Leaving Vietnam, headed home.

We left in the evening when going to Vietnam and I much prefer to leave in the morning like we did when coming home. We left the hotel at 8 a.m. The other 2 families were leaving later in the day. Our flight from Hanoi to Hong Kong left at 11:05 a.m. and once again, even on the short flight, we were served a hot lunch. Are you listening, U.S. airlines? One of the other families joined us in the lobby to say goodbye. Kelly enjoyed holding their son one last time. They are from Seattle so it's unlikely she'll have that opportunity again. Once again, Sarah did great. Mom and dad were sad to be leaving Vietnam, while also being overjoyed to finally be heading for home with Sarah.

The flights were relatively uneventful, although Isaac had a little mishap in the L.A. airport. After staying up too late and sleeping through the second meal on the flight to L.A., he passed out after we got in the immigration/customs line at the airport. He cut his lower lip on his teeth and it's still swollen, but otherwise he was fine. It actually helped us avoid the line because one of the officers took our passports and Sarah's paperwork to be processed while the medics checked Isaac. By the time they were through with him, we had our passports back and headed to retrieve our luggage. Isaac also got to ride in a wheelchair to our departure gate.
One last photo in the hotel room before leaving to catch our flight.
Kelly says goodbye to J. as he's thinking, "who is this lady"?
H. also was adopted by J.'s parents when she was an infant. She's from Vietnam too.
In the van on the way to the airport.
I just like the Peanuts characters on his helmet.
Yes, they still plow using water buffalo.
Unfortunately, the road between the airport and the hotel looked as bad as Missouri as far as road-side billboards is concerned.
A plane taxis down the runway at the airport.
Heading to the plane to leave Vietnam.
A closer look at the MiGs.
Goodbye Hanoi and Vietnam.
Sarah took the plane rides in stride.
Arriving at the Hong Kong airport.
The "leaning tower" thanks to wide angle.

The 747 we were going to be on for 12 hours. The flight took more than 14 hours in the opposite direction.
Our first meal on the trans-pacific flight.
The California coast just after take off.

Ngọc Sơn Temple

Before our embassy appointment on Tuesday, we visited the Ngọc Sơn Temple. Our trip was cut a little short due to rain. I obtained this info from the water puppet show website:

"Heroic Legends and the Vietnamese Spirit

Vietnamese people always respect their long history, That is why there are a number of water puppet plays retelling Vietnam's history and national heroes. Among these items, the legend about the returning the magic sword by King Lê Lợito the Gold Tortoise is the most wonderful one recreated in water puppetry.

In the early 15th century, the Ming Dynasty in China invaded Vietnam, Lê Lợi, a fisherman in Thanh Hóa, caught a holy sword by chance and he led the resistance war lasting for 10 years, In 1427, Lê Lợi defeated the invaders and proclaimed himself the king. One day, taking a boat trip on the lake, he met a huge tortoise which seized the holy sword in his hands then sank away. The King understood that the tortoise wanted to tell him that, after the war, the major task was to develop a prosperous and peaceful country. Then, he named the lake " Hoàn Kiếm" (Sword Returning Lake).

The difficulty of this scene is how to control a swimming tortoise to open its mouth and snatch the sword in the King's hands. Then it must disappear in the water, carrying the sword in its mouth. This performing item praises a national hero and retells a mysterious legend while displaying original techniques of water puppetry.

Some hundred-year-old tortoises are now living in Hoàn Kiếm Lake at the center of Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. The small tower in the middle of the lake is named Tháp Rùa (Tower of Tortoises) and is considered one of the symbols of Hanoi. In the Ngọc Sơn Temple on an islet of the lake there remains the mummy of a huge tortoise over 2m in length. Opposite to the temple is the Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater where many water puppet shows are shown to foreign tourists daily. "

Enjoying breakfast in Hanoi.
Tháp Rùa (Tower of Tortoises) in Hoàn Kiếm Lake at the center of Hanoi.
Getting ready to cross the bridge at the Ngọc Sơn Temple at Hoàn Kiếm Lake.
On the bridge.
Checking out the mummy of a tortoise that is more than 6-feet long.
Trying out the Jackie O look.
Keeping the load dry, well, at least partly dry.
Sarah loves fruit.
Good to the last bite.

