A wonderful New Year celebration

The view from our Hotel

It’s been a long time since I have come home from a night out and have had to hang my clothes outside because they smell so badly of alcohol and smoke (both legal and illegal I’m sure), well that was the case tonight.  We are celebrating New Year’s Eve in Lugano Switzerland.  Lugano  is a city of about 56,000 people which is very close to the Italian border - so close in fact that we all feel like we are back in Italy and have ever so quickly reverted to grazie rather then danke.

Ice Skating

Back to our New Year celebration.  Our Hotel is very close to the town square where we knew celebrations for the new year were taking place.  We left home around 7 and headed for the square where we had a pre-dinner drinks at a stand up outside bar (it is  a balmy  0 degrees so why would anyone sit inside) while watching Kaela and Josh ice skate.  Preparations had begun for some sort of concert so we were also entertained with bits of songs as they did their sound checks.

Dinner of course was Italian and then it was back to the square which had filled up enormously with the young people of Lugano, the older people of Lugano and even a few families with young children.  Somehow we ended up in the mosh pit part of the square with all the young people which was a tad embarrassing according to Bella.

The singer in pink tigh

The music started at 11pm and as the photos will attest it begun with a guy in pink tights, moved on to a group of 3 guys and then back to the guy in tights.  Who knows what they were saying or singing for that matter - occasionally they would sing a snippet of a song in English and they even sang Gangmen Style in Italian!!

Lugano Locals

12pm came around with the countdown which even with my rudimentary Italian I understood (Yes Frances I can count to 10). But at midnight everyone opened champagne which of course they had shaken.  Mind you if I was going to get covered in champagne I was glad it was with Veuve Clicquot - but I would prefer to drink it rather then wear it!

The other band

It is now 1.45am the music is still blaring outside our very lovely hotel but that’s OK it is the beginning of the New Year.  To family and friends happy 2013.

A night in an igloo

Dinner in an Igloo

Just for something different I thought it would be really fun to spend a night in an igloo on a snowy mountain in the middle of a European winter.  Unfortunately they couldn’t accommodate us while Zander was with us but we decided to go ahead anyway a few days later.  So last night it was Igloo night. 

Spending a night in an igloo sounds so exciting particularly in 35 degree Vietnam heat and it was BUT it also means never really being warm.  The temperature when we went up the mountain at 2.30 was minus 12 degrees and I assume it only got colder much much colder, or as Kaela said “minus really cold”.

The igloo was bigger then I thought - it was really an igloo hotel.  Our room slept 5 which meant on the slab of ice there was some kind of mattress with 5 sleeping bags.

The Restaurant

Door to our room

When we arrived we had mulled wine - which is really not that nice but after a few weeks in winter Europe I am starting to enjoy, mainly because it is warm.  We then had a tour of the hotel - the whirlpool which was inside but had no roof was strangely appealing but the thought of putting on swimmers and walking down the icy hallway was not so we all forwent that idea.  Dinner was in the dining room, where there were wooden tables with sheepskins on the stools.  Poor Bella just could not stand the cold even with a blanket wrapped around our legs.  Cheese Fondue was dinner, this involved dipping chunks of bread into melted cheese - thankfully I had already organized  spaghetti for me but I did think the others would like it - Oh how wrong I was!  The kids and Matthew all tried it but none of them liked it, Matthew and Mikaela thought it was edible but only just Josh didn’t like the cheese which I don’t think we will tell the Swiss and Bella just called it “fond spew” which I think tells her thoughts on it.

After dinner we had the option of going for an hour snow walk.  I had my work cut out for me convincing everyone it would be wonderful - but they all agreed to at least try the half hour walk.  (I don’t think it was so much my persuasive skills as the embarrassment of watching these little 3 and 4 year olds get ready).  

We then put on every piece of clothing we had brought with us - trackpants under jeans for Josh and Bella and trackpants over jeans for Kaela, extra tops and even my socks for gloves for Kaela (her glloves were wet) then Hats and scarves wrapped around our faces.  Snow shoes tied onto our own boots completed the outfit and off we set.

Our Bedroom

It was truly beautiful.  The only noise was our feet crunching through the snow, who knew the snow could make such a crunching sound.  Yes it was cold but not unbearable particularly when you were walking.  As we stood on the mountain looking down at the lights of the town of Engleberg below us, the full moon shining above us with a glass of schappes in our hands you could only wander at the beauty of our world.  

