R&R - fun in Oz

So, we headed for home at Christmas for a quick respite from Vietnam. A three weeks that was needed and appreciated - filled with family and friends. The following images are just a few favs from the files to remind of those good times.

The fam met up at Belmont Road on Christmas Day. It was a time of food and fun - and Tess led us all through the machinations of 'Extreme Christmas' present giving. H ended up with the final choice of all the pressies - she picked the ice-cream scooper!



Glen Maggie was fantastic, of course. It is just amazing to sit in peace and quiet, see nature and see the stars!

However, top of mind for me was getting down to Paynesville and reclaiming Stampede from James and Co. The boat looked beautiful and felt like a dream on the water. Big thanks to Donald for keeping an eye on things through the year! Once at the lake, we were a bit worried about all the floating logs, but we finally cracked and just had to put it in. We managed to enjoy some skiing without mishap - thank goodness.

The rather swish looking table that Gab is sitting on is the result of our latest team effort - our version of a table spotted in Millenium Park, Chicago a few years back. Kelv drove up on the weekend with a boot-load of equipment, good advice and a helpful hand - absolute champion.



Our new creation quickly became a part of the furniture - and was the centre of attention at Tess's 25th.



.........mmmmmmmmmmmmm.........boat



Sally came up for a bit of R&R for a few daze, and a few of us ended up on top of Mt Bradley. Tess and Greg were behind both of the shadowy shots.



But the best night of all was our blast-from-the-past get together. Fritz and Donald were up from the Island for a few nights and we feasted on a rather nice BBQ, Glen Maggie style. Flames, floating tables and perfect views - very conducive for Donald and Mick to solve the problems of the world!

Anyway, Sue and Ros arrived after grub, Graham rolled up with a few drinks after the chores were done and then it was on for young(er) and old(er). The reminiscing was full throttle for hours - yep it was great to see all these old friends re-united.





Yet another classic sunset over our favourite place in the world.



After a few Crownies at Tulla, Tess, Sime, Jeffo and Glen headed over to Perth for Hailey's wedding. More family times that turned in to family gold. Julie and Rod were wonderful hosts and everyone had a great time. And the wedding was in a park beside the beach down near Margaret River. It went really well, right down to the butterflies coming back to life in time to fly off when the envelopes opened.




But the best part of the three weeks was hanging out with Sime and Tess. And the sooner we get that chance again, the better.

Turmoil

Fortunately, Glen doesn't drive to work in the morning!

This roundabout is a few kms away from us - it is infamous. This picture was scanned in from a newspaper recently, which was lamenting the dramatic increase of vehicles on the roads of HCMC.

Tess in town

Tess and Greg came to visit the digs in November. It was Tess's first time in Vietnam and it was Greg's first time outside of Oz! After a quick stay in HCMC with us, they headed off north for about a week before coming back down.

They certainly fitted in to the environment quickly! The night that Greg convinced a cyclo driver to let him commandeer his wheels was quite a sight!



Hurry back you two - you're kinda crazy, but you're a lot of fun!

Pagoda kids

Hilly has been going along to an orphanage here in HCMC each week to visit with the kids and try to bring a little cheer in to some otherwise mundane living conditions.

But last month, she went to a different orphanage that is run by some Buddist monks at Dieu Phap Pagoda, about an hour out of Saigon. Since it is a temple, it receives no government funding and relies on donations and help from the community. It is also not a registered orphanage so no adoptions are organised. Old people, disabled, teenagers, children and babies live here, in very basic conditions, but are safe and do go to school if they are able to.

Through fundraising by Brighton Grammer in Victoria, and local groups here, a playground has recently been built in the dusty, but shaded yard. Plans are in progress to pave the dining area, extend the babies room, put ceiling fans in the concrete dormitories, extend and revamp the kitchen and do some outdoor paving.



Children with special needs, such as a deaf teenage girl who had never talked or been to school, are now receiving funding to go to special schools. This is just a drop in the ocean - but everything helps a little.

Now, being an art teacher, Hillary offered to do some painting with the kids. This went pretty well - up to a point!









There are endless charities in Vietnam all worthwhile and very neccessary.

Tonight we are going along to a big concert which is being run to raise money for a small NGO called Loretto. Trish, an Aussie lady who has lived here for years, and has given so much to under-privileged children, is being unofficially supported by the Australian Embassy and AusCham to organise what will be a great out-door bash. But we'll report on that soon!

Party of the year right here...

Every year, AusCham (the Australian Chamber of Commerce) puts on a huge charity ball to raise money to donate to worthy causes here in Vietnam.

And this year was themed "Ocean to Outback" - meaning that you could dress up in about anything that might be found in Australia. And I reckon about 97% of 450 people did just that!





David decided to bring his pet snake. Karen and friends were impressed!

And since I am proud member of the Charity Committee, I found myself on the stage with Christo giving a speech. And you know how I hate the spotlight......



Yep, that's me chic in vegemite. Hillary spent a week designing and painting this costume - then she left the country before she saw me wear it. Smart. Very smart.

Funny boy, Christo. Half way through our tag-team speach, he decides to attract attention by dropping his dacks and doing the remainder of his bit in his Y-fronts! I was compelled to help cover things up!



There were lots of great costumes. Alix was looking very Jaffa amongst her other lolly friends - Amanda Musk-stick, Violet Crumble and Cherry Ripe. Sweet!
We had flown in a Kylie Minoghue cover band, called 100% Kylie from Australia. They were great and managed to keep the dance floor packed most of the night by all manner of Australiana.

Dame Edna made her presence felt - many times over!

There was 'road kill' and shark attack victims.

Twisties - mmm....love twisties!




Our table had life savers, McLeod's Daughters, Steve Irwin, Bondi beach lovers and more. Next year we are scheming something big and definitely coordinated. How about the MCG? Or maybe the Melbourne Cup?

Anyway, it was tough to keep the madding crowd away from my vegemite jar through the night! And it is certainly not true that I was seen walking around the 40 or so tables asking whether anyone wanted a bit!



(Hey! Great tongue ban Jenna!)


So, it was a huge night. Really fun and a crazy mix of nationalities bonded by an Aussie theme. I reckon Hillary will pass up on the Europe trip next year just to be here.

Sapa faces

A weekend in Sapa (which is up the top of the hill from Lao Cai, just near the border with China) revealed lots of wonderful images of friendly minority peoples. Here's just a few of the faces we saw.







We were walking around the town on Saturday and bumped in to this mother and child. Hillary admired the fantastic hat on the baby's head so much so, that the mum decided to offer it to us for sale. I am sure that she really didn't intend to do this, but some of her friends prompted her to sell it to these silly rich westerners. It is a very intricate bit of work and is topped off with a lock of mum's own hair. She said (through a friend who could speak a bit of English) that she would use the money to help educate little Dao Linh.


Clever- a very effective umbrella on a rainy day!


We hope to head back to Sapa again to experience these friendly, beautiful people.