I will, one day, adopt a Cambodian child!!

• After a six hour bus ride and getting through border patrol/customs (dumb set up) we finally reached our destination, Phnom Pehn, Cambodia.  Before arriving to the hotel yet after arriving in this kingdom we had already had some very interesting experiences.  Looking out the window was a must once entering this country.  This helped you better understand their way of life and living here.  When living in Cambodia you are either rich or poor; there is not much inbetween.  This concept was displayed clearly when I saw a huge, (I mean gigantic) beautiful mansion, with three shiny cars parked in its driveway, sitting right next to rows of shacks on stilts.  This place is also packed with kids.  Some kids in school uniforms walking home, and others walking barefoot and wearing tattered clothes.  To continue our journey we had to cross the river on our bus via ferry.  Once on the ferry we got off the bus to explore a bit.  First, there were so many people jammed on this craft!  Second, we saw live chickens tied up by their legs in the back of vans, and loud, squealing pigs tied back-down to wood on the back of motor bikes (site to see, awful to hear!).  The Cambodians will not kill and drain the animals before taking them to the markets, they sell for more if they are live.  This puts a new meaning to "fresh meat" for me.  Also, lined up along the sides of the ferry were beggers, many of them children.  These were not just any children either, they were cute, hard to resist children.  One boy looked like he was about to cry.  He held something that looked like flowers (but it wasn't flowers) and the other hand was stretched out, palm up, and begging for money to touch it.  Just from this ferry ride we realized that Cambodia is definitely going to be something else!

• After arriving and settling into the hotel and settling in it was time to get back down stairs again and head out for lunch.  Lunch was good!  No one should have gone hungry, there were a lot of western choices to choose from.  Then following lunch we headed for Toontownes (I think this is the name).  It was a childrens-young adults refuge.  It wasn't intended to be an orphanage, although a handful do live there.  The other kids are picked up from around the city/countryside/slums for the day and brought here to be taught english, music, art, dance, etc.  These kids were the most adorable things I had EVER seen though!  I wish we could have stayed so much longer.  They teach some of the kids how to break-dance here.. very entertaining!

• Next it was time for Pol Pots secret prison.  How much fun does that sound!?  We walked around the prison and looked into the cells of the prisoners.  In here they were chained and tortured for information during the Khmer Rouge reign.  It was kept secret for so long because Pol Pot pushed everyone out of the city, only 50-70 were left behind.  It was so crazy seeing all these things, and then at the end they had lots of the mugshots and shots of prisoners chained to beds.  There were also pictures (drawings) of how a lot of the torture techniques worked.  (Some looked so painful!)  Before exiting the last building the final room was filled with skulls of the people who died.  After I was done touring, Bri, Noelle and I talked to Laska for a bit (our Cambodia tour guide, he's so cool!)  and then we went over to the middle of the courtyard where everyone else was sitting.  There were these sweet, and completely precious little babies.  Oh my word, they were SO cute!  I wanted to hold the smallest one but I didn't want to scare her.  I did take a picture though.  Although once more people started coming up he began to cry (I have a crying picture of her too, so so so precious! ha).  Once the childrens' Mom(?) consoled them and walked away some other kids wanted to play soccer with Nick and I joined in.  It was so fun, and I was so awful!  haha.  I backed out of the way and let the kids (and Nick) play and other people joined in and left periodically.  One of the boys had to leave though because he had to continue hounding people and trying to sell Pol Pot books at the entrance of the prison.  As we walked out we not only saw the "I sell Pol Pot books" boy, but there was also a burn victim begging for money, and women with small children asking for money.  Poverty here is so real.

• We later went back to the hotel to relax and/or clean up a bit before dinner.  We had a boat ride down the river for an hour and had a little devo on board.  Once the ride was over we filed off and headed to the outside restaurant and waited to chow down on some good Cambodian food!  We had chicken skewers, they were good!  After dinner if we wanted we could walk over to the "Russian Markets".  Good thing I havent been able to take out any money yet or it would have ALL been gone last night!  Following the markets we went to a coffee shop, drank an ice coffee, Laska showed us around the town a little more, then it was back to the hotel for a shower and "bed".  (I use quotations on the word bed because I didn't actually go to bed).  I stayed up and FINALLY put the last of my New Zealand pictures up!  I also started to put pictures up of the cruise.  So please enjoy [Mom].  :D

Welp, I know I am finishing this the next morning, (even though you wont get this until tonight, or whenever I get internet next) but I will update again shortly!

Peace & Blessings <3

ok, I have to finish this later.. But I will finish as soon as I can!  I promise :)

Thanksgiving Day in Vietnam!

Ok so.. It was Thanksgiving day and after waking up early (like usual) we ate breakfast and loaded the bus for a three hour trip.  We first went to a CaoThi (spelling?) temple and after walking around it we were lead up stairs to a balcony looking down in the main hall.  From there we watched the followers (?) begin their service and chanting and whatnot.  It was definitely very interesting to see.  I still cant fathom how these people believe all this nonsense.  But then again, they probably say the same thing about Christians.  After here we had another long bus ride to the Cu Chi Tunnels.  This was just a small piece of a 200km network of underground tunnels in Vietnam.  The Vietcong hide from the American soldiers in these tunnels and use them to their advantage, in various ways, during the Vietnam war.  Also they were used in their new and unexpected war technique, gorilla warfare.  The tunned connected to small "pits" in the ground and the Vietcong would pop out of these man holes (the opening had about the length and width of a shoe box) unexpectedly and attack American soldiers.  It was a very controversial yet eye opening experience.  It was weird to try and wrap my head around that the ground we were standing on was where the war took place.  Both American and Vietnamese soldiers died here.  We've never had a true, ongoing war on our soil so we have no idea what its like.  If was definitely an experience to try and put yourself in the shoes of a Vietnamese civilian/soldier during the war.  Either way I definitely learned a lot about the good and bad of both sides of the war during this trip.  Some things I would had never believe had I not witnessed the information firsthand.

