Surprisingly, I have never once said, "Good morning, Vietnam!" while we've been here.
It's been lovely, but it's time to go. We need to get back to our boy, let Grandma go home and nurse her wounds and be with Grandpa again, and slowly return to real life.
Pictures and stories will be posted over the next week or two. We have over 800 pictures to go through. I hope that we will convince more than one or two people to come check it out over here.
Four quick highlights:
The beauty of the lake in the Old Quarter of Hanoi
Cooking class, complete with a trip to the market, lots of schwag and a big lunch at the Spring Gardens buffet.
The excitement of the MotoGP race!!
Quantity and quality time with my sweetheart, who is my favorite traveling companion.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Hanoi
We will post pictures when we get home. You'll just have to take my word for it that Hanoi is lovely, bustling, crazy and charming.
Yesterday, we spent $40 for breakfast and $5 for 20 minutes of internet at our hotel. Then we went exploring the Old City, and realized that we could get internet for about $0.20/hour and the best pho I have ever eaten for $2.
We sat by the pool, even when it was drizzly, visited a temple, walked around the lake, and shopped at a mall. This morning, we're going to attend a cooking class, which includes a trip to the outdoor market. That will be so cool!
Yesterday, we spent $40 for breakfast and $5 for 20 minutes of internet at our hotel. Then we went exploring the Old City, and realized that we could get internet for about $0.20/hour and the best pho I have ever eaten for $2.
We sat by the pool, even when it was drizzly, visited a temple, walked around the lake, and shopped at a mall. This morning, we're going to attend a cooking class, which includes a trip to the outdoor market. That will be so cool!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Dream Destination
Our bus to and from the racetrack was called "Dream Destination". The weekend was wonderful, and almost as nice as dreamed. I never got to see my hero close up, but got pictures with the eventual first and second place racers, Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa, and the fifth place racer (that's fourth loser to Ally), Nicky Hayden. Nicky was actually pretty nice.
Malaysia is a beautiful country, and we would definitely come back here for a visit.
Malaysia is a beautiful country, and we would definitely come back here for a visit.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Update from the road...
We arrived in Taipei, Taiwan, an hour or so ago. Our layover here is two hours. So far, I've been dazzled by the Hello Kitty store (didn't buy anything), we've had Chinese sweets, bought our customary magnet and have been hanging out at the VIP lounge. They have many neat things to eat for breakfast. I had a delicious baked sweet potato and Japanese curry. Rowdy had a steamed pork bun, curry, rice, a croissant, and Laughing Cow. Just goes to show you which one of us can afford to take in more calories.
I could use a massage and a shower. We'll have to see what awaits us in KL. Tonight is a party for the people in our MotoGP tour group. Tomorrow is qualifying and walking through the paddock at the track. Hope we get lots of autographs!
I could use a massage and a shower. We'll have to see what awaits us in KL. Tonight is a party for the people in our MotoGP tour group. Tomorrow is qualifying and walking through the paddock at the track. Hope we get lots of autographs!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Gotta Love It
From Slate.com:
Welcome to the "80 Over 80," Slate's annual list of the nation's silver lions: fourscore elder statesmen, business leaders, and cultural icons who have each remained influential into their ninth decade and beyond. As always, we've ranked these still-twinkling stars according to their power and importance, with extra credit given for energetic achievements post-80 and for being really, really, really old.
The top spot this year goes to 82-year-old Thomas S. Monson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the only person on the list to rule over millions of people as a prophet of God. Enjoy it while you can, Monson—you're only old once.
Welcome to the "80 Over 80," Slate's annual list of the nation's silver lions: fourscore elder statesmen, business leaders, and cultural icons who have each remained influential into their ninth decade and beyond. As always, we've ranked these still-twinkling stars according to their power and importance, with extra credit given for energetic achievements post-80 and for being really, really, really old.
The top spot this year goes to 82-year-old Thomas S. Monson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the only person on the list to rule over millions of people as a prophet of God. Enjoy it while you can, Monson—you're only old once.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Ten-Day Asian Adventure
I've gotten my shots, we bought books for leisure time, all of the necessary travel arrangements have been made, the bags will be packed soon...it's time for another Bricco Adventure!
Yes, folks, we will be traveling to Sepang, Malaysia to watch this man win his NINTH world championship.
We also will visit family of a friend who live near Kuala Lumpur.
