tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25977623140353636202024-03-05T12:06:54.848-08:00DELICIOUS DIPLOMACYNiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-46607753121194694032013-05-18T04:08:00.001-07:002013-05-18T04:08:28.094-07:00Your Hanoi Summer Style Guide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>It's HOT. </b></div>
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I thought I knew what hot was when I went to visit my Hubs back in the day in Arizona and it was 103+ for 3 days. Then I moved to Hanoi.....and Summer arrived. For the last week it has been <i>on average</i> 95 degrees+ with 70%+ humidity, which makes the heat index <i>on average</i> <b>113+ degrees</b>. HOT. Now I understand why a colleague said to me "Oh, you're going to be pregnant here and SO miserable." I refuse to be miserable, I am happy and grateful, but this heat is NO JOKE. I told myself I will find a way to avoid being miserable. It can be done!</div>
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With the recent change in weather, I have noticed several new styles in Hanoi. There has always been the "Half-shirted man" style, which I could not get a good picture of; Just imagine a man with half of his t-shirt folded up so his belly shows. I am not judging it, I might be sporting it come June.</div>
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In addition to the "half-shirted man", there is another style that is EVERYWHERE; the "no-shirted man." Apparently men can still sell dine outdoors in this style and also sell their wares on the street in the same fashion.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzp3rXcsPfRFfURmR8hl2lovVASi0S5YG05c-nk62NbSYuvnU6KuflQIp593jlmeUa-Xswi1rR2G-069PhTsNNXl9lLPcV-j59oL3M8CD9d5eHYlMOYjCu9K0pON_pO9eA1pxtPofJro/s1600/2013-05-18+11.55.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzp3rXcsPfRFfURmR8hl2lovVASi0S5YG05c-nk62NbSYuvnU6KuflQIp593jlmeUa-Xswi1rR2G-069PhTsNNXl9lLPcV-j59oL3M8CD9d5eHYlMOYjCu9K0pON_pO9eA1pxtPofJro/s320/2013-05-18+11.55.37.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>A topless vendor selling cellphones</i></div>
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While the men in Hanoi seem to be stripping, the woman are doing just the opposite. Vietnamese women take skincare very seriously and almost never get any sun(Yes, many of them have amazing skin). While the men wear less clothes, the women wear <i><u><b>much</b></u></i> more. </div>
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On normal sunny days in Hanoi, you will find a Vietnamese woman on a motorbike wearing:</div>
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1. a "fashionable" SARS mask</div>
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2. a hooded jacket</div>
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3. A helment(60% of the time)</div>
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4. gloves</div>
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5. pants, or this new number I have seen popping up: a blanket with a strap around the waist to keep your legs hidden from the sun:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2QsUL9UAlnVFZAioi-jzGQyzk6d_D78m_65lNujPR1yNEt-wFPjQS6Uv2cKSdHC9UmZAG2j7e-ggbin88X7C6cDQVy85YP4n7gF2klbdJpQsygQTol8pURN2b27yUJCzLyirdkXLKjw/s1600/2013-05-17+14.11.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2QsUL9UAlnVFZAioi-jzGQyzk6d_D78m_65lNujPR1yNEt-wFPjQS6Uv2cKSdHC9UmZAG2j7e-ggbin88X7C6cDQVy85YP4n7gF2klbdJpQsygQTol8pURN2b27yUJCzLyirdkXLKjw/s320/2013-05-17+14.11.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Hanoi Fashion Summer 2013</i></div>
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Or, perhaps, if you are an elderly man or woman, you will roam the streets wearing your pajamas...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGmjHT45jdfydP_09JPLF-9231pfSio-TtAnrjlDzaqhHR9Vne2Lq-KR_WureE5qF7UWmVINkwdOWM9bocKTN7hfXfk14C1M1uHWrjvJGMBJVp-UGinwq4NvDYKpCWslmUdX5ex4HwEU/s1600/2013-05-18+11.55.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGmjHT45jdfydP_09JPLF-9231pfSio-TtAnrjlDzaqhHR9Vne2Lq-KR_WureE5qF7UWmVINkwdOWM9bocKTN7hfXfk14C1M1uHWrjvJGMBJVp-UGinwq4NvDYKpCWslmUdX5ex4HwEU/s320/2013-05-18+11.55.53.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>An old man that lives in my neighborhood, out for his morning walk</i></div>
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I have been told it will be like this until September. </div>
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Since I am not a fashionista, I will not be following the current trends in Hanoi. </div>
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However, I have found a remedy for the heat:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdP6t_v9iGZG36mmbOXnneRFDaIE79rHCt7cCSREKCKOUN0Hx_gJ2ahUeSQa97h3tkufr3zZNgavacQIjm8za_9Dy3CUXtuXkpdiIJU_nsOusSHi8EWl58pfGyZkmL3BxwlLlQN3_ZVwg/s1600/2013-05-18+15.56.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdP6t_v9iGZG36mmbOXnneRFDaIE79rHCt7cCSREKCKOUN0Hx_gJ2ahUeSQa97h3tkufr3zZNgavacQIjm8za_9Dy3CUXtuXkpdiIJU_nsOusSHi8EWl58pfGyZkmL3BxwlLlQN3_ZVwg/s320/2013-05-18+15.56.29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Our pool--not too shabby, eh?</i></div>
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The way to avoid being miserable this summer: I plan on living in my swimsuit. </div>
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(while not at the office of course)</div>
<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-11498387936183426002013-05-15T05:56:00.002-07:002013-05-15T05:56:17.787-07:00What happened to NiCLO?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hey y'all! I know, some of you may have been wondering "what happened to NiCLO?"</div>
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Well....THIS happened....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60Z4RrAi5hxFj6AgZ6kno8juUWhvSHLNxAoxQnnWxq9D7GSZpTs3nxxaQPY4iczUMLqTnPYd7hGBLB0BQZ2741fMtDefiYyc1Prth49mxIltmr86UUgZtSdpEuNKocmM7X8kkvQmtHhA/s1600/bebe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60Z4RrAi5hxFj6AgZ6kno8juUWhvSHLNxAoxQnnWxq9D7GSZpTs3nxxaQPY4iczUMLqTnPYd7hGBLB0BQZ2741fMtDefiYyc1Prth49mxIltmr86UUgZtSdpEuNKocmM7X8kkvQmtHhA/s320/bebe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Ze Bebe is expected to arrive October 28th! </i></div>
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<i>Bebe obviously takes after us, hamming it up, even in the ultrasound(see that tongue sticking out?)</i></div>
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It's a wonderful blessing and we are thrilled! However, our lives have already dramatically changed. This foodie couple has now been transformed into a foodie husband and a very picky eater. I am even more picky than my infamous #1 blog fan and brother! I never thought I would see the day. However, for the last few months, I have only been able to stomach about 5 things; macaroni and cheese, cheese pizza, yogurt, cereal and only one Vietnamese specialty..... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNhvkCAVIUBWoKR7JTz34xONt8O10wDWgvSWQYP84xZUEtlipTh8vN-b2Uk0iVhhnhOOIqTA12PTrNlDkG9qDYVgqG2uITic8wISlFpLcRKZvduGFJ0LsGsZ2MN3istw1K1qiuwSPNqk/s1600/2013-05-14+12.26.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNhvkCAVIUBWoKR7JTz34xONt8O10wDWgvSWQYP84xZUEtlipTh8vN-b2Uk0iVhhnhOOIqTA12PTrNlDkG9qDYVgqG2uITic8wISlFpLcRKZvduGFJ0LsGsZ2MN3istw1K1qiuwSPNqk/s320/2013-05-14+12.26.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>nước chanh</i></div>
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<i>aka Lemon Juice</i></div>
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<i>aka Lemonade</i></div>
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I am sorry to let you down, fellow foodies, but I promise, I am slowly getting my groove back. Or, rather, creating a brand new groove with our awesome kid.</div>
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We have been having a lot of fun planning for the Bebe's arrival. Let me first explain why we call the baby "Bebe." In Hanoi, my best option OB doctor is a French woman. She is lovely, and she makes me feel lovely too. Each time I see her, it's a stream of consciousness, that sounds like this:</div>
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"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i>Oh! Ah-lo! Ah-lo bebe! Ze bebe eez zo perfect! Ze placenta is beautee-ful! Ze bebe eez measuring beauteefully. Oh you look zo chic ma-ma! Oh la la! You need to gain ze weight, and zen I will tell you to lose ze weight later on! Ok? Ok! Zuch a busy bebe!</i></span>"</div>
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It's pretty entertaining. Sometimes, a bit challenging, for example, yesterday she asked me if I am having contractions, and I said "I don't know, what do they feel like?" and she says "Tightening." Um...I am pretty sure EVERY pregnant woman feels tightening as their bellies grow, but that is all she could explain to me. I am just grateful I have an OB in Hanoi. The plan is to come home to tropical Des Moines, IA to deliver the bebe in September-after Christmas. If you told my 18 year old self I would be moving back to Iowa, she would be shocked. Yet, my 18 year old self has no clue how awesome DSM is these days(no sarcasm here, I am really excited about it!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEideKuXRTbVQBJsLhd2WZPJGWhM7mPb55QtIS5teDQVCBdXzU5EQ7ZtQufTe1y3Ls-3qDu5Es-g3PSU9ea26mn75aHY2PC25J7YcAHw0fQifLy1fGzbLamEhsYkLauWFGIfeNGk6knzNCI/s1600/2013-05-06+17.18.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEideKuXRTbVQBJsLhd2WZPJGWhM7mPb55QtIS5teDQVCBdXzU5EQ7ZtQufTe1y3Ls-3qDu5Es-g3PSU9ea26mn75aHY2PC25J7YcAHw0fQifLy1fGzbLamEhsYkLauWFGIfeNGk6knzNCI/s320/2013-05-06+17.18.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>me and ze bebe at 15 weeks in my first maternity purchase</i></div>
