Clarissa's Birthday in HCMC

I could not have asked for a better Birthday. After a great day in a little wooden boat cruising along the Meekong Delta to see floating markets, a rice noodle factory (with pigs and piglets just born out the back) and a guide who made us all amazing items out of palm frond leaves with a very funny sense of humour, singing Kayoke with Ben and Jas at lunch, we ended up on an Island in a homestay accommodation for the night. After settling in and a cycle around the island we were served an amazing meal of fresh fish to make our own rice paper rolls, fried spring rolls, chicken, soup, rice and pineapple for dessert. We could not eat it all but had happy and full bellies. Then it was a roll into the hammocks for a read before bed.

At the rice noodle factory and this is rice paper which takes about 6 hours to dry.

The new little piglets

Ben enjoying our little boat trip on the Mekong.

Beats going to the shops for fruit and veg

The floating markets

The items on the poles let boats know what they are selling  

We all slept like babies and I woke up at 4am to the sound of many roosters. I did not mind as it was my birthday and there I was in a house on an island in the Meekong Delta, Vietnam. I lay there relaxed, listening and dozed in and out of sleep.

The many colours of Vietnam

My birhday at the homestay, where's my cake?

Up and down the River , standard card game on our travels

Lady preparing dinner at our homestay. How do they squat like that all the time?

Do not look Nannie and Nana!

After some reading, relaxing in the hammock and a good breakfast we all packed up, hopped on 3 moto's between us (backpacks and all) and onto the ferry back to the mainland. We were shortly then on a bus and  heading for HCMC.

In "the big smoke"

I got dibs on the iPod as it was my birthday and loved tuning out to some music(different to the Asian television singing show on the bus) and pondered about life, our trip and what this year will mean for me. We had heard a few negative comments about HCMC and still remained positive about exploring this busy city. I have to say as I write this to you on our 4th and last night here that we have loved this city and the people.

The buzz of traffic and yes I crossed the road many times with locals helping us  once or twice  when we looked nervous.

After checking into our nice hotel (a little step up) in a great location and down a cute French influenced alley, we showered, dressed up, found two rickshaws to take us thru the motorbike maze and the buzz of it all (we had not seen a big city for a few months) to the Sheraton. Up onto the roof top bar for cocktails and watch the sunset over HCMC. Incredible view and great way to celebrate my birthday. Out for dinner in a beautiful French/Vietnamese style restaurant with local ladies playing authentic live Vietnamese music.

Beautiful Saigon 3, our hotel in HCMC

The next day we took the kids to a water park for some fun - thanks Jane & Bill for the tip! The kids have been so fantastic with lots of aspects of this trip and we felt they deserved a day of kid stuff, us big kids loved it too! We spent 5 hours there and never got bored. It was huge, lots of fun, a few sore muscles, a ripped hole in the bottom of my swimmers (lucky I brought another pair with us), waterlogged and big smiles at the end of the day.

Rich about to take on the Kamikaze!

Sooo much fun and difficult to choose which one to go on first.

The next day we explored the city, its sights and some shopping. We really enjoyed the tour thru the Palace and learning about its history, kids too! We could not believe it when we discovered a big shopping mall and we could not help but go inside after  2 months of markets and street stalls. We went in initially to find food and found a world of western type foods, had been craving a simple sandwich and got it! Ben was so excited to find a Leggo store, Jazzy and Rich found something in Zara and I found some new Birkenstocks.

Rich and I went to the War museum that afternoon, found it very interesting, shocking and sad. Left us with a lot to think about and contemplate. I have to say after my small time here in Asia I feel I have learnt a lot about the culture and people. It confuses me as to why Government powers in History have not had respect or acceptance for the country they invade to help. I understand the museum would have been biased against the Americans but it surprised me the force and aggression the American army showed and the destruction (from illegal chemical sprays) they caused and left behind - 3 generations later and children are still being born with deformities.

Our last day we woke early and took a tour to the Co Chi Tunnels. For those who do not know these were underground tunnels, dug by hand, and facilitated the Viet Cong control of a large rural area 30km from HCMC/Saigon. It was an interesting day although slightly disappointing as our guides english was pretty poor. We all went in the tunnels, I only went in the shortest one, 15m and glad I am small. Rich came out all hot and sweaty after only 100m.

Rich was very brave to do this one, I was not game!

