Bugs II

More bugs were found at Chula's this weekend, where kids immediately teamed up to catch and capture as many as possible. Hana found the very first one and Kai carefully took two home, to prepare a very special leaving gift for a very special friend... Count-down has totally started. In exactly two weeks time we're moving out of our house, which has been the home of both Hana and Kai for most of their lives, and which is the place I've lived the longest since I left my childhood home more than twenty years ago.

 

Minh and Kai expanding the bugs' garden.

Look, there are more upstairs!

Dong Xuan Market

These days I am very busy buying all those things I haven wanted while living here but that I now feel are completely indispensable when we move. The other day I visited Dong Xuan market as that is supposedly the very best place to buy raw silk at very good prices. However, the supply was overwhelming, I got completely confused and left the place without even the tiniest piece of cloth. Will give it a new try at Hang Gai, silk street, next week...

The Swedish Camp and other stuff

Next to the Embassy is the "Swedish Camp" where traditionally all Swedes used to live. Today they still remain the majority but little by little others are moving in, too. Last Friday Kai's classmate Signe and her family invited all class for a lovely afternoon with lots of play in the big garden and in the pool, a great barbeque and also some wine for the parents. Everyone happy!

Snack time in the garden at the Swedish Camp where Signe lives. 

 All the seven Stars and one special guest: Amber, Hosea, Hana, Signe, Kai, Zach, Hoang, Soc.

During the weekend we did of course also squeeze in the regular soccer and karate practice. And on Saturday evening mum escaped for a night out with friends, went to listen to some German electronic (!) music at an outdoor festival, very well deserved and needed among all these kiddies' stuff!

Last Saturday Soccer practice at UNIS - ever!

Hana has now joined the Karate Ishin class at Sedona, certainly more enthusiastic than Kai at the moment...

Birthday Weekend

Trying to catch up a bit... Last weekend we celebrated Hana's fourth birthday. On Friday with cake and candles and singing and presents in bed, after lunch with the same in school (and we even gave it a third round as Kai's class were having a special fun day at his friend Signe's house). Saturday was full of preparations for the Sunday's special princess fairy treasure hunt party. Eight four year olds - Hana, Lena, Rebecka, Millie Mai, Elina, Anika, Miya and Elisabeth - and two special helpers - Kai and another Elisabeth, and a bunch of mums. A huge success and even mum had time to enjoy the fun.

Morning presents as always.

Dad on the phone from Manila.

Outside school. Hana 4 years old!

Cake in school, of course.

Magic fairy princes treasure hunt party with the friends.

Kai and Elisabeth as special helpers.

More cake...

And what the place looked like when all the guests were gone (except for Rebecka and Elizabeth, as usual...)

Bugs

 With best friend Hosea Kai spends a lot of time catching any kind of bugs they can find. Yesterday they got a whole bunch of tiny baby frogs in a box, took it into the living room to have a closer look, of course spilled it all out and we had to arrange for a big indoor frog rescue mission. Then they touched a poisonous caterpillar and got all red and ichy and had to come inside.

Hosea and Kai.

Here, at the "Swedish Camp" by the embassy, just saved a little one from drowning...

Swimming

Summer is back and we go swimming several times a week. Kai is all fine and Hana is learning how to manage also above water, how to at least get up to the surface every now and then to grasp some air. Down by the Trade Union Hotel pool with Rebecka and Elisabeth.
Elizabeth and Kai.
 
Hana and Rebecka.

A stroll around the neighborhood

This afternoon I just went for a quick walk around the block. I've said it before, but I repeat. I will miss this place so much.

Hanoi skies

The colour. A very rare sight.


And I got a new camera - for my big birthday last week. But have been so busy lately I have hardly had time to test it. Will try to get a bit back on track here next week.

Monday again

Phew... weekends are kinda tiring too, although fun...

Friday evening we had Hana's friend Malek and his mum (my friend Pernille) over for pizza, play and movie (for the kids) and pizza, wine and lots of talking (for mums) and kids went to bed way to late.

Saturday started off with regular "Saturday Soccer" practice for Kai. At 8.15. And in the afternoon we headed for the Swedish Compound for a swim and barbeque. Again, kids went to bed way to late.

Sunday another afternoon by the pool, with Nemo, Leo and Sara in Ciputra, including dinner at their place. Kids could hardly make it home on the motorbike, but once we got back quickly passed out at a rather normal time.