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Hubs and I have been laying pretty low. A few weeks ago I went to CLO training in Bangkok, where I got to meet 18 other women who work the same job as I do at Embassies throughout Asia & Central Asia. I made some great new friends and learned a lot! </div>
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I also got to do what any normal person would do in Thailand:</div>
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<i>EAT MEXICAN FOOD!</i></div>
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<i>It was amazing, if you are ever in BKK and need a fix, check out <a href="http://www.lamonita.com/La_Monita_Taqueria/Welcome.html">La Monita</a></i></div>
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The service is slow, but the food is amazing, and my counterparts say the margaritas are too!</div>
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We are also approaching "Summer" in Hanoi. Yesterday, it was 95 degrees with 71% humidity. I thought I was going to die, but then I remembered that I DID use to teach hot yoga for 6 years and perhaps it was all preparing me for this life. </div>
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On the plus side, we have been having some really beautiful sunsets....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajKGufYk04JcH18NAn-mmYRWzk-9ldNv1nyhKPOZijIuZJzv7ULAftx0ZEBckbVSuEARiJ48LnxOtRTaVNanNZQnqLk3C-omKdYzFkvw9-VU4bZTaJtMxADjQ1Vm5AgCpTvKGtL0yTs8/s1600/2013-05-06+18.19.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajKGufYk04JcH18NAn-mmYRWzk-9ldNv1nyhKPOZijIuZJzv7ULAftx0ZEBckbVSuEARiJ48LnxOtRTaVNanNZQnqLk3C-omKdYzFkvw9-VU4bZTaJtMxADjQ1Vm5AgCpTvKGtL0yTs8/s320/2013-05-06+18.19.37.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Last week</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyr0FACM_zl1TyxWnPnopzTAxCAx6GyX7ZpTy1qcEfStnxfjh8rxHTAHQhDSt6dmYk0IuS8Q_O7tun37XZXdrgpNAdravMFfIccVYjqrSRzmIhinRAIGuMtGVkMVtu4An800zdLPGcPvs/s1600/2013-05-15+18.34.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyr0FACM_zl1TyxWnPnopzTAxCAx6GyX7ZpTy1qcEfStnxfjh8rxHTAHQhDSt6dmYk0IuS8Q_O7tun37XZXdrgpNAdravMFfIccVYjqrSRzmIhinRAIGuMtGVkMVtu4An800zdLPGcPvs/s320/2013-05-15+18.34.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Tonight</i></div>
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I am really grateful for the sunsets, because tonight it made me remember that I have the option to choose: I can choose to focus on complaining about the heat *OR* I can open my eyes and enjoy a really beautiful sunset off my balcony. I can choose to complain about the smells of the city or I can choose to rejoice that I have a job I really love. I can choose to be homesick for my loved ones back home or choose to be grateful for the amazing partner that I have by my side. </div>
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So, my friends; What <b><i>really</i></b> happened to NiCLO? Well, I guess I was choosing to have a little pity party for myself and not write about my recent challenges. I was so focused on feeling sick and pregnant & other first year abroad "stuff" that I think-know-I was missing out. For now, I am back to blogging and even more grateful for the challenges of expat living and the wonderful lessons I have learned so far. (I am also writing this all down to remind <i>myself</i> the next time I have a pity party!)</div>
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See you SOON!</div>
<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-58348226753864033652013-02-06T05:57:00.003-08:002013-02-06T05:57:56.852-08:00Check Your PerspectiveToday I came across a video on FaceBook. It was made by the company <a href="http://WATERisLIFE.com/">WATER is LIFE</a>, a nonprofit that brings water filters to the third world.<br />
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It reminded me that I want to make a website called PerspectiveCheck.com(or something like that); a place where you can hear from people all over the world about their perspectives to better keep one's self humble. <Now that I have said it, I have to do it><br />
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For example:<br />
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Hanoi traffic is a headache compared to the USA, but it's called lovely by people coming out of Chennai.<br />
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Hanoi smog is awful compared to Washington, D.C., but it's absolutely blissful to friends who served in Beijing.<br />
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Your children are terrors, but they are the dream of many women struggling with fertility.<br />
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Et Cetera....<br />
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We don't know how good we have it. Previously traveling overseas and now living in Hanoi has definitely opened my eyes to how blessed we are.<br />
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I am not perfect, I know that, but I think we--especially those from the Western world--can use a big perspective check every now and again.<br />
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It's like one of my favorite quotes by Zig Ziglar....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sQ5w6qmnI1KctPqrRzTL3ysU_z-NLy9nVUtB8r7eD5Hm6IxAv98KzFEtX7wmqis22oCZ0GNAH4MQVQR6LUxmTJIlLD892OjdUTw7FdT9ORKTZKToVG2nzN8Z-f3lZtDizAQUa2kbAUw/s1600/facebookcover-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sQ5w6qmnI1KctPqrRzTL3ysU_z-NLy9nVUtB8r7eD5Hm6IxAv98KzFEtX7wmqis22oCZ0GNAH4MQVQR6LUxmTJIlLD892OjdUTw7FdT9ORKTZKToVG2nzN8Z-f3lZtDizAQUa2kbAUw/s400/facebookcover-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We can't I hope you feel as inspired as I did by watching this. Now I only hope I can remember to be this grateful every day, I am sure I will need another perspective check tomorrow....especially as Vietnam prepares for the Lunar New Year this weekend.<br />
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(Watch the video <a href="http://waterislife.com/media/videos/">HERE</a>)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXLm0Fr_u5Zit_XGQNu7aGOcXma3PymcHEuT7gpzjnLEgP3kxYshK2zohvU095iiIs3JUVfTIsGXsFcSwqW5340mHd3geG9NGtOKlXb8n553AjdqgXsDFpMVHE7olEIhgRoVX44_oCzk/s1600/2013-02-05+07.29.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXLm0Fr_u5Zit_XGQNu7aGOcXma3PymcHEuT7gpzjnLEgP3kxYshK2zohvU095iiIs3JUVfTIsGXsFcSwqW5340mHd3geG9NGtOKlXb8n553AjdqgXsDFpMVHE7olEIhgRoVX44_oCzk/s320/2013-02-05+07.29.22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Hanoi at 7:25am. There are approximately 3 times as many people on the street than the rest of the year. It's madness...but perhaps not compared to the Old Quarter in Hanoi....Oh, perspective!</i></div>
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<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-32447068795005848342013-02-05T07:12:00.002-08:002013-02-05T07:12:28.870-08:00I'm a STUD.<div style="text-align: center;">
Within the last week I have received emails from Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Kerry. </div>
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I AM very important, after all....</div>
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....are you impressed?....</div>
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Well, okay it was a mass email to all State Employees, but I thought it was pretty fabulous. </div>
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In both emails, they made jokes about the acronyms of the State Department. </div>
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It's a bit overwhelming at times. There are still meetings that I go to where I have to write down the acronym and look it up at my desk. Maybe after a year I will get the hang of it...but then I hear they just change the names and create new acronyms. I cannot wait.</div>
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<u>For example:</u></div>
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<b>I am an EFM, who is the CLO(which is a FMA). </b></div>
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<b>My Hubs is an ELO working in CON. He likes to volunteer with PAS.</b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Easy, right? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You got it? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">GREAT!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Welcome to the FS! </span></div>
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<i>(Foreign Service)</i></div>
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<u>Translation: </u></div>
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I am an Eligible Family Member(aka spouse or partner), who is the Community Liaison Office Coordinator, which is a Family Member Appointed Job. My Hubs is an Entry Level Officer working in the Consular Section. He likes to volunteer in the Public Affairs Section. </div>
