (he took my glasses off and I thought my new expensive pair of glasses were a goner but got them back).
We say lots of bunk beds and there were a few hammocks hanging under the bunks for babies to sleep and I got a shot of one boy sleeping.
Bigger chubbier girl really pushed in a lot.
We had a feed at a backpacker type cafe with some veggies (lacking last few days) but they were very spicy so had lots rice but still spicy.
Need to chase up DS cards and other gifts etc.
There were rats (note we have seen a few) and on way down to bus I was not feeling too well and wish I had my asthma pump.
Anyway the orphanage has a budhist temple at the front complete with beautiful water lillies. When we got there a group of young children were performing singing etc with an adult comedian as fill in, for a show for halloween.
We waited for that to finish before my father did a show. The orphanage kids did not sit down too well for him and any chance they could get into your bag they tried re anything my dad had. Survival of the fittest for sure.
The babies were generally held. Budhist monk ladies had their heads shaved and grey suits, and other young workers helped with the children. Another foreigner was visiting but didn't stay as long as we did.
The kids just really wouldn't let my father finished what he had planned but there was a cerebal palsy boy around 3 years that a lady carried out after he finished so I got my father to make him a balloon which he had a ball with.
Some of the kids are really really pushy and they would practically pop the balloon before my father finished blowing it up. You had to pull them back...
Now would I bring any of them home?? Two little boys, yes but the younger one in particular. There were little girls but they were not freely available for us to interact with as they were usually with a carer. I got a few photos but didn't want to over do it but will post once home.
Even the boy around 2 years old was used to snatching (he took my glasses off and I thought my new expensive pair of glasses were a goner but got them back).
We say lots of bunk beds and there were a few hammocks hanging under the bunks for babies to sleep and I got a shot of one boy sleeping.
Bigger chubbier girl really pushed in a lot.
We had a feed at a backpacker type cafe with some veggies (lacking last few days) but they were very spicy so had lots rice but still spicy.
Need to chase up DS cards and other gifts etc.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Propositioned
When we got back near our hotel last night grandpa went down along the shops alone to get some dinner (he is not keen on the Vietnamese food and worried re getting upset tummy). He likes a bakery that has like cheese and bacons but they are like sandwiches or subs and nicer than the Brumby's version by far.
He tells us this morning over breakfast that on 2 occasions during his short walk that 2 ladies propositioned him.. he was impressed as they were very pretty ladies and he was saying he is not sure an old fella like him could handle them!!
He tells us this morning over breakfast that on 2 occasions during his short walk that 2 ladies propositioned him.. he was impressed as they were very pretty ladies and he was saying he is not sure an old fella like him could handle them!!
The Mekong
We took a long 4.5 hour bus ride south over the Mekong and all the delta area.. and of course the 4.5 hour bus ride back and that was from the south West side of city so add in time to and from there.
Lots and lots of rivers with oodles bridges. Big bus on way down and smaller van on way back.. van you could not relax as driver pushed his way on lane with motorcycles and missed other trucks/cars by millimetres... snackered by time we got home.
Bus finish at 8pm so we ended up with a taxi a few times.. girls very tired.
We had wanted to take a train but only 1 north in morning (it was probably all bombed in war so hence lack infrastructure).
Lady at bus shelter was selling trinkets that support war victims.. the lady's skin was burnt terribly like I had not seen before - awful.. she should not be working outside in sun.
Today we visit the orphanage...
Lots and lots of rivers with oodles bridges. Big bus on way down and smaller van on way back.. van you could not relax as driver pushed his way on lane with motorcycles and missed other trucks/cars by millimetres... snackered by time we got home.
Bus finish at 8pm so we ended up with a taxi a few times.. girls very tired.
We had wanted to take a train but only 1 north in morning (it was probably all bombed in war so hence lack infrastructure).
Lady at bus shelter was selling trinkets that support war victims.. the lady's skin was burnt terribly like I had not seen before - awful.. she should not be working outside in sun.
Today we visit the orphanage...
Friday, October 29, 2010
Day 3
We have orders in all over the place for things.. tonight DS games, a sign for our units, a suit for grandpa and a pic of the girls.
The HK market was almost wholesale but we got some shoes for Lotus and material for grandpa tomake a suit for work.. we then asked for a tailor and had quite a while waiting while we could communicate what was wanted.