The kids in the tunnels

Disguised air holes for the tunnels, very clever.

We were back by the afternoon, went to Converse for the kids (half price) and had a wander in our neighbourhood thru little alleys where locals lived. Dinner was a beautiful Japanese restaurant and a delicious Tepanyaki meal. Kids thought it was fun throwing eggs and we all LOVED the Australian lamb, steak, salmon and prawns!! After dinner we wandered the markets, bought 10 pairs of Calvin undies and ended up in Baskin Robbins for ice cream, a great day and end to our time in the "big smoke".

Last night in HCMC at the Tepanyaki restaurant.

Go Benny!

For my Facebook friends I have not been able to access the site in Vietnam. At first I thought it was my phone and after a thought and remembering this is a communist country realised why. Mum said I had a lot of Birthday messages and unfortunately I did not receive them and I look forward to it when I get to Laos hopefully. Thank you for thinking of me. I want to wish my beautiful friend Michelle in Tassy a very Happy Birthday for the 16th March and sorry I do not have your address or email.

Paradise and Crossing Boarders

We crossed the Cambodian / Vietnamese boarder yesterday and are now in a place called Cantho which is in the middle of the Mekong Delta. It is a good place to explore the Mekong and we have booked a half day trip tomorrow morning (6.30am start) where we check out the various floating markets, visit a village, have lunch and see the life on the river. We are also trying to organise a home stay on the river out of Vinh Long which is about 45mins from here before heading on to Ho Chi Min.

At the border crossing - goodbye Cambodia

Hello Vietnam

Have to go back a few days to our last week in Cambodia. Had a long bus trip from Siem Reap to the coast. We were on the night bus which made a few additional stops to pick up locals, drop enough wood to build a house at a place in Phnom Penh at 1.00am and then at 3.00am we had mechanical problems. Luckily the kids slept through the banging and hammering but it meant we could only go 30k/h. We were meant to arrive at 6.00am but it was clear that anytime before 10.00am would be a stretch. It seemed the closer we got the slower the bus went to the point where we would have been going 10k/h. Finally another bus appeared but we only had 2k to go.

Our last drink/meal in Siem Reap

Excited about the start of the overnight bus trip on the sleeper bus!

Are we there yet?

As with all mis-adventures when you travel, you can either get angry or try to laugh and luckily we all saw the funny side! We made it there at 11.15am and as we had already booked our ferry for 12.30pm we had a quick lunch before heading over to Monkey Island.

The trip over to Monkey Island

As you can see from the pictures, we quickly forgot about the long trip. Since the beach was only 20m from our bungalow much of the time was spent on the beach having to make some tough decisions... read a book, play card games with the kids, swim,  play classic catches with Ben, or have a $1 beer at the bar overlooking the beach.

Jas reading in the hammock

Tough day at Monkey Island

Needless to say all options were taken and Ben & I after 2 hours of classic catches were a little sunburnt (yes Mum, we did have sunscreen on!). Really was nice just to chill out for a few days, think of a rough plan for our next 5/6 weeks in Vietnam and Laos and enjoy time away from computers, mobiles and tv.

Yeah - no school for another two months!

Had a nice walk around some of the island one of the days and kept our eye on the water buffalo. Apparently 3 weeks before we got there, a drunk Dutch tourist thought it would be a good idea to pat one. Not so good when you get the horn through you though! Luckily for him, Survivor was filming on the island so they put him on the crews speedboat to the mainland and sent him to Phnom Penh, then onto Bangok where he still is!

The bar / restaurant at Monkey Island

Anyway, the weather was great for the most part though the last day was overcast and a little stormy so made our decision to move on instead of stay one more day much easier. Unfortunately this meant our boat trip to the mainland was just a little rough so about a quarter of the boat where left feeding the fish. This included Ben who was pretty good considering we were on it for 2hrs 45mins! The trip over was only 2hrs.

Anyway, while waiting to leave the island all of a sudden the locals got excited and were shouting. We looked at what the excitement was and there was a decent size fish under the wharf. So one of the kids jumped in clothes and all to catch it - check out the photo.

Caught dinner with his own hands!

Then went to Kampot for a few days which was a nice sleepy little place. Unfortunately Jas was not feeling great so had a quiet day there before another long day travelling to here.