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It can be very confusing at times. It seems to never end. It's kind of like a fun secret code.</div>
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Last week one of my yoga students shared with me a new acronym:</div>
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<b>STUD</b></div>
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<u>Translation:</u></div>
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<b>Spouse Trailing Under Duress</b></div>
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It sounds a bit awful, being under duress, but it's kind of true and I like being called a STUD. </div>
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So now, when people ask me what I do, I can say I am a STUD. </div>
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Perhaps only the EFMs out there can appreciate this, but I once had someone(an ELO) snatch his hand away from me when I said I am an EFM. It was as if he could not touch me or he would get leprosy.</div>
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**I did some googling; this is a very European phrase(my student is French) and mostly used for men who are trailing spouses, but I like it, and I am rolling with it**</div>
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Much love to all my other STUDs out there!!!</div>
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NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-89876867019246865112013-02-03T01:06:00.003-08:002013-02-03T01:35:36.338-08:00I think I'm turning Vietnamese, I really think so<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We have it really good here. We have great housing, good friends and one another. </div>
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Yet every week it gets a little bit better.</div>
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After three months of living here, I decided to try the "complimentary breakfast" from our hotel restaurant. You may be thinking "why did it take you three months?!" Well, it comes down to expectations. I thought that I would have to order and wait and I always seem to have just enough time to make it to the shuttle. Secondly, I thought it would be mediocre food. After thinking about it, we decided to meet a friend downstairs one morning. </div>
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Our neighbor friend did not show, but we were pleasantly surprised.</div>
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Each morning they serve croissants, breads, sausages, bacon, vegetables and a different kind of Vietnamese noodle soup each day:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETNSeKXnDB5HU7jqv0TKhklyK651ppoP4_xeNbdKBOMz9tHNRNixEQx4lUqk6S8lWpLjGMPlG0LK9SC3ysD3cIL6w_4_UXA3cNNDstZXWB5L3zO3fHWqMWHScMGI6uJZ1R9qahUHVIgA/s1600/2013-01-25+07.23.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETNSeKXnDB5HU7jqv0TKhklyK651ppoP4_xeNbdKBOMz9tHNRNixEQx4lUqk6S8lWpLjGMPlG0LK9SC3ysD3cIL6w_4_UXA3cNNDstZXWB5L3zO3fHWqMWHScMGI6uJZ1R9qahUHVIgA/s320/2013-01-25+07.23.01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>I have no idea what this is called, but I call it YUMMY. My friend recommended I add a poached egg and YUM. Now I know why Vietnamese eat Pho for breakfast! I am hooked.</i></div>
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I love most things Vietnamese. Currently in Hanoi, there is a lot of hustle and bustle due to the upcoming <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%E1%BA%BFt">Lunar New Year</a>. Traffic has been insane and it seems like the markets have been overflowing with even more vendors than before. It's a very happy time and we are grateful to be a part of it.</div>
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Last week we tried out a newly re-opened restaurant: <a href="http://tnhvietnam.xemzi.com/en/spot/4675/luc-thuy-restaurant-hanoi">Luc Thuy</a>. It's a fusion of Sichuan and Vietnamese food.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBxkLzkXZ6uKZg0nwizpM_MIvgyDg6DC5ThqL1VN8UjHbjIvUlljcgtNKpTNdyiCoILkPAmm0mXgEYx-QeCAzomYvLFosPMjtA17fHJlODwH4LrNdSYRo48h2Gt6GEq47lsrHGxYqsUQ/s1600/2013-01-24+12.33.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBxkLzkXZ6uKZg0nwizpM_MIvgyDg6DC5ThqL1VN8UjHbjIvUlljcgtNKpTNdyiCoILkPAmm0mXgEYx-QeCAzomYvLFosPMjtA17fHJlODwH4LrNdSYRo48h2Gt6GEq47lsrHGxYqsUQ/s1600/2013-01-24+12.33.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBxkLzkXZ6uKZg0nwizpM_MIvgyDg6DC5ThqL1VN8UjHbjIvUlljcgtNKpTNdyiCoILkPAmm0mXgEYx-QeCAzomYvLFosPMjtA17fHJlODwH4LrNdSYRo48h2Gt6GEq47lsrHGxYqsUQ/s320/2013-01-24+12.33.11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBxkLzkXZ6uKZg0nwizpM_MIvgyDg6DC5ThqL1VN8UjHbjIvUlljcgtNKpTNdyiCoILkPAmm0mXgEYx-QeCAzomYvLFosPMjtA17fHJlODwH4LrNdSYRo48h2Gt6GEq47lsrHGxYqsUQ/s1600/2013-01-24+12.33.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<i>the most beautiful lazy susan I have ever seen</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbcU116wQXWOLyLYe78-wUbntAzCLOMSgRgpW5od5qj696ZD3KULFzZ6EZ_FNcbMSuFDL9wyUVEhlVh_7ImWEIjvD0WBlNU6aS5BNIx2ASBvXRc3wciY4aMloA8POSqyxK0DtWD3a4Qs/s1600/2013-01-24+12.35.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbcU116wQXWOLyLYe78-wUbntAzCLOMSgRgpW5od5qj696ZD3KULFzZ6EZ_FNcbMSuFDL9wyUVEhlVh_7ImWEIjvD0WBlNU6aS5BNIx2ASBvXRc3wciY4aMloA8POSqyxK0DtWD3a4Qs/s320/2013-01-24+12.35.40.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>amuse bouche: peanuts, chilis and sour mango</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrGrSbcWqJ6DqDOo-fgkh_-zawTao4M4NSzidpC07ouDimeRitj7vo0l-fFywR4xnQ04Pa6CtXmyS82A5KSsqIC4BcvbBiDG0tvE18KfHYg00CWpgn4S4f1yjfL7DKZoSCdWMqkz7deg/s1600/2013-01-24+12.48.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrGrSbcWqJ6DqDOo-fgkh_-zawTao4M4NSzidpC07ouDimeRitj7vo0l-fFywR4xnQ04Pa6CtXmyS82A5KSsqIC4BcvbBiDG0tvE18KfHYg00CWpgn4S4f1yjfL7DKZoSCdWMqkz7deg/s320/2013-01-24+12.48.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>mango salad: delish!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2tSk_fnnaCjn7BXRNV-YasBBqnNvy9M_vCz59T5zY58KslW4a-zK67HFps-b1AodWWGf6p5MYX9RYsMS4YUMeJ-NZjQSH1L1haSNHgYCnSXBPgkaK1Br5gyvTyy2mtqeQHMDtFPksGc/s1600/2013-01-24+12.53.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2tSk_fnnaCjn7BXRNV-YasBBqnNvy9M_vCz59T5zY58KslW4a-zK67HFps-b1AodWWGf6p5MYX9RYsMS4YUMeJ-NZjQSH1L1haSNHgYCnSXBPgkaK1Br5gyvTyy2mtqeQHMDtFPksGc/s320/2013-01-24+12.53.46.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>fresh spring rolls</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjMgWd5eVyco_YhXXc_dkyHJvIdOcwiSNbfrNZ4fkKKzEaasdVTrXHF7jMXi4aG6Pie-AIAjGD0CIWTM1jb6gSf2C7AQi5yw_6qBwC94vzlV9mFTROvdWZ6vjXC0qHLMHBr_BGlvs8bY/s1600/2013-01-24+12.57.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjMgWd5eVyco_YhXXc_dkyHJvIdOcwiSNbfrNZ4fkKKzEaasdVTrXHF7jMXi4aG6Pie-AIAjGD0CIWTM1jb6gSf2C7AQi5yw_6qBwC94vzlV9mFTROvdWZ6vjXC0qHLMHBr_BGlvs8bY/s320/2013-01-24+12.57.31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>two buns: fried or fresh</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCx_R5Huc2tmDXa8U8X8W_yyuQHZNwy0H0fBcoJrgIKRwxyZR1HU_5zKvvL1m83fOx6x8lxEVSarIMOTNFmcEHwM-awkNJ89mM2g5GdVFu3nEbj-SRjT-Waf5eGw9aLoRSdrBAVOrAFNU/s1600/2013-01-24+12.59.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCx_R5Huc2tmDXa8U8X8W_yyuQHZNwy0H0fBcoJrgIKRwxyZR1HU_5zKvvL1m83fOx6x8lxEVSarIMOTNFmcEHwM-awkNJ89mM2g5GdVFu3nEbj-SRjT-Waf5eGw9aLoRSdrBAVOrAFNU/s320/2013-01-24+12.59.20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Chicken and vegetables; plus jackfruit, which is not something I would recommend</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AI99N4h_RR_TruckLvMEIIi2XykGnizRVt87qP62_zPZ4Hzx_iHncK4cnkoQaArxd0ruTJoq3gk3jnTsSprEXEfYwCO8_vtnOYGOkW9sbGr6sLil3eS_zDMqdZwVC1Rex41b6ziopyI/s1600/2013-01-24+13.07.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AI99N4h_RR_TruckLvMEIIi2XykGnizRVt87qP62_zPZ4Hzx_iHncK4cnkoQaArxd0ruTJoq3gk3jnTsSprEXEfYwCO8_vtnOYGOkW9sbGr6sLil3eS_zDMqdZwVC1Rex41b6ziopyI/s320/2013-01-24+13.07.56.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Sichuan beef: SPICY!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZo-PNUVQlaWF2tnDgZFiJIJNZ7HwJzPoI1XbcCGMVrG7Dbfq_XMotrin6i7XwN0itRNjMZnIU3zjQ2ZzKUoy_Ajwt7dw-Xw-Yga70m1lhTko1GeB-dgT9h8eDHmBaxw9rozJrNauOQ3A/s1600/2013-01-24+13.15.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZo-PNUVQlaWF2tnDgZFiJIJNZ7HwJzPoI1XbcCGMVrG7Dbfq_XMotrin6i7XwN0itRNjMZnIU3zjQ2ZzKUoy_Ajwt7dw-Xw-Yga70m1lhTko1GeB-dgT9h8eDHmBaxw9rozJrNauOQ3A/s320/2013-01-24+13.15.21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Ginger chicken</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXIEXKn8Ap56N83DuiM3pzdDH5XmRbzvEZTfCvNfEDrRQfIIb76xpUHbkPKJW9H61nzOc_N2uDNb2GE9dLDw1s09lLqmynTpZkYWfmdqwy7vBXd4ohkRp7WNCkwHCZ15_dBn-_wqt_28/s1600/2013-01-24+13.24.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXIEXKn8Ap56N83DuiM3pzdDH5XmRbzvEZTfCvNfEDrRQfIIb76xpUHbkPKJW9H61nzOc_N2uDNb2GE9dLDw1s09lLqmynTpZkYWfmdqwy7vBXd4ohkRp7WNCkwHCZ15_dBn-_wqt_28/s320/2013-01-24+13.24.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Check out the rooster!!! The tofu was mediocre, but the rooster was beautifully made</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">It was a very nice lunch and incredibly ornate. Our table of 5 sat in a private room on the second floor overlooking Hoan Kiem lake. Our server knocked every time he entered the room, and he gave us a remote to call him when we needed him. It was a bit over the top and the service was slow, but I would go there again. They also have a nice outdoor area that I'd like to try next time.</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">I love Vietnamese food and am really getting into the spirit of the season....I may even be turning Vietnamese...</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNM64q92rpYBSRNZ2M7Z9WIwUsPkHgizZqJJ57lIpK4DD-g_EgRCny4enYaU6lZcpzV880pjNBVqiIQJuYas1EcfVdFuZG28j3BVSaidC4GmQZ14tyaGdipi4TNvHovRHhsL37hyOGMY/s1600/2013-01-28+07.27.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNM64q92rpYBSRNZ2M7Z9WIwUsPkHgizZqJJ57lIpK4DD-g_EgRCny4enYaU6lZcpzV880pjNBVqiIQJuYas1EcfVdFuZG28j3BVSaidC4GmQZ14tyaGdipi4TNvHovRHhsL37hyOGMY/s320/2013-01-28+07.27.33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Pho ba</i></div>
