New Zealand

Packing, packing and fixing all those last little things. But tomorrow we are finally off for Auckland. Hopefully we will be able to post some pictures from there as well!
Today we spent the afternoon in the garden, talking about New Zealand.

Dragons

If its not playing dragon, or at least running after Hana sounding like one, it is reading stories with dragons in them or watching whatever there is to watch with dragons or monsters. Or, of course, drawing...

Rain, rain, rain...

It's been pouring down for two days and we've had to dig the cupboards for raincoats and rubberboots for the kids. But it's not really a tropical rain, just keeps falling and falling, the sky as gray as can be...
Moreover, the figs on the neighbour's tree are ripe again, inedible and full of little insects. Fortunately, to make at least the house a little more colourful, the landlord already brought us a Tet-tree; a huge peach tree branch that will start to blossom any day, for us to enjoy before we leave for N.Z. next Saturday.

Figs in the backyard...

... and peach blossom in the living room.

Thinking, planning and coffee

Who are they? What are they talking about? What are they thinking about? I don't know...

More than that, it seems like January has brought us back to daily routines again. Hana and Kai goes to school, Keisuke is at work, and even I am trying to finish off a small consultancy I have been working on lately.

And, we are of course also preparing for important upcoming events: Next Saturday we leave the Hanoian winter for three weeks of summer holidays in New Zealand and in March we will host the first ever Taketani-Johnsson family reunion! My parents are coming from Sweden and Keisuke's from Japan and the idea is to meet and travel around central Vietnam, visiting both Hoi An and Hue. That sure requires some planning.

Now, Hana is still sleeping and Kai just went off with the school bus to play at a friend's house. Keisuke will pick him up on his way from work. I think I will go have a coffee in the sunny garden.

Back to school!

Three weeks of winter break is finally over and all is back to normal again! And, we did have a lot of fun during this last week, visiting friends, having friends over, going to different parks and even enjoying a fair amount of sun. One morning Hana's baby&nanny group was held at our place.

Looks like the Tay Ho nanny reality show, says Keisuke. Full of exciting elements as the fastest diaper change contest or feeding baby an entire meal without a stain on the t-shirt, and interesting conversations around western recipies exchange or at what temperature it is ok for the babies to stop using socks.

Brittish-Indian/Italian friend Robbie visiting. This photo might serve as the cover for an interesting article about TCK's and expat life in Hanoi (again, says Keisuke)...

Harvesting

Summer comes and goes, grey and cold days are followed by wonderful sunny and warm days. Like today, when we spent all day in the garden, even had a pasta lunch picnic with Keisuke visiting! The other day we harvested the last of our many grapefruits or pomelos or whatever they are. Huge and juicy at least. And many.

Tay Ho Pagoda

In Japan everyone has to go to the temple on the first day of the new year. Here we went with the local crowd to the neighbourhoud's pagoda to burn some incense and wish for health and happiness during the new year.
As usual, Kai liked the insence lightning part most.

Afterwards, checking out the grey waters of Tay Ho lake.

At the pagoda entrance it is always possible to buy pre-packed offerings. Fake money, cans of your ancestors favourite drink (usually beer or coke), sticky rice cakes, fruits or so. For the new year, small plates with boiled eggs, cigarettes and something else undefined seemed very popular and for sale at every stand.

Fake money for burning. Vietnamese dong or US dollars, whichever you prefer to make you rich.

Just wondering what Buddha is supposed to do with everything...

Hana & Kai IV

Kai is now 4 years 3 months and Hana 1 year and 8 months. Even so there is no doubt who is the strongest, and who is actually running the show...

Hana by Kai (who will most likely become a photographer, if not a painter - or a medical doctor as in his Maya horoscope)

Bún Chả and a cuppa tea

Bun Cha, or rice noodles in a warm broth with charcoal grilled pieces of meat and loads of fresh herbs, like basil, mint and coriander, on top. Afterwards a cup of green tea. What else do you really nead?

The other day I passed this happy couple, doing business next to each other on the sidewalk, as so many others. Probably waiting for the lunch crowd to arrive.