Bike ride in Kampot

Afternoon drink on our hotel rooftop in Kampot

As with all travel in Cambodia, our little bus was packed with everything which made for a cramped trip till we got rid of someones bike! 

Actually, the bike might have been quicker

I'll finish with our favourite things from our time in Cambodia, at least at the time of writing this:

Ben - Playing soccer at Anjali & Monkey Island
Jas - Meeting Sovann at Anjali and Monkey Island
Clarissa - Temples, the people, Waterfall at Kolen Mountain and vegetable khmer curry
Rich - Temples, soccer at Anjali & Monkey Island (and the food in general)

Monkey Island - late arvo beer enjoying the view

Last day at Anjali

We were all very sad on Friday as it was our last day at Anjali. We have had a great 5 weeks at the school and I think we learned as much as the kids we were teaching. We have made some good friends and we are sure we will keep in touch with some of the teachers we have got to know.

Last day

Art class

There was another volunteer leaving so we shouted all the kids ice cream for lunch and then in the afternoon they did a special assembly for us to say thank you for coming to teach at Anjali House. It was great to see the kids all lined up and they were very excited to be giving us certificates to say thanks, and yes, Clarissa cried.

Thanks Rich and yes for those that know me well I am a bit of a softy. It has been an amazing 5 weeks thou, experiencing all that we have it feels more like a lifetime. When the children came up to cuddle and say goodbye that was it for me. Jasmin has made a great friend, Sovann and feels sad to leave as well. They are having the day together tomorrow.

Sovann and Jas

Our last day at Anjali was a lot of fun full of games and I painted the kids faces with Jas and Sovann. The kids loved it and it was a great way to end our time with them.

Jas & Sovann painting faces

The end result

Face painting

Mum is still here and we have loved having her here, showing her the sites and Anjali. We have drunk most nights, nice dinners out, pool time, morning walks, lots of laughs, temple time (although over them now, especially the kids), massages and Rich and I even went out for a "boogie" at the Angkor What? Bar with some other volunteers and teachers. Thanks Dad for sharing Mum with us.

Riding in the country side

Last Saturday night some of the Anjali students from the adult house and teachers put on a play. A volunteer from Canada, Puja, had been working with them for 8 weeks and had done an amazing job. The play was in English (big challenge for all involved) and was a love story. It was held in a butterfly garden restaurant, students and volunteers invited. Puja had fun-raised money for props etc and a rap party for all involved in the play. It was a great night and nice to see the kids happily enjoying a night out.

We also visited one the young adult house where some of the older kids leave. We went and checked the house out and to visit Ruon.

Ruon's house

Ruon, Ben, Rich & Clarissa

Today we had a big day trip (in a car!) to a very sacred place about 2 hours away. Phom Kulen is where the 500-year long 'Age Of Angkor' began. It was a huge mountain surrounded by jungle and with a big Buddaha built on top. A lot of locals there, monks praying and a very interesting place to experience. After our offerings and prayer we went on to a beautiful waterfall to swim under. It comes from a very small natural spring, like magic, and flows down to become a huge waterfall. It was great fun to swim, feel the waterfalls power and energy. Great day!

Nanny & Jas with the Buddha on the rock at the top of the hill

The Buddha on the top of the hill

Nanny with us at Phom Kulen

With cigarette in hand he asked for a dollar for some cough medicine - met him on our way down the mountain. I loved his hair.

Hard to believe this is where the waterfall starts

The waterfall

Ben and Rich enjoying the waterfall

Nanny,  Clarissa, Ben & Jas

We will enjoy the next few days with Mum in Siem Reap until she goes home and we move into the next phase of our time here, travelling! We are looking forward to heading south to the Islands and coast of Cambodia, beach time! Then we move across the border and into Vietnam and will need to prepare ourselves for the change of pace there, I am very nervous about crossing the road in Ho Chi Min.

TWO DAYS LATER

Mum has just left and it was sad to say goodbye. We had a great time with Mum here and was nice to be able to share some travelling time with her. We leave tonight at 8.00pm on the night bus and are looking forward to relaxing on the islands tomorrow and have booked a beachside bungalow at Monkey Island... can't wait.

Pineapple girl - we have eaten lots of them so far

Mixed emotions about leaving, having to pack all our things and are now leaving our comfort zone to be on the road for the next 7 weeks or so. Will be exciting and challenging at the same time but will be a good experience for us all.