We were all so inspired that we continued on the walk - even Mikaela with her stitches in her leg choose to continue.

Once back inside warm tea really did only a little to warm us so it was off to bed.

Sleeping bags were never really made for people Matthew’s size.  Once he finally managed to get inside with Bella zippering him in he couldn't move, its times like this I am thankful for my small stature - I might get lost in crowds, I never can see what is going on over people’s heads but at least in sleeping bags I have room to move.

Besides feeling exceptionally cold for the first half hour I eventually warmed up and drifted off to sleep hoping (actually praying more like it) that I would not wake up and want to go to the bathroom - which was down the icy hallway and would require completely getting dressed back in my clothes, jacket, hat, gloves and scarves again.

I did sleep quite well.  The benefits of being a family were particularly evident, we were all so close I think we had room enough for another family on our bed of ice.

Waking up and getting dressed was only made easy by the thought of breakfast in a warm restaurant.

As we now head to Lugano we all agreed it was fun though noone is very keen to repeat the experience - Hotel Walter here we come.

Merry Christmas

Christmas 2012.

Christmas for us this year is in Splugen Switzerland, a tiny town at the foot of the Pizzo Tambo Mountain range on the Italian border.  We are staying in a beautiful old hotel which was built in
1722, I am in the lounge in front of an open fire whilst looking out the window to the snowy alps and the snow falling.
This morning we all put on our lovely Christmas sweaters and exchanged gifts in front of their Christmas tree.  After skyping family then breakfast Josh, Bella and I went skiing whilst Matthew and Zander took Kaela back to the doctors  then joined us.
Sitting on the chairlift in blizzarding conditions is not our usual christmas day but it certainly was memorable.  I guess the conditions were far from perfect which might explain the few people on the slopes but it was still wonderful.  It's been a long time since I skied but I have thoroughly enjoyed the last 2 days skiing (except of course Kaela's accident) but I still do wonder why they can't invent ski boots that are comfortable!
The hotel is having a Christmas dinner tonight which I am sure will be beautiful - if there table arrangements are anything to go by and we still have our Austrian Christmas cake to eat. Merry Christmas everyone.

Enroute to Innsbruck

Josh loving the snow

Today is the 21st December I only know that because of the date on the car dashboard display.  What I do know is that we have so far been to Vienna, Munich and Salzburg and this morning we had our first real snow.  In my excitement I grabbed my camera and raced outside to take photos much to the Hotel Proprietors amusement.  Salzburg under snow was just gorgeous.  OK maybe not so gorgeous when we had to drag our bags through the snow to the car.  Staying in the old city was beautiful just not very practical  with bags.

This snowball was thrown at Josh

Still it was worth it.  We are now driving to Innsbruck which if it lives up to its reputation will be beautiful.  
Our trip so far has been amazing we are truly lucky to have the opportunity to travel through Europe as a family particularly at this time of year.  The Christmas lights and decorations just make evening even more magical. 

The castle in the background almost completely hidden

Off to Europe

Europe in winter I am so excited.  We are flying with Emirates airlines via Dubai all the way to Vienna.  We do have a 6 hour stopover in Dubai but they provide a hotel room so it makes for a  a very easy trip.
On the leg from Dubai to Vienna the flight attendant brought me a cake on a plate.  I thought she was offerring me piece of cake and without taking my earphones off I declined, politely of course.  She then informed me that “no no its a present” .  I woke Matthew up and asked if he bought me a cake but no he didn’t, in hindsight a very silly question.   I hesitantly excepted the cake, they came took a photo of us with the said cake and then took it to refrigerate it until we landed in vienna. Neither Matthew or  I knew where the cake came from and I must admit as I entered Vienna carrying a cake I was just a little perturbed, as was the rest of the family - they all abandoned me as we went through customs.  Alexander did ask later when we regaled the story to him "why would you take an unknown object through customs?"  Point taken but I didn't really think about it at the time.

It did provide many a discusion point with us all so thank you to who ever sent the cake.

Christmas in Saigon

Near our House

I can't beleive it's Christmas again in Saigon.  You can't help but be impressed by the City of Saigon.  For a Buddhist counry they do a fine job of getting in the Christmas spirit.

District 1 

District 1

Thanksgiving

What a week this has been.  That old saying of 'it nevr rains but it pours' is so true.  After a busy weekend in Singapore and this last frantic week I am sitting having coffee feeling a little tired and a tad guilty but I will get to that in a minute.

