The never ending wet.

This is the never ending wet season!  Enough already.  It's mid November!  I have officially cracked it am heading to Nha Trang for the weekend with a friend to turn over every 20 minutes on my sun lounge between cocktails and seafood.  Yeah Yeah...I know....it's gonna rain. 

Vinglish

Oh I do love a good bit of Vinglish.  Saw this hanging at Saigon Square the other day and nearly bought it just to see the looks on peoples faces in Aus when I wore it.

Dengue Update

As you know I have been under the weather with Dengue.  You will be pleased to know that I am well on the way back to full health.  It was a bit of a struggle for a week and I pretty much just slept.  Nick was in the middle of a busy period at work but luckily I had Quyen to help.  I have to say though...the kids were amazing.  I think it really hit home to them when they could physically feel the fevers that wracked my body.  They used to come in and bring me water and take my temperature...Bless them.  I am so thankful to have 2 beautiful thoughtful and caring children.  I wanted to treat them to something special for all of their help.  For Scarlett...it's easy.  Every little girl wants to be treated like a princess right?

I was killing myself laughing as she struggled to keep her eyes open.

The other 2 had just left!  Seriously, she was surrounded!  She was not too sure at first but like a true chick she soon got the hang of a good old pampering.  So she had her very first professional shampoo followed by a dodgy Vietnamese haircut.  Oh well, you can't win them all!

International Week

z It is international week at the kids school this week.  A much anticipated event each year where the kids celebrate the world and learn a little more about it.  We tend to struggle a bit when it comes to the old national costume.  Just ask our Miss Universe contestants!

Loving the sheepskin high heels.  Love to see her crutch some sheep in those babies!

I don't even get the concept of this one.

I actually don't mind this one...FOR THE KIDS...not for Miss Universe.  She looks like a Baywatch extra!

So this is how the Moggys interpret being Australian.

Doesn't get much more true blue than AFL footy.  Here is my little tiger with a ridgy didge Sherrin.

Scarlett was an Australia Zoo zookeeper with her cork hat to keep the pesky flies at bay.  She even took her own echidna.

While it is no where near as stunning as a Vietnamese Aa Dai or a Korean Hanbok, it does sum up a little of what this family loves about our great country.  I will be taking meat pies in for the kids to eat on Wednesday....mustn't forget the dead horse! (That is a riddle for all of you non aussies......can you figure it out?)

Pedal Power

A great shot from "Another Side of Vietnam"  Sometimes good old fashioned pedal power overcomes all.

Guardian

Now to many of you this will seem like a rather strange post.  To some of you, it's time to do a little happy dance.  Chemists are pretty much non existent here.  The are tiny little "medicine" shops where you can pop in and buy your antibiotics, viagra or pretty much whatever your heart or body desires.  There are some stalls at some of the markets where you will find the odd dubious looking bottle of Selsun Blue or Plax.  Chemists the likes of Boots do not seem to have found their footing here as they have done in so many other countries.  Enter Guardian!  I was so excited to find out they have opened 3 stores around the city that I dragged my aching bones out of bed and took a visit to the chemist.  While I was hoping to find some good old Australian/British medicines like Panadol or Robitussin it was not to be.  I did find this however!

Now this is fabulous!  Things like foundation and lipstick just like home!  No need to go to the big department stores and spend a lot of money buying a Clinique lipstick and hoping it is real!

Believe it or not the prices are more than reasonable.  I bought a mascara that from memory is well over $20 at home (Maybelline Lash Blast) for $7.  Please no-one tell them they are undercharging!

Happy days.

For some reason after a few shots the old "no photo" line came out.  I have no idea why.  It's just really exciting when you find new products from home on the shelves here.  I was a little disappointed that there was no medicine but Revlon nail polish for $6.50 made up for it.  It is located at 212A1 Nguyen Trai P.NCT, Q1. (Ph 0310618188)  I know there are a couple more but I am not sure where they are.  So happy shopping ladies.  Sometimes it's the little things.