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<i>Beef Pho for breakfast!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eJn0CC3YUiP9Su8cPy3xt0sslfpN89_fokNK5gI1lc4DC7qzed9WlofvVIIZdHXRSKdw79K1sTMsd4wiXYqVVTy9fp5Eq2w_F6x5mm-mkbtjXEAblVG966rHFtingzhx-suAC0TdvJw/s1600/2013-01-29+07.26.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eJn0CC3YUiP9Su8cPy3xt0sslfpN89_fokNK5gI1lc4DC7qzed9WlofvVIIZdHXRSKdw79K1sTMsd4wiXYqVVTy9fp5Eq2w_F6x5mm-mkbtjXEAblVG966rHFtingzhx-suAC0TdvJw/s320/2013-01-29+07.26.30.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Pho ga</i></div>
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<i>Chicken pho with a poached egg</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPRKUfijCg1zXvl-Ir7vDjNyN4zZ0-l0E8FJUbn50s-E1lyafdvAjFHKVdOzJoW4Yrcs-qQO4jH-KxX88i8XS31lnUzGUcmIt2Da6wm4D1e6cq5zOC-fUMAE7kkDkPTrGLYaF6xdoGWM/s1600/2013-01-29+07.36.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPRKUfijCg1zXvl-Ir7vDjNyN4zZ0-l0E8FJUbn50s-E1lyafdvAjFHKVdOzJoW4Yrcs-qQO4jH-KxX88i8XS31lnUzGUcmIt2Da6wm4D1e6cq5zOC-fUMAE7kkDkPTrGLYaF6xdoGWM/s320/2013-01-29+07.36.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>This is a picture from our pool, as you can see, you cannot see much, </i></div>
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<i>no wonder everyone is getting so excited for Spring!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienoi-P5DVurwPhwuSwD6fbouc3N7KM5H0p9m3qpZCL7LHeF5KCwy-TR_eV7w3OSP4RyvCuCzJ9scJtcO1rbQBdMs_fE4hSeTgnZQmsBvyh2wrAft4cYicdfInQ2Je-f0DXW48CPKLPB8/s1600/2013-01-30+07.22.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienoi-P5DVurwPhwuSwD6fbouc3N7KM5H0p9m3qpZCL7LHeF5KCwy-TR_eV7w3OSP4RyvCuCzJ9scJtcO1rbQBdMs_fE4hSeTgnZQmsBvyh2wrAft4cYicdfInQ2Je-f0DXW48CPKLPB8/s320/2013-01-30+07.22.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Noodles & pork breakfast</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1eqQRu9hEk5D-zEoJ8clO9afDXopBiUbiK8azbBvXSc-OCefNinU6AI6-Ium_0dcTqOlxFByZw0NmCgm7ieSdWFwaTmjo6Ik2tLrSFuFWNx5cOnc9rbwLsmww5dtbF_f5xkL2rBNcqo/s1600/2013-01-31+07.34.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1eqQRu9hEk5D-zEoJ8clO9afDXopBiUbiK8azbBvXSc-OCefNinU6AI6-Ium_0dcTqOlxFByZw0NmCgm7ieSdWFwaTmjo6Ik2tLrSFuFWNx5cOnc9rbwLsmww5dtbF_f5xkL2rBNcqo/s320/2013-01-31+07.34.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Tofu & beef noodles</i></div>
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<i>I think I'm turning Vietnamese....and I like it....</i></div>
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Last friday we had our Embassy Tet Party which is put on by our Locally Employed Staff Association. Me and a group of friends performed a dance. The dance was coordinated by one of our Assistant Regional Security Officers, he is really into it. He explained to me that the Vietnamese people get a kick out of watching us be a part of their celebration, which made me even more excited to be a part of it. I was excited about the Ao Dai<pronounced Ow Zai></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26cTAUEVW0dybRcPWP7bVnOo-i4zBCSJYlQeEgH1uFpu41YiWOqJSwmkPKuykE-IGOZUcaq1qF5tj1wMcIB8H0QFE98Z6u10i7oQomIrKBFhp9EBMNCTfmHF7gWt_VXm-b7Qnsto2-II/s1600/2013-01-31+18.03.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26cTAUEVW0dybRcPWP7bVnOo-i4zBCSJYlQeEgH1uFpu41YiWOqJSwmkPKuykE-IGOZUcaq1qF5tj1wMcIB8H0QFE98Z6u10i7oQomIrKBFhp9EBMNCTfmHF7gWt_VXm-b7Qnsto2-II/s320/2013-01-31+18.03.03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>This is 3/4 girls on dress rehearsal night</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvxQxOFwQSbq0eKMMPbTyGLRwT8wB4IZlOuiflHX5sE1AgiuFUPNsSTD51QE_EL0DpCbEYyPKl9kKKiMwKNAt78Qudt5naSHKxvuVJRzoSO2i8m5_EiX381mp7tWMMt5KmzR0OTSkq_I/s1600/2013-01-31+18.04.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvxQxOFwQSbq0eKMMPbTyGLRwT8wB4IZlOuiflHX5sE1AgiuFUPNsSTD51QE_EL0DpCbEYyPKl9kKKiMwKNAt78Qudt5naSHKxvuVJRzoSO2i8m5_EiX381mp7tWMMt5KmzR0OTSkq_I/s320/2013-01-31+18.04.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The four of us girls during dress rehearsal. Two Americans, Two Local Vietnamese Staff. Can you believe that we could not get more women to dance?? All 4 of our dance partners are American Men. </i></div>
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After dress rehearsal I went to try out another <surprise> Vietnamese restaurant, <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.in/Restaurant_Review-g293924-d1161350-Reviews-Wild_Lotus-Hanoi.html">Wild Lotus</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbB3R5ITRBxLBChvgVGrygFMcoJOWLBKZBvv_As4QaAhUx15IcuvXZ7jImB8dBZ31edhNW6gRZeQ7iqHs4Ndrd_I_HoYkkuBcPGw8WBGn94lFH-aZw2Uv6Zh9wd2CqVsxBSDKosSAzx0/s1600/2013-01-31+19.30.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbB3R5ITRBxLBChvgVGrygFMcoJOWLBKZBvv_As4QaAhUx15IcuvXZ7jImB8dBZ31edhNW6gRZeQ7iqHs4Ndrd_I_HoYkkuBcPGw8WBGn94lFH-aZw2Uv6Zh9wd2CqVsxBSDKosSAzx0/s320/2013-01-31+19.30.50.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The Tet tree in the lobby</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYzjPQr49HnXRpXsmYSwj2M0WNmoMlcetnxh-bip1wurSPHgJ9r-2Okhc92wUpoNZYAnHBbyW12M8JIk6YOjDh1OsbviOryuHUYfVzo9A_4zx0IMiO77pcD5UiSAaG7nPtnSspy-FkU0/s1600/2013-01-31+20.00.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYzjPQr49HnXRpXsmYSwj2M0WNmoMlcetnxh-bip1wurSPHgJ9r-2Okhc92wUpoNZYAnHBbyW12M8JIk6YOjDh1OsbviOryuHUYfVzo9A_4zx0IMiO77pcD5UiSAaG7nPtnSspy-FkU0/s320/2013-01-31+20.00.48.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Fresh spring rolls and peanut crusted shrimp in the background</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhY-ljtFix06RruMNkiPPupbYDuq3wgFv831QStI9qyNcYeJEXYA1z36cZZg-9gpKgUPjSwkyb6Ha7fpe9k0-jYNf7mw2hiD2FqdVmI6O4Z0LNWqe1i9uCIh0PSeQQrREcOvIL9DhpSs/s1600/2013-01-31+20.03.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhY-ljtFix06RruMNkiPPupbYDuq3wgFv831QStI9qyNcYeJEXYA1z36cZZg-9gpKgUPjSwkyb6Ha7fpe9k0-jYNf7mw2hiD2FqdVmI6O4Z0LNWqe1i9uCIh0PSeQQrREcOvIL9DhpSs/s320/2013-01-31+20.03.58.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Pan fried sea bass in Mango: YUM</i></div>
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It was a delicious meal, but we didn't eat a lot because we wanted to save room for popcorn; </div>
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we went to Les Miserables afterwards!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZsg4qSxQUS1Wv7llOsWwuzMfivEhz1bA948NDaPSH-NsQZrWmpSZqSfwPl_raNdt08WS5muRYcn4Y781WMj8OtbkFCd-8U45PK6A_MXi9YERw__Q7gHk84y1ExwVR45zoF_Arzh7ybM/s1600/2013-01-31+20.56.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZsg4qSxQUS1Wv7llOsWwuzMfivEhz1bA948NDaPSH-NsQZrWmpSZqSfwPl_raNdt08WS5muRYcn4Y781WMj8OtbkFCd-8U45PK6A_MXi9YERw__Q7gHk84y1ExwVR45zoF_Arzh7ybM/s320/2013-01-31+20.56.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Holiday decorations outside of Vincom Towers</i></div>
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<i>It feels like Christmas all over again!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ykf-HGAJk1HKt64aR-v2eN2KdKSNwuo_Q_At0MeK-sEUXYl7RhHHUyW0lSzN_bjK_FrPCOF4OewVGTywqA8dIIDlCZgYPaPFgcK2L1gd0-GF1YDwyptFpcUF6iiIaBxp9FM1qw0HOPM/s1600/2013-02-01+07.23.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ykf-HGAJk1HKt64aR-v2eN2KdKSNwuo_Q_At0MeK-sEUXYl7RhHHUyW0lSzN_bjK_FrPCOF4OewVGTywqA8dIIDlCZgYPaPFgcK2L1gd0-GF1YDwyptFpcUF6iiIaBxp9FM1qw0HOPM/s320/2013-02-01+07.23.37.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Vietnamese breakfast #6: Beef Pho and a poached egg, they now see me coming and get the egg ready in the soup, I love them!</i></div>
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Now finally, the moment you have been waiting for: THE TET PARTY!!!!</div>
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This was one of my favorite nights I have had in Vietnam....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJzTUISigg5At0nF7DaBraj9jeqIiEiaQnWe3Z9xfsSfEZ4qvOmgF_4jVvTv1vRLa0cRwyJ6-AzCnuPF2vvZI2F6BQdc74B2HzJld83xNWg_woSpFUOoj92i93nh90NPyW4bHcWhYJCs/s1600/2013-02-01+17.41.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJzTUISigg5At0nF7DaBraj9jeqIiEiaQnWe3Z9xfsSfEZ4qvOmgF_4jVvTv1vRLa0cRwyJ6-AzCnuPF2vvZI2F6BQdc74B2HzJld83xNWg_woSpFUOoj92i93nh90NPyW4bHcWhYJCs/s320/2013-02-01+17.41.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The stage.....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNXUDtddlirxOWSlwQ8YIuHzOxZmKmgslFkUiWIToNZ8K9q931y7fQuUc4oKZ7jc8hvfyj1vPUkvtLWpgr_lqxSCHNnLGjYEgsRG9udGHhRklDpnR01kEnQc1QYUi9YvcLNnOImWBNDE/s1600/2013-02-01+17.42.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNXUDtddlirxOWSlwQ8YIuHzOxZmKmgslFkUiWIToNZ8K9q931y7fQuUc4oKZ7jc8hvfyj1vPUkvtLWpgr_lqxSCHNnLGjYEgsRG9udGHhRklDpnR01kEnQc1QYUi9YvcLNnOImWBNDE/s320/2013-02-01+17.42.50.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>My assistant V and I, aka "PINKY TEAM"</i></div>
