We've moved!

Hello,

It's been a good day here on the other side of the world. This morning when Julia woke up she didn't cry when she saw us (and that was even with a stinky diaper!) She even played a little before breakfast. Usually she doesn't get down to play until later in the day. Then our morning without plans took an unexpected turn. My parents and sister found out that there are some "deluxe" rooms in the hotel and after some discussing with the reception desk (these kind of discussions are never as easy they sound and there is usually lots of pantomiming involved) we found out that there were two available. So Mom, Dad and Heather are now in one and we are in another. Our new room is about twice the size of our old one and actually has enough sleeping space for our family of 5. (Before Thomas would bunk with his auntie for the night). And they are charging us the same rate as our other room since we are staying here for so long. This is a much nicer set-up and gives us a little more breathing room. It also has a great view - it looks out over one of Hanoi's lakes - and because it is on the backside of the hotel, we can't hear all the horns from the street as easily either. The downside is that we can't get the internet connection from our room anymore, so I am currently writing from the hotel lobby.

This afternoon was the water puppet show. This art was developed by farmers in Mekong River delta as a form of entertainment when the river flooded. Now they perform indoors in a pool. There is a set with a screen about halfway back the length of the pool and the puppeteers stand in about waist deep water behind the screen and work their marionette type puppets by a stick underwater. The effect is dancing dragons, children, etc playing on the water. Thomas and Helen thoroughly enjoyed it.

We are ordering pizza in tonight and listening to the Christmas music CD that I brought. It is weird to hear the music and look out our window and see palm trees, people playing tennis and people boating on a lake with no ice. I hope we make it back home before Christmas to get my mental calendar straightened out!

Thanks for checking in. We hope that you all are doing well.

Barbie for all