Tambiet

Xin Chau Lyn Oi!!!

Thank you for sharing this wonderful experience with me. There were so many memorable moments...... the people we met whose lives touched us, sometimes only fleetingly but touched us nevertheless... the sights we saw and didn't see (Sapa).... the tears we cried...... the laughter we shared.....I cannot believe that three months has gone so fast and yet, at times, it went slowly.....I will miss our morning breakfasts on the verandah of the second floor at Hoang Trinh watching the world go by while sipping on our Vietnamese coffee...the musical garbage truck and the little Pho lady who wad as regular as clockwork... the funeral processions.....the beautiful sunsets we watched from there of an evening.....the Confucius Temple that doubled as a rice drying field /martial Arts Dojo / community meeting hall ....... our Friday nights at Treats / retreats with Kwah's laughter echoing through the cafe and out onto the streets.....the unforgiving heat and the endless rain.......the floods and the heartache that went with it....Sundays at Dai Loc Orphanage and the smiling faces of each and every child there....the stories they told us........my friend Pat the rat (a regular when I was home).... The wonderful staff at Fawlty Towers....Madam An who made us (as did they all) feel very special and privileged.... the amazing guests we met...the movie maker from Holland...the sculpture from Switzerland... the young American who lost his passport and all his worldly possessions....Xuan the tailoress and Mr Xuan ..... our nights wandering the streets of Hoi An and An Hoi with it's beautiful lanterns dangling from buildings that are so quaint and trying to capture the reflections n the river with a photo.... we never tired of any of it...... the lantern making...the pottery village... Anh Bung Beach...... Sapa....the very moving chanting of the Zow and Black Hmong people in the catholic church on the Sapa hill....the elephant waterfall....My Son......escaping a typhoon on a plane..... river cruises with Camembert cheese and coke....HCM.....train rides on the Tulico Express.... White Rose dinners....homemade Verde ice creams by the river on hot balmy nights.....the gallons of water and coke...the french fries with mayonnaise.... the prawn dishes where prawns are cooked and eaten shells and all.....Tu An restaurant..... the Cargo Club.....paraplegic cats.... Le Plage and The End of the World....motorbike rides up mountains...we climbed them together..... THANK YOU for making the sad times bearable and the good times memorable. Bill and Ted's excellent adventure is finally over........ what an adventure!!!

Chook Moo Nong and Tambiet XXXXXX

P.S Where do you want to go for the next adventure???

Goodbye, farewell .......

Congratulatins Madam An !!

Madam An's ceremonious 3 year anniversary dinner

The End of the World couldn't be a better place

Now we know what is at the end of the world.... take a look

Last suppers and the end of the world!!

Well, after our big adventure in Sapa and all the memorable moments, we returned to Hoi An to pack the last of our belongings and get ready to come home. It seems we had brought the cold weather from Sapa and Hanoi with us as it was cold in Hoi An. We have arrasnged with Madam An for a tribute dinner for her and all her staff on ednesday night to tank them for being a part of the Hoang Trinh Family and for all they have done for us over the past few months. We ordered a beautifully decorated cake from Hamks over the road and Madam An organised the food. Robyn and Linda are also invited and any of the guests who wish to attend. We spent the morning with Jan and Susan from Coffs Harbour showing them around oi An and then try to catch a Nanna before tea. Thje staff have all pitched in and help prepare tea and have worked tirelessy since this morning. We aren't allowed to help, but when it is time to make the spring rolls, Lyn and I are delegated the task...we are experts now and have them made in no time at all except for distractions from Pat, my friend the rat, running backwards and forwards across the entry - just loves to scare me....Ha laughing and pointing at the "mole"....no sympathy at all our "Ha No Help" as he has ncknamed himself. Dinner is a wonderful success with the guests joining in and all the staff who aren't on duty have made a huge effort to attend...some of them lve a long way away so we appreciate their efforts!!

Finally there is the cutting of the cake - what a disappoitment to cut such a work of art!!...then we hand out the woollen socks and gloves we have brought them all from Sapa...and the silver bracelets for the girls....they are so excited !!! Madam An returns the favour and presnts us with gifts of coffee, dried cocnut, scarves and a purse each.... we are just as excited but wonder where we are going to pack it. We are not allowed to help clean up and as the guests leave, so do Robyn and Linda...there are thars and thank you's for the wonderful experience and opportunity they have given us.....

We head off to bed after a little play acting as the new Hoang Trinh Receptionists to try and entice Madam An to employ us...didn't work......damn!! Should have been more serious maybe....

The next day we catch a taxi to the End of the World....... out Cua Dai Road and turn left past the huge hotrels that are still being repaired after the typhoone across the sand over the road that the typhoon moved with it's force and past the hge piles of sand on the roadside....... down alleys that we wondered if the taxi would fit down, around corners and past tiny little palm leaf houses to aroad that leads to the waters edge and there in front of us is a tiny little outdoor cafe / restaurant - "The End of The World". The view from te waters edge is beautiful and as we sit and eat our last lunch in Hoi An, we are both somewhat quiet...pondering the next coupke of days and our return ome...not a lot to say....... just take in the view ..... We head back and throw a few last begotten treasures into our bags then head off with Madam An and taff to a dinner she has invited us to to celebrate her third anniversary of owning Hoang trinh.... we are humble and proud to be given the privilege. It is nice to join in a meal with the staff .... laughing and chattering away...... and a few Moat, Hai Bah, Yo's as well........ The nght comes to an end and we head back homne to go to bed for the last time.... not much sleep tonight I'm afraid....... tomorrow we say goodbye

Aerobics by the lake in Hanoi

Guess who??

Church on Sunday - Sapa style

If this doesn't bring tears to your eyes and send shivers up your spine......

Hotels...

We know how to pick 'em.....

More pictures - no time to write.....

A picture tells a thousand words ...... Sapa

The girls from the Black Hmong and Zow tribes