Encounters in Vietnam

 Who knew we'd be able to go to a giant underground mall in Hanoi to see a mermaid in real life!

She was the first of our encounters this week--she and her pink mermaid sister.

It was too hot to go exploring outdoors in Hanoi, so we did the next best thing and explored the mall instead, and discovered a very nice aquarium--with the aforementioned underwater fantasy. It was larger than we thought it would be, and less expensive than it looked from the sign, which somehow we read wrong. It was like it was in a different language, or something.

This lizard looked like he could have been the model for any of the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park.

It was nice and cold for their penguins...

                                               "Ca" is fish...

And I found Nemo!  But actually he had both fins, so he was a fake, I'm sorry to say...

This fish, we named the "dragon fruit fish", because that's exactly what he looks like! A peeled, ready to eat dragon fruit, of the white-and-black variety!

This may help give the scope of the size of this place. There were a couple of these big tube/tunnels down there.

And then there was a big area that was filled with displays, as well: shells of every kind, fossilized clams, different corals, stuffed penguins... really an amazing place.

Some  beautiful shells...

Another large tunnel...

And back to the mermaids.

They finish with a cool interactive screen where you can see yourself with all the marine animals. It's pretty fun.

Tuesday was our regular district council meeting, and Allen and I were able to host the missionaries for lunch and then their training meeting again. And that evening was game night, which turned out to be most memorable because someone brought a Durian fruit to share. Allen and I had the opportunity to taste Durian for the first time. 

And possibly the last time.

Allen describes it as..."tastes like an onion".

 

The encounter that we were looking forward to the most this week was one with Allen's brother Craig. He was in the Philippines on business and decided to hop over to Vietnam on his way home. Unfortunately, he missed his connecting flight on Wednesday and didn't arrive Wednesday morning as planned, but we DID get him Wednesday evening!

We were able to take him to our favorite pho place in Hanoi, a placed called...

 

...which makes the best pho we've had here in Vietnam. The kitchen is across the alley from the little dining area, which consists of a few tables and plastic chairs, and it costs about $2/person, or 50,000 Vietnamese dong.

Thursday morning, bright and early, we left for our next encounter with Ha Long Bay, a place Craig had always wanted to see, and which Allen and I were not at all opposed to visiting again! We had a few extra minutes to walk around before our bus picked us up, so we were able to find a small pagoda and show Craig what we get to see on our walks in Hanoi.

Finally on the bus and on our way, we stopped at a pearl farm for a lesson on how cultured pearls are created. And of course, a chance to buy me a pearl necklace. Which Allen neglected to do.

And then, since we're talking about encounters, there was the encounter with the squid.

First stop: Ti Top Mountain, with its incredible views:

Then on to Surprise Cave, where I rode on the bamboo boat, with the native oarsman, while Allen and Craig opted for the kayak, and the watery seat.

DUCK!!

And out again...

The boat we were on...                                                                                

And the next cave adventure...

...with it's amazing views.                                                                                                                  

                                                                       VERY big inside...

Have I ever mentioned how MANY steps are in Ha Long Bay? And have I ever mentioned how large and uneven many of the steps are in Vietnam? Which is unexpected considering the average size of the average Vietnamese person. And I can tell you that it's the third day that the sore "stair muscles" hit.

 

Back to "home" at Times City in Hanoi, and Craig's last real Vietnamese meal with us--Com Tho.

'Bye, Craig!

On Friday night, the YSA had an Escape Room; Allen and I escaped unscathed. There's no way we could have participated in Vietnamese, but it looked interesting. 

What I had never seen before that night was a "car seat" for a scooter!

Saturday was busy, as usual. For my music class, I taught a 7-year old boy, a 7-year old girl, helped a brand new adult student who just wants to learn piano, and had 2 returning adults who just needed occasional help with questions, and encouragement. It was more fun, and also showed how a regular Keyboard Course that the Church has available doesn't work in our branch the way it is set up, since no one here is consistent in coming, and no one has a piano at home for practicing. But we do what we can, when we can. 

English was a class for new learners and was all on pronunciation. We were tempted to do the song Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, but thought better of it.

Missionary Correlation meeting was good from 6:15 to 7:30 pm, and we got home a bit earlier than usual--early enough to watch 2 episodes of My Favorite Martian for a blast from the past.

Sunday was a nice day. Here I am in my Relief Society class.

And since we have one of our District missionaries finishing her mission, we had a farewell dinner for her with our district. 

Next week, we'll introduce you to our new Sister~

Have a wonderful week!