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!