I got a nice Lotus painting along the way.. the cyclo guys are easy to stop.
We took the bus out to a tourist type area but it was like lush gardens for wedding photos and reception place (tropical style). Lots of Victoria Amazonica (lovely big lilies) and water lilies and a few lotuses.
We are beat.. nothing too easy here to organise re language and they are not attuned to westerners so well or should I say 'westeny food' as per a sign along one of the alleys.
The HK market was almost wholesale but we got some shoes for Lotus and material for grandpa tomake a suit for work.. we then asked for a tailor and had quite a while waiting while we could communicate what was wanted.
I got a nice Lotus painting along the way.. the cyclo guys are easy to stop.
We took the bus out to a tourist type area but it was like lush gardens for wedding photos and reception place (tropical style). Lots of Victoria Amazonica (lovely big lilies) and water lilies and a few lotuses.
We are beat.. nothing too easy here to organise re language and they are not attuned to westerners so well or should I say 'westeny food' as per a sign along one of the alleys.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Day 2 continued
When you can hear your child screaming from next floor up you know you have to go... seems I can't get on internet until they are asleep as they won't give up on grandpa.
The high rises and some of the newer modern shops are just built or being built. Nothing in comparison to China. There are no McDonalds but some KFC but not near here. It seems the fast food place here is called Jollibee but we haven't tried it.
We got a quick meal down our alleyway including Vietnamese style spaghetti.
The thing unique here is the alleyways, reminiscent of what HK used to be like before it got modernized so much. But oodles of little alley ways behind the buildings where all the real 'Vietnam' action happens.
The main streets are too busy for any normal way of life so the local have their abodes down little alley ways that weave here and there everywhere.. the only thing you need to watch out for is the motorbikes streaking along the narrow spaces.
The high rises and some of the newer modern shops are just built or being built. Nothing in comparison to China. There are no McDonalds but some KFC but not near here. It seems the fast food place here is called Jollibee but we haven't tried it.
We got a quick meal down our alleyway including Vietnamese style spaghetti.
The thing unique here is the alleyways, reminiscent of what HK used to be like before it got modernized so much. But oodles of little alley ways behind the buildings where all the real 'Vietnam' action happens.
The main streets are too busy for any normal way of life so the local have their abodes down little alley ways that weave here and there everywhere.. the only thing you need to watch out for is the motorbikes streaking along the narrow spaces.
Day 2
Well we had an eventful day. Tonight we saw the water puppet show which was steeped in traditional craftsmanship and excellent for what it was. There was live music/singing and about 8 puppeteers.
Taxi ride on way home was double the price and when I complained the guy changed a 50,000 note for a 10,000 and claimed I had not paid enough.. ^^*()()__)(*& don't think we will take taxis for a while.
We went to zoo but stretched out so only really saw some deer,elephants and had lunch and kids did a number of rides.
Before that we had walked around and saw some big sites such as the War Museum (which had feutuses?? of babies with birth defects because of chemicals used in war here). Many siamese twins.. disgusting what the effects were on the people here.
There were some US planes and helicopters etc and we saw a guilitine. Grandpa finds anything re the war really really distasteful and I don't think he would go with us to visit the Chi chu tunnels out of town so won't push it.
We saw one of the big water parks on a bus trip we did to the end of the line.. and know that is probably not suitable for our girls or well it looks like oodles of walking and too hard carrying Lotus that far
We might do a train trip someone on Monday and Mekong delta trip Saturday.
The cyclo guys are very nice to us and we have 2 of them picking us up at 8am in morning to go to Hong Kong market.
We saw the big church that is a replica of one in France and the post office was 'breathtakingly' beautiful - French colonial building with massive ceilings. Inside the entrance were wooden carved phone booths aka James Bond for sure.. really beautiful.
We saw a few more modern shops downtown but they are small.. we chilled out at fancy place for ice cream.
There seem to be some high rise building being built on outer areas.
Taxi ride on way home was double the price and when I complained the guy changed a 50,000 note for a 10,000 and claimed I had not paid enough.. ^^*()()__)(*& don't think we will take taxis for a while.
We went to zoo but stretched out so only really saw some deer,elephants and had lunch and kids did a number of rides.
