Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Chosing (losing?) my religion

In the Old Quarters there certainly is something for everyone, as long as you like it bright and colourful.

A Chula morning

This Saturday, without doubt the hottest day so far this year, we headed for Chula, or Laura and Diegos place to enjoy good music, good company, good drinks - and even a fashion show. The place is fantastic and the kids and I talked about how we could create a space like that in Manila.

Beautiful colours...

... and good music.

A great party.

Hana was truly impressed by all the sketches of beautiful dresses, but then they found some bugs (see other posts) and drifted away.

Bugs II

More bugs were found at Chula's this weekend, where kids immediately teamed up to catch and capture as many as possible. Hana found the very first one and Kai carefully took two home, to prepare a very special leaving gift for a very special friend... Count-down has totally started. In exactly two weeks time we're moving out of our house, which has been the home of both Hana and Kai for most of their lives, and which is the place I've lived the longest since I left my childhood home more than twenty years ago.
 
Minh and Kai expanding the bugs' garden.
Look, there are more upstairs!

Dong Xuan Market

These days I am very busy buying all those things I haven wanted while living here but that I now feel are completely indispensable when we move. The other day I visited Dong Xuan market as that is supposedly the very best place to buy raw silk at very good prices. However, the supply was overwhelming, I got completely confused and left the place without even the tiniest piece of cloth. Will give it a new try at Hang Gai, silk street, next week...

The Swedish Camp and other stuff

Next to the Embassy is the "Swedish Camp" where traditionally all Swedes used to live. Today they still remain the majority but little by little others are moving in, too. Last Friday Kai's classmate Signe and her family invited all class for a lovely afternoon with lots of play in the big garden and in the pool, a great barbeque and also some wine for the parents. Everyone happy!
Snack time in the garden at the Swedish Camp where Signe lives. 
 All the seven Stars and one special guest: Amber, Hosea, Hana, Signe, Kai, Zach, Hoang, Soc.

During the weekend we did of course also squeeze in the regular soccer and karate practice. And on Saturday evening mum escaped for a night out with friends, went to listen to some German electronic (!) music at an outdoor festival, very well deserved and needed among all these kiddies' stuff!
Last Saturday Soccer practice at UNIS - ever!
Hana has now joined the Karate Ishin class at Sedona, certainly more enthusiastic than Kai at the moment...

Birthday Weekend

Trying to catch up a bit... Last weekend we celebrated Hana's fourth birthday. On Friday with cake and candles and singing and presents in bed, after lunch with the same in school (and we even gave it a third round as Kai's class were having a special fun day at his friend Signe's house). Saturday was full of preparations for the Sunday's special princess fairy treasure hunt party. Eight four year olds - Hana, Lena, Rebecka, Millie Mai, Elina, Anika, Miya and Elisabeth - and two special helpers - Kai and another Elisabeth, and a bunch of mums. A huge success and even mum had time to enjoy the fun.
Morning presents as always.
Dad on the phone from Manila.
Outside school. Hana 4 years old!
Cake in school, of course.
Magic fairy princes treasure hunt party with the friends.
Kai and Elisabeth as special helpers.
More cake...
And what the place looked like when all the guests were gone (except for Rebecka and Elizabeth, as usual...)

Friday, May 18, 2012

Bugs

 With best friend Hosea Kai spends a lot of time catching any kind of bugs they can find. Yesterday they got a whole bunch of tiny baby frogs in a box, took it into the living room to have a closer look, of course spilled it all out and we had to arrange for a big indoor frog rescue mission. Then they touched a poisonous caterpillar and got all red and ichy and had to come inside.

Hosea and Kai.

Here, at the "Swedish Camp" by the embassy, just saved a little one from drowning...

Swimming

Summer is back and we go swimming several times a week. Kai is all fine and Hana is learning how to manage also above water, how to at least get up to the surface every now and then to grasp some air. Down by the Trade Union Hotel pool with Rebecka and Elisabeth.
Elizabeth and Kai.
 
Hana and Rebecka.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

A stroll around the neighborhood

This afternoon I just went for a quick walk around the block. I've said it before, but I repeat. I will miss this place so much.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Hanoi skies

The colour. A very rare sight.


And I got a new camera - for my big birthday last week. But have been so busy lately I have hardly had time to test it. Will try to get a bit back on track here next week.