So we were told that they would try and incorporate turkey into our meal (along with rice and noodles) for our Thanksgiving.  Little did we know that we'd be going to a grand hotel with a grand Thanksgiving buffet!  It was the most amazing meal in the ENTIRE world!  (Ok, not as good as having Thanksgiving in Texas.. but still!)  It was just a very nice surprise..  And I didn't have to eat rice and seafood!  Even though I did get some rice, haha, but no fish for me!

Well by the end of the night I was thankful for a good meal and a full belly.  I was also thankful for all my family and everyone else in my life.  And I am mostly thankful for how much God has truly blessed me life!

Hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving!

Only one more full day left in Vietnam!

Look at me updating on the next day!  I am proud of myself.  Also I am so completely exhausted after the days events.  I woke up around 615 and laid in bed until 7.  After taking my sweet time to get ready I headed down stairs for breakfast, then it was on the bus for a two hour bus ride.  I read a chapter of my book, Captivating, then set it aside to sleep for the rest of the trip because I could not keep my eyes on the pages.  I woke up when we arrived to the Mekong Delta.  Everyone took their only opportunity for a bathroom break because we would be without one (unless you wanted to use Mother Nature's bathroom) for the next five to six hours.  After everyone had done their business we walked onto a boat and off we went into the Mekong River, headed for one of its islands.  At the first [nameless] Island we walked around and the people showed us how to make rice paper and some other things, and then we had lunch.  After lunch we continued on foot around the island and eventually got back on the boat.  We then traveled along the river to the next island where they harvest honey from hundreds of bee hives.  We had a type of honey tea which was fairly good, I preferred just eating the honey off my spoon though.  It was so good!  Next the local people played music/sang for us.  Afterwards we walked into "town" and loaded onto mule-drawn "carriages."  It was a fun little ride, then we stopped for fruit that was grown on the island.  After fruit we got to hold a python and take pictures with it before we were lead to five passenger boats/canoes that we rode (with someone rowing at the back for us) down the canal back to the river.  We stepped from our canoes onto the boat and headed to the last island.  On this island they made a type of coconut candy.  It was like a type of taffy.  I think I would have enjoyed it more had I liked coconut.  Finally by 4 we were done for the day and able to use the restroom again!  I had been holding it for the last hour and a half or so.

I am now resting in my room after riding in the bus again for two hours.  I read a little more then listened to music.  Now I am about to head down for dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant.  I cannot wait to get back and take a shower though!  Then hopefully I will get a few journals done (I am a little behind) and prepare for our last day in Vietnam!

Peace and Blessings everyone, and I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!!


side note:  cannot believe Thanksgiving is tomorrow.  I am going to miss it.  They are trying to get us the most "westernized" meal, but we will see how that goes!

FINALLY up-to-date!! :)

Thursday [Nov 18^th]- We left the hotel at about 8 this morning.  It was a three and a half hour bus ride from Hanoi to Hoi Long Bay.  We were told we were staying the night on junk boats.  As this did not originally sound promising, we were in for a great surprise.  We boarded large boats with very nice accommodations.  I LOVED our room!  I wish we could have stayed there longer for one night.  We set off soon after we arrived and had lunch.  After we got about an hour out into the bay we stopped and soon departed for the floating villages.  Once we arrived we were able to go canoeing around the bay and the villages.  After canoeing we boarded back on our commuter boat and they took us to the island, which was fun.  We had dinner back on the boat and they were supposed to tie our boat and our two others boats (all 47 of us needed three boats) together and people were allowed to go back and forth.. our boat had to take a taxi boat though.. so most of us decided to stay.  It was nice to get a break from the chaos of a large group.  So Rachel, Bri, Noelle and I all sat in the room and had fun girl talk until we went to bed at 1030 J

Friday [Nov 19^th]- We woke up the next morning and had breakfast.  Afterwards we headed to the ‘Surprising Caves”  I actually liked it a lot.  I haven’t been in a cave for a long time.  I think the last time was almost forever ago when I went with my family.. (In Tennessee?? Kentucky??  I do not know.)  It was definitely a hike though!  We had to travel up over a hundred stairs to even get to the start of the cave.  Many wonderful pictures later we got back on the taxi boat and onto our junk boat and set sail for shore again.  We ate lunch in the town when we arrived then drove back to Hanoi for one more night.  After dinner I walked around for a while around the shops with everyone, but didn’t buy anything.