And then it's off to Hanoi to stay at the Sofitel, not the Hilton. Good thing I know how to ride a scooter now. We might have to reprise our Roma Adventure, this time with both of us on Vespas. My aesthetist suggested that I sign up for a cooking class, also. That sounds totally fun!
The best part of it is spending ten days with my sweetie, having an adventure. There's no one else I'd rather travel the world with.
Yes, folks, we will be traveling to Sepang, Malaysia to watch this man win his NINTH world championship.
We also will visit family of a friend who live near Kuala Lumpur.
And then it's off to Hanoi to stay at the Sofitel, not the Hilton. Good thing I know how to ride a scooter now. We might have to reprise our Roma Adventure, this time with both of us on Vespas. My aesthetist suggested that I sign up for a cooking class, also. That sounds totally fun!
The best part of it is spending ten days with my sweetie, having an adventure. There's no one else I'd rather travel the world with.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Rise and Shout!
We went to the BYU vs. SDSU game today. I bought tickets from the BYU Alumni chapter, so we sat in the Visitors' section.
As it had been probably 20 years since I owned a BYU shirt, I visited the bookstore on line. This is to remind me of the days when I actually was a participant in BYU dance, as a member of the corps in the ballet company.
These two jokesters bought themselves SDSU shirts. It's not like they have any ties to State besides just living near it. They just like being contrarians.
Small-Head Cosmo usually creeps me out a little, but his expression was perfect when he was doing a little break dance. He's much cuter and less-creepy to me now. Rowdy said he'd take a picture of me with Cosmo, but that would just be dorky.
BYU did win, despite their not-always-stellar play and quite good play from the Aztecs. A win is a win, but I don't think that the Cougs are going to be in the top 20 on Monday.
***Well, the Y actually moved up in the rankings. Yay!! And yay as well to UT and Bozo State!
As it had been probably 20 years since I owned a BYU shirt, I visited the bookstore on line. This is to remind me of the days when I actually was a participant in BYU dance, as a member of the corps in the ballet company.
These two jokesters bought themselves SDSU shirts. It's not like they have any ties to State besides just living near it. They just like being contrarians.
Small-Head Cosmo usually creeps me out a little, but his expression was perfect when he was doing a little break dance. He's much cuter and less-creepy to me now. Rowdy said he'd take a picture of me with Cosmo, but that would just be dorky.
BYU did win, despite their not-always-stellar play and quite good play from the Aztecs. A win is a win, but I don't think that the Cougs are going to be in the top 20 on Monday.
***Well, the Y actually moved up in the rankings. Yay!! And yay as well to UT and Bozo State!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Here's something I've learned in life
No matter what your situation, no matter how tough the road, you can have true peace, happiness and contentment in your life. It's your choice, but you don't have to do it alone. The Savior, Jesus Christ, is there to guide, comfort, console and teach you. You just have to let go and follow Him.
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
John 14:27
Sunday, October 11, 2009
So now I can tell you...
that I am the first counselor in the Stake Primary presidency. I'm very excited to work with Julia and Michele, and even more excited not to be president.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Tender is the dinner
We had dinner last night at Tender Greens, which is my new favorite place.
The premise is that it's local foods, fresh and tasty, with emphasis on vegetables (yummy!), inexpensive to purchase and delicious to eat.
I had Salade Nicoise with tomato-basil-bread soup. K and R had flank steak with mashed potatoes and salad. R also had the wonderful tomato soup. We were all too stuffed to try one of the fantastic-sounding desserts. Dinner for three came in at around $40.
(The pictures just do not do this food justice.)
Lazy Saturday
Well, for two of us, anyway. Rowdy, being Rowdy, went on a lengthy MTB ride with his co-worker, Jacob (who looks a lot like Jake Gillenhaal, in my opinion--but he's not).
I have had a real yen to go clothes-shopping, but have felt guilty about spending too much money. You see, R and I are just a week and a half from taking our one big vacation of the year, complete with first-class flights, VIP treatment in Malaysia and a swanky hotel in Vietnam.
But, girls will be girls, and I went shopping anyway. I went to Kohl's, which significantly lessened the financial blow of buying a cute military-style jacket, two sweaters, a top, a tablecloth for Thanksgiving and a necklace/earring set to go with a dress I purchased from Target for the pre-MotoGP race party our first night in Sepang.
