A letter from home

Our thoughts always go back to our trip to Vietnam. I tell people we could never have imagined how amazing the trip was to be. I still see your faces smiling at Hanoi airport. Who would have thought we would be reunited in such a distant place. One day soon I will write about our adventures. I feel privileged that we were able to experience the Vietnamese culture so closely. Andy's Vietnamese certainly helped us - who would have known green dragon fruit is the best. Remember the delicious grilled fish dishes - wrapped in leaves - cilantro - morning glory greens - those wonderful local dishes on the waterfront in Hoi An. People shouting "hello" as we cycled through the rice paddies. The silhouette of the children, fisherman walking along the dyke when we were on our tour of the floating city with the hills protruding like a landscape from another planet behind them. The old lady almost bowing gesturing to us to join her in the church, such a spiritual event.
Following Andy on bikes for the first time in over ten years as we cycled out of Ninh Binh into the countryside. Stopping for that oh so wonderful icecream or bottle of water. Feeling warm all the time. Being able to carry your possessions on your back. Riding the bus with the locals through little villages with the factories that will change their life forever looming up. The challenges of travelling when things do not quite go as you planned but it is fine because actually things work out better than you expected. Traveling by overnight bus and train comfortably - Dad has since said he has always wanted to go by overnight train although he thinks he prefers the bus because you see more of the countryside - if it is a comfortable bus that is. Travelling with our daughter and son-in-law - as family and best friends. Knowing that there are difficult times at times when we all have opinions but making that turn around to making things successful. Accepting that being bothered by touts is a game we must play - not a Western culture event but very much part of most of the rest of the world as you have discovered. Riding on the moto-bike not done since we were very young but still the same buzz as then - bodies tight, leaning in to the bend up hill and down. Getting soaking wet but feeling warm. Shopping in the market with you, buying lovely things while the boys hung out. Wishing Sophie were there but knowing she would understand our experiences because she had been to Asia. Such images....

For you two at times things must be tough. But your experience and knowledge of these different cultures will always be with you to look back on and say we did it! Thanks for everything you did for us in Vietnam, the planning, Andy always finding water for us, the relish with which you taste and experience the cuisine and bia hoi, Sarah the kind way you relate to the people, your walking tours and on and on...

And you guys have experienced so much, so many different cultures and countries, so many stories. Now yes you can feel time slipping by but remember you still have a third of this big trip to go. I want to hear all about Laos, Thailand, India, Pakistan. And I am sure you will have adventures here in Western Canada to look forward to.

Let me know if you need more malaria pills or anything else. Take care, we are just sipping a Vietnamese coffee - quite wonderful.

Love Mom

PS Did you get to ride elephants?!