Saturday [Nov 20^th]- we loaded up the buses early in the morning (four in the morning… no big deal) and started our bus ride to the airport.  After we sat on the ground for an extra hour due to bad weather we were finally in the air for an hour before landing in Hue.  As soon as we hit the ground we were on the go!  After eating brunch at a lovely hotel (which we later found out was not ours) we headed into the forbidden city, which was cool.  Later we went to the castles of some queens and kings and other fun people.  It was a REALLY long day.  None of us were quite in the mood to be doing tours and sight seeing all day.  It took a lot out of us.  After sightseeing all day we boarded a dinner boat along the river.  They played live music for us and the food was good.  (note: I think all the food is good, as in, there is always something to eat even if I do not like it all).  After the dinner boat we FINALLY headed to our hotel.  It was jank compared to the hotel we ate breakfast in (what a tease!)  we didn’t even have sheets, although once we got them they looked stained.  In my bathroom we didn’t have a normal shower, just a showerhead in the middle of the bathroom (second time this has happened…. So weird! Who does that?)  After taking a NORMAL shower in Rachel and Bri’s room I headed off to bed.

Sunday [Nov 21^st]- after breakfast had church service in an alley, basically.  Definitely an experience.  And it goes to show that you can have church ANYWHERE!  It is not the building that makes the church, it is where God’s people are congregated together.  We then loaded the buses for a four hour long bus ride.  About halfway through we stopped for lunch (rice and seafood) and then stopped shortly after at My Son (“mee sun”). It is an archeological site, which was pretty cool!  There are not many restrictions so we were able to walk into the ruins and buildings.  We had a guide as well, but I could not understand him for the life of me!  The only think I remember is when he kept talking about Indonesian people and repeated himself five times saying, “dark skin” (points at skin) “curly hair” (tugs on back of hair).  It was funny, but I guess you had to be there.  We later traveled into Hoi An where we stopped and checked into our hotels before having dinner at a really cool outside restaurant.  It was so cute!  Although you had to walk down a back alley to get there, ha.  Later many people went to the tailor shops to get clothes made for them.  I didn’t know what I wanted really, so I decided not to waste money on something I didn’t care for.  After I waited around with people to finish getting sized and all it was shower and bed time!

Monday [Nov 22^nd]- Woke up, had breakfast, then it was off to our homestay with a Hoi An family in “Vegetable Village”!  We got to see how they farm (and help out too!) and then we watched and helped use these vegetables, etc, to cook a typical meal.  Whatever it was we made was good (do not know what it is called.)  The main part was made of rice-flour and egg and we placed beef?  And some kind of sprout (which I picked out) inside.  It was good!  We made other food as well.  Later it was time to head back and walk around the city.  We began walking as a group touring a few places but then a few of us split off to look around.  We probably should have stayed with the group because next thing you know a little Vietnamese lady was dragging us into her “spa” promising $1 pedicures.  She and a few other ladies sat the five of us down and started going to work.  About an hour later I had my toes done, and my legs threaded (ouch)  I ended up paying $15 dollars, but hey, whatever.  I kind of doubt the threading was as good as it could have been, but my leg hair hasn’t grown back yet!  (So good sign!)  By the time we were finished we needed to head back outside of town so the other girls could get their final fittings on their dresses done. 

On the way back we saw a lot of pretty and tall girls who were nicely dressed and wearing sashes.  Each green sash had a different country.  Little did we know the “Miss Earth” pageant was in town.  Never heard of Miss Earth, but ok!  I had my picture taken with Miss Puerto Rico, haha.  I never saw Miss USA.  So anyways, we headed back to our side of town, had dressed fitted then a few of us headed back into the market and had a little haggling fun. 

*Oh!  Right before we went back to the markets Noelle and I saw a pair of pants on a manikin.  The lady asked if we wanted to try them on, and we did, but they ended up being too big.  We both really loved them though so the lady said she would take our measurements and have the pants ready for us by eight.  So I ended up getting something made after all.  They were only $10 so why not! 

After the markets we headed BACK to our side of town so the girls could pick up and finish paying for their dresses, then it was time for dinner… which was back towards the markets.  Dinner was great though!  And we had birthday cake for Stacy’s birthday.

We did ANOTHER take back and walked back out of the market area so Noelle and I could pick up our pants (which fit PERFECTLY by the way) and then headed back to the markets to get a tad bit more bargaining done.  Later after going back to the hotel we heard of $8 massages.  I had never had one before, and it was cheap…. So why not.

LESSONS LEARNED:  (1) Never let a lady drag you into your shop and make you pay for something you weren’t sure you wanted to have done…. Just say No!   (2) Every little thing adds up.  It may seem like an amazing deal, and it may actually be really cheap… but next think you know you blow $40 in one day!

Tuesday [Nov 23^rd]- TODAY!!! Finally caught up J  We had breakfast at 6, then left Hoi An by 7 to catch an early flight out of  Da Nang.  We arrived roughly an hour and a half after taking off in Ho Chi Min City!  Our first means of business was to head to the hotel and to have lunch.  After lunch I changed into shorts because it was SMOKIN outside, then got on the bus with everyone else.  Our first stop was the War Remnants Museum.  It was all about the Vietnam War.  Can you say Intense???  It was definitely very eye opening and rose a lot of questioning.  It was definitely an evil event, and I think I wish it never happened.  So many people were affected on all sides of the war.  I may write an actual synopsis of the whole event and my thought process while I learned very new and interesting information later on and post it as a blog.. I have to journal about it either way.  But it was definitely impacting.  After touring here for a couple of hours we headed to the Independence Palace.  We were supposed to go in and tour around but there was some official meeting taking place so we weren’t able to (not that I was really complaining..)  So we headed early to a Colonial-Style General Post Office and a Notre Dame Basilica which were right across the street from one another.  We took pictures and walked around, then got icecream afterwards before setting off again.  After finishing our icecream we lugged ourselves across town to the water-puppet theater.  Since we ended up not going to the Palace earlier we arrived 45min early and had to wait around, outside, in the sticky, humid air.  The water-puppet theater was definitely interesting.  I think I would have enjoyed it more though if the Vietnamese ladies (and others) voice was not the most obnoxious thing I have ever heard.  I just don’t enjoy asian singing.. I cannot get past that twangy sound of their singing voice.. ouch!  After the show we walked to dinner, which was Great!  THENNNN, we walked around, heading back to the hotel.  After I showered I spent an obnoxious amount of time trying to figure out how to unblock facebook so I could finish uploading more pictures.  And now, hear I sit.  The lights are off, and I am ready for bed!

