HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL!

Since I have been really bummed all week about missing Michael's 31st birthday, my school counseling colloquium group thought it would be therapeutic to help me celebrate from afar:

Happy Birthday Michael!

From Minneapolis with Love.

He's a keeper!

For those of you who are unaware, I am currently in the middle of a 2.5 week trip to the States, about to start a week of intensive classes for my school counseling masters degree. An hour after I checked into my hotel in Minneapolis, I received this:

Just in case I haven't said it before,

I HAVE THE SWEETEST, MOST THOUGHTFUL HUSBAND IN THE WORLD!

Thanks, Michael! I love you and miss you, too!

Vietnam posts are up!

Loyal followers,
I have posted two posts from Vietnam, Phu Quoc Island, and Ho Chi Minh City. Like the last posts, they are out of order. Eventually I'll get this blog thing figured out!
~Happy hunting!

Cambodia/Vietnam blog update

Loyal followers:

All of the Cambodia posts are up now. There are 6 different posts. Since I composed them ahead of time and posted them later, they are all out of order now and my technology illiterate self cannot figure out how to correct them. (Emily, I may need some blog training!) Anywho, make sure you scroll through the entire series to be sure you've seen them all!

Also, the Vietnam posts are coming soon (2 posts). Stay tuned!

Vietnam Part One: Phu Quoc Paradise

3 days of fun in the sun with my family...

1 beach-front bungalow...

and 3 twin beds.

Woohoo! (It's a good thing we really love you, Andrew!)

Warning!! If you're looking for cultural observations and explorations you won't find them here. This post is all about relaxation, fun, and pure happiness!

A typical morning.

A typical afternoon.

A typical evening.

Can anyone guess who has the ogre feet?

The view from our room at sunset.

Me and my bro in the pool. (Hi Mom, Hi Dad!)

Goofin' off with my hubby in the ocean.

Tweedle Andrew and Tweedle Michael


2 fruity drinks for 2 fruity guys!



A happy moment.


Or two...
(Remote control cameras are fun!)

Sand volleyball.

Always a good time on the beach.

Yes, I played, too.

Sailing lessons.

Essential.

(Fun fact: Michael once tried to drown me on a dinghy in Connecticut...)

Vacations don't get any better than this!

Vietnam Part Two: Ho Chi Minh City

On our way to and from Phu Quoc Island, we stayed overnight in Ho Chi Minh City, aka Saigon. We didn't have a lot of time (or energy) to get out and observe and experience the city, but we made the most of the situation.

One thing I can say with certainty: Saigon's traffic is ten times crazier, noisier, and stinkier than Shanghai's! Whereas motorbikes and scooters in Shanghai are primarily electric, the Saigon versions are 100% gas! And, there are five times as many!

CRAZY!

Pedestrian navigation was quite interesting. After a while, Michael and I decided:

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

That's right! We got "huggies"./>

"Huggy" is the term for hiring a motorbike driver to give you a lift.

When in Rome, er... I mean Saigon...

Don't worry, we arrived back at the hotel in one piece!

We also had a night in Saigon with Andrew after our Phu Quoc Paradise.

Again, we didn't have much time, but we tried to make the most of it...

Extending the festivities for one more night.

What a goofball!

(Does anyone else think Michael looks too serious to be on vacation??)

Yeah, me too!

P.S. Michael and I really wanted to introduce Andrew to the world of huggies, but he claimed he was too tired. Hopefully you get another chance, dude!

Other Temples: Ta Prohm and Bayon

We also visited a bunch of other temples while we were in Cambodia. One of the most notable is Ta Prohm, which many of you may recognize from Tomb Raider. This temple complex literally looks like it is being devoured by massive trees.


The obligate Tomb Raider photos:

This looks cool, but the ropes and wooden plank walkways seemed so pedantic after clamboring all over the Beng Mealea temple.

The other notable temple we visited was Bayon, which is known for its massive stone buddha faces.






Each tower of Bayon Temple was adorned with four buddha faces, one facing each direction.

Kissing Buddha!