Rewind and Recap

We're back on home turf, and we can't believe it's all over! With the sporadic internet connections we had over the last two weeks in Viet Nam, it was hard to share our adventures. But now, we can catch up and show you what went on.

Fazila showed you our closing ceremony, all dressed up to receive our certificates of completion, and here's our final dinner at the Asean Restaurant where we had many an interesting conversation over smiling fish and steaming soups.

Final Ceremony

I cannot believe we have completed the program!

My tutor just sent this to me. It is our last group photo in front of the Univeristy.

Relief

The big exam is behind us. We get to celebrate our general success with a dinner out thanks to the rector of the university. A formal affair of sorts: the invitation says "food and drink festival." Should be fun.

In the morning, we're off early to Sapa. A mountainous region, Sapa is home to many of the ethnic minorities we've been hearing so much about including the H'Mong and the Black Thai (based on their indigo-dyed clothes). It's a three-day, two-night weekend, and we're all excited. It's our last big hurrah before the events of next week: a few school visits, the final class, a last meeting with our wonderful tutors, and the closing reception. And packing: boy, that should be interesting.

We're all exhaling a big sigh of relief. No matter how we did in the class or on the exam, we were a success. We learned a heck of a lot immersed in a brand new culture (for us), and we had an experience beyond compare.

School visits

We made our first visit to a local school, and it was a special school at that. The Ethnic Minority HIgh School is one of a kind. It caters to studentsof the northern ethnic groups from the remote mountain regions. While they learn the necessary requirements, they are also encouraged to practice their own cultural traditions. We were the audience for a performance by a handful of groups; singing and dancing, storytelling and more, were put before us with heart and great skill. To say we were impressed is an understatement.

We were also able to sit in a few classes and noted the similarities and differences of our classrooms and theirs. One simple difference is the size of the classes, between 40-50, and the behavior of those numbers: not a peep unless the teacher directed it. Discipline is not an issue (or, it's not as major an issue as we often address at home).

It was a terrific experience for all involved.

Viet Nam Rewind

We're jumping around as our trip comes to a close, but let's take a look at what else we've done way before Ha Long Bay (though we LOVED Ha Long Bay).

We also really like Hoi An and the Da Nang area, including the UNESCO site of My Son. Hoi An is an old town, representing Japanese, Chinese and local influences. It's a silk haven, as well, with overnight tailor shops turning out dresses and suits. Lanterns lit the roads, and the streets were crowded with people from all over the world.

Before we took off to head back home to Thai Nguyen, we made a stop at My Son archeological site (it's an active archeological site). What an amazing experience -- older than Cambodia's Angkor Wat, My Son was the site of the Cham people for hundreds of years. As with many ancient sites, there is the wonder of how the unique stones were brought to the mountainous region. It was breathtaking:

Da Nang itself was interesting, more for the recent history than the hustle and bustle of this city. Electricity only made it to Da Nang in the '90s, and they've made a lot of progress since then . It was beautiful flying in.

This was a terrific trip, and the following week was Ha Long Bay, and this weekend is Sa Pa: we're certainly wrapping up our trip with a bang.

Meteor Shower

We'll entertain you with tales of our great Vietnamese adventures again soon but I was happy to pick up this new report.

http://vn.news.yahoo.com/mưa-sao-băng-sắp-xuất-hiện.html

It's in Vietnamese but I could figure out the gist of it (Language success): This weekend the Perseids meteor shower will be lighting up the night sky. And we'll be high in the northwestern mountains with what could be a most awesome view.

This is our last week of classes, and our final exam is on Thursday -- wish us luck|

This our last week of school, I cannot believe it!

Aftermath of Ha Long Bay..

I would LOVE to go back. Ha Long Bay was spectacular! It was everything I expected....and more! The rain after breakfast was a pleasant surprise. Even though our swimming time was canceled, we still enjoyed the view.

[Attempting] Doing Sun Salutations with Robin and Shelly was the perfect ending to our morning.

I am going to share my favorite photo. I hope you all enjoy it!

Legend of the Lake

A local attraction we took in on our journey was a trip to Thai Nguyen's Nui Coc Lake. The long term goal for the area is as a major tourist destination, and they are building hotels nearby.
The park is part water-park, part picnic area, with swan boats and lake tours, pools, and other venues. We didn't get to see the whole area -- time is always of the essence on our day and weekend trips -- but we did get to go into The Halls of Legends, theme-park inspired walk/ride-throughs where you are given the a series of legends related to the lake and to the country. (Although our Vietnamese still wasn't prepared for the narration.)
The Lake's legend involves two young, star-crossed lovers who are not allowed to marry due to his being poor and her being rich. He, Coc, dies heartbroken, and fairies turn him into a mountain; she, Cong, cries terrible tears of anguish which become a river (Cong River) that feeds the lake surrounding the mountain.

It's a story as old as mankind, it seems, and it fits the beauty of the region. Truth be told, we were just happy to go swimming and beat the heat for a little bit.



