-Kara
Asher and Max’s class photos!!!
Mekong: day 1
One more try to get this one right! —
We headed south to the Mekong Delta. This is a much more rural area and out hotel/hut was in the middle of a jungle/farm area with lots of chickens running around. They used a motorcycle to take our suitcases to our hut. After lunch we jumped on some bikes and rode several miles making several stops: a dragon fruit farm, a fish/frog/coconut farm, a temple that had tons of baby chickens and baby ducks running around, a home where they taught us hot to pop rice and make a delicious sweet rice bar, and lastly the home of a war veteran who played music for us. Finally we headed back to the hotel where they taught us how to cook a dish and served us dinner.
Hong Kong
After arriving super late, we checked in to the bunny-themed Mira Moon hotel. Woke up and started exploring the city, starting out with Michelin-Rated Dim Sum at Tim Ho Wen, where we sat next to another Seattle family randomly. We then visited The Peak (with an amazing view of Hong Kong) before hiking the Dragons Back Trail towards Shek O beach. After a quick shower, we checked in for our flight at the airport express train where we could leave our bags and got dinner at Chili Fagara, a super spicy Michelin-rated Sichuan restaurant. Asher was super gutsy and tried many spicy dishes (Max not so much). We then took the Star Ferry across the harbor to Kowloon for the Symphony of Lights (a light/laser show across the city buildings) before taking the train to the airport for our Cathay Pacific flight back to Seattle!
Mekong Delta: Day 2
The next morning we got on a wooden boat and headed down the Mekong where we made several stops once again. The first stop was a local market where they sold “wet” things like fish. The next stop was a coconut factory where we got to watch several steps of turning a coconut into useful fiber. The last stop was a Cao Dai Temple. We headed back to the hotel, drove to the airport and said goodby to Vietnam! We really loved Vietnam. It is a beautiful country with the kindest people.
Saigon: day 2
We went to the Cu Chi tunnels to learn about how the South Vietnamese fought the French and Americans by using tunnels that were designed to be small so that foreigners couldn’t fit. They have been enlarged so tourist can fit in (some still didn’t fit). We also enjoyed swimming at our hotel, the unique waterpuppet show, and more street food.
Saigon: day 1
We left Hoi An early to fly out of Danang airport and headed to Saigon for New Year’s Eve day. We toured the sites of the city including the Independence/Unification Hall, and explored the streetfood for New Year’s Eve — they had set up a gigantic DJ / light show in the main square near our hotel and we celebrated the advent of a new decade! BTW, in Saigon, it’s excepted for motorcycles to avoid traffic by using the sidewalks as an alternative lane. That was . . . surprising and we had to constantly remind the kids to WATCH OUT FOR MOTORCYCLES DRIVING ON THE SIDEWALKS!!
