Funniest Story and Picture

We flew from Ho Chi Minh City (aka Siagon) to Hanoi today... Evan did very well. But by the time we got into the hotel it was around 1:00pm or more and we ate breakfast at 6AM today... so we were famished. So we (actually me [Eric]) insisted we finally go to a real live Vietnamese Restaurant to eat; so we asked at the front desk and they recommended one just down the street. First you have to understand that the restaurantes that don't primarily cater to Westerns or Tourists have a different feel to them - "earthy" would be a good descripter - sometimes dirt floors, open-air, untidy, etc. As we walked into the entrance the sight of the live food was a little unsettling for Kayla (what would soon be on your plate was still enjoying its last living moments = the seafood was all in tanks, even some chickens close by). We sat down and started looking over the menu... but most of the first 7 pages were filled with very strange menu items - truly Asian at its best... what caught our eye most was the grouping of items listed as "Snake Head"- snake head with noodles; snake head with rice, etc... (Snakes are somewhat mystical here in VN - at the market the other day I saw King Cobras in bottles, being fermented in alchol being sold as "snake wine") The more we read the more unsettled we became, but we couldn't just get up and go. So we finally found a few dishes that looked like we might be able to stomach them. But after thinking about the snake head meals (and I was the only one who noticed a meal with "dog meat") our appetites soon deminished. We quickly ate [only kim and I, kayla refused] and left. When we got back to the hotel the receptionists were quick to ask us about their suggestion. I stammered for an answer and finally decided honesty was the best approach: "I think it was a little too authenicate for us, particularly our daughter" [blaming kids picky eating habits sounded like an easy way out... and it was true]. I then mentioned that I thought the "snake head" items was a night unnerving for us... "In the states you usually don't eat snake let alone its head for dinner..." the two receptionists paused for a moment and finally realized our confusion... "snake head" isn't a snake, its a name of a type of fish in SE Asia!!!! We all had a very good laugh... realizing most of our appetite lose was in our mind not in the food!!!








Ok now for the funniest picture of the trip... as we traveled from the airport [located outside town in farming area] into the city, we came across this:








That puts a whole new perspective on the "this little pig goes to market..." Motorcycles are the primary mode of transporting everything- people, supplies, construction materials, food, etc... We finally came to this conclusion as to the limit of motorcycles' delivery ability: IF TWO MEN CAN LIFT IT, A MOTOBIKE CAN GET IT THERE!





Finally a few pics of us and Evan



Kayla bought [with her own $] an Ou Ai... traditional VN outfit.




Evan and Mommy at breakfast... as you'll be noticing the pics are mainly of kim and evan... mainly females caring at orphanages, so they are not used to men; and this time Evan cries when I come his way... totally expected and normal for orphans.



More snuggles:)



"________ has a funny hat"... is a funny song we sing in our family... and its always sung when our kids are this age and this happens... SO we sang "EVAN has a funny hat..."



What kid doesn't like a warm bath... Evan loves his bath... splashing and "grabbing" the water as it came out of the faucet.