We have spent our last day walking the streets of Hanoi. It's been a cool day and there has been a nice breeze.
Everyone seems well and all the kids are very happy to be heading home tomorrow. The last 2.5 weeks have certainly been an education. We been able to experience a completely different culture, eat an entirely different diet, and see bits and pieces of beautiful Vietnam from the south to the north. All this has been an amazing adventure. I have also, as you would know, spent the last 18 days within arms reach of each child. The only time I've had away from their delightful company is when I use the toilet or have a shower. You would think I would have a pretty good understanding of what each of my children are like. I raise them, I spend lots of time with them, I know my children, but I've never really gotten to KNOW them like this! I can't say the process has been entirely pleasant.
Travelling alone with them has been easy. We haven't encountered any situation where our numbers have prevented us doing what we want on this trip. It has never been hard finding accommodation with 2 rooms side by side or close together. The only downside of travelling with 5 children would have to be the added expense. If I were travelling by myself, I think I could have completed this trip (excluding airfares) for well under $1000. I've been fairly liberal with my purchase of presents for myself as well.
I would like to have been less of a side show as we walked the streets in Vietnam. We get stared at everywhere we go. Most people in Vietnam who comment think that I am very lucky to have one girl (to do the work, their words not mine) and 4 boys. "Very lucky, very lucky." Apparently having a girl first and boy second is the lucky part. This ensures there is someone to do all the work, and there is also someone to carry on the family name. I think it has been a government rule since the early 1990's that in the city areas of Vietnam, the limit is 2 children per family. So while there are still lots of larger families in Vietnam, they are certainly not normal, especially in the areas we have been travelling to.
Everyone seems well and all the kids are very happy to be heading home tomorrow. The last 2.5 weeks have certainly been an education. We been able to experience a completely different culture, eat an entirely different diet, and see bits and pieces of beautiful Vietnam from the south to the north. All this has been an amazing adventure. I have also, as you would know, spent the last 18 days within arms reach of each child. The only time I've had away from their delightful company is when I use the toilet or have a shower. You would think I would have a pretty good understanding of what each of my children are like. I raise them, I spend lots of time with them, I know my children, but I've never really gotten to KNOW them like this! I can't say the process has been entirely pleasant.
Travelling alone with them has been easy. We haven't encountered any situation where our numbers have prevented us doing what we want on this trip. It has never been hard finding accommodation with 2 rooms side by side or close together. The only downside of travelling with 5 children would have to be the added expense. If I were travelling by myself, I think I could have completed this trip (excluding airfares) for well under $1000. I've been fairly liberal with my purchase of presents for myself as well.
I would like to have been less of a side show as we walked the streets in Vietnam. We get stared at everywhere we go. Most people in Vietnam who comment think that I am very lucky to have one girl (to do the work, their words not mine) and 4 boys. "Very lucky, very lucky." Apparently having a girl first and boy second is the lucky part. This ensures there is someone to do all the work, and there is also someone to carry on the family name. I think it has been a government rule since the early 1990's that in the city areas of Vietnam, the limit is 2 children per family. So while there are still lots of larger families in Vietnam, they are certainly not normal, especially in the areas we have been travelling to.
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| Add one more to this side show and we are officially a freak show. |
I have never felt unsafe in Vietnam. I've only lost one of my children once, and that was George at the home stay in the Mekong. He rode way ahead of us and missed the entrance to the house. It was about 5 minutes before we realised he was missing. I took off on a bike far too small for me at breakneck speed and found him about 5 minutes later. He was on his way back after finally realising we weren't following him.
We've been "cased" a few times for a bag snatch, but it has been so obvious that it hasn't been hard to avoid losing my bag. 3 very dumb teenagers stood beside us in Dalat at the market after I'd bought something and they proceeded to watch with weird interest as Drew had a bangle made for her. They stayed beside us quite a bit longer than any male teenager would stay to watch bracelet making. Then they tried to slowly follow us. I just stopped and said "after you". I haven't had to use any concealed passport carriers. I've either left our passports at the hotel reception or I've carried them in a backpack. The only time I've lost money is when I've left my bag unattended. Stupid me.
I wish I'd brought more long sleeved cotton shirts. Walking in the sun all day is a killer.
I haven't had to use any of the mosquito repellent I brought along. I haven't seen one mosquito. Mind you, I haven't been any further inland than Dalat, and I haven't been in any areas that are risky for malaria.
I could have done with more than 2 electrical adapters (Australian to Vietnamese). We have 2 computers, phone, camera, video camera, PSP and ipod shuffles to recharge, and 2 adapters just hasn't been enough.
The scariest part of the trip, and the only time I felt our lives were in danger was the bus trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat. That was the bus driver's fault, and I'm sure not everyone would have the same experience we had.
Worst part of the trip: James and his vomiting. That's been horrible for him, but hideous for me to deal with during the long bus journeys. I'm thankful that only 1 of my children ended up with vomiting and diarrhoea.
Worst behaved child: A tie between J***s and G****e with M*x coming a close second. Once again, I've de-identified the names to avoid any child taking offence should they ever read this blog.
Most depressing town we visited: Can Tho in the Mekong.
Best town: Dalat and Hoi An with Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi coming close seconds.
Weirdest moment: running into the weird and annoying lady from the My Son tour near Hoi An when we were in a cave in Halong Bay 5 days later.
Weirdest scene: A lady having her hair de-loused on the busy footpath. This was equally weird to the man we saw having a haircut and ear clean on the street corner; and the child we saw being taken for a wee in the gutter of the main roundabout in Hanoi.
Worst moments: (1) Walking into that horrible, tiny train cabin that I was about to spend 18 hours together with my children, and realising that I just didn't think I could go through with it. (2) Wasting a whole day of the trip on a home stay in the Mekong with Ni as our guide.
Best moment: Riding on motorbikes around Dalat with the kids. Thank you Easy Riders.
Best find: A street in Hanoi that has a few shops that sell authentic second hand Rolex watches. P Hang Gai Street (one street back from the centre roundabout in the Old Quarter)
Amendment: My brother who fancies himself as an expert in Rolex watches tells me the watches are very good take-offs of the original. Dam it! I spent hundreds on those 3 watch faces.
Best find: A street in Hanoi that has a few shops that sell authentic second hand Rolex watches. P Hang Gai Street (one street back from the centre roundabout in the Old Quarter)
Amendment: My brother who fancies himself as an expert in Rolex watches tells me the watches are very good take-offs of the original. Dam it! I spent hundreds on those 3 watch faces.
We are homeward bound tomorrow. All 24 hours of it. I'm sure that will be another adventure in itself. Stay tuned for the final blog entries when we arrive home.
Some more photos of Hanoi:
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| This is central Hanoi! |
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| Hanoi is filled with pretty trees. |
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| Gus models for us again |
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| This would actually be very hard to accomplish. |
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| Most of life's activities take part on the pavement outside the shops. |
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| James eats a whole baby octopus. He's pretty adventurous, but even he balked at this because we could see this critter's little eyes. |
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| This may well have been the culprit for the 24 hours of vomiting he experienced the next day. |
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| The heat begins to affect us. |
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| Gecko Bar and Restaurant has great Aussie tucker! Kids need some Aussie respite every now and then. |
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