My friend Denise and I

Tuesday was International Teachers Day.  This was a lovely day made all the better when school organised a movie and supper evening.  Thankfully it was local to me in Phu My Hung so it was just a quick walk over to the cinema.  Myself and a few others decided not to go to the actual movie, it was James Bonds latest movie and I only saw it a few weeks ago, but we stayed for the supper then left when the movie started.  Lots of people from school were there -Teachers, Teacher aides, the Nannies, the Cleaners and the Guards - it was really lovely to see some many people from all aspects of school life standing around just chatting, and taking photos of course.  Thanks Denise.
Thursday was Thanksgiving.  In previous years we have celebrated with our friends Red and Iggy but alas they are no longer in Vietnam but in the true spirit of Thanksgiving we were invited to some other friends to share this American Tradition.  This was our third thanksgiving and I really like the idea of a day to remember all the things we should be thankful for and there are so many.  Following the tradition of voicing what you are thankful for this is my thanks - I am truly thankful for my wonderful family whose love I knows travels across the oceans that separate us, I am thankful for friends that enrich my life both old friends and new friends; and I am thankful to all those people who come into our lives for a short time then leave again to continue their own life journey but who leave us wiith happy memories.
The other thing that is such a big part of thanksgiving is the food which is not so different from our own Christmas Dinners, the turkey, the beans, mashed potatoes even the cranberry sauce but what is with the muffins with the main meal!
Needless to say we had a wonderful time but unfortunately, or maybe fortunately for Catie and Scott, we all had to work in the morning so it was certainly not a late night for us.
Friday came and I was once again heading off for a work dinner.  This was just for a group of us who are part of a leadership team.  I am privileged to be part of this team and enjoy the discussions that arise at our meetings though I have to admit there are times when, after a few hours, my mind can no longer stay focussed.  It was once again a great opportunity to chat outside of the school environment, at school we are all so busy that are conversations are work centered, so it was nice to learn a little about my co-workers lives.
So that brings me to Saturday.  I am having a quick coffee behind I head off to meet my fellow librarians for a work meeting.  We have softened the work related focus by going for lunch at the same time.  Matthew is with Josh at an Athletics Carnival - hence the feelings of guilt, I would have liked to be there supporting him; I  missed both Bella's basketball and Joshua's soccer - they both played in places that just don't work timewise for me after school, I don't envy Josh running an 800m race in what is probably 35 degree heat by now - but he is young and very fit so I am sure he will enjoy it.
Tomorrow we have the Terry Fox 5km run to do in the morning so there will be no sleep in - but with only 3 weeks before Christmas break we can't complain.

Halloween

.  It It is Friday evening in Ho Chi Minh City.  Today we had our Halloween celebration, though it was Halloween on Wednesday it was decided that the celebration would be held today.  I guess it doesn't really matter because the kids here don't go trick or treating.  Halloween is one of those celebrations that is a little weird; we all dress up in "anything"  really, sometimes it's scary - sometimes not - this is my 3rd halloween celebration and I have finally moved past the "scary" theme.  My understanding of halloween is you dressed up as something scary so my first year I was dressed as a witch, nothing fancy just a witch - the hat, the cape and a broom, my second year I persisted with a more friendly witch - this year I abandoned the whole scary thing and went as a giant M and M - mind you walking around all day with 2 pieces of circle cardboard attached you makes it very difficult to sit down let alone teach pre-K .  It was a fun Halloween, with some scary costumes see photos below , some not so scary but lots of imaginative costumes both from staff and kids - all in all I guess Halloween is just for fun and our students certainly ad that.   Roll on thanksgiving

Foyer Decorations in Building A

Decorations in Building B

Students

Students

Students

Stdents

Students

Food and ..... Green Tea Festival - Viet Nam Style

"Let's go for a little walk Josh", I said last night.  Ok I had an ulterior motive - yesterday morning when I was leaving the gym I noticed all these tents set up outside the local mall - so I really wanted someone to investigate it with me.  It was a really nice evening for a walk and Josh volunteered to come with me - well there was only him and I here so I think he felt obligated!

