Happy Mother's Day Mom, Love Tuck & Jones

Wish you were here... or actually, wish we were there :-). These flowers we're holding were for you, until we used them as bats and beat each other with them, then tried eating them, but Dad wouldn't let us...


p.s. - the sign says "Thanks Mom!"

Boat Dedication and Ceremony

What a treat to be invited to the family ceremony to pray and give thanks for the success of the new boat we were on. We went with the owners and their father to the island of Quan Lan where they grew up. There we transfered to the wharf which had flags flying from all the fishing boats and went to three of the five temples that were visited that day. We traveled by Tuc Tuc, a motorcycle-powered covered wagon (five adults and five children inside). The temples ranged from simple cement block buildings to outrageously decorated large structures and one that was used as a community center complete with old women playing cards and gambling just outside the steps.

Scattered thoughts

So you thought that driving at night is a problem in the US? This is taken from the balcony of Legend cafe where one has a very cold beer and a terrific view of the craziness.

Also, this is what happens if you forget and brush your teeth with water out of the tap:

But the good news is that at the end of the day with the five kids and some sake, you have this facial expression:

Today we are off to say hi to Uncle Ho.

Tucker

Travel with the gang

Going out in Hanoi with the gang is, to say the least, a real "trip." First you have to catch the little devils, get them cleaned up and dressed. It is sort of like putting socks on an eel. Two eels.
Next is the double stroller and convincing the older ones to find their shoes, remember the cameras and chargers, etc. We walk everywhere. It is a little disconcerting to realize that the street folks who reach out for the children do so as a gesture of kindness and real pleasure at seeing this unusual grouping. If they did it in the states, you would probably call the cops, but here it is facinatingly universal.
We went to the Art and Literature "museum" and then the museum of fine arts (not shown) and by the time this was over, everyone was a dead duck. But the puppet show at night and the night market awaited. Tired yet?

Tucker