Winter Holiday train Adventures!

For our 3-week winter holiday Jonathan and I decided to take a train trip...then entire length of Vietnam! We started in Saigon and traveled on an overnight train to DaNang, where we stayed on the beach near Marble Mountain for a couple of days. We got to catch up with friends, venture into the woods of Son Tra reserve, and wander the old city of HoiAn.
Getting tucked in on the train.
J on the train.
Beautiful tree root in Son Tra.
One of the many Buddhas inside the cave system at Marble Mountain.
View from the top of Marble Mountain.

From there, we took the train over Hai Van pass to Hanoi, where we again caught up with friends, got to experience the cooler hazier weather of the north, and do lots of walking.
Possibly one of the most beautiful roads in Vietnam..Hai Van Pass, from the train.
More of Hai Van Pass.
...and yet again...
The train crossing a bridge somewhere on the way to Hue.
Rice paddies and mountainous terrain somewhere between DaNang and Hue.
We had booked a trip to Sapa through a travel group called Handspan. What a great time we had! Again, another overnight train ride up to the frigid north where we did some trekking into the valley, did a homestay for Christmas eve, returned to the town of Sapa for Chirstmas, and then a long bus-ride out to the largest market in the north. We made a quick stop-over at the Vietnam-China border before making our way back to Hanoi by overnight train.
The view of the mountains and clouds in the valley below Sapa in the early morning.
Hiking in the valley.
Some of the Hmong children at a refreshment stand along the hike. The young girl on the left is carrying a baby under the blanket.
Terraced hillsides along the valley.
Hiking through the muddy hills. The woman with me was one of three who accompanied us on the hike, holding my hand anytime the trail became too slippery. Once we arrived at our destination they unloaded lots of embroidered handicrafts from their baskets that were available for purchase.
Our "room" at the homestay in the valley. The room was big enough to sleep at least 10 people!
Setting up for dessert on Christmas Eve-getting ready for cake, red wine, and fruit.

The river in the valley on our hike the next morning.
An image from the market the following day.
From Hanoi, we flew to Laos and spent a week with friends in beautiful Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Laos is beautiful and quiet, a wonderful respite from the bustling honking streets of Hanoi or Saigon. We enjoyed catching up with good friends and spending time in lovely places in a more "local" way.
Jonathan crossing the bamboo bridge that we had to cross every day to get to the old town of Luang Prabang. It was dry season so the bridge is there. In the wet season the river gets high enough and strong enough to wipe the bridge out!
Wats and tuk-tuks. What's not to love about Luang Prabang?
A boy playing in the river at the bridge.
Monks out for their daily collection of food from the citizens of LP. Serving in a monastery for at least 10 days is mandatory for all males. The monks only eat what they collect in the town each day. It makes you wonder how the mandatory service would affect the population-any difference if it were mandatory military service?

Sunset on the Mekong river in Luang Prabang.

Angkor Wat Half Marathon, Take 3

This December, Jonathan and I, and several teachers from my school traveled to Siem Reap for another go at the Angkor Wat half marathon. Jonathan traveled with our friends and colleagues in the conservation world and ran the 10k in the gibbon costume. This year I trained with some teacher friends and ran the 1/2 marathon! What a fantastic event! We left shortly after sunrise-if you ever make the trek to Angkor Wat, be sure to catch a sunrise at the main temples-it's breath-taking! During the first 10k I had the sound of chanting floating in on the fog from the forest. During the second 10k several Khmer families lined up along the road and cheered us on with words of encouragement and high-fives. My friend and inspiration, Karen, met me for the last couple of kilometers. Not only did she run the half, but then she ran back at least 2 other times to meet us and run us in to the finish. I managed to find the energy to "sprint" to the finish...then to the massage tent where I deliriously tried to pay for a massage that was free..it was good fun!
Getting ready before the run.
Runnin' runnin' runnin'..round 15k in..
Running towards the gate.
Drummers set up outside of Bayon temple.
Stacey, Jonathan, and Lisa after the run!

November- Wedding in Hanoi

Our friend, Ha, invited us to attend his wedding. We got to be a part of the pre-banquet events, where a convoy begins at the groom's house, goes to the house of the bride where tea and some snacks are shared and the fathers talk about the union of the 2 families before the bride-groom go to pray at the family altar.

At a pre-determined time, the couple leaves the bride's home to go to the groom's home to do it all over again before the convoy goes to the banquet-a big event where lots of food and drink flow and everyone is toasting each other and the new couple. What a beautiful event!
The convoy walking down the alleyway to the bride's house.
Photos at the house of the bride.
Praying at the family altar in the bride's home.
Leaving the bride's house.
Arriving at the house of the groom's family.
Praying at the family altar of the groom.
Groom's brother, sister-in-law, and nephew.
Photos at the groom's house.
More family photos: bride with nieces and nephew.
The wedding banquet.

Fall Break Part 2-MuiNe

Once we returned to Saigon, we booked a train to MuiNe, where we stayed and relaxed for a few days. Such a great place!
Our room at the Full Moon..our old favorite hotel was sold and is now La Plage.
Morning coffee from the balcony. Ahh. I love MuiNe.
Playing with some shells.
Beach dogs. They actually live at the hotel. Mom is in the back with 2 of her pups. The brown one was shorter, stouter, and friendlier but the white one was my favorite.

Singapore zoo

Jonathan and the Proboscis monkey tree.
He's checkin' us out.
Us at the zoo. I like the light in this photo.
Here we are with the orangutans.
Fruit bats are awesome! AKA flying fox. Within this enclosure the bats, birds, lemurs and sloth were all cruising around-you could pet them, and people tried..obviously not a good idea but how could you NOT want to pet him!

Fall Break Part 1- Singapore

Little India Market.
This was great! He has a tray with little holes in it in a design. The tray is full of flour. He is tapping the tray on the floor to make the cool designs you see around him.
Ganesha.
City scene. Veg and non-veg food. Cool.

In mid-October I attended a conference in Singapore. Jonathan came and met me for a couple of days. We visited Little India and the amazing Singapore Zoo and Night Safari! Wow!