So basically…. I SWEAR not to take this long in between blogging again.  The cruise really messed me up and set me behind on the whole blogs/pictures/journals process.  It was a nice time to just relax and enjoy myself without having to do any work.  But I hope whoever reads this is still enjoying hearing about my travels!  I also hope its fairly easy t read, I am not the best writer and it is hard to spend a ton of time going back to edit or revise, etc etc.  I just tend to let it flow, as if having a conversation.  But ok, really.. It is time for bed!  Waking up a 7 in the morning.. gross.

Goodnight All!  (Or Good Afternoon for you!)

SE ASIA: Malaysia and first half of Vietnam!!!

Sunday- We have successfully arrived in ASIA!  After an 8 hour flight, most of which I spent sleeping, we landed safely on the ground.  Customs was a bit chaotic, but we didn’t have to get our bags checked, so that made things a bit easier.  We didn’t get to do a whole lot today.  We had about an hours bus ride into town.  Getting to see all the buildings along the way was cool, although it started raining, so that disturbed our viewing pleasures just a little.  Our bus dropped us off at a depot then we walked for a few minutes arriving at our YMCA hostel.

The only things I have noticed so far are that things are definitely dirtier looking here, but overall it is not bad.  I am very surprised that almost everything you see is in English as well, which makes things a bit easier!  I also went to an ATM and pulled 50 Ringets out, which is the equivalent to about 17 US dollars!  How awesome is that.

After we packed everything away in our rooms we met down stairs for dinner.  We were supposed to eat at an outside restaurant, but it was raining, and they didn’t have enough covering for all of us.  So we went to McDonalds!  Haha, it was still good though, and we got free wifi.  My Mcdonalds meal was about 3 dollars for a dbl cheeseburger, fries, and a drink!  

We came back to the hostel, had church service in the gym (the singing sounded AWESOME in there!)  Aftwewards, Rachel, Clarissa, and I walked to a coffee shop across the way and got free internet!  It was nice.  We left around midnight, headed back to our rooms.  After getting ready for bed, once my head hit that pillow, I was out!

Monday- Sitting in the café connected to our YMCA.  We are about to pack all of our bags up, and start off for the day!  We are headed to a lot of different buildings, mosques, and such.  Later we will also be going to the markets in China town??  Something like that.  Should be a pretty fun day!  I will update more on that later though.

Ok!  Updating.. We went to a couple of mosques.  We had to take our shoes off to enter in.  And for anyone (guys including) who were wearing shorts or anything that wasn’t fully covering us up, we had to wear these awful, purple cloaks.  Haha.  It was hot enough just in a tshirt, leggings, and shorts, let alone a cloak, with a hood.  Anyways!  We walked up the steps, and our guide walked us around the outside (only Muslims are allowed inside, although the entire front side is open so you can see everything inside anyways).  After the mosques, we went to the Chinese Market.  I wish we would have had more time to spend here.  I was trying to look for an embroidered cushion cover, but I didn’t have enough time to look around everywhere to find the best price.  I did however buy a scarf, its really soft!  And It was only 15 ringgits, which is about 5 dollars US.  I also received a “FISH PEDICURE” haha.. now this was interesting!  I had heard of it before because we are planning on doing this at a spa in Tokyo.  But anywho, those of us who participated, payed our 5 ringgits, for ten minutes, stuck our feet in.  All of a sudden hundreds of tiny fish come rushing to your feet and start nibbling away!  It sounds weird, and I guess it is kind of weird that these fish like eating dead skin, but it tickled soooooo much!  It was almost unbearable for the first few minutes, that’s how bad it tickled.  After a little bit you almost get over the feeling and just let them do their thing.  Although when they get into the creases underneath your toes, oh my word, it tickles so bad!  Ryan recorded my reaction, so hopefully this will be on facebook one day!

After the markets, we left and had a traditional Malaysian (with a Chinese influence) lunch.  It was good, although most of it was really spicy!  (we experienced a bit of this the day before on the airplane.  The rice and chicken they gave us definitely had a kick!)  I mostly ate rice, and chicken.  Two of the dishes were soooo spicy, and other than that there were clams (gross) and some green stringy stuff.  Haha.  Some people liked it, but I was ok with my rice and chicken.  Once we finished with this we headed off to……?  I forget what happen at the moment.  Later on we ate dinner at a little hole in the wall place, it was good though!  We had soup with our meal that was delicious.  I also was able to see a bit of an awesome lighting show.  It had been raining on and off during the day. To end the night we arrived at our hotel at the airport, and settled in.  I was able to skype my parents!  After surfing the web, I showered and went to bed… This was pointless.