With each thing I tried on, I imagined Clinton and Stacey's critique. I don't think they'd be overjoyed with the disjointedness of my purchases, but each of them had a certain place in my wardrobe. A very cute poplin blazer (only $20, as I recall) was rejected because it would really need tailoring to emphasize my waistline. It didn't quite hit me the right spot on my hips, either. That's one of the challenges of being long-waisted.
I've been perusing the websites of different photographer who are either of my acquaintance or a relative of a friend to see what people are wearing and how they wear it. It all looks so easy and effortless on other people--plain top or top-with-cami underneath, simple cardigan, maybe a belt, a necklace, jeans. I'm not sure why I either don't feel like I can pull that off or don't buy similar things and just give it a whirl.
Hmmm....
I have had a real yen to go clothes-shopping, but have felt guilty about spending too much money. You see, R and I are just a week and a half from taking our one big vacation of the year, complete with first-class flights, VIP treatment in Malaysia and a swanky hotel in Vietnam.
But, girls will be girls, and I went shopping anyway. I went to Kohl's, which significantly lessened the financial blow of buying a cute military-style jacket, two sweaters, a top, a tablecloth for Thanksgiving and a necklace/earring set to go with a dress I purchased from Target for the pre-MotoGP race party our first night in Sepang.
With each thing I tried on, I imagined Clinton and Stacey's critique. I don't think they'd be overjoyed with the disjointedness of my purchases, but each of them had a certain place in my wardrobe. A very cute poplin blazer (only $20, as I recall) was rejected because it would really need tailoring to emphasize my waistline. It didn't quite hit me the right spot on my hips, either. That's one of the challenges of being long-waisted.
I've been perusing the websites of different photographer who are either of my acquaintance or a relative of a friend to see what people are wearing and how they wear it. It all looks so easy and effortless on other people--plain top or top-with-cami underneath, simple cardigan, maybe a belt, a necklace, jeans. I'm not sure why I either don't feel like I can pull that off or don't buy similar things and just give it a whirl.
Hmmm....
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Conference Thoughts
This last General Conference was one of the best, in my opinion. Maybe I was just ready to be taught.
Elder Scott's talk about personal revelation was very pertinent to my life and things I've been needing. I like how he outlined a technique to getting and processing personal revelation:
1) Exercise faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and ask
2) Record the impressions you receive
3) Ponder those impressions
4) Pray and review with the Lord what you think you've been taught
5) Express gratitude to the Lord for that inspiration
6) Ask if there's more you should know
The last thing I recorded in my journal synopsis of his talk is, "As you pray with all your soul with fervor and gratitude, you can consistently be guided by the Holy ghost in all aspects of your life." That seemed tailor-made for me, since I feel so much the need to be guided in all aspects of my life--marriage, parenting, work and now my new calling...
...which I cannot divulge the title of at this time, but will after Sunday. I can say that I'm not the boss of anything, thank goodness. But it is still enough of a stretch for me that I'm thinking, "Ohmyheck! What do I have to contribute to this?"
Elder Holland's talk about and testimony of the Book of Mormon was so powerful that I felt transfixed to the couch and like I could hardly even blink. My own testimony of the Book of Mormon, the Savior, and Joseph Smith's role in restoring the true Church were strengthened and magnified. It will be interesting to see if that same feeling comes across in the printed version. I think it will.
Elder Scott's talk about personal revelation was very pertinent to my life and things I've been needing. I like how he outlined a technique to getting and processing personal revelation:
1) Exercise faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and ask
2) Record the impressions you receive
3) Ponder those impressions
4) Pray and review with the Lord what you think you've been taught
5) Express gratitude to the Lord for that inspiration
6) Ask if there's more you should know
The last thing I recorded in my journal synopsis of his talk is, "As you pray with all your soul with fervor and gratitude, you can consistently be guided by the Holy ghost in all aspects of your life." That seemed tailor-made for me, since I feel so much the need to be guided in all aspects of my life--marriage, parenting, work and now my new calling...
...which I cannot divulge the title of at this time, but will after Sunday. I can say that I'm not the boss of anything, thank goodness. But it is still enough of a stretch for me that I'm thinking, "Ohmyheck! What do I have to contribute to this?"
Elder Holland's talk about and testimony of the Book of Mormon was so powerful that I felt transfixed to the couch and like I could hardly even blink. My own testimony of the Book of Mormon, the Savior, and Joseph Smith's role in restoring the true Church were strengthened and magnified. It will be interesting to see if that same feeling comes across in the printed version. I think it will.
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