Food Display

If you have ever been to a food and wine festival, (for Sydneyites the Darling Harbour one) this was a little the same.  Emphasis on the little though.  There were Vietnamese food treats, of course wrapped in banana leaves and banh xeo to name a few.
Josh reluctantly agreed to try something, he had what looked tasted a little like waffles (it was nice) and I had a coconut thing which looked like a curry puff but was most certainly sweet. (not so nice).
We then tried a banh xeo, a rice pancake with prawns and meat, which we both really like and it was really delicious.  So yes we sampled food just like any other food festival except this one cost us 70,000 vnd, about 3.50 AUD.
When we left home in the early evening we just popped our shoes on and headed off - if only we had known that we would be interviewed by the 2 biggest TV stations in Vietnam maybe Josh would have chosen to wear a t-shirt without holes and I might have at least done my hair!!

Watermelon

Josh's waffle - no maple syrup though

Whilst we were



wandering around a lady approached us with a notebook with questions in English, then pointed to the camera, before we knew it, the camera's were on and we had a microphone in front of us and if being the only Western people around created attention - being filmed certainly had us as the centre of attention.

Cooking Bahn Xeo

Banh Xeo

Josh eating Banh Xeo

After we had given our views of the food festival and walked away Josh informed me that that had been VTV the second biggest TV station in Vietnam.  We then just continued walking around only to be approached by another TV station, I  explained that we had already been interviewed, well tried to explain and they got the idea because they thanked us and walked away, only to come back and tell us that they were from a different TV station, this time is was HTV the biggest TV station in Vietnam.  This time there was an English speaking interviewer asking us what we thought of the food festival.  I now have empathy for people who are interviewed on the spot it's really hard to think of something slightly intelligent to say while a big light is shining in your eyes, a microphone is in your face and people are staring at you - I don't think I will ever be a famous person.
Josh and I wonder if on some Vietnamese channel one night our moment of fame will be broadcast for all of Vietnam to see - I some how doubt it but it certainly gave me something to blog about.

Bali for Fall Break

We arrived back in Ho Chi Minh City last night after a wonderful week in Bali.  After a week of sunshine, sand and sea we are all a little down this morning, we still have the sun - it's a hot 32 degrees today  ( it is only 9am,) but there is no beach for us to go to.  Holidaying in Bali made us all remember just how much we miss the beach.  There are beaches here but with little to no surf most of the time, and the sand is just not the right color it is just not the same.
But back to Bali.  I went to Bali 30 years ago and there is nothing I remember it has moved way beyond the sleepy seaside towns that I remember - it's all hustle and bustle now.  We had plans to do different things like go to Ubud but we couldn't drag ourselves away from the beach.

So our days went something like this -
1. Breakfast - what to have was always a problem too much to choose from.
2. Beach - surfing, swimming,
3. Back to the pool for a swim and a late lunch
4. Siesta - sometimes a nap, sometimes just a shower
5. Sunset Bar - watching the sun go down over the ocean with a glass of wine, beer, sprite
6. Dinner - A different restaurant every night
7. Bed

Looking back over this, I guess it would appear a bit boring for some but it was exactly what we wanted.  We did do a little shopping but only a little for when you live in an Asian country market shopping is just not that exciting, - and store shopping is so expensive compared to here.
The only day we ventured further then the beach was the day we went over to Nusa Dua to scuba dive.  So much fun.

Josh surfing

Josh found it so easy

Bella decided join Josh

The surfies

Bella Surfing

No, Josh you can't take the board home with you

At the Pool

Sunset over Legian Beach

The wettest Wet Season

This is our third wet season here and it has been the wettest season we have experienced.  It has rained and rained and rained for weeks now.  I can't remember going to work in the rain as often as we have of late.  Then it rains again during the day and then promptly at 3 the skies darken again and torrential rain sets in for a few more hours.  Locals have said that this is the wettest Wet Season in 10 years but they have assured us that on the 10th month of the Chinese calender the rain will stop - roll on November.

I took these photos on the way home

Flower Market

We have lived here in Saigon for over 2 years now and I guess we have gotten a little lax in exploring the tourist sites.  So Saturday we decided to explore Ho Thi Ky  flower markets in District 3.  It is a collection of flower vendors and as what happens so much here there are stalls of vendors all  selling the exact same thing but it was lovely just meandering amongst all the beautiful flowers.  Apparently we need to go back between 9-10pm because that's when the trucks arrive from Dalat to deliver the flowers, so we have put that on the To Do List.  Wandering around a few back streets we were approached twice by different families asking us to take photos of their children - well that's what we think they said.  Just as we were leaving the markets we noticed the butcher lady selling her wares - I guess even flower markets need to buy meat!

An efficient way to move things

Gorgeous little girl

He was not going to smile

The Flower Market Butcher Lady