Tuesday- Approx three hours after I passed out on my bed, it was time to wake up!  We had to be out and ready with our bags by 4 in the morning to go to the airport.  Our flight was at 545.  I never, ever, EVER want to do this again!  Ok, well normally it would be fine, except for the fact that I have not had a good night sleep in a few days or so.  Anyways, airports here are crazy. Although I enjoy Asian customs, you can just walk right on through!  After eating a dunkin doughnut, we boarded the plane and I was out for the next hour and a half or so.  I was then woken up to eat rice and chicken for BREAKFAST.  It was only 745 in the morning.  After eating this, I went back to sleep for the duration of the flight.  We arrived bright and early (930) in Hanoi, Vietnam.  After going through customs we waited on our bags to get there for a good half an hour.  Our guide met us at the front before loading the buses with Vietnamese straw hats (come hats!)  We all put these on, in good fun, and headed for our bus.  I wish I would have slept on the bus (hour long ride), I needed it, but I did not want to veer my eyes away from this strange world.  Vietnam is a lot of what I expected a poor country to look like.  Malaysia wasn’t all that bad, it obviously was a bit trashier, but it had so many American brand places to eat, etc, and it was much more highly updated.  In Vietnam there are houses about to fall down standing right next to houses that look really nice.  We saw a lot of rice fields and such on the way into the city as well.  I will have to let the pictures explain on how everything looks, it really is a whole other world.

Once in the city we arrived at our hotel, got settled in, hooked our laptops to the internet, and low and behold: facebook does not work.  Vietnam, a communist country, has blocked facebook, again, since June of this year.  Why?  I am not completely sure.  My guess it that Vietnam as a country does not want a lot of information about themselves spilling out onto the internet.  Who knows.. I can check email and update my blog however!  Uploading pictures is just going to have to wait a while for now.

Once we settled into our rooms we headed back out and boarded the buses to go tour some temples.. I honestly cannot think, for the life of me, right now what these temples were about at the moment.  We also toured the first university in Hanoi.  It was really cool!  We got pictures with a bunch of Vietnamese or Chinese people.. it was so fun!  They were all there as a wedding party.. They were dressed up so pretty.

Ok!  So, I am so fascinated with the Vietnamese’s fascination for Alli (four year old daughter of our professors).  She is a little girl with Blonde hair; they do not see blonde hair very often.  They always want to touch and hold her.  All the people that took pictures with us all took pictures, one by one, with Alli.  It was so weird.  But they were so excited about it!  We later found out that people here are actually fascinated with anyone who has blonde hair but it is not appropriate to touch them.  Where as with children its custom that anyone can pick them up if they want.  Its kind of like how I love little babies and want to hold them… but I don’t, unless I ask.. or I just don’t if I don’t know them.  Here they do what they want.. So with Ali since she is a child they will try and pick her up, or touch her.. so weird!

After all of this, we headed back to the hotel for dinner, then decided to end the night earlier (we were supposed to go see a water puppet show, but we are going to see one in Ho Chi Min City later on).  I was SOOOOOO tired, and after getting online and doing a few things I went to bed by like 9!  Loveeeee it J

Wednesday- Ok, so first we went to Ho Chi Min’s “resting place” or whatever.. I don’t remember exactly what it is called.  But ok.. so we have to go through security.. no cameras are allowed.. and once we are inside the temple there is NO TALKING!  Guard dressed in white with red accessories line the hallways, every ten feet.  After walking up a couple sets of stairs we entered a room, and there in the middle on a high pedestal/alter/whatever you want to call it, laid the preserved body of ho chi min, in a Glass sarcophagus.. For being dead for 41 years he looked good!!  Hahaha.  After walking through the mausoleum (*btw: I was holding Alli’s hand the whole time*) Alli asks me (keep in mind she is 4 years old) “Why was he sleeping?”  Try and explain that to a four year old!  Haha.. I didn’t want to break the news to her and say he was dead so instead I told her that “He’s an important man, and he needs his sleep!  That’s why we couldn’t talk; so we wouldn’t wake him!”  I thought it was a pretty good way to help answer her question.  But then later on her brother said “No Alli he was dead”  so her Dad had to correct him, but then had to explain to Alli that he wasn’t alive and that everyone dies and is not alive anymore one day.  It was so sad!! 

Afterwards we walked around and saw his old cars, and where he lived, and the presidential palace or something of that nature, and we went into a museum dedicated to him.

Once we were done with that place we left and headed to a restaurant for lunch.  It was probably the best meal we have had here so far (I will get to the best that we had later in a moment).   They give you so many different options so its usually fairly easy to find something you will like.  I had fish, beef, rice, some sauce that was really good.. and watermelon.  Oh and spring rolls!  Oh!  And these Chinese potato things.  Anyways, it was a good meal!  Oh and I need to tell you about the bathrooms… uhm, they were separated by a short “wall”  we got to pee and look at eachother while doing it! Haha.  Awkward, I know.  But we’re girls, we see all, so it was ok. Haha. 

Next, we went to SILK CITY!  Everything there is silk, handmade items, from that little town.  I bought scarves as gifts for people for like 2 or 3 dollars each!  We also got to give haggling a go.  I wish I had a bit more time though, I wanted to maybe get a couple more things for people…. Like a silk tie for my Dad!  (haha, I know, I know.. such an original gift for my Dad)  But I could not decide what kind of tie to get.. But we will have more opportunities.  Everything here is SO CHEAP though!!  Granted a lot of it is counterfeit or not as good quality, but it is still a good buy either way.