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<i>No, we did not plan our matching Ao Dais</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ial-MHY6tcGRttvN51lpm7i7y-81rbNpOFK9_yhhPNBB-DlcgvtPjCQac5hh7mqTG7c0U9XzK35vnULGE8XsPWuFV1i0pG7ZWp8mlSM3LVhXlO54iwp0KERhZ8jjSiDChpVJUctUS9I/s1600/2013-02-01+17.53.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ial-MHY6tcGRttvN51lpm7i7y-81rbNpOFK9_yhhPNBB-DlcgvtPjCQac5hh7mqTG7c0U9XzK35vnULGE8XsPWuFV1i0pG7ZWp8mlSM3LVhXlO54iwp0KERhZ8jjSiDChpVJUctUS9I/s320/2013-02-01+17.53.38.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Hubs and I</i></div>
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Watch our Tet Performance <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4266141619329&set=vb.1459700719&type=2&theater">HERE</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLs8ggUdkBFrDX_CySipDS5KnJdBvLj2jaxO5wvGb6wmaQ3hCQf5uBjRY0iIzD58coDb7KL4M250eYXMw6uAjMrkxA-RcNvcN_5jJOVDMsBMhuYWn_0_9bx2mPMzP9d0ta7kHi0_MUeso/s1600/2013-02-01+18.48.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLs8ggUdkBFrDX_CySipDS5KnJdBvLj2jaxO5wvGb6wmaQ3hCQf5uBjRY0iIzD58coDb7KL4M250eYXMw6uAjMrkxA-RcNvcN_5jJOVDMsBMhuYWn_0_9bx2mPMzP9d0ta7kHi0_MUeso/s320/2013-02-01+18.48.57.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Dance buddy & the birthday girl</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIa0mJhiEc-6H4s6PbHKtLY3gBdRLpZVO9gKAFrxjfSC3vY2SMoK-Hxi3P52jNSyqtmu_GqsH1_YzN0D9Owiev6JBARXcXtk04LDR335B8jGfBN1t751igABiHhm45DIVWDYxMcUD3LXI/s1600/2013-02-01+18.48.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIa0mJhiEc-6H4s6PbHKtLY3gBdRLpZVO9gKAFrxjfSC3vY2SMoK-Hxi3P52jNSyqtmu_GqsH1_YzN0D9Owiev6JBARXcXtk04LDR335B8jGfBN1t751igABiHhm45DIVWDYxMcUD3LXI/s320/2013-02-01+18.48.29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Dance buddy #2</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2O_oxm_z5Uwy7XAeOx_qdsnDdbS7bTHfW5dtZ6ucM_G65HP8-B3SmwqQm665sW8wxsKaDZ-2X2uUHttWa0J04qPPoAzv5Tf9G2kc8I48e0BLjxNFMV0NcWa4BbZv0z6Hz739_FNwGyGU/s1600/2013-02-01+18.41.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2O_oxm_z5Uwy7XAeOx_qdsnDdbS7bTHfW5dtZ6ucM_G65HP8-B3SmwqQm665sW8wxsKaDZ-2X2uUHttWa0J04qPPoAzv5Tf9G2kc8I48e0BLjxNFMV0NcWa4BbZv0z6Hz739_FNwGyGU/s320/2013-02-01+18.41.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>My two dance buddies and their cute kids in Ao Dais</i></div>
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It was awesome. The following morning, Hubs and I decided to check out the Tet Market at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecopark_(Vietnam)">Ecopark</a>. The Hanoi <a href="http://www.amchamhanoi.com/site/index.php">American Chamber of Commerce</a> had a bus to haul us out to the Suburbs.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6A_TfutQsn2ocqoe37wUFOvLWgEDttS698A_e8cC4-T7DAlhumc11wKQOVxwAl0aL5Z3_CnAi-ecyGn4GEyDT1_DRDEBlnkFDnm4JKvKphsamE8iCywSzFa7ueyVuQOcbV778BpT_ECI/s1600/2013-02-02+09.01.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6A_TfutQsn2ocqoe37wUFOvLWgEDttS698A_e8cC4-T7DAlhumc11wKQOVxwAl0aL5Z3_CnAi-ecyGn4GEyDT1_DRDEBlnkFDnm4JKvKphsamE8iCywSzFa7ueyVuQOcbV778BpT_ECI/s320/2013-02-02+09.01.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Tet trees for sale outside of our apartment</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRW5J_l2KPOph7juNkE-N5HeqmsEEiotCoZJ-NeW8q1y1IgQlojch080kUEQPINKlM2GHwPy-7NCeZEEhuVWsL-Eh8ZDnbEHczoie2oexmP6eXPDijbxgBPNDWLre6K0f0BWzTvQnAOvo/s1600/2013-02-02+10.13.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRW5J_l2KPOph7juNkE-N5HeqmsEEiotCoZJ-NeW8q1y1IgQlojch080kUEQPINKlM2GHwPy-7NCeZEEhuVWsL-Eh8ZDnbEHczoie2oexmP6eXPDijbxgBPNDWLre6K0f0BWzTvQnAOvo/s320/2013-02-02+10.13.36.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Balloons at the Tet market</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Iac_ARk5I8lqiG32LJLK-vTHZHcNH9s8u93nLTRmKnKENONE3OvyhN-HgV5PUHchmJEh8Z1BUlE2FCa0ie8T_K6eM9_GN5cmsgKzdFTiaQ-Zvv4OhKwQhq5nqxa5gwiMi_i-EtRoqPs/s1600/2013-02-02+10.05.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Iac_ARk5I8lqiG32LJLK-vTHZHcNH9s8u93nLTRmKnKENONE3OvyhN-HgV5PUHchmJEh8Z1BUlE2FCa0ie8T_K6eM9_GN5cmsgKzdFTiaQ-Zvv4OhKwQhq5nqxa5gwiMi_i-EtRoqPs/s320/2013-02-02+10.05.02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Kumquat trees, the other kind of Tet trees....</i></div>
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<i>Tet trees are either Peach Blossoms or Kumquats, and they are EVERYWHERE.</i></div>
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<i>Peach blossoms represent luck and Kumquats represent money, so the Patriarch of the family chooses which one the home has each year</i></div>
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<i>We bought a Peach blossom branch for our home:) </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfA-ijuMn2Vcjij_NNwchrZ20MNDvIHXuIX8UhfUMjop46NxRBVgTCGtE2hsmZFYnw_O2gZeF2Mh-G-7hM_r1W566n_H1K_gPTzgjteTkhG9E5Cvl3wX6QHZYoKFFFdc-xGj5NrmJb2LU/s1600/2013-02-02+10.20.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfA-ijuMn2Vcjij_NNwchrZ20MNDvIHXuIX8UhfUMjop46NxRBVgTCGtE2hsmZFYnw_O2gZeF2Mh-G-7hM_r1W566n_H1K_gPTzgjteTkhG9E5Cvl3wX6QHZYoKFFFdc-xGj5NrmJb2LU/s320/2013-02-02+10.20.58.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Tet decorations</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibx7aVKaYRT-hM9K-JrEV-3Ql6YgkMGHc3YDyHr9ucc79aQ4HvMHoLcJNV_LH8QRmtjtyvjxR4NZuxTaRAFGHIQxsZu8yNS-JLevFY-Xg7Ht_If2xUctyLYsIUz25s_PKp2ae7-DEtNFU/s1600/2013-02-02+10.26.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibx7aVKaYRT-hM9K-JrEV-3Ql6YgkMGHc3YDyHr9ucc79aQ4HvMHoLcJNV_LH8QRmtjtyvjxR4NZuxTaRAFGHIQxsZu8yNS-JLevFY-Xg7Ht_If2xUctyLYsIUz25s_PKp2ae7-DEtNFU/s320/2013-02-02+10.26.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Vietnamese version of a pinana: clay pots in mesh</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWERjIEkHhnnPsVnW8VOgcgd3zyJEpmSsE6WMAt8aNGNF6alsX3gfF6o8MQLEP-ae0qt7z6kF1D80cFJyDEl5lJONhfPTyKD1RyJeMbOcVBI9liIC5SFkSRLSSPz9X063IwAa1JkaI9Iw/s1600/2013-02-02+10.31.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWERjIEkHhnnPsVnW8VOgcgd3zyJEpmSsE6WMAt8aNGNF6alsX3gfF6o8MQLEP-ae0qt7z6kF1D80cFJyDEl5lJONhfPTyKD1RyJeMbOcVBI9liIC5SFkSRLSSPz9X063IwAa1JkaI9Iw/s320/2013-02-02+10.31.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Traveling Dragon Dance</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9Wty4JEZIInPal4GDwavkfogxZHLzlPV3gbIOo_Gyh5pfTjA9bdornNZtz2UGMzJecV3DQfIkziYGRM5FZYGKp2F1syTnBUDPYZcnuM3FSdepDrG2puIlk8VQHhlZ9XIQd90NZGknkA/s1600/2013-02-02+10.50.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9Wty4JEZIInPal4GDwavkfogxZHLzlPV3gbIOo_Gyh5pfTjA9bdornNZtz2UGMzJecV3DQfIkziYGRM5FZYGKp2F1syTnBUDPYZcnuM3FSdepDrG2puIlk8VQHhlZ9XIQd90NZGknkA/s320/2013-02-02+10.50.17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Little men painting stall</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As Hubs and I walked through the market, we were in the 5% I think. One little boy stood up at the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Bánh chưng (traditional Tet cake made of glutinous rice, bean and pork)<b> </b></span>table a</span>nd yelled <b>"người nước ngoài!"</b> which means FOREIGNER! I walked up to him and said "không phải là gà" which loosely translates to "I am not a chicken"--chicken is slang for westerner. His eyes got SO BIG and everyone started laughing around us. He then would not speak to me, although his mother and sister were very interested in chatting with me. I sat down next to them at the table to make my own <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">Bánh chưng.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1acOWBsawWshIuoYFjJL-KMjp46edZ-aX4Hi3HaWv8pjYYA6Jy8Hue-wDBfX-62T99innxLHT6ClILVBb6qSS8nUq7BG6VqftFpRHGBEQr24gLuRKDWJmnAPO_r4Y_Y6Tx3h2nkJ3PUQ/s1600/2013-02-02+10.52.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1acOWBsawWshIuoYFjJL-KMjp46edZ-aX4Hi3HaWv8pjYYA6Jy8Hue-wDBfX-62T99innxLHT6ClILVBb6qSS8nUq7BG6VqftFpRHGBEQr24gLuRKDWJmnAPO_r4Y_Y6Tx3h2nkJ3PUQ/s320/2013-02-02+10.52.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>There's my little new friend, he did not want to look at me anymore.</i></div>
