Judith Fox and Me

Before the run, Judith Fox, Terry's younger sister, stopped for a photo opportunity.

Frank was busy taking photos of the runners.  There was an estimated 14,000 - 16,000.

The line of runners goes around the corner.

The guy on the scooter didn't get the message about the run but was determined to go against the flow anyway.  

Post Terry Fox run

We arrived for the Terry Fox run at 7am.  It was a very impressive crowd.  I have not been able to jog/run for the last year due to something I did to my back but I managed to run most of  3km which I was thrilled about.  The run was only a 5km distance but I wanted to get back in time for our cleaner who was arriving soon.

I will send more photos on my next blog.

After a short nap Frank and I went to the school since I had work to do on reports.  We then treated ourselves to a bookstore and cafe downtown.

One of my favourite places.  In the background they were quietly playing some jazzy Christmas tunes - but tastefully done. Our last stop before heading home was a large mall with a French bakery - we need some good bread for breakfast tomorrow.  Inside they had a small skating rink.

Our Place

Once again a couple of photos from my walk home.

Some grounds keepers at our place. 

There is a large apartment just below us and they have a large tank/pool that they fill with an assortment of koi.  We can view them from our balcony.

Yesterday Judith Fox - Terry Fox's younger sister came to the school to accept a cheque from donations from our school.  It was quite a stirring reception we gave her.  Tomorrow is the city run and it is expected that around 19,000 will come for a 5km run/walk/crawl.  Frank and I will show up for the 8am start.

Mui Ne

On Friday 18th after early dismissal at noon, we caught a bus to the seaside north of Saigon.  It was a 4 1/2 ride with a 20 minute stop.  We arrived at 6:30 to Grace Boutique hotel in Mui Ne.  It is a small family run hotel with about 15 units right on the beach.

fresh fruit each morning

An early morning view from our room.

After a magnificent breakfast we spent all of Saturday on these lounges and swimming.  The water was so warm that Frank just ran in without stopping.  Something I have never seen him do.  WE would then rinse the salt water off with a quick shower by the pool and then go for a dip in the pool.

The pool was always empty as there were only a few other couples at the hotel. 

There were fishermen that would also be working the beach. As we relaxed, the host of the hotel brought us fresh watermelon juice and thinly rolled sugar cookies as a snack, followed by two aloe vera leaves cut open for us to rub on our sun drenched skins.  

Some of the round fishing boats coming back after a morning of work.  

On Sunday we were booked to catch a 1 pm train back.  Our hosts offered us a lunch and beverage in honour of it being Teacher's Day.  There was a big cake as well but we had to leave and so the other guests were able to enjoy it. It was a rainy arrival back in Saigon and few cabs were available but after about 20 minutes we were able to find an available one but the driver was quite young and needed a lot of help to understand where we needed to go.  Now that we know some of the landmarks we were able to help him find our location.  

National Teacher's Day

November 20th is National Teacher's Day in Vietnam.  The school ended at noon on Friday the 18th.  Students from all grades gave gifts and put on performances at an assembly.  It was a welcome break from the routine.  The Board of Directors also chipped in 5,000,000 d which is the equivalent of about $25US with the buying power here of about $100.

A teacher wearing the traditional dress, walking a student to the assembly.

Grade one class and their dance.

Garden Walk

There is a trail alongside our apartment that follows one of the many rivers in Ho Chi Minh.  We seem to wake up early and so this Sunday we took a walk before breakfast.  The air is still tolerable at this time.

     


A contrast between the old and the new.
It was a lazy day and so we went to see a movie in the late afternoon.  The theatres was so cold that we still felt chilled on our walk home even though it is 30 degrees outside.

Freshest Ice cream

We decided to visit some of the local hang outs for a Saturday night. Everyone seems to come out and sit around and visit. Parks in particular are full with folks - of all ages - sitting around and visiting.

A young couple sitting in front of me just watching the traffic and listening to the music from the bar below.  

We wanted to find a place to get an ice-cream.  We found a street market selling a variety of foods and we saw a booth that made ice-cream right on the spot.  I chose passion fruit.  The vendor produced a fresh passion fruit, cut it and scooped out the flesh.  She placed it on the frozen metal table and poured  sweetened cream over the fruit.  She then worked the mixture for about 2 minutes on the cold table and made a thin film of frozen cream. Then she scraped  it up with a spatula into rolls and put it in a cup.  It was incredibly good.

We continued to stroll through town and walked through an alley reserved for book stores only.

Along the way we heard a traditional trio playing music and the store windows are beginning to 'Look A Lot Like Christmas"

music and theatre

It has been an unusual week for me in that I was out 3 out of the 5 week nights.  Wednesday we had tickets to hear a Mozart/Hayden concert at the opera house.

It was a good concert but the audience do not respond in the same way.  People coming and going all through some of the pieces, guy behind me snorting away and someone else unwrapping a heavily wrapped candy.  Meanwhile a camera man is running around trying to set up his equipment.  But there were some lovely moments.

Thursday night was our bi-weekly Trivia night at the Pub. Friday night I joined some of the ladies from work to a Broadway play 'The Secret Garden'.  We stopped at a Mexican restaurant first.  Very good food.

some of my staff

a great atmosphere

On the drive home after the performance, I passed many parks that were filled with people just sitting around and visiting - hundreds and hundreds.  The clubs were all filling up and everything was invitingly lit up.  During the day, Saigon is a vibrant city both the elegant parts but also the streets and sidewalks that are filled with litter and garbage, and buildings that are decayed and crumbling. Night hides that and it is quite a lively looking city.  Tonight we are planning to explore some of the night life in downtown.  Time to get a nap in :)

Art/Gallery

After a very rainy night, we woke up to temperatures that felt a bit fresh ; 24 degrees.  We spent the morning booking part of our Christmas holiday.  3 nights in a bamboo cottage on Phu Quoc Island.  Hoping for a relaxing few days .  From there we plan to visit Ankor Wat in Cambodia.
This afternoon we visited the Fine Arts Museum.  An elegant building in need of some work.

Many of the window had broken parts and missing stained glass.

a view towards the city from one of the balconies.  

Time to go:)

Hallowe'en

The students were very excited about Hallowe'en.  Classes were cancelled and it was fun activities for the day.  It was a LONG day.

 Me as a fortune teller - timely since we just sent out reports.  I could read their fortune:) The students thought I was a pirate.   Me and the principal.

Some of the kiddies.

 Crescent Mall is a 15 - 20 minute walk from our place.  For a Saturday it was unusually quiet today.

There is a train for children that takes you around.  The 4th floor is all children's toys.  The top floor has a cinema and fast food outlets.