After going to Silk City we went back to our hotel, chilled for a bit, then met at 6 to walk to dinner. 

Crossing the streets here are so crazy!  They do not have stop signs or lights (they have lights at larger intersections).  All traffic just merges or weaves inbetween people as they cross, its so crazy!  I will post of either videos or pictures soon J  We crossed a lot of streets on the way to dinner.  Ok, so Dinner was AMAZING!  This place is known all across Vietnam.  They only serve one dish, and they have been serving this one dish since 1895!!  No one can copy their secret recipe, and many have tried. It sounds so simple.. but they put a cooker in front of you with the fish and “sauce/oil” already in it.. they dump all the greens in it, and you can add cilantro, and peanuts, and they have other sauces as well.  In your small bowl you place rice noodles in it and then take a spoonful of the fish mix from the cooker and pour it over top.  Like I said, sounds so simple (or gross.. the greens I did not think I would like) but it was AMAZING!!! 

After dinner we walked back to the hotel and had cake for Ms Pam!!  It was her birthday today.  The cakes looked so cool, and were pretty good!  The chocolate toppings were the best J Then following dinner we headed out to walk to the lake and then walk around it.  We ended up walking around the lake to the little café and quite a few of us bought this icecream & coffee… oh my word, best thing ever!  It was about 50,000 dong (2.50 US dollars).  Once we got our coffee/icecream us girls (Bri, Rachel, Michelle, Clarissa, Noelle) headed down the road in search of backpacks.  I personally wanted a hiking or a backpacking backpack… well guess what, I found one!  Ok so I walk up, and look at it and instantly love it… The lady says “450,000 dong”  I say “No way!!  200,000 dong!”  and she definitely said no to that one!  I finally brought her down to 425, then 400, then I still said no and she goes “OK! OK! 350,000 dong!”  I said no, and walked on to the next shops.. I walked by a couple of shops with backpacks but didn’t see anything I wanted so I came back to the lady.. she said 350, I said “No, 300” She said no but brought it down to 315.  I finally asked to get the light green one and she said “we have new ones in red and blue”  I told her No, and that this one was the one I wanted!  But I said since it isn’t new she should lower the price.  I showed her where something was a little frayed, but she had the guy with her burn it off and melt it back so that piece looked new again, but I still demanded that it wasn’t new and she lowered it to 300,000 dong….. SUCCESS!  She was mad but she said “OK! 300,000”  After I paid, she was nice again and I said thank you and all was well.. I am just so so SO excited that I actually haggled it down.  It went from US $22.50 to $15 US dollars!!  Ahhhhh.. & did I mention it’s a Northface!?  Northface, backpacking, bag for FIFTEEN dollars!  Love it.  I was super pumped.

After we all got bags and felt happy we haggled with some cyclo guys for a good price to take us back to our hotel (These are guys on bikes that have a cart attached to the front.. you sit in and it has a cover, etc)  They wanted 50,000 a piece but we got it for 20,000 a piece!  Well Bri, and I did.  The other guy ripped off Michelle and Rachel.  (Long story.. don’t feel like explaining it right now.) 

But all in all, it was a good day, and a great night!!  I love Vietnam!  Even if they are a communist country (because of us!!!) and even if they drive like crazy.. and even if they are on the top ten most air polluted cities!  Haha.. (we could look directly at the sun because of all the smog.. it looked like the moon!  So weird, and so gross if you think about it.. they NEVER have a “true” clear day here).

Ok, well that is enough for now…. Goodnight!

CRUISE!!! (all I have so far.. will finish later)

Saturday- CRUISE!  I have never been on a cruise before so it was AWESOME that I was about to board a giant ship (50% bigger than the Titanic!)  When we first arrived we sought out our rooms, changed into our swimmers and headed to the top deck.  Our suitcases would not arrive until later so we packed a few of the necessities into our carry-ons.  We participated in the welcoming/waving goodbye to Brisbane excitement, with live music, line dancing, and more fun!  Then almost every single girl grabbed a blue lawn chair, laid out her towel, and got to work; working on a tan that is.  For the most part we laid out all day, got dinner, andddddddd…??? Went to the dome, it’s kind of like a “nightclub” but not really.  Haha.  It was fun though I guess.  I think that is about it!

Sunday- AT SEA.  Its weird, going to every corner of the boat, and all you see in blue water, everywhere.  In all directions, you do not see one, tiny, spot of land.  This day at seas was mostly spent out in the sun, once again.  I read, ate lunch, laid out, read some more, listened to music, probably fell asleep, then we all went to get ready for dinner that night.  We had booked a table in the formal dining room; it was dress-up night!  I straightened my hair for the first time in ages, and I put on my little, black dress with my high-heeled shoes and set out on the town… or, I mean, boat.  It was nice getting to dress up formally with everyone.  I had a five course meal.  It was so so so SO good.  After dinner we went to an acrobatic and comedian show (or maybe that was the night before). 