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<i><b>HOW TO MAKE IT:</b></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXsO69cgHY6Sg1YeBgYmBFwcnaVZEYlbqM92Gu83dXGsZmLj53MJbk1oTYK4mEeaMSNFhQfGA64gY-51yZ65UawbMaR4vmjNh-UpiBhSQGgnpGYbv4JDEVau48ad0pOmyFb68MNcbhkSM/s1600/2013-02-02+10.54.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXsO69cgHY6Sg1YeBgYmBFwcnaVZEYlbqM92Gu83dXGsZmLj53MJbk1oTYK4mEeaMSNFhQfGA64gY-51yZ65UawbMaR4vmjNh-UpiBhSQGgnpGYbv4JDEVau48ad0pOmyFb68MNcbhkSM/s320/2013-02-02+10.54.53.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>6 leaves plus rice...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFSExVVFrZwP-WmPLHNK2lagcqyRINQ1zMFUIyKNiERDxp6zuKd1NvZNh8IMV7t5pdEvhUdc2tsEpzKtYCbxSpDy0UwJP7hghg9hb3WiNQ-cIGebrmAP_WkHT9CXKcemLCCtYNXim6zI/s1600/2013-02-02+10.55.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFSExVVFrZwP-WmPLHNK2lagcqyRINQ1zMFUIyKNiERDxp6zuKd1NvZNh8IMV7t5pdEvhUdc2tsEpzKtYCbxSpDy0UwJP7hghg9hb3WiNQ-cIGebrmAP_WkHT9CXKcemLCCtYNXim6zI/s320/2013-02-02+10.55.40.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>then smash the bean paste and add pork...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpnBM3QdxjHkIxC6xHXnLwKXRkwndhpQDG9LChgzfCzAbXjHuMW3I-BxDFuVSOZsw-yCrFaBzwKF5M9109ILm-CUz5tZjzRtqqcYI_qyPdH8rE3NzcDeKoXZ6Kt_7beeKvzgqIWNGyGY/s1600/2013-02-02+10.56.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpnBM3QdxjHkIxC6xHXnLwKXRkwndhpQDG9LChgzfCzAbXjHuMW3I-BxDFuVSOZsw-yCrFaBzwKF5M9109ILm-CUz5tZjzRtqqcYI_qyPdH8rE3NzcDeKoXZ6Kt_7beeKvzgqIWNGyGY/s320/2013-02-02+10.56.56.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>then smash more bean paste on top...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Y7vZbabPGRgvWpBqTKrPtXEc7Khr3LtN2NUaTXs0zcblLe2_XegAX6VHfloG4Qa0kzY48aAAGVYi_2mjteVVaOU9PaEDOnaRvsfdU09kXtuZYXrv-Kux0QB4oG-krcT2pC8T7G6EsJY/s1600/2013-02-02+10.57.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Y7vZbabPGRgvWpBqTKrPtXEc7Khr3LtN2NUaTXs0zcblLe2_XegAX6VHfloG4Qa0kzY48aAAGVYi_2mjteVVaOU9PaEDOnaRvsfdU09kXtuZYXrv-Kux0QB4oG-krcT2pC8T7G6EsJY/s320/2013-02-02+10.57.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>add more rice....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECsCLxzNrzeZO6l9aaSK8IrohBAU0EguKm7OhXb4JdvpKa2OAaR4LbLwxLklS2UfYTxUkR81lFNsZl4Oec72smIazVRl0e7D9JTZzq_gkFXvNK8Pk7-IDfQdnuNi7bKhBeuTxIFTQ5w8/s1600/2013-02-02+11.05.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECsCLxzNrzeZO6l9aaSK8IrohBAU0EguKm7OhXb4JdvpKa2OAaR4LbLwxLklS2UfYTxUkR81lFNsZl4Oec72smIazVRl0e7D9JTZzq_gkFXvNK8Pk7-IDfQdnuNi7bKhBeuTxIFTQ5w8/s320/2013-02-02+11.05.53.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>then wrap!!!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5bHwNN435kzrlynJaInMOnJZbtNvoR55tpen-nr48hm2JCI75ag9e4x9D2SCM7FhHoak8ZoZgAKgFhDiQ5aI-3032cUvzVSBKN7gFrfCe5W_KsXgcvhmAe4pGB7D3d3maFgz8kIF_ek/s1600/2013-02-02+11.06.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5bHwNN435kzrlynJaInMOnJZbtNvoR55tpen-nr48hm2JCI75ag9e4x9D2SCM7FhHoak8ZoZgAKgFhDiQ5aI-3032cUvzVSBKN7gFrfCe5W_KsXgcvhmAe4pGB7D3d3maFgz8kIF_ek/s320/2013-02-02+11.06.35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>TA-DA!</i></div>
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<i>Ours is number 47, they are going to bake it and deliver it this week. It takes them 20 hours to cook it!</i></div>
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<i>The girl working at the table said "Oh, you are so good at wrapping" and I said "because I wrap presents at Christmas!"</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotQsj73PTAZW52eFKZPcl-N2sXTOk9iXj3WnwXX_SWzzm533ofbNUEAR2yUxIh_2rvIh2rVjnKxoD8brXKNyLo8rWmd2OKlGNiLaXjfLl8TWgx0k6wlaVVgt5cmaTP-urbxPl4HO3N6s/s1600/2013-02-02+11.13.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotQsj73PTAZW52eFKZPcl-N2sXTOk9iXj3WnwXX_SWzzm533ofbNUEAR2yUxIh_2rvIh2rVjnKxoD8brXKNyLo8rWmd2OKlGNiLaXjfLl8TWgx0k6wlaVVgt5cmaTP-urbxPl4HO3N6s/s320/2013-02-02+11.13.40.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We felt like celebrities, both Hubs and I got interviewed for Vietnam News...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHL44co2owOMzZUJJJ5gk4EWfFveSkKNXecBM6RRiIlhjmuJLD66rxS_NbreqfE9Fd-mCqd6Rnwd0qkehUKmBQcXg6k68I1tIT3U_Rwm6CMv9FCfE7Mcgw1hn7KpqM5sJSEJ8RnpPh5IU/s1600/2013-02-02+11.15.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHL44co2owOMzZUJJJ5gk4EWfFveSkKNXecBM6RRiIlhjmuJLD66rxS_NbreqfE9Fd-mCqd6Rnwd0qkehUKmBQcXg6k68I1tIT3U_Rwm6CMv9FCfE7Mcgw1hn7KpqM5sJSEJ8RnpPh5IU/s320/2013-02-02+11.15.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>More Kumquat trees....people want wealth!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyyIjCeU9BNR0vevWPsX28ZdZCTZqlskj1Isxr6_8jlRbrdOWqOF9NMAgsIstaWyU6hkjzGAkebqc_SIEPUWFLBmRXJj4HJOkJ-_keqmjyZm17VcZhdZ_L6ZV1ccBV7QHvtFjw-aYY4I/s1600/2013-02-02+11.29.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyyIjCeU9BNR0vevWPsX28ZdZCTZqlskj1Isxr6_8jlRbrdOWqOF9NMAgsIstaWyU6hkjzGAkebqc_SIEPUWFLBmRXJj4HJOkJ-_keqmjyZm17VcZhdZ_L6ZV1ccBV7QHvtFjw-aYY4I/s320/2013-02-02+11.29.20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Many people want to get married in the year of the dragon, </i></div>
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<i>so we saw a lot of people getting wedding photos taken that day</i></div>
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<i>Traditional Vietnamese performances</i></div>
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<i>Pomelo trees with tape...I am not sure....</i></div>
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<i>Cute little wild turkeys...they are polka dotted!</i></div>
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<i>The dragon dance was awesome....</i></div>
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<i>Look at that lift!!!</i></div>
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After a long morning of walking, we decided to grab some burgers at a local pub <a href="http://www.tracyspub.com/">Tracy's Pub</a></div>
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They were awesome. The Pub probably sits about ten people, and they deliver. </div>
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We are very happy about that!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSK4CX-HaV_eH0JyTG7K3npVsaW8JvZnvjPfZDBNCPbGMiESl1rhHqvfBLkJ9tHn-PBhlBA14vXhr2tqh-s1bmvZLen4cmaHJGpx5rNzu185g2G5bjhC3-cjOGk8NFtkYbF_eD-v_WIo/s1600/2013-02-02+14.07.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSK4CX-HaV_eH0JyTG7K3npVsaW8JvZnvjPfZDBNCPbGMiESl1rhHqvfBLkJ9tHn-PBhlBA14vXhr2tqh-s1bmvZLen4cmaHJGpx5rNzu185g2G5bjhC3-cjOGk8NFtkYbF_eD-v_WIo/s320/2013-02-02+14.07.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Hubs ordered </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: normal;">Tracy's Damn Good Burger </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: normal;">...special sauce, lettuce, mayo, mustard, </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold;"><i style="font-weight: normal;">tomato, pickle, onion, bacon, egg & cheese</i></span></div>
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<i>I ordered the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hawaiian Chicken burger</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">...grilled ham, lettuce, grilled pineapple and the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kona & Kahala sauce. It was one of the best chicken sandwiches I have ever had!</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCoAg604M-9C7DBA8Qa8PPPREr8CAklzdQdN3G1zqlDLAOdS2x3zByxWfL_mdtO3GYybN_SG_5E5ajF8cw07FvZZ_5K3nXUuUSIwENy_dnmpqsOtY-3W9OtwQoudatcUkkUkCjHjcCVk/s1600/2013-02-02+14.10.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCoAg604M-9C7DBA8Qa8PPPREr8CAklzdQdN3G1zqlDLAOdS2x3zByxWfL_mdtO3GYybN_SG_5E5ajF8cw07FvZZ_5K3nXUuUSIwENy_dnmpqsOtY-3W9OtwQoudatcUkkUkCjHjcCVk/s320/2013-02-02+14.10.37.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Happy Hubs!!</i></div>
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We had an awesome weekend. </div>
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Hubs is off playing in a golf tournament and I am soaking up the sunshine on our balcony after shopping at the fabric market after Facetiming my Bro & going to church. </div>
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<i>a beautiful day in Hanoi!</i></div>
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<i>This is the <a href="http://www.hanoi-club.com/">Hanoi Club</a>, where <a href="http://www.hif.vn/">Hanoi International Fellowship</a> services are held. </i><i>We went for the first time last week. </i><i>Yes, that is a d</i><i>riving range on the lake! </i><i>The golfers hit into the lake and it's retrieved by Vietnamese women in conical hats, as opposed to teenagers in carts.</i></div>
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Life is good and each day we dive a little deeper into Vietnamese culture. </div>
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Tonight, we are going to our favorite street food place, because; we're turning Vietnamese I think we're turning Vietnamese I really think so. </div>
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<i>***If you do not catch this reference, I invite you to watch this video***</i></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvMgnH7sGI0">I think I'm turning Japanese</a></i></div>
