Outside the city limits

The limestone mountains we saw yesterday were beautiful, even though they were not in the ocean like the ones we had hoped to see in Halong Bay. This boat ride, as well, was quite different than the one we had originally planned—instead of an air-conditioned junk, we were paddled for 2 hours in a very flat and shallow row boat. Wyatt and Isaac were in the carriers, so they had to sit fairly still. Wyatt was bribed with food (Puffed Corn and Nerds) while Isaac requested story after story. We passed through rice fields (although the rice growing season is over) and numerous lotus flowers on the way to 3 caves. The caves were actually long tunnels, some with low overhangs where we had to duck our heads. We returned to the dock by the same route; on the way back our tour guide played Vietnamese songs on his bamboo flute which just seemed perfect for the setting.

Returning to Hanoi, we stopped to visit the first capital of Vietnam. While almost nothing of the original area remains, temples were built there to honor the third and fourth kings of Vietnam. It was very nice to have our English-speaking tour guide with us as we learned much more of the history than when we visited other temples and museums on our own.

Today we did another day trip with the same guide and driver. This time we went to an ancient village about an hour outside of Hanoi. This village is surrounded by a wall with only one gate leading in. Here we again visited temples, this time honoring Vietnam’s first and second kings. The village was filled with old houses and narrow streets; I would have liked some time to just explore it on our own. Lunch was served by a family in their traditional Vietnamese home (although they did have a TV and a cellphone!) While it was interesting to see how a typical family lives, it was also a difficult experience with 2 kids. Throughout the trip we’ve often been unsure how people perceive Isaac. Our adoption agency representative said that there is no Vietnamese word for autism. Another agency staff member has a nephew who is autistic, so he was able to help explain it to some of the people who questioned Isaac’s behaviors.

The last 2 days were a nice change from the city life we have experienced most of our stay. We passed many people working in the fields alongside water buffalo. It was the traditional Vietnamese photo I had in my mind.

Tomorrow is our last day here and I realize I haven’t written much on the scooter traffic. Check out any Vietnam adoption blog, and there will be an entry on the scooters; it is nearly a requirement! Bill decided yesterday that whoever proposed Chaos theory must have driven in Vietnam. For those of you non-math geeks, Chaos Theory states that even in something that appears to be random and unorganized, there is order. It is actually amazing that there are not more accidents, but they seem to have it down to a system (though it is not apparent to outsiders). Horns are used as a signal; passing is allowed anytime (and the on-coming scooters better get out of the way). The most amazing thing is that road rage doesn’t appear to exist! Coming from a country where it is not uncommon to see a single person riding in a SUV, we found it at first unusual to sometimes see 2 or 3 grown men on a single bike. Soon, however, you realize that’s the norm and there is much more you can carry on a bike—4 freshly roasted dogs, live chickens in cages, 2 men and 6 large speakers, multiple sections of 10 foot pipe, as many boxes as you can strap on!

We are hoping for good weather tomorrow to head over to West Lake. If so, I’ll likely blog one last time and post more pictures. If not, keep us in your prayers as we head for home late tomorrow night (which is actually noon Sunday in your world). I have mixed feelings about heading home.

In truth, I am quite a home-body and have never travelled this long. I am ready. What am I looking forward to? High chairs (anyone who has tried to take your child out to eat without one understands this.) My large home and yard (ok, anything is large after 3 weeks in a hotel room and I can’t wait to let the kids run!) Introducing Wyatt to Grandpa and Grandma (if you’ve met them, you understand.)

And yet I find it hard to say good-bye to this place that has given us Wyatt. We are blessed to have a relationship with Isaac’s birth-family and know that long-term this will be important for Isaac. For Wyatt, this trip is the best connection we have to his roots. I hope that we have enough memories, photos, and souvenirs to provide Wyatt a sense of his history until we return again.