Monday- Plans got changed.  We were headed to the Whitsunday Islands instead of Cairns.  This day changed my life, kind of.  We got to go scuba diving in the GREAT BARRIER REEF!!  We departed from our ship at 700 in the morning to board a smaller boat that drove us over VERY choppy waters, to their pontoon/set-up out in the middle of the ocean.  We had the option of going snorkeling (I didn’t choose this option.  I hate getting sea water in my mouth, and the waves were a little shoppy).  Oh, I forgot to mention it was cloudy and raining…. Of course!  If it were to ever rain on anyone it would be us!  (I cannot tell you how many times we have heard the phrase, “the weather is NEVER like this!”)  Any which way, after signing up for scuba diving they gave us different meeting times.  I was the sixth group to go down at 1120.  We had an hour and a half to kill so we went on a semi-sub[marine] ride that took us along the GBR.  It was pretty cool.  It was a little bit harder to see, but we saw a “Dory” and a “Gill” and a lot more other fish!  After we got back those of us who still had more time to kill went on ahead and ate a light lunch.  We then proceeded to the pontoon, collected and put on our stinger suits (It was stinger/ jellyfish season) and grabbed our flippers.  We walked over to the scuba section and they geared us up.  First, for us smaller people they placed weights around our stomachs, followed by a MASSIVE and heavy tank that fit on like a backpack.  They gave us goggles and had us walked down the stairs into the water.  When you walked into the water you walked into a type of chamber basically, underneath the pontoon.  This is where we put our flippers on and got used to breathing through a whatcha-ma-callit.  It was hard getting used to breathing through your mouth at first.  But most of us got used to it (a few backed out all-together, it was a bit overwhelming) I was determined to go scuba diving.  I was breathing fine, I think my breaths were still a bit staggered, but I was doing this thing!  To my non-surprisement breathing through the regulator was like a second nature.  You forgot all about the weirdness of the breathing as soon as you saw that reef.  It was so amazing!  An instructor took those of us who were uncertified by the hand, and led us around the reef, we really did not have much to do, except enjoy every bit of God’s beauty, under the sea, with out eyes.  It was absolutely stunning.  I realize it would have been even more marvelous, had the sun been out, but it was still one of the most incredible things I have ever seen.  I saw a ton of clams, a “NEMO” in his anemone, many schools of different fish, and more.  We swam next to a giant fish that was bigger than even we were!  This thing was massive.  I think this was also the fish in Finding Nemo that all her little kid-fish swim out of her mouth, following with a “see you after school!”  We saw so many more things but I cannot even begin to remember or describe every little thing.  I wish I remembered more.  I was a bit jealous because the certified divers got to go to a different part of the reef and some of them saw a reef shark, and a puffer fish!  Overrall it was an amaxing excursion.  We even got to ride a rollercoaster on the way back!  (haha, that boat was SO SO SO SO Rocky!!)

Tuesday- Woke up early again, and headed in a shuttle boat to Port Douglas.  Can I just say that it was beautiful!  Hot, but beautiful.  Once we arrived we shopped around just a little.  The main street on the way to the beach was really cool.  There were a lot of little shops and restaurants.  We stopped to get smoothies (some got ice-cream) and it was so good!  We spent a lot of our time at the beach, which was GORGEOUS!  I felt like I was on a deserted island.  It was awesome.  We saw a lady sunbathing topless.  Haha, this probably brings that count up to a handful now.  People don’t like wearing tops in the sun here!  Although I assume it would be more comfortable.  That day I felt like taking my top off.  It felt natural.  But I felt as if it would be unacceptable, haha.  It would also have been very awkward had someone walked by from our group and seen me.  After the beach we walked back through town, stopped and ate, and then headed back for the boats and then on to our ship.  That night we got ready and had dinner, and

The week BEFORE the cruise! (Cruise blog coming later)

We left….. we left New Zealand.  I am really sad.  I wasn’t ready to leave.  Boo Australia!!

Haha.. definitely wasn’t saying that 3 weeks ago.  I didn’t even want to go to New Zealand because I loved Australia so much!  But New Zealand was honestly one of the most Amazing places in the world!!  It was nice coming back to ChristChurch again.  It was nice coming back to somewhere familiar. 

Wednesday- left our beautiful apartments in Queenstown.  It was a sad time.  I just wish I hadn’t been so rushed in the morning so I would have been able to relax and enjoy my last moments there.  But with finals and a paper to finish writing, that wasn’t the case.  I felt like there was so much I still had, wanted, NEEDED to do.  Mark my words: my time is not done in the marvelous place. 

Mt Cook was really cool though.  The bus ride was beautiful; on our way we saw the bluest water (glacier water) that you EVER did see!  It was awesome.  We then arrived at Mt Cook, and can I tell you, the view was AMAZING!  With all the snow on top of the mountains, and the sun shining down on them; it looked like a painted picture.  Once we got there we got settled in our little chalets and headed back to the main hotel for dinner.  From our table we were able to look out of huge windows on to the mountains.  After dinner we watched three 30min shows, one was in 3D and the others we watched across a dome shaped screen on the ceiling.  One was about hiking in the mountains, another about black holes and the other I think I fell asleep during it; whoops.   After the movie, for me, it was time for bed!  It was probably about 930 but our whole suite was tired.  I was in bed and asleep by 11 I’d say, but we had to wake up fairly early the next morning for breakfast before we went on the glacier tour. 

