Good Morning Vietnam!

We have arrived safe and sound! 

Back in Kelowna we had a bit of a plane delay which  made us anxious if we would make our flight in Vancouver.  That coupled with our security search where they thought our playdough and usb cord looked highly suspicous made for an 'explosive' start to this trip. 

It was rather amusing when Max exclaimed with great delight,  "Look Stella, it's Vietnam!",  while we began our descent into Vancouver from Kelowna.  Oh boy, I thought ...  this kid has no idea how much further we have to go!  But I am so pleased to report that both Stella and Max did unbelievably well on the flights.  They slept 9 of the 13 hours to Taipei waking only once,  and then slept through the entire flight from Taipei to Hanoi including the take off and landing!   Yay ... couldn't ask for anything more!

We are staying in the 'Old Quarter' in Hanoi right now.  We are in a lovely little hotel right in the middle of EVERYTHING!  As you walk the city streets bouncing in and out of markets, up and down bustling alleys, you get that "This is why I travel" feel. 

We've been having lots of fun exploring our surroundings - Max particularly loves all the 'motorbikes' and Stella's in love with all the ladies in conical hats carrying fresh fruit.  The population is around 4 million and there are at least that many mopeds here too!!!!   I read on someone's blog that you cannot wait for traffic to stop for you in order to cross the road, you just have to walk out in it and they will swerve around you.  Well, it's true .... there are no crosswalks, no lights and definitely no rules!   We grab the kids' hands tightly, say a prayer  and walk slowly, purposefully through the streets.  Yep, through the streets as the mopeds are parked on the sidewalks!  

Tonight, we enjoyed a show at the Water Puppet Theatre.  It was especially entertaining to the kids as the puppets looked like they were dancing on the water.  Max was pretty enchanted with the dragon and Stella liked the puppets holding torches.  

The kids are getting lots of stares here plus a few head pats and pinched cheeks. 

Jeff's even scouting out some new job prospects here in Hanoi!

Well, it's time to sign off for now.  We're heading on a boat cruise of Halong Bay in a couple of days and I suspect there will be no wi-fi there :)  So until early next week - Tam Biet - that's bye in vietnamese.