Living in Asia has been amazing for us. But I will say right now, traveling with kids can be. so. so hard. But while they are a lot of work, they also rally and make the experience the best they can. Even if they are SO tired, and SO hungry, and SO done. Patrick held the baby the entire flight which made my experience much easier to manage. He was a good baby though. The best flier of them all. Kai never travels anywhere without his pillow. The other boys bring their "softies" which are their minkie blankets. It makes them more comfortable when sleeping in hotels and feeling "at home" when they are anything but.
This woman was standing outside the main market in Hanoi. I have always loved these baskets. I think I could find many amazing uses for one in my own home, even though I have never bought one. I think the shoulder knots would be horrific.
Levi taking his own hot. He's a cute little boy. And while he seems small, he is surprisingly tough when it comes to walking and adventure. He says he likes it and enjoys seeing new places.
Heather, Roger and Ellie came to visit us in Singapore for Christmas so we made an extra jaunt to Vietnam which is one of Patrick and my favourite places to visit. This was a day trek we took in Mai Chau. It was the rainy season so there was a fair amount of mud that sucked our shoes off but once we passed a tricky hill, we made it the rest of the way.
Lots of photos while trekking. Our lovely guide had a great time with the kids. This looks like they are LIVING IT UP! But I think this was the most they smiled the entire trek. They didn't complain perse, but it was a lot of walking. Even though it was muddy it was still a beautiful place.
We stopped at a local market and of course the kids loved the knife vendor. They have all sorts of interesting shapes. The more I live in Asia the more I see their value! Right next to this was the meat vendor who was using a few of these same shaped knives to butcher the days offerings.
Asa was meeting the locals.
They all seemed to like him. Whenever we travel people can't get over how many kids we have and of course, ALL BOYS! When we are in Singapore people comment in a more negative way. Woah! 5 boys? Must be crazy? So wild! So busy! But in Vietnam they were excited. They wanted to hold Asa and chat with the boys. You can tell a lot about their country as they still revere and love the little children.
However, this is not true for anyone drunk on rice wine. They definitely DON't love children. And I don't blame them. In our village stay in Mai Chau we had a bit of an altercation. Our room had a small balcony that overlooked a rice field and a small home with a tin roof. The day we checked out the boys were playing on the balcony and throwing rocks (the balcony floor was rocks, mud and plants), while Patrick and I cleaned up. I wasn't paying attention to how they were playing, and while on the floor packing a suitcase a very drunk Vietnamese man barged into the room looking around at us and out at the kids. I still didn't think anything of it until we went to check out. This same man was out waiting for us. He was extremely upset because some kids had been throwing rocks onto the roof of his home. These horrible children turned out to be MINE!! He was very drunk and very angry and kept pointing at Ronin. (Ronin to this day vehemently denies being the one to throw the rock. He says Kai did it.) The staff of the hotel was trying to talk him down and translate for us to help us understand what was happening. One particular staff member said its ok, he is drunk just come with me and proceeded to usher us to our van. He got us in while the other staff members held the other guy back from us. He was pacing around the van trying to get in, trying to talk to us while still very angry. The driver came in as well as another staff member and said they would drive us out of town. Some village members came out to watch the whole spectacle. Ronin was freaking out. Thought for sure this drunk guy would prevent him from leaving. The staff was amazing and so helpful and comforting. I still think we should have offered to pay him something for his trouble. but maybe that wouldn't have helped. At the end of the dirt road of town, the van stopped as we say the same drunk guy on a motorbike with a knife blocking the road. He did not want us leaving! The staff member got out and moved the man and his bike. He was extremely intoxicated and off we drove out of town. Ronin kept looking back to see if he was following us. He was scared for at least an hour waiting for the man to show up to cut him with his knife.
It was an intense experience for sure. It's probably the only time I have felt unsafe traveling in Asia but what it taught me was valuable. We are visitors, strangers, interlopers depending on where we go. Not everyone likes tourist and travelers. Not everyone wants their homes and countrysides exposed to the outside world. If you do travel it is critical that you do so with respect for culture and people. Watch your children! They aren't loved by everyone. Respect the local community. Help where you can, and leave the place as untouched as possible.
Since we traveled during Christmas it was off season so we had this restaurant to ourselves.
The owner of the restaurant served us food and then served us by holding the baby so we could eat. Her smile while she rocked him, warmed my heart. They love babies. (But not rock throwing children, of course).
And since it was the rainy season, it rained!! A lot. We bought these colorful ponchos to walk the streets of Hanoi.
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