Today kids are back in school and I am relaxing, as "only" have to sit in front of computer and write. Although should be on reports, not blog. Thursday is deadline and after that I will be a full-time moving-country organizer!

Oh, how boring with posts without photos. Have to go get myself a new camera. Soon.

A week of work

Phew... Not being used to "single mum" life and planning, and although it is just temporarily, travelling and working long days and evenings gets pretty stressful.
Monday morning I handed over a complicated schedule to Thoa, either requiring her to stay over night, or showing up here at 6.00 a.m. to wake up the kids and take them to school, while I headed off to some province nearby, or working late as I had evening meetings or came back with very late flights, hoping she would get it and kids would not be abandoned at any point. Of course she got it.
All in all, another interesting week learning about a completely new subject and seeing new parts of Vietnam. Although seems like every time I do this kind of trips, my camera is broken.
Now looking forward to hanging out with the kids all weekend!

Home sweet home

Back in Hanoi again, the kids and I have thrown ourselves straight back into routines, with school, playdates and for mum even some work. Next week I have to go down to southern Vietnam for a couple of days, leaving the kids with the nanny, but noone seems to be making a big deal out of that. Except for possibly me.

Also, the last day on the beach in the Philippines my camera was accidentally dropped in the salty water and consequently is no more. I will have to dig out some old photos to post instead - until I get myself a new one as a birthday present. Perfect!

Weekend house

Just as we thought, so far we like outside Manila more than inside and have been talking about finding a nice weekend place, somewhere we can escape the big city and relax, maybe rent a house or so.
I already found one. I want this.

Could even consider a smaller. Like this.

Apparently all land surrounding this pocket beach, situated a stone's throw from "ours", belongs to the Ayala family, one of the most influential in Philippine economy and politics. Basically, it seems, the country is run by a bunch of extremely well off families who control more or less everything. They have probably bought about every island and beach in the country already, so guess we'll have to do with a smaller place in the mountains... The people in these houses certainly did not catch the bus and local boat to get there, but where taken there and back in helicopters, the yates anchored outside probably just used for sunset coctail parties. Not my kind of style anyway. But house is still nice.

Mum taking a close look...

And oh... the crowds...

Inside Manila traffic and consequently air is horrible almost everywhere. Although distances are short you spend hours in the car or taxi without moving. The two metro lines doesnt help a lot and buses and jeepneys didnt really feel like a substitute either.

And then our beach getaway coincided nicely with Easter break, the BIG travel week of the year when as good as everyone in Manila escapes the city, for a visit home - or an escape to the beach, for example Puerto Galera...

Step by step we made it down with the crowds.

Step 1. At snail's pace down the four lane southern super high way.

Step 2. Finally reached the port town of Batangas. Part 1. Do the boat ticket line (luckily at least this part could be done by only one person).

And it sure helps to have cool kids, used to being dragged around here and there as they are.

Step 2, part 2. Once you get the ticket, get all family into the line (?) to pass the bottle neck security check and get into the waiting hall, necessary to be able to reach further steps.


Step 2, part 3. Inside the waiting lounge there were a couple of others ahead of us. Nothing to do but find a spot on the floor - preferably close to a ceiling fan - and wait for our turn.


Step 2, part 4. Eventually let out of the waiting lounge, to the waiting bunch on one of the piers. Step by step, and truly amazing we didnt see one single person being upset or trying to pass the line. Definitely a different style than both Latin America (screaming/pushing) and Vietnam (ignoring/squeezing), although I kept thinking the Philippines is some kind of cross-over culture between the two continents.

Step 3. On board! And it really was worth it all (see below).

Hana and Kai, so brave throughout, passed out almost immediately, gently waved to sleep by the fresh breeze and movements of the boat.

The beach - a little one in Puerto Galera

Over Easter break, we took the bus down to Batangas where we jumped onto a tiny boat that took us over to the next island, Mindoro, and spent four days doing very little but swimming, snorkelling, building sand castles, kayaking and hanging out on a small beach. So close to Manila, and so beautiful. Definitely a pleasant surprise!

Arriving. At last (see coming post).

Swings on our bungalow doorsteps.

Happy local.

Just beautiful.

Ice cream break in the shadow with newly found friends, our Indian bungalow neighbors.

First snorkelling tour ever. A great success to say the least.

Some serious kalaha tournaments took place on the beach...

... as well as some less serious sand castle competitions.

We'll definitely be back!