It's About That Time

Well...it's our final night in Hanoi/Vietnam and it's time to go home!  It's been an amazing adventure ~ again ~ and I feel so happy that I was able to experience this trip this year.

I am ready to come home and will look forward to seeing many/all of you very soon.  This blog has been so fun to write and I am so happy that it was recommended to me by Susan and John...and yes, they were correct, it's super-easy to do.  I am very surprised ~ happily, for sure ~ that DSL/wi-fi has come to Vietnam hotels, which has made this process possible.

As is typical for me, right around now, I feel ready to return to my 'normal' life and get back to my home ~ including my own bed ~ and mostly, I am ready for some peace and quiet.  Vietnam is a great country and so fun to travel throughout, but it is loud...all the time!  So...I will be happy to not hear horns, of all types, honking day and night...that's for sure!!

I remember when we returned to Chicago in 2004 from our 1st trip to Vietnam.  David picked Amy and me up at the airport at about 2a and we had dropped her off at home and were driving south on Lake Shore Drive.  I was so amazed at how quiet it was...so, so quiet...and this was downtown Chicago, albeit 2a, but still the quiet was so welcome and wonderful!

Today we walked and walked and walked all over the Old Quarter of Hanoi, which is where we are staying, and finished up our last minute shopping.  It was the nicest day we've had here in Hanoi ~ really the whole trip ~ and what a way to end our trip.  We were both very successful and found lots of great things to bring home for ourselves and others.  :)

As you may or may not know, after our 2007 trip, Amy was inspired and when she returned to Chicago she bought a scooter.  She drives her scooter throughout Chicago from about March to November when she is working and just puttering around the city.  Otherwise, she drives her car.  Well, now in Vietnam, there is a new helmet law, so there are all manner of helmets available ~ many cute and funky, but all very limited in their effectiveness as protection during a crash (if you ask me).  But, in any case, Amy decided to get a helmet, as they are unlike anything she has seen in the US.  (For those of you worried about Amy driving the scooter, please don't worry, as she has the largest, most protective helmet possible that is laden with reflective decals and she also wears a reflective vest when riding at night...so she's got it covered!)

Here's Amy in her new helmet...spiffy, eh???

Amy's ready for a scooter ride!

Here's some other photos from our day today...

No matter how many times I have been here...it still amazes me what can be transported by a scooter ~ in this case...a door and a couple of windows!

No idea what's in this bag, but when this man put it on the back of his scooter, the front tire/front of the bike was lifted off the ground.  After a little shifting of his load, off he went. 

Looks like a large bag is walking down the street, right?  No...it's actually a nearly 80 year old woman carrying this HUGE bag down the street.  The bag is larger than she is!!

Another kitty

A little Hanoi boy...he's dressed for the 'cold' weather.  It was about 70 degrees today!

I thought this tree was cool...love the shape.

A Smart car...so cool!

So now we are off to have dinner with our friends, Tina and Theresa, and we have both completed our packing already.  I am a bit amazed that everything fits and fits easily, so now all I have to do is worry about certain items getting home without breaking.  I have padded everything as best as possible...I hope!  Fingers crossed!

We leave Hanoi tomorrow ~ Saturday ~ at 1230p (which is 1130p on Friday in Omaha/Chicago).  We will fly to Taipei and then leave Taipei at 7p Saturday night.  We will then arrive in San Francisco on Saturday (we lose a day in the travel back) at about 3p (which will seem like 4a to me).  Amy will then immediately travel onward to Chicago, arriving home around 11p or 12a that same day.  I, on the other hand, will stay at the lovely and close-in-proximity to the SF airport, Hilton, until Sunday morning, when I hop on a flight destined for Omaha.  (confused yet...I am!)  I should arrive in Omaha around 1230p on Sunday!!

We are both in some denial that it is currently December and that it will be quite chilly when we return, but I am sure I will survive the transition! 

Not sure when we will return to Vietnam with the International Extremity Project, but know I will return and feel so grateful for these adventures!

Thanks for reading...when I get to San Francisco I am going to try and upload the video from the monastery in Hue for you to see, so check for that in a day or so.  Otherwise, I think this is the final post...it's been fun!!

I appreciate your support and interest and...

it's time to go home.

xoxo
Stacy