Movin' on to Hanoi.

Monday was a travel day, flying from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. We had to travel to Hanoi because adoptive parents are required to go to the U.S. embassy to obtain their child's visa to enter the U.S. It was sad for the mom and dad as our plane took off, knowing Sarah was now leaving everything she's ever known, all of her friends, caretakers, etc. But Sarah did extremely well and was excited to be going on a plane. In fact, she was a real trooper through all four flights she was on and had fun with it.

Airlines in the U.S. could learn a great lesson from some of the Asian airlines. We flew American Airlines between St. Louis and L.A., Cathay Pacific for the overseas flights and Vietnam Airlines from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi. Even on short flights of less than 2 hours, both Cathay and Vietnam Airlines served very good, hot meals that are included. American serves a drink, but charges for even a snack. Their in-flight info stated on long flights like to Hawaii, you can buy a sandwich and chips for $10 on American. What can I say?

The view from the third floor, front of the Rex hotel, with the People's Committee building in the background. That's a statue of Ho Chi Minh in the park across the street.
Sarah checking out my sunglasses again.
The front of the Rex from the park across the street.
Sarah let Isaac pick her up and give her a hug before we left our room at the Rex for the last time.
Sarah and mom in front of the plane that took us to Hanoi.
Sarah on the plane.
Livestock on the edge of the Noi Bai airport in Hanoi.
Working the fields bordering the airport. In the background are shelters where several MiGs were stored.
Water buffalo on the drive to the Hanoi Hotel.
Local transport can be measured in cow-power instead of horse-power.
Ridin' side-saddle.
You don't want to be in a traffic accident in Hanoi. Looks like the odds are not in your favor.
The view from one window in our 9th-floor room.

The view at sunset from another window.
Some of the seafood available at one restaurant in the hotel.
Isaac checks out some other seafood.

Water puppet show and water in the streets Sunday.

Sunday was our last full day in Ho Chi Minh City and we visited the water puppet show. It's an interesting and fun show even though it's in Vietnamese. Our CHI rep. explained the plot before hand and there was a program with the titles of the different chapters that help follow along. I recorded most of it with the camcorder for Sarah to watch later, so I didn't get a lot of photos. While the rest of the family took a nap after the show, I took a walk and found the only geocache in the city, which was about 9/10 of a mile from the hotel. On the way back, a small shower gave me a little soaking and later a huge downpour flooded the street between the Rex and the Tax Trade Center.

The family waiting in the hotel lobby before heading off to the water puppet show.
Isaac checking out one of the lobby aquariums.
Beer was readily available in Vietnam, but I actually didn't drink any while we were there.One of the puppets from the show.
The cast behind the puppets.
Sarah intently watching the water puppet show.
The family goofing around in front of the water puppet stage after the show.
The cache container I found.
A motorbike makes it way through the high water.
I was glad the downpour came long after I returned to the hotel.
Crossing the street is hard enough without a flood added to the equation.
We ate several times at the Monaco restaurant behind the Rex hotel where we stayed. Our waitress was so nice and the last time we ate there, I got a photo of her with the kids. She was even nice enough to reprimand Kelly for holding Sarah too much. ;-)
Just inside the doors at the Tax Trade Center was this picture on the wall. Sarah laughed and pointed at it every time she saw it, so I had to take a photo the last time we were there.

We are home!

It's 2 o'clock Thursday morning and we made it home after a stop at White Castle. Sarah had chicken sandwiches rather than jumping right into the belly bombers. We didn't have a lot of time once we got to Hanoi so I wasn't able to post for a few days. Once we all get some sleep I'll do some catch up posts. Sarah was all smiles and excited as we pulled up to the house, even in the dark.