OK, to all those that wake up every morning looking for a new post, I’m sorry.  I usually post in the early afternoon here after we have been out all morning and Kelly and Mia are enjoying an afternoon nap.  This morning, however, we made an exciting trip to the grocery store.  While I COULD have posted pictures of me carrying bags back, I didn’t think it was very compelling.  So, I waited until evening.

This mornings fashion picture was done while Kelly and Mia waited for their breakfast.

Then, after extended anticipation, our breakfast finally came.  I decided that today was the day that I was going to try Pho Bo, which basically translates to Beef Noodle Soup.  A lot of the Vietnamese eat this for breakfast and I had become a little tired of my typical omelette.  Kelly decided, much to my surprise, that this morning was the morning for HER to try Pho Bo also.  Here is what it looked like:

To many of you that probably looks appetizing.  To some of you, like Koreen, you can’t imagine eating something like this for breakfast.  I wish the pictures that I took of Kelly eating her first bite of Pho had turned out.  Problem is, it was also her LAST bite of Pho and I didn’t have a chance to retake.  I ate mine … which wasn’t half bad … and she sat and watched.  That was the end of Pho for Kelly.

As usual, Mia kept the staff occupied during our breakfast.

Do you see the maid behind the glass?  She had been playing peek-a-boo with Mia from behind the door.  Do you ever have that friend or neighbor that is just a little TOO friendly?  That is this maid.  She is a very nice lady, but she insists on picking Mia up all the time, and Mia doesn’t really like her all that much. 

On our way over to the store, I snapped this picture of a street vendor.  You can tell by the look on her face how excited she was to be the subject of yet another American’s vacation scrap book.

At the grocery store, I took this picture of four people on a scooter.  These people will pack as much as humanly possible on these two-wheeled vehicles.  I have seen people carrying food, televisions, even refrigerators on the back of their bikes.  Four, however, is the most people I’ve seen on one yet, but I’ve got my eyes peeled for that individual brave enough to try for five.

On our way home we stopped in a little French cafe we like called D’Liss.  It is nice because it has peach iced tea and really good hot chocolate.  The food isn’t bad either.  The only problem today was that the power was off, which isn’t a totally uncommon situation over here.  So, we sat in the heat, with no air conditioning, and drank our iced peach tea.

Bao Chau (Mia) got tired and decided to take a nap on the bench.

After lunch and a little nap (the point at which I did NOT post pictures today), we took a cyclo ride to the zoo.  These guys were really nice and it was a very pleasant way to go.  During the trip, they explained what the different buildings were and were basically like a tour guide.

As you can see, though, it is NOT the fastest mode of transportation on the streets.

We stopped at Notre Dame church and our driver took our picture.  While I look like I am smiling, it is a look of fear as I am realizing that I just handed my camera over to a guy that could run off and probably buy two or three more cyclo’s once he has sold it.  In the end, he did give it back.  We did run into a little issue on payment at the end of the ride, but I didn’t feel like fighting him and paid him what he wanted.  Somedays you feel like you are negotiating everything and it can get a little tiring.

The zoo was nice.  While the infrastructure was in need of repair, the landscaping was kept extremely nice.  You see this in most areas of HCMC.  They seem to take a lot of pride in their parks and botanical gardens.

The elehants were kind of cool, just because you could get so close to them.  They (vendors, not the elephants.  They are smart, but not that smart) sell these sticks … I don’t know what they are … and the elephants eat them.  You can actually feed them (the elephants, not the vendors.  Well, you may be able to feed the vendors by hand, too, but I didn’t see anyone try) from your hand.  So, you can imagine how friendly they are towards people (both vendors and elephants).

On the way to dinner, Mia got a little bored with the normal view and decided that the upsidedown view was MUCH more interesting.

We went by the hotel, picked up our friends, and went to what is quickly becoming our favorite place to eat here.  Aleez Boo. 

To all of you that were concerned about my not getting the pineapple rice boat on my birthday (that was actually none of you), I ordered it tonight and it was great.  Along with onion rings.  They were great, too!  On our way home, we went through another local park.

At the hotel tonight, Mia played with her favorite toy … the empty water jug.  Isn’t that typical.  She walked around the beds, into the bathroom, and back around the beds banging the empty container on the floor the entire time.  At least I know what to get her for Christmas!

Tomorrow we have the opportunity to go back to Notre Dame church for a 9:30 English service.  It is not protestant, so we haven’t yet decided if we will go or not.  We will probably make that decision in the morning.

Have a great Saturday!

Cameron