Halong Bay

After two nights (Jan. 2-3) in our hotel in Hanoi, a van picked us up in the morning, along with our traveling companions, the Haneys and the Philbricks, and took us to Halong Bay where we boarded "the Paloma" for a cruise of 2 nights and a part of 3 days. Halong Bay is world-famous for the unique rock formations, and the cruise included several hours for kayaking, a bar-b-que with linen tablecloths on a deserted sandbar, and a visit by small boats to a floating village.On the visit to the floating village
Nancy and I had a very attractive young Vietnamese girl who did all the rowing in our small dinghy. During summer months on Halong Bay it can be very hot, but we experienced chilly, overcast weather. I couldn't pass up getting a picture of Nancy all bundled-up on the upper deck. It wasn't exactly like a Caribbean Cruise! - rw

Life in Hanoi ...

One of the distinctive things about wandering around in the old city of Hanoi was the incredible number of motorcycles and motor scooters. Most intersections didn't have stop lights, so it became an art form to learn how to cross the street (a slow purposeful walk with eyes peeled rather than a more instinctive approach with stops-and-starts). That way the motorcycles seemed to know whether to miss you on the right or the left!
We did tour the famous "Hanoi Hilton," the prison where John McCain and other American pilots were held during the Vietnam War. Signs on the wall (call it propaganda) would lead you to believe that the pilots were so well-treated that for them it amounted to an extended vacation. The prison had been used by the French in Colonial times to incarcerate communists who were agitating for independence, and in regard to those days, the government was quick to point out the inhumane conditions.
Nancy had found a delightful hotel on the internet that only cost $50 a night, a hotel that was perfectly located for exploring the old city on foot. By the way, it was unseasonably cold in Hanoi! - rw

Christmas in Bali ...

I suppose before one leaves KLIA (the airport) in Kuala Lumpur for Christmas in Bali, tea and scones at Harrods would be appropriate, right? But after arriving in Nusa Dua on the 24th of December the family did have a great time in a warm tropical climate. We had occasional rain but there was plenty of time for the kids to play on the beach or in the pool. The kids really enjoyed making sand castles on the beach, taking a ride on a "banana boat" and spending lots of time in the pool. We took one full day for a taxi ride to Ubud, an area known for all kinds of crafts and also for its rice paddies.


Ample buffet breakfasts were inclusive in the hotel costs, so we usually ate light for lunch and then went to a nearby restaurant (all 13 of us) for dinner. - rw

Some Highlights of Christmas in KL

We're sure it was tough for Mark and Marta, Daniel, Eli and Micah to leave the comfortable, cold, and snowy weather in the Washington D.C. area -- and for Tasha to leave the cold and rain in Portland -- and to don swimsuits in Malaysia. But it happened! And the rest of the family was so glad they came. One of the highlights for most everyone was the day trip to Sunway Lagoon on the other side of the city. It's a huge water park with something for everyone. Underwater pictures were taken and fun was had by all.
A highlight for the adults was an all-adult dinner at the Chinese restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel downtown -- thanks to a 1/2 price coupon that Nancy produced (pix posted earlier on our blog).


Of course all first-time visitors to KL need to take the elevator to the top of the KL Tower, and also try to get tickets (which we did after a long wait in line) to the Skybridge in the Petronas Towers. And then, of course, there's the KL Birdpark, the largest covered birdpark in the world, where everyone except Micah was willing to have a "close encounter" with one or more parrots. - rw