We also were able to partake of what Thai Nguyen is most famous: tea! (In fact, as the legend goes, Cong's tears help irrigate the tea fields.) We watched a traditional pouring of tea, and then were able to sample a few types. It was the perfect ending to our day... or so we though!
Following the tea factory, we piled back into the bus and went up the mountain, to the tea fields themselves. Vast tracts of tea, punctuated by rice paddies, as far as the eye could see. Chickens patrolled the rows, keeping insects in check. The process the tea right next to the fields, drying it out for packaging. It's nice to see local business keeping local people working.
Another weekend had come to a close.

Back in the saddle....

We've been experiencing some momentary technical problems here and there: our Internet access is sporadic, and this week, Typhoon Noch-Ten has thrown some weather-works our way (rain, and more rain). But we're here, working hard, learning all we can, and gearing up for the next big trip (as Fazila pointed out!).
We've had a lot of fun the past week or so, and we can't wait to let you know all about it.

The whole group at Nui Coc Lake, a local legend-inspired attraction.

--Maureen

Ha Long Bay

I cannot wait for this weekend! Ha Long Bay is what I have been dreaming about! I hope all goes well with the weather and there are no problems in our way! :)

Journey to Ninh Binh

Our day trips are fast and furious, often hours spent on the bus for a short time in the destination, and then hop back on the bus and speed off home.

We did that yesterday (Friday, July 22) but every bit of it seemed that much worthwhile.

The first leg of our trip (after lunch), took us to Trang An for a boat ride. But not just any boat ride! Four to a craft, with a local driver (who occasionally used her feet!), we zipped along the practically crystal-clear water, through a mountain pass (once islands in a prehistoric ocean, now considered Halong Bay on land), to a cave system in the same hills.

Low hanging walls and stalactites forced us to sit low on our already low boat, but what a spectacular experience! Cool air, dripping walls, the occasional bat, the dark caressed us as we slipped by in silent awe.

Following that extraordinary experience, we hopped down the road a piece to Hoa Lu, the site of the capital city from 968-1009 (before it moved to Ha Noi). The region was a natural castle, mountains formed protective walls and the river created a moat. The kings are buried nearby, and temples were erected in their honor along the grounds. Vast open areas are ringed by gorgeous gardens, full of regional flowers.

Our final stop on an already packed day was the impressive Phat Diem Cathedral. A French Jesuit priest preached in the region in the 1600s and two hundred years later, a Vietnamese priest (Tran Luc) had this stone church constructed in a melding of Asian and European styles. And with the setting sun behind it, our day ended in quite the spectacular sensation.

--Maureen

Going to the chapel...

We were lucky enough to be invited to a local wedding. Talk about cultural immersion! All of our wedding expectations were hit by culture shock: yes, the bride wore white (but a traditional Vietnamese outfit), and they exchanged rings but not the way we know it.

The ceremony was held in the groom's family home, all decked out in red decorations and flowers. We sat at a long table among many, and were served the local tea as we waited for the happy couple to arrive. (The groom and a few friends went to pick up the bride and bring her to the house as is the custom.)

The ceremony begins with a representative from each family giving a speech, as the families come together. The bride and groom then go up to the alter of his ancestors to ask for blessings and for the bride to be welcomed into the family.

And while they were in that part of the house, we were entertained by folk singers, and singers who were friends of the family. The living room and dining room, and outside patio were full of friends and family as the music filled the house.

The tea kept coming, and there were sweets on the table to help celebrate the day.

They came back to the main area and exchanged rings; there were a few more speeches -- from honored friends, and the groom's father -- and then we were invited to dinner at a local restaurant.

We were all excited to get to what we considered the reception. The tables were set and even the windows were decorated for the occasion. The groom's father gave a nice general toast, and the couple went table to table thanking guests and making toasts with each group. And then the toasts kept coming: everyone went around wishing them the best, joining with people at each table. It was a fun, raucous affair!

And that was it, just dinner. All of us geared up for some dancing were... well, we weren't disappointed at all. We were just pleased to have been a part of this special, eye-opening occasion.

Motorbike Culture

Fazila and I are big fans of the British TV car show "Top Gear" and a while ago they filmed an episode in Viet Nam, so we had some idea what to look for along the roads. The show's hosts were challenged to ride motorbikes on the varied and twisting roads from south to north, along the coast, through the cities and over the mountains, and as with all their challenges, havoc (and fun) ensues. As we've traveled, we've seen things that remind us of that show but I don't think that prepared us for what we would experience (even from inside a bus).

On the roads, there seems to be general rules that they are following and yet there is also a sense of every man for himself out there. Everyone has somewhere to go and they are going to get there! Getting out of the way is up to you!
What's fun to watch for are the goods being transported on the backs of the bikes. We've seen entire families (2 parents, 2 kids), computer monitors (five at a time), cartons of eggs, crates of beer, panes of glass, lumber, chickens and even small pigs. It's odd and fun for us, but hey, it works for them.

Hen gap lai!

Maureen

Where the water buffalo roam

The agricultural state of being is evident along the roadways. Rice paddies are "curbside;" cows, chickens, goats and water buffalo have the right of way.

Viet Nam's population puts it in the top 20 world-wide but its population density is higher because of its small area/size. The country is about 65% mountains and jungles, with that 35% holding the large urban population (over 9 million at last count). There's elbow room to be had, just don't try to pass a herd of water buffalo on the road.