Necessity is the mother of invention

I've said it once and I'll say it again, I really envy the Vietnamese ability to sleep anywhere!  Napping is not an option over here, it is a necessity!  EVERYONE does it. Even office workers tottle off to have lunch at 1200 then find a corner of the office to curl up in and have a little shut eye.  I love this concept and wish I had the ability to work it into my day.  But what do you do when when you don't have a nice air-conditioned office to sleep in?  Well, you just make do.  Anyplace is a good place for a snooze!

Stretchy fur-preventing nipples.

No, I'm not kidding.

Old Stuff.

Here is a selection of photos of our morning this morning.  The usual Jaspers for breakfast, a bit of a wander before the boys got bored so we sent them off and Scarlett and I went shopping for antiques.  Lets just say if Nick knows what is good for him and the bank balance, he will never let me set foot in that street again.  It is AMAZING!  Man. I could go crazy there.  I'll let the pics speak for themselves.

This mornings Jaspers creation.

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A lunch box? (Just kidding mum)

For the life of me I cannot figure out why the guys do the lifting of the shirt thing.

Sleeper buses.

Ooohhh...goody, a free willy inspection!

You don't suppose they mean the whale do you?

Myth Busted?

Well, maybe not.  I can tell you a fine example of Vietnamese honesty though.  Some times this city gets a bum wrap, and sometimes rightfully so.  In the interest of not opening up a can of worms, there are some people here who will rip you off blind.  Why?  Because you can afford it and usually they can't.  This tends to get a little frustrating when you live here as, well, you live here, and you should pay what the locals pay.  Yes, this is a pipe dream.  It is never going to happen in my lifetime or yours.  Having said all that, not everyone is out to fleece you.  Quite often I find that as I am traipsing around a market I am not hassled anywhere near as much as some due to the fact I am usually in work clothes and carrying my helmet.  It is fairly obvious I live here.  Today I was hunting around Ben Tanh for some Bok Choy.  As I could not find it I assumed it was out of season or something.  My eyes lit up when I finally found some.  I asked her in Vietnamese how much and in my excitement thought she said 50,000 VND ($2.50).  Expensive for here but not excessive I thought.  So as I rummage through my purse pulling out notes she is looking at me shaking her head.  As I thrust 50,000VND into her hands she gives me my bok choy and points to my purse shaking her head.  I thought she wanted more money.  Instead she is motioning me to show me what money I have in my purse.  She reaches over and takes out 5,000 dong as she is shoving the 50,000 back at me.  5,000 dong!  25 cents!  That woman, much to my shame, could have relieved me of an extra 45,000 dong and I would be none the wiser.  Needless to say I will be buying all of my greens from her in the future. So next time I feel like I am being over charged, and quite possibly am, I will remember with a smile that not everyone in this city wants to liberate me from my dong.  No matter where you come from, some people have good hearts, and some don't.

What a Payne.....

Just outside our place.  Nick and I have been trying to get this shot for ages!  It is actually quite a common sight.  I think a big mirror is a close second followed by the big screen tv.  As they say...where there is a will......there is a motorbike that can carry it!  What is the best thing you have seen fellow Saigonites?

Ummmm.....Huh?

I'm sure it is not just me.

While they trekked through the jungle....

We did this........Suckers.

Beach/poolside Cabanas at the Imperial Hotel

A fantastic way to spend a glorious morning.

She is obsessed with these goggles.  I have not idea why.  Sometimes, she is just a strange kid.

Mum getting used the the lifestyle

My beautiful babies.

They are never far from each others side.

Mum having Sex on the Beach.

A refreshing Pina Colada.