Thursday- woke up and ate some breaky (breakfast) and loaded all of our bags on our bus before we left onto another bus for the lake.  It was raining, of course, and we were handed raincoats if we weren’t already wearing one ( I came prepared.)  Before we reached the lake we had to walk a good half a mile or so to get there from where the bus dropped us off…. in the rain, although, the rain had let up a little by this point.  One we got to the lake about 30 of us loaded into three 12-man boats.  The water was pretty choppy so they took up out and gave us a little talk on what should happen if someone falls overboard.  They then followed up with letting us see how cold the water was.  (I do not remember how cold the water was, but I couldn’t even keep my fingers in it for more than ten seconds!)  This was glacier water after all.  They sped us around in the boats looking at different glaciers here and there.  We even got to pick up pieces of tiny glaciers and hold them!  (You will see a picture of me holding a nice chunk of ice on facebook, HOPEFULLY, sometime soon!)  We were also taken to the oldest iceberg they had still that had broken off of the main chunk, it was about two years old.  They also showed us the largest iceberg they had, and they showed us the most massive iceberg ever.  This huge iceberg had emerged only the day before we had gotten there, and it was the biggest one there!  It was just really cool to see all of the iceburgs and to hear how the lake and land around the area was formed.  It was also cool because the glacier itself and the air bubbles inside the glacier and inside the icebergs were 300+ years old!  Also the lake itself (apart from the glacier) has only been formed within the last 30 years, beforehand it was all still just a big glacier. 

So after our glacier tour we headed back to the hotel, got on our bus and headed for Christchurch.   We stopped and had lunch somewhere on the way, and by the time we arrived it was almost time for dinner.  After dinner I walked around with some of the girls to a couple stores.  I bought some shampoo and conditioner! Wahoo.. I also bought a scratch ticket (second one ever) and won SQUAT!  Oh well, I am still UP six dollars… go me! lol.  Later Rachel, Michelle, and I went to a café/bar/billiards that had free internet.  I was able to email my completed application for a library job on campus, for next semester.  I guess we will see how that goes.  I also was able to load up more pictures!  Mainly we just internet searched until it was time for bed.  We went back to the hostel and went to bed.

FRIDAY- Last day in New Zealand.  After we had breakfast, Rachel and I ran to a few souvenir shops.  We then had to run back to load out bags on the bus and leave for the Antarctic center.  On our way there I learned that Hillary Clinton was in town, and that we would actually be within a hundred feet of her most likely, although we wouldn’t see her.  Haha.  Anyways.. We still had about an hour until our actual tour started so we went into a room where a lady came out and gave us the run down on Antarctica and how their Antarctic center worked, etc.  The lady had personally worked in Antarctica (for an unsaid amount of time) She told us about life there and visitors/tourists (you can tour there!  Who knew?)  She also told us about the “Polar Plunge.”  The will dig a hole in the ice until they reach the water and then the person who is participating in the plunge will strip down to their birthday suit and jump into the water, jump out, then run around with their head cut off because they don’t know what’s going on anymore.  Talk about brain freeze!  Also, believe it or not, but Antarctica is actually a desert!  This doesn’t seem exactly plausible since it is covered in snow.  But the reason the entire continent is covered in snow is because strong winds carry it all over Australia.  There are places and pieces of land that are not entirely covered in snow and you can obviously tell how they would be considered a desert land.  After learning a little more about Antarctica we got to MEET a penguin!  He/she was so cute; I forget its name though.  It waddled around and we took pictures, etc.  Afterwards we went into a synthetic chamber, so we could see what it is like to be in the middle of a blizzard.  Then we just toured the rest of the exhibits, and watched a short film (which was optional).  I liked going though; it was a lot of fun, and really interesting!  We also got to see the feds come in and order food for a hiding Hilary Clinton. 

After the Antarctic center we ventured to the airport, and said all of our goodbyes to New Zealand.  It was then off to Brisbane for the night.  We arrived at our hostel, ate pizza, chilled, and got ready to board our cruise the following morning.  

I would love to write all about the cruise right now, but I am paying for internet and don't have the time at the moment.. Will post it as soon as I can!!

Peace to All, and to All a Goodnight <3

There WILL be a new post up soon about my last week and a half.. I have been writing in a word document on my computer and then I will post it to my blog as soon as I can get internet for my computer again!

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Mt Cook

The first picture: drinking hot chocolate with a view of the mountains!

Next picture: driving from Mt Cook.. Mountains in the background and some of the bluest water I have EVER seen.

Now its on to christchurch for the night and Brisbane tomorrow.
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Definitely wasn't ready to leave Queenstown, but my pocket book was!

Its been awhile since I've had to blog from my phone! I am not for sure when I will have internet next.

I am currently sitting on our big your bus, with all of our luggage beneath me, and I'm watching my future home slip right from my eyesight. I absolutely loved it here. Its so funny, just a month ago we were all saying how we loved Australia and didn't want to leave, now I could care less about Australia. Don't get me wrong though I am excited to go back, especially for the cruise! I just wish we had more time in queenstown after we were done with classes. I don't feel that we had enough time outside of classes to truly and thoroughly enjoy this place.
Which brings me to my next point!
WE ARE DONE WITH CLASSES!!! Two months after we departed from the states and we are finished! I just turned my last and FINAL essay this morning! No more dumb school work for me! We still have our journals which is a huge part of our grade but I like being able to journal and keep track of my travels and everything I learn. And also since those entries are the only thing I have to keep track of I don't think it will be to bad.

Ok so I was up extremely late last night, like I have been every night this week. (honestly don't think I have been to bed before 4am at all in the past several days!) SO! I think I am going to try and get a little nap in before our next little stop. Then its on to Mt Cook for the night! And Christ church tomorrow.

Ill update soon! Promise :)
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