<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-77313469666682975712013-01-29T04:40:00.000-08:002013-01-29T04:40:57.540-08:00Une oasis d'amour loin de la grisaille: a post from Hubs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">There have been times recently during the Hanoi’s grey winter that one can begin to think that the glow of love and life have been put into hibernation. So we (my beautiful wife and I) have had to find ways to re-ignite that zest and energy into our daily lives. What better way to do that, than a brilliant date night after a long, exhausting week of work.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">We decided to head to a highly regarded French restaurant here in Hanoi named </span><a href="http://www.labadiane-hanoi.com/#Home_page.A" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">La Badiane</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">. The wifey had been there once for dinner with a couple of her girlfriends, but we decided to head over for dinner and romance.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before we get to the amazing flavors, I just wanted to mention something that inspired both of us last week. Sometimes when you meet a new person you know that they are a force of positive change in the world, and it inspires you to be a better person. We have always tried to live by the motto of “Make the place better than you found it.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s especially inspiring to meet like-minded people so far away from the U.S. We had the pleasure of meeting a woman who is newly arrived to Hanoi. She had just come from Japan and lived there during and after the tsunami. In the year following the disaster, she and her family would go out every weekend to a new small town outside of the city limits and deliver food, medical supplies, and whatever help they could offer to citizens. Many times, they were the only people that had come to the village with help. She told us amazing stories of how one village that was primarily inhabited by senior citizens “adopted” their family. They would light up every time they came to town not because they were delivering the essentials in order to help them get by until the next shipment. They would light up because they were generally happy to see them. Imagine a world where your smiling is not dictated by the things you have, but by relishing in the happiness of having someone there to share a smile and a laugh…no matter the language. It made both of our hearts smile and made us think about what we can do to make Hanoi brighter. We promise that ideas are in the works and we will let you know when they happen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So now onto another form of happiness: food.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">La Badiane, for those that have not been, is a quaint little French restaurant that has a couple of floors. Coincidentally, it is located right across the street from Quan An Ngon, (a bustling Times Square-like restaurant that is huge and sprawling with tourists). We walked in and were greeted by a very smiley hostess who showed us to our table.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">We ordered a bottle of Cab/Zin blend from South Africa and took a peek at the menu. They have a set menu with either three or six course options. We opted for the three course option. Both of us are trying to watch our girlish figures before we head off to the tropics for holiday soon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">WARNING THE FOLLOW ENTRIES MAY REQUIRE BIBS FOR DROOL CONTROL</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First Course</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">He Had: Beef Carpaccio with pistachio oil, with gorgonzola and fig samosas</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcdsQCRVxJ5u_qS8983Jh0gVfXcXc-CWBnJSiht-bAs_s_a8iBA2siqEXsprwCnsAIiQHNoEUSUYF5NfTUs0n7WIkH-QjEXAe0orfGHjbkxdpa-NkdKQ7gzEy5glVG5gjkX3SMhrZIlo/s1600/2013-01-25+19.04.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcdsQCRVxJ5u_qS8983Jh0gVfXcXc-CWBnJSiht-bAs_s_a8iBA2siqEXsprwCnsAIiQHNoEUSUYF5NfTUs0n7WIkH-QjEXAe0orfGHjbkxdpa-NkdKQ7gzEy5glVG5gjkX3SMhrZIlo/s320/2013-01-25+19.04.58.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">She had: King Prawn Bisque </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">For the main plates-</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzWnYS3K80Ie6MZ_BaawhQ9ZUkJJ7LntWkdEioEfbb07Nan3-eVnmCNOZlunpCNwQ3NfG4T0OJ8GR-GcNW_jZyw9tS8r292KNUMlnr6zo0Xh2eSh1qYlliI-kbaGx3XJETsmz2ewpwlw/s1600/2013-01-25+19.25.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzWnYS3K80Ie6MZ_BaawhQ9ZUkJJ7LntWkdEioEfbb07Nan3-eVnmCNOZlunpCNwQ3NfG4T0OJ8GR-GcNW_jZyw9tS8r292KNUMlnr6zo0Xh2eSh1qYlliI-kbaGx3XJETsmz2ewpwlw/s320/2013-01-25+19.25.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">She had: Salmon escalope, with a parmesan cracker, saffron risotto in red wine sauce and a white wine emulsion. It tasted as good as it sounds.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLOqKzOVKZkQPuf264_7wh62Go78gfSDMWxjiopzl3lM-9GJYc9eGtE7prAayL3l00BfTdiDh7Z0T6Y5d1pZYqVH8mS2YQfskx3b3lihtX30PG5IUazq1M5ZLV0XOwMG3FC9lVyyFrtU/s1600/2013-01-25+19.26.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLOqKzOVKZkQPuf264_7wh62Go78gfSDMWxjiopzl3lM-9GJYc9eGtE7prAayL3l00BfTdiDh7Z0T6Y5d1pZYqVH8mS2YQfskx3b3lihtX30PG5IUazq1M5ZLV0XOwMG3FC9lVyyFrtU/s320/2013-01-25+19.26.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">He had: Lamb Shank with “harissa” seasoning in a bowl of couscous with fresh jus. The lamb shank literally just fell off the bone and was amazing.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">And finally for the piece de resistance- a.k.a heaven a.k.a sugarland a.k.a. dessert</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNorqQcTJXH92SlBfKTsmSUOkFSBJ0j9Uin7V398Ytb4xHagccoLOErQj4pDI-4o8IghoeAadtIUSMd25UwJHFUZWl6eF6ssPp3ymSR3urv2Y7O0HEDOUh9lCWE8jMONGwKrpEfOGRIFw/s1600/2013-01-25+19.59.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNorqQcTJXH92SlBfKTsmSUOkFSBJ0j9Uin7V398Ytb4xHagccoLOErQj4pDI-4o8IghoeAadtIUSMd25UwJHFUZWl6eF6ssPp3ymSR3urv2Y7O0HEDOUh9lCWE8jMONGwKrpEfOGRIFw/s320/2013-01-25+19.59.28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">She had: Hot molten chocolate with Grand Marnier, tangerine sorbet and coffee demiglace</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCttS30geD6wibe5QjxBqhJ0r3rItSll90YjfKvJkmC4f3phEbGrimecKboLbXy1mf5iSrzvxxwm-dA77UposGcZ7MNR1p0NKNfFvHLi6328nPx3tKysJ81IRZL_13RIGfEI5t_ufXP0/s1600/2013-01-25+20.00.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCttS30geD6wibe5QjxBqhJ0r3rItSll90YjfKvJkmC4f3phEbGrimecKboLbXy1mf5iSrzvxxwm-dA77UposGcZ7MNR1p0NKNfFvHLi6328nPx3tKysJ81IRZL_13RIGfEI5t_ufXP0/s320/2013-01-25+20.00.13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">He had: Strawberries “</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mille-feuille" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">mille-feulles</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">” with pistachio ice cream</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">Darn that bikini body to heck, I’d rather enjoy La Badiane again and again then worry about how I look in a swimsuit.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"><i><please note that Hubs wrote this, I guess he is planning to wear a mankini in Bali next weekend!></i></span></div>
<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-85856213664475913182013-01-24T08:00:00.001-08:002013-01-24T08:00:15.939-08:00For my Broski, with Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Three months ago, I got an email with a picture attached:</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;">This... is</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffcc; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">food</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;">. I have yet to see any</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffcc; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">food</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffcc; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">would</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffcc; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">eat</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;">on your blog. Hope all is well. Love, j"</span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2_WS4kPs6g61buE9upGoSmnbD3zLdmUuLggCHDDw9UDgbmiXiQtJfnTU6XnFnfVc4syNBgSHpGDWiHWwm3ah34tx3VbxgGGx1WOqWM9YSYXomipD0VSSOMGOGKkRiVUatK60QZsh0tI/s1600/pizzabagel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2_WS4kPs6g61buE9upGoSmnbD3zLdmUuLggCHDDw9UDgbmiXiQtJfnTU6XnFnfVc4syNBgSHpGDWiHWwm3ah34tx3VbxgGGx1WOqWM9YSYXomipD0VSSOMGOGKkRiVUatK60QZsh0tI/s320/pizzabagel.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<i>These are delicious pizza bagels, made by my brother aka #1blogfan J</i></div>
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I have heard these same words from many people in my friends and family circles. </div>
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However, there is a lot of American food available in Hanoi. </div>
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Last night, I went to a steakhouse that J would approve of: <a href="http://www.jacksons-steakhouse.com/cms/">Jackson's Steakhouse</a>. </div>
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They serve Australian beef and it's pretty delicious.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKQNra6hx19CtvAkLpMXcRE5w3kNOXE-P-pyfN6MR7ZY6dcCLMwXPEvx8wQS0SyJRa1mTCHm77I_9_QmauX8aaY8a326oS5P3T26FS3vc-MT3fejTp-GJg4TErPFu8mtjKgcdNGfQQmM/s1600/2013-01-23+18.46.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKQNra6hx19CtvAkLpMXcRE5w3kNOXE-P-pyfN6MR7ZY6dcCLMwXPEvx8wQS0SyJRa1mTCHm77I_9_QmauX8aaY8a326oS5P3T26FS3vc-MT3fejTp-GJg4TErPFu8mtjKgcdNGfQQmM/s320/2013-01-23+18.46.56.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Delish calamari, J would not like this, sorry, but I loved it</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBv3118RrwzqX8b9mghuBIiUUiN384MvAF5GfkFwTZFt1u20t-z2hblgywKmgR-MDQMJ7Fj0BpHLQhCX3LAM4_MmSxrtAwmhP5iPvTc3yMffhIZ-BOJQSXC3-C0lhDwG3HldbsiZRpOY/s1600/2013-01-23+18.46.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBv3118RrwzqX8b9mghuBIiUUiN384MvAF5GfkFwTZFt1u20t-z2hblgywKmgR-MDQMJ7Fj0BpHLQhCX3LAM4_MmSxrtAwmhP5iPvTc3yMffhIZ-BOJQSXC3-C0lhDwG3HldbsiZRpOY/s320/2013-01-23+18.46.40.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Sesame crusted tuna, sorry again J, I promise I am getting to food you like!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRhbnzcMey8shpr6RLFrd7b6IZVAnbGg3vWu0VdrmNCVVRLH7Da3tW_O4SuZ7Mpy5trdLBbnSzOi9C_mF2picuQt1jAi-4v9XL5hjETBoEi-6ckBLcyNG7ANMMXpxxMUouJI91AU-ffM/s1600/2013-01-23+19.04.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRhbnzcMey8shpr6RLFrd7b6IZVAnbGg3vWu0VdrmNCVVRLH7Da3tW_O4SuZ7Mpy5trdLBbnSzOi9C_mF2picuQt1jAi-4v9XL5hjETBoEi-6ckBLcyNG7ANMMXpxxMUouJI91AU-ffM/s320/2013-01-23+19.04.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>BAM! </i></div>
