Tuesday 24 February 2015

2015 - Year of the Goat

Happy Chinese New Year!

Living in Asia has given us the opportunity to learn about this festive holiday and to take part in some of the customs & traditions.  The Lunar event is huge - bigger than Christmas!  Singapore's Chinatown is decorated with lights, red lateens and goats can be found everywhere.  We took Jim & Karen through Chinatown one evening so they could experience the craziness of the holidays.  Typically, Chinese/Singapore families get together the eve of the New Year for their reunion dinner (dinner with their immediate family) then will spend the next 15 days of the lunar season visiting family and friends.  The older generation will hand red packets to the younger generation which are filled with money.  The Chinese New Year is recognized with two public holidays so we took advantage of the time off and headed to Ho Chi Minh City for the long weekend.

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Ho Chi Minh City - Population 10 million.  6 million bikes/scooters.  Lines are more of a guideline in this country, with the largest, most aggressive drivers getting the right of way.


Mekong Delta  Tour

First full day was filled with a variety of activities.  We drove 1 ½ hrs to the Mekong Delta where we took a boat ride through the little islands, stopping at a few for different activities.




Shoreline is filled with fishing boats and houseboats.  One is not tempted to jump into the water to cool down as it is a dirty brown from all the sediment.  






After our first stop for tea and local sweets, we got onto a sampan (hand rowed flat Chinese boat) for a ride to our next stop.  The stream took us past water coconut trees and we were serenaded by Joshua's tribal songs.




After lunch we took a horse ride through a small little village on the island.  So fun!





We went on a short little bike ride along the waters edge, through small local orchard farms.  






Last stop was to see the temple and Buddha.



We toured around Ho Chi Minh City our second day.  Learnt the trick of the locals to get you to buy their coconut water.  Man will give you his load for the day, pretending to make you carry it then after walking a short distance, offers you a coconut water, which you buy.   



Old Post Office



 Notre Dame Cathedral


Opera House



Bitexo Finacial Tour (tallest building in Ho Chi Minh City) aka as The Stark Tower to J&J.


Toured through the Reunification Palace - a highlight of the day for the boys.



Day 3 - Cu Chi Minh Tunnels Tour

Went to see the Cu Chi Minh Tunnels - truly amazing!

This is hidden trap door for the tunnels. 



An entrance to the tunnels.


Spot where the Vietnamese guerrillas would fight.  Jake has his knee in the spot where the soldiers would rest their leg, waiting for the Americans. 


On top of an American tank, that was a victim of its own bomb in 1970.


Jason got to fire a real machine gun.  Boys were too young, much to their dismay.


Highlight was walking through tunnels.  Tunnels were hot, small and cramped - definitely not built for big North American white girl!  It was an amazing experience - one that had a big impact on the boys.







Last stop was to visit a Caodaism temple.  Caodaism is a religion that combines Christianity, Budhhism, Confuciansium and Hinduism and we stayed to watch part of their ceremonies.  Was definitely not worth the 1 ½ hr trip to see.




 

We had really good food in Vietnam and our last dinner was at an amazing restaurant off of the main streets, down a little side road.  It will be one of those meals that we will think about for a long time - so good!  After booking the reservation I learnt that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie went to this same restaurant when they visited Vietnam.


We feel so lucky to have been able to share these experiences with Jacob & Joshua.  They are at the age where they get things and really appreciate the experiences they have been given.  It was an amazing long weekend away!

Tuesday 17 February 2015

Far too long in between posts...

Recap of our Past Few Months

August
Our summer ended in the pool with the Bekius Family - we were so fortunate to have them with us for three weeks this past August.  So many great memories - we just need to figure out a way to convince them to come again!


September
The fall brought new school uniforms for the boys as they started at United World College of South East Asia (UWC).  The boys love their new school and the transition was seamless.  I have been substituting at UWC and in April I will take over for a teacher who will go on maternity, teaching Grade 7&8 science.


F1 Action!  We enjoyed the races and listening to the musical entertainment.  Jennnifer Lopez was here this year, a huge step up from Rhianna who 'entertained' us last year.


October
Our next visitors arrive - Nana & Papa!  We were so lucky to have them with us for three weeks.  Our time was divided between showing them the sites and sounds of Singapore and enjoying the large Bintans in Bally for Jason's 40th.  Great memories! 






November

We checked out our first hospital in Singapore when Josh decided to go all Hulk and run through a huge sliding glass window of our friends house.  Eight stitches and a nice scar later...



Jacob was fortunate to celebrated his 10th birthday in a variety of ways.  We went out to the restaurant of his choice then headed to the theatre to watch Dumb & Dumber To, all in the proper costumes.  Next was a pool birthday party with his friends, a novelty for a Canadian boy with a November birthday!  The final birthday celebration was in Disneyland in Hong Kong followed by a ferry ride to Macau to celebrate with a ⅓ of a pumpkin pie, compliments of the Kiats!








Josh enjoyed the hospital so much that he wanted us to go again, 
two weeks later.  He developed a bad infection in his toe that required emergency surgery and required him to spend 5 nights in the hospital.  This kid keeps things interesting. 





 December
Our next visitors - Grandma and Grandpa arrived! 


Pool time with Grandpa - best way to spend an afternoon in December!



We were so fortunate to have Grandma and Grandpa join us as we explore Australia for three weeks.  So many special memories were made!









My Christmas gift to Jason was climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. So much fun!  



Gold Coast, Australia - beach was amazing!  Only thing not impressive was the score card for the women in the ongoing Australia Canasta tournament 


My favourite photo of the trip - nothing but smile from everyone!


Quoting Jacob - "I'm so glad to have seen the Sydney Opera House".  We all agreed! 


We had the opportunity to connect with Amber and her children, who moved back to Sydney over 7 years ago.


 Singing Christmas carols, Christmas Eve on Hamilton Island.  So special. 


Merry Christmas!





A highlight for my Dad was spending 3 hours on the water in a catamaran on Christmas Day.  





A special favourite memory for the boys was kissing a kangaroo!



Our Christmas gift from my parents - Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tour.  One word - AMAZING!


Touring the Daintree Rainforest.


January
Club Med - Malaysia
I won a free 3N4D trip to a Club Med on Cherating Beach in Malaysia and we had the best long weekend away!  



Shell throws as party every January with a different theme - this year was Rock of All Ages.  No prizes were awarded but if there was, we would have won!


February
Our neighbours from Calgary, Jim & Karen arrive!  We feel so blessed to have them travel around the world to see us and are enjoying showing them all around Singapore.  The boys are in their glory with their surrogate Grandparents!



They love the Singapore ice cream sandwich!  (but anyone with good taste would!)


Much love from,
The Plamondon's