Before that we had walked around and saw some big sites such as the War Museum (which had feutuses?? of babies with birth defects because of chemicals used in war here). Many siamese twins.. disgusting what the effects were on the people here.
There were some US planes and helicopters etc and we saw a guilitine. Grandpa finds anything re the war really really distasteful and I don't think he would go with us to visit the Chi chu tunnels out of town so won't push it.
We saw one of the big water parks on a bus trip we did to the end of the line.. and know that is probably not suitable for our girls or well it looks like oodles of walking and too hard carrying Lotus that far
We might do a train trip someone on Monday and Mekong delta trip Saturday.
The cyclo guys are very nice to us and we have 2 of them picking us up at 8am in morning to go to Hong Kong market.
We saw the big church that is a replica of one in France and the post office was 'breathtakingly' beautiful - French colonial building with massive ceilings. Inside the entrance were wooden carved phone booths aka James Bond for sure.. really beautiful.
We saw a few more modern shops downtown but they are small.. we chilled out at fancy place for ice cream.
There seem to be some high rise building being built on outer areas.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Even more on day 1
The people here seem to recognize that Charlotte and Lotus are not from here.. they have confused Charlotte from Korea at times and other times ask if they are from China or not sure where.
Overcast with possibly more showers today, maybe a smidge less sticky, but not much.
The hotel has pretend fish in a fish bowl with pebbles.. and my little pebble has just spilt water everwhere....
Overcast with possibly more showers today, maybe a smidge less sticky, but not much.
The hotel has pretend fish in a fish bowl with pebbles.. and my little pebble has just spilt water everwhere....
More on day 1
A new motorcycle costs anywhere from 8,000,000 dong or about $400. There has been torrential rain like you would not believe and Norm could not believe the plumbing, or lack of e.g. drain pipe falls exactly on middle footpath and pouring out so anyone below watch out.
Place here has free internet so we are in luck.
At some spring rolls, noodles with beef and nachos (Vietnamese style) and all very tasty.
Lotus got new shows at the market this morning and told me 'I am very proud of my new shoes mummy, don't take them off'.. she is very determined to tell you her mind.
Apparently there is a Hong Kong Market somewhere selling childrens clothes as the cyclo driver tells us.
We have had some fun bargaining.. all my time around Asia makes me a bit harder but grandpa just slugged with USD prices. We got glasses for grandpa for 30,000 dong and man actually swore at us in English.. also got a Lonely Planet for China at 150,000 dong or around $7.50
We now have the cyclo drivers under control.. they ripped us off 10,000 on our first trip.. we now know about 20,000 per bike to the market which is where buses leave from.. and they know us now.. so look out for us.
It is not easy lugging Lotus around in the humidity so we just give in at times.
Weather tomorrow is rain so we might do something simple like a few of the museums indoors...
Many ambulances around tonight with all the rain and no doubt accidents with motorcyles etc.
Grandpa enjoying the 80 channel TV in our room while girls are asleep.
Not really plush shopping areas here although a couple we have seen but they don't seem too big and have like Korean furniture stores. Also no 7-elevens like in Thailand, but a smaller version we found, like about 2 metres wide...lots of tall narrow buildings around here in District 1 where sailors used to bunk down as it is near the wharf although we have not ventured to the river yet with Lotus.
Place here has free internet so we are in luck.
At some spring rolls, noodles with beef and nachos (Vietnamese style) and all very tasty.
Lotus got new shows at the market this morning and told me 'I am very proud of my new shoes mummy, don't take them off'.. she is very determined to tell you her mind.
Apparently there is a Hong Kong Market somewhere selling childrens clothes as the cyclo driver tells us.
We have had some fun bargaining.. all my time around Asia makes me a bit harder but grandpa just slugged with USD prices. We got glasses for grandpa for 30,000 dong and man actually swore at us in English.. also got a Lonely Planet for China at 150,000 dong or around $7.50
We now have the cyclo drivers under control.. they ripped us off 10,000 on our first trip.. we now know about 20,000 per bike to the market which is where buses leave from.. and they know us now.. so look out for us.
It is not easy lugging Lotus around in the humidity so we just give in at times.
Weather tomorrow is rain so we might do something simple like a few of the museums indoors...
Many ambulances around tonight with all the rain and no doubt accidents with motorcyles etc.
