Descending Dragon

So apparently the dragon ascended in Ha Noi and then descended in Ha Long Bay about 120 kilometers away. I don't know who the dragon was, where he/she came from and how long ago the story supposedly happened but... that's how the story goes!Laurel and I booked a trip for an over night on the Aloha Junk through Ha Long Bay. And we were so lucky... we were the only ones on the boat except for the 10 crew! So here is the 24 hours...We set sail around noon and then proceed to have a 3 course meal! We had our own private cook for a day!
There are people groups that live in floating villages on the water in the bay and one of the ladies in the village paddled us around in a bumble boat. Okay I don't know if that is really what the boat is called but that is how I understood the word!
And then we sailed around and saw some of the most scenery I've ever seen. There are 1800 + islands of limestone jutting out of the water.

The next morning we went to the Surprise Cave.And the Bay was looking exceptionally amazing from the opening of the cave!
And then we had to say good-bye to the Aloha Junk =(

10 short days

I flew back into Ho Chi Minh City at 10:10pm on Tuesday night after 10 wonderful days in the US. After 8 months of being in Ho Chi Minh City I was expecting to go through a bit of reverse culture shock... um no. I was perfectly happy to go to Target and the mall. No problems with the orderly traffic and quiet nights in North Raleigh and Washington DC. I didn't try to connect the two worlds that I live in; I just try to live in the world where I am. Trying to make sense of the 180 degree difference between my two worlds is a waste of time. I just switched into America mode.

My first weekend was wonderful with my family. We went strawberry picking and to the park for a picnic. I think that my nephew is the cutest little boy on the planet!! The bottom picture is four generations of William Wrights!

On Saturday I was able to go one of my best friend, Leslie's, wedding in Nag's Head, NC. A bit before the wedding Kari and I went to the beach and took a few "twin" pictures. I would totally post pictures of the wedding but those are on Kari's camera still... so those are to come.

During the week I went to Washington DC to go to the Global Health Council Conference. The one thing and I do mean ONE thing that I got out of the conference was a website from a cool speaker from Sweden. Check out his website: www.gapminder.org. It was kinda cool to run into some people at the conference that I know. My colleague, Kate from Vietnam, Karl White, a former colleague from VN, Julie Spero, representing IntraHealth and a great friend from grad school, and some random people that I recognized from previous conferences or grad school.

My friend, Dawn, was so generous to let me stay with her in Washington. I got a little taste of Washington by taking the metro (and I was super proud of myself for switching from the yellow line to the red line all by myself!!). We went to the Elephant and Castle Thursday evening where I pretended to be an uptight politician!! Then we went to see RENT. Very cool performance!! Thanks, Dawn!

Then last Friday I got to spend the night in my old apartment. Wow, what a great loft apartment! Kari and I cut up a huge watermelon and ate popcorn while watching Fraiser... little secret into the wonderful life of the twins. And I woke up on Saturday to coffee and Kari's famous waffles. Backing up a bit... like a good Friday evening in grad school we got together with some wonderful grad school friends to have Mexican food. Thanks, Brieanne for hosting! Yummmmm

Then the rest of the weekend was spent with the fam. I love hanging out with them. I'm so lucky to have a great family.

And while I wish I could stay in NC forever I know that sister will be pouring over her nursing books, my brother will at work and going to Guatemala in August, my parents will be going to Zambia and other places. And...my sister-in-law will be busy having a baby, oh wait I do wish I were there for that.