Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Final two weeks of 2010

The last two weeks of 2010 were some of the best weeks of the entire year.  Mom and Dad Gilmore made their way to Korea to visit with us for a week, have a wonderful Christmas in Seoul, fly to Vietnam for a week, and ring in the new year in Phan Thiet.

Here are some highlights from the trip :)

First dinner in Seoul
The Kindy Christmas Performance

Dinner with Ms. Grace and Christina

The Noraebong crew

Fish Market
The main course at the fish market followed by the live course

Some were more excited about the fish than others...
Christmas Morning
Warm Derek
Gingerbread house 
New sweatshirts, thanks Chris
An abundance of gifts 


Christmas Dinner at Big Rock Brewery
Vietnam
Derek with an excellent photobomb 


First drink in Vietnam - 333 local brew
Quick note on Saigon traffic...WOW!  There were more motorbikes in one place than I've ever seen before.  You cross at will, or whenever...



To say these are popular in Saigon is a severe understatement
These incredible skinny buildings were the norm
Reunification Palace - Saigon



Find this man, get our money back.  We got ripped off only once during the whole trip, and this man is the reason.  We  wanted to take a taxi from point A to point B (wish we would've known it was within walking distance)  but he told us the museum was closed for 3 hours and drove us around to pointless other sites (not entirely pointless - we saw a couple temples and a market - see the following 3 pictures) and lunch.  $125 later...


Religious temple in Saigon
Local Vietnamese market
At the Vietnam War Memorial

Thanks Pam, the restaurant was great!
Our unofficial Vietnamese tour guide and Rick's friend/previous co-worker, Tracy

Vietnamese style coffee


View from 10°57.282' N, 108°14.005' E

Visiting the local sand dunes, which was quite a blast!
These adorable kids were peddling their plastic sleds from .50 to a dollar

The ride down the dunes
Cheers!

Vietnamese Facial
The passed on genetic traits are just leaping off the page
SPF30 sparsely applied once during 9 hours = ineffective
Preparing for New Years
Happy New Year!
Leaving Phan Thiet
We had an amazing time to say the least!