Grandpa enjoying the 80 channel TV in our room while girls are asleep.
Not really plush shopping areas here although a couple we have seen but they don't seem too big and have like Korean furniture stores. Also no 7-elevens like in Thailand, but a smaller version we found, like about 2 metres wide...lots of tall narrow buildings around here in District 1 where sailors used to bunk down as it is near the wharf although we have not ventured to the river yet with Lotus.
First day
We went to the Banh Thunh Market and of course it was steamy hot and we only spent about an hour there.. we rested with a lemonade and my dad made a balloon for the vendors daughter and he got a very beautiful smile from a beautiful young lady.
We caught the local bus for 6,000 dong to Dam Sep park which was laid out very very very far.. we only did about 1/2 of it but couldn't go further. No stroller means mummy has about 20kgs including Lotus and bag with water to carry.
We did an elephant ride, dodgem cars, kiddy train ride etc etc and a water boat with scary sorts of animals.. we also started on this castle that had halloween type things but the rating would have to M, but of course here that does not apply so we did not spend long there.
There is a Dutch display of all sorts and we go great hot chips and long life milk (you could trust).. not much western stuff around other than lemonade and they push coffee to sell you.
You can't really walk down streets as motor bikes drive everywhere.
We caught the local bus for 6,000 dong to Dam Sep park which was laid out very very very far.. we only did about 1/2 of it but couldn't go further. No stroller means mummy has about 20kgs including Lotus and bag with water to carry.
We did an elephant ride, dodgem cars, kiddy train ride etc etc and a water boat with scary sorts of animals.. we also started on this castle that had halloween type things but the rating would have to M, but of course here that does not apply so we did not spend long there.
There is a Dutch display of all sorts and we go great hot chips and long life milk (you could trust).. not much western stuff around other than lemonade and they push coffee to sell you.
You can't really walk down streets as motor bikes drive everywhere.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
HCMC
Well greetings from Ho Chi Minh... seems the locals have mostly upgraded from cycles to motor bikes and have no issue driving right in front of a van taking life into their own hands.
A little like Thailand but less developed, and a little like China in some ways.
Girls had a ball playing with cousins and we go to tour the Opera House open day and have great pics.
Today we will walk near the main market area and a few other things to see, just grounding ourselves. 4 hours time difference meant we were awake early but we flew 2 flights to get here from cousins so time all over the place.
Lotus looking tired at 8am in morning here.. left baby carrier at home unfortunately and can't trust her with motor cycles zipping everywhere.
Found some nice bakeries selling very yummy looking cakes and got some pics.
A little like Thailand but less developed, and a little like China in some ways.
Girls had a ball playing with cousins and we go to tour the Opera House open day and have great pics.
Today we will walk near the main market area and a few other things to see, just grounding ourselves. 4 hours time difference meant we were awake early but we flew 2 flights to get here from cousins so time all over the place.
Lotus looking tired at 8am in morning here.. left baby carrier at home unfortunately and can't trust her with motor cycles zipping everywhere.
Found some nice bakeries selling very yummy looking cakes and got some pics.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Hoping for a referral, for a friend
Maybe I have followed older cleft children for long enough, to help a friend find her child? I hope so...
A lady who has tried just about every option you could ever imagine, might just win a battle to get our department to approve her to adopt an older child... it has been a long, long, long, long road.. we met years before I adopted Charlotte.
This poor lady just wants to become a mother,,, and an older cleft child from the shared list would be a perfect match... if only it could be the boy from Holt, that looks like a biological brother to Charlotte almost... (we can only hope...), but there are many needy older children.
Our visas came super fast and Charlotte is quite excited... Lotus just does not seem to remember going on planes etc and is defiant at this point.. but that is OK.. We went to an aboriginal ceremony today re grief and it was a good session. Lotus had a ball of fun with one of the presenters when we sat around a pretend possum skin rug on sand. Both girls can be so sweet they melt my heart in so many ways.
A lady who has tried just about every option you could ever imagine, might just win a battle to get our department to approve her to adopt an older child... it has been a long, long, long, long road.. we met years before I adopted Charlotte.
This poor lady just wants to become a mother,,, and an older cleft child from the shared list would be a perfect match... if only it could be the boy from Holt, that looks like a biological brother to Charlotte almost... (we can only hope...), but there are many needy older children.