Hanoi walking tour - Last Day

So the last day was a bit more of a leisurely look around the Old Quarter.  After another superb breakfast we set off on foot to see what we could discover. Over 1000 years ago artisans moved to the capital city to do business and they gathered together in this area to share the resources. As a result, many of the streets were named after the crafts sold at that individual street. Pho Hang Bun (Vermicelli), Pho Hang Ma (Paper Product), Pho Hang Bac (Silver), etc are examples of the streets carrying the name of the products sold there.  Although many of the streets no longer sell the products which they were named after, many still do.  It is the perfect area for walking although can be a little dangerous as you spend a lot of time on the road as the footpaths are blocked with bikes.  So here we go.....

The French influence is very much alive and well not just in Hanoi but all of Vietnam.  Fabulous breads, pastries, baguettes and creme caramels just to name a few.

The coal guy.

The kids are fairly used to getting second looks from the locals.  It is ALWAYS friendly but at times can be a bit overwhelming.  Depends on their mood.  Having said that, maybe she was looking at my hot hubbys butt!

Making mince meat.  On the street.  As you do.

Next trip we will definitely take the time to get some hand carved stamps done.  Time just got away from us.

One of the more popular beers in Hanoi.

Checking out Hoan Kiem Lake.

The shoe repair guy.

Bet this guys could tell some stories.

Now I don't know why but the kids decided to help this lady dust her shoes.  They don't clean up like this at home!

Ahhh....a true mother/daughter bonding moment over the purchase of shoes. *sigh*

Posing with the new shoes.  They are the ugliest things I have ever seen.  She adores them!

Living on the edge and asking someone to take our photo and hoping they do not run off with the camera.  Life is all about risks!

Scarlett counting her blessings and having a bit of a chat to Buddha.

They actually really love Buddha and talk about him a lot.  I may have some trouble explaining that to the Catholic primary schools I will be trying to enrol them in when we go home!

A red door.

Nick and I liked to call this salmonella on wheels.  Pay particular attention to the manky looking hot dogs sitting out in the not so fresh Hanoi air.  Seriously, why would you?

If anyone can enlighten me on this one feel free.  On this corner all of the guys had these saws.  There was no residue around so I have no idea what they were cutting.  I thought perhaps ice but where is it?  And why are you all sitting together?

Time to stop for a coffee and plan our next section.  The kids adore maps and love following them.  Maybe it's because Nicks dad tells me he used to wrap his school lunch in a map but he kept coming home anyway.

I mean what can you say?  Around every corner is something either stunning, interesting or hilarious.  What an amazing city!

This guys was mushing up some sort of fish paste. Yes, it had a smell that will outlast religion.

Vietnamese spam.  I love this graffiti that you see all over the walls.  It for me is a bit of an iconic image that will always remind me of Vietnam.

The old pith helmets are much more common up north than in Saigon.  I think they are fabulous!

Bamboo Street is one of my favourites.

I have a bit of an obsession with Chinese medicine shops.  I adore the magnificent wooden draws filled with exotic and aromatic surprises.  This street had shop after shop after shop.  You could smell it a block away.

This is why I love Vietnam.

As you are wandering don't forget to look up!  So much goes on above the shops where people live.  Many people, and rightly so, are so busy trying not to get knocked over by a motorbike, that they miss the life that is happening right under (or should I say above) their noses.

Found this little street called Dong Xuan.  It was jam packed with tiny food stalls that looked and smelled amazing.  People where going crazy for the food in there.

It must feel like eating at the kitchen table.  She prepares it all right there in front of you and you just dig in.

Whoops

This guys proceeded to put this little baby in poor Quiddys lap so he could take a photo.  Quiddy thought it was funny until the little fella started crying.  He then says "Get it off me!"

After a hard mornings walking it is time for Fanta Hoi!

...and Bia Hoi too of course.

Time to kick back and take it all in.

Hanoi thank you so much for showing us such a great time.  We really enjoyed our flying visit and will come and see you again soon on our way to Sapa.  Essence Hotel, you will definitely see us again and we will be recommending you to friends.  Bia Hoi, we will be looking for you southern cousin in the near future.  Xin Chao for now!