Our visas came super fast and Charlotte is quite excited... Lotus just does not seem to remember going on planes etc and is defiant at this point.. but that is OK.. We went to an aboriginal ceremony today re grief and it was a good session. Lotus had a ball of fun with one of the presenters when we sat around a pretend possum skin rug on sand. Both girls can be so sweet they melt my heart in so many ways.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Getting excited to be going soon!!
We are almost ready to start thinking about what to pack, and have sent off for our visas... this is exciting. Charlotte wishes we were going to Bali first as I told her they won't ask if she was born there as she certainly does not look Indonesian at all...
A mum with a daughter from Charlotte's SWI was in town in the past week and we had a ball.. Charlotte was so so excited to meet them and Lotus got a real kick out of the mum playing up to her antics... her mum said that Lotus reminds her of Danny Devito.. mmm we will have the class clown I am sure...
We are in full swing at work so arrangements are being made to cover when I am away, but it should be the quiet before the storm period anyway for what I do.
We got a new kitty called Snowbelle, name partly in memory of Ellie, and she is pure white... she had been advertised a number of times over and over and turns out has not really been housetrained and not attached well (hence why people didn't want to keep her) so we have our work cut out... lucky for her we dealt with Ellie in bad shape for some time. She came from interestate on a long long truck ride (the prior owner had a trucking business and was happy to send her interstate if she got a good home). The poor driver had been smoking heavy all the way and not really stopped because his wife told him not to open the cab or she would run away... she did have a cage though, but he let her out most of the time.
Anyway Rainbow and Snowbelle seem to be good mates at chasing one another but we will have some behaviour management happening for a while... Lotus keeps saying Snowbelle is her friend, and not my friend, but she will get over that.
Lotus's language has expanded a lot although the visiting friend said she could not understand it all and picked on her mispronounciation a bit - we just take it all in our stride and are thankful for the medical help she has had given none of this would have happened in China.
Someone just returned from Lotus's SWI saying it was overloaded with SN children - sigh!! And there is a boy listed with an agency with a Cl/CP that could pass as a biological brother to Charlotte..... if only that were an option here... and with singles...
Burma looks like another good place to visit and Air Asia now offers flights through Kuala Lumpur or KL so we might go that at some stage, perhaps on the way to visit the girls SWIs next year,,, but time will tell... we need cheap flights and good dates to do it in, and not the middle of winter for northern China...
A mum with a daughter from Charlotte's SWI was in town in the past week and we had a ball.. Charlotte was so so excited to meet them and Lotus got a real kick out of the mum playing up to her antics... her mum said that Lotus reminds her of Danny Devito.. mmm we will have the class clown I am sure...
We are in full swing at work so arrangements are being made to cover when I am away, but it should be the quiet before the storm period anyway for what I do.
We got a new kitty called Snowbelle, name partly in memory of Ellie, and she is pure white... she had been advertised a number of times over and over and turns out has not really been housetrained and not attached well (hence why people didn't want to keep her) so we have our work cut out... lucky for her we dealt with Ellie in bad shape for some time. She came from interestate on a long long truck ride (the prior owner had a trucking business and was happy to send her interstate if she got a good home). The poor driver had been smoking heavy all the way and not really stopped because his wife told him not to open the cab or she would run away... she did have a cage though, but he let her out most of the time.
Anyway Rainbow and Snowbelle seem to be good mates at chasing one another but we will have some behaviour management happening for a while... Lotus keeps saying Snowbelle is her friend, and not my friend, but she will get over that.
Lotus's language has expanded a lot although the visiting friend said she could not understand it all and picked on her mispronounciation a bit - we just take it all in our stride and are thankful for the medical help she has had given none of this would have happened in China.
Someone just returned from Lotus's SWI saying it was overloaded with SN children - sigh!! And there is a boy listed with an agency with a Cl/CP that could pass as a biological brother to Charlotte..... if only that were an option here... and with singles...
Burma looks like another good place to visit and Air Asia now offers flights through Kuala Lumpur or KL so we might go that at some stage, perhaps on the way to visit the girls SWIs next year,,, but time will tell... we need cheap flights and good dates to do it in, and not the middle of winter for northern China...
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