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<i>Grilled tenderloin with hashbrowns! </i></div>
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<i>J, have you booked your flight yet??</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJConihTMSEpYB_KMS9riAkRy3za6CoPJZ1hL2mxNMKJKN_pcCoz5SS8P78lCUlplPzyrfgFqYluLix3O6NpZvdB3wFv62rAU4QRlmXBZS2-OPE9s6M_dA_R05LMsxxy_vwuNvorAj20/s1600/2013-01-23+19.05.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJConihTMSEpYB_KMS9riAkRy3za6CoPJZ1hL2mxNMKJKN_pcCoz5SS8P78lCUlplPzyrfgFqYluLix3O6NpZvdB3wFv62rAU4QRlmXBZS2-OPE9s6M_dA_R05LMsxxy_vwuNvorAj20/s320/2013-01-23+19.05.51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Pepper steak with bacon wrapped green beans and mashed potatoes</i></div>
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<i>This was my dinner, it was ah-mazing, and I took half of it home for Hubs, which he appreciated</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqCsPEVlob7_hQge-sT5_cNtUOeUG0mtt5lEkA_H2THDONwW8hZa1-iRkOtB9LGJxMUSO_VyKRUHzN18pUiLn4Bd_ANgL0T_Nzbx1tKHD98qesMebF4BInGVfshdDxQ7I1WPYcvDX2Vg/s1600/2013-01-23+19.05.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqCsPEVlob7_hQge-sT5_cNtUOeUG0mtt5lEkA_H2THDONwW8hZa1-iRkOtB9LGJxMUSO_VyKRUHzN18pUiLn4Bd_ANgL0T_Nzbx1tKHD98qesMebF4BInGVfshdDxQ7I1WPYcvDX2Vg/s320/2013-01-23+19.05.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Atlantic salmon, not brother approved, </i></div>
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<i>but another delicious western option for the other skeptics out there</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAEKrR07Q_jZ9ra3FuI36AJzpLx6N-GZhyuXsC5J2VcOKNTDfXc0qKVphCjhag9xatFeNHBqHReWNkXoeLnhlMt0rSfGnF0_9Mo7UtA2oQlb-16V1TGpdR5m0w3xgaxo6kAaa-_zrfos/s1600/2013-01-23+19.42.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAEKrR07Q_jZ9ra3FuI36AJzpLx6N-GZhyuXsC5J2VcOKNTDfXc0qKVphCjhag9xatFeNHBqHReWNkXoeLnhlMt0rSfGnF0_9Mo7UtA2oQlb-16V1TGpdR5m0w3xgaxo6kAaa-_zrfos/s320/2013-01-23+19.42.28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Since it was my first time at Jackson's, and I went with some friends who are regulars there, they made us Crepes Suzette, on the house!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhdPXx0aU6PG4yM7e-fTS03L32jPKS83ADyq4z9HX9EHeE837ktdQ2H3wHKvD17tOq5-z7IOa6fSo3tqWjjG5dFyU3feNgGUbQyIt-2HQ_up6nyPW-uiRLoKeM8vDxl8xIg8f98E-zDQ/s1600/2013-01-23+19.50.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhdPXx0aU6PG4yM7e-fTS03L32jPKS83ADyq4z9HX9EHeE837ktdQ2H3wHKvD17tOq5-z7IOa6fSo3tqWjjG5dFyU3feNgGUbQyIt-2HQ_up6nyPW-uiRLoKeM8vDxl8xIg8f98E-zDQ/s320/2013-01-23+19.50.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Crepes suzette, the perfect balance of fresh fruit and sugary goodness</i></div>
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So, there you have it friends and family;</div>
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a deliciously western meal in the middle of SE Asia.</div>
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Does it make any of you out there more inclined to visit?</div>
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<i><u><b>On a sidenote:</b></u></i></div>
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<i><b>my brother is a very handsome eligible bachelor, </b></i></div>
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<i><b>with excellent humor and taste,</b></i></div>
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<i><b>who is looking for a special lady: </b></i></div>
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<i><b>All interested parties can email nicole.lea.schirm@gmail.com</b></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8a0bOQKNDsWAicfue96IAbvw2JBujFFRmNaeqElPii1etB-_fDLB96cA1209nuJeyJO9_45jTpGn81Q6GDr-urcdvllA84Pi3196_jIRJXltNOs_6CCiBIjfySyHhZdYIvERNT_4af0/s1600/broforsale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8a0bOQKNDsWAicfue96IAbvw2JBujFFRmNaeqElPii1etB-_fDLB96cA1209nuJeyJO9_45jTpGn81Q6GDr-urcdvllA84Pi3196_jIRJXltNOs_6CCiBIjfySyHhZdYIvERNT_4af0/s400/broforsale.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">I LOVE YOU BROSKI!</span></i></b></div>
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<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-21895616373178450772013-01-22T05:18:00.003-08:002013-01-22T05:18:56.996-08:00Our getaway from the gray: Phu Quoc Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I think the best advice we have received since we moved here is "Hanoi can get really gray, don't let it get to you, get out of the city and travel."</div>
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So last weekend, we did. We went to Phu Quoc island, a Vietnamese island just south of Cambodia. We stayed at the <a href="http://www.edenresort.com.vn/en-us/homepage.aspx">Eden Resort</a>, which was not our first choice, but it was pretty nice.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVdmJC5FU4RAKDqpGxfIsL7doda2uotfsm9HGH8c6JvfGPRpNfpL-o5wgqCRAWXfTGs5ou4HOxHPRaVpqE4GUnhLfqA3R_f7SS2eqbu8fr8rmmLKobY61YNsuOb83ND7pwEsxgQuZebc/s1600/2013-01-18+12.57.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVdmJC5FU4RAKDqpGxfIsL7doda2uotfsm9HGH8c6JvfGPRpNfpL-o5wgqCRAWXfTGs5ou4HOxHPRaVpqE4GUnhLfqA3R_f7SS2eqbu8fr8rmmLKobY61YNsuOb83ND7pwEsxgQuZebc/s320/2013-01-18+12.57.11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We were greeted with watermelon juice.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipP0pxM_KWX4skDtsA62AzCHe9kTRlWQerNVMZsp-fC07aiscU_fqLNg7XfrJj2sIrFpMP7pSAlKv9ptnNxaNrXpcsNgCaECB6cuVm7DTyR6Wi6-dnOXn6_nKDHDI3NilsXJw-0UlDqN0/s1600/2013-01-18+13.11.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipP0pxM_KWX4skDtsA62AzCHe9kTRlWQerNVMZsp-fC07aiscU_fqLNg7XfrJj2sIrFpMP7pSAlKv9ptnNxaNrXpcsNgCaECB6cuVm7DTyR6Wi6-dnOXn6_nKDHDI3NilsXJw-0UlDqN0/s320/2013-01-18+13.11.19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The view from our balcony</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRk5KkNMKyKbtdTHqaCNdWwDO7FuMOr2_AatEHqohV0yIEZfYaG9dge1pSrUW7Q4Ah1W86gmXjWAqlYyhKSpKpC4xywhdj8u7v7onallQk5d3D88NAtXep3MdZALxt0bcL4lmkP41NVzw/s1600/2013-01-18+13.09.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRk5KkNMKyKbtdTHqaCNdWwDO7FuMOr2_AatEHqohV0yIEZfYaG9dge1pSrUW7Q4Ah1W86gmXjWAqlYyhKSpKpC4xywhdj8u7v7onallQk5d3D88NAtXep3MdZALxt0bcL4lmkP41NVzw/s320/2013-01-18+13.09.20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Another view from our balcony</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeeQ4oPBXqIS016HcIp238QbkPhjtPvghigLckzUvHA1XPrIIzafEkTRzuvUt8B2eYBcXWOupS7XhTQNOdfkq_yCEYXu1mS-H1uXNYBv95INj5bnH-NjuCkoVSulxa7njutUp9PPUKSY/s1600/2013-01-18+13.28.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeeQ4oPBXqIS016HcIp238QbkPhjtPvghigLckzUvHA1XPrIIzafEkTRzuvUt8B2eYBcXWOupS7XhTQNOdfkq_yCEYXu1mS-H1uXNYBv95INj5bnH-NjuCkoVSulxa7njutUp9PPUKSY/s320/2013-01-18+13.28.22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The pool</i></div>
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After we checked in, we did exactly what everyone should do when they arrive on an island: we went to the beach...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgYtoNXYzs2z0EofCrwipm8J25MCJYF2O8WSC3sWhewFvOJjaNu4x7IgE32eRsKqRwrxOtF4vIq4Vpo0my3xPUO_rogZJerTlD_faZ68dvqI4b8eONJvBSbdHTrnI2gD9xeZWhsxZ9GM/s1600/2013-01-18+14.35.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgYtoNXYzs2z0EofCrwipm8J25MCJYF2O8WSC3sWhewFvOJjaNu4x7IgE32eRsKqRwrxOtF4vIq4Vpo0my3xPUO_rogZJerTlD_faZ68dvqI4b8eONJvBSbdHTrnI2gD9xeZWhsxZ9GM/s320/2013-01-18+14.35.36.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Not too shabby...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimybH04E4_bqcYfH7q7mByDuOG-0Gu-SmFOZFmDmRsxHMfJCTBWzum4js6WiDFJeo98kDGCpKisQnKTq8F4vQfo7JGuIB0YV-pXAmGgHSkT4ah8rfRz_fsxlVr9SRcmmkfRk8PotQnOnQ/s1600/2013-01-18+14.28.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimybH04E4_bqcYfH7q7mByDuOG-0Gu-SmFOZFmDmRsxHMfJCTBWzum4js6WiDFJeo98kDGCpKisQnKTq8F4vQfo7JGuIB0YV-pXAmGgHSkT4ah8rfRz_fsxlVr9SRcmmkfRk8PotQnOnQ/s320/2013-01-18+14.28.37.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The boys enjoying the sun</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0VU7mg8zL1281iWfsrJzLNK1ftzY_uyOtCfP63e2Y7bA15HTgJtpi-uFHPwL_Ij19-7VyUZSOKdciFycQPGIOu6TBqUWl7zBIUXk7zZGiMpXRsl0PZyN_KeszPofi4XVpCGq8K7lbpI/s1600/2013-01-18+15.59.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0VU7mg8zL1281iWfsrJzLNK1ftzY_uyOtCfP63e2Y7bA15HTgJtpi-uFHPwL_Ij19-7VyUZSOKdciFycQPGIOu6TBqUWl7zBIUXk7zZGiMpXRsl0PZyN_KeszPofi4XVpCGq8K7lbpI/s320/2013-01-18+15.59.05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Fishermen reeling in the daily catch: MANUALLY, there were two sets of them</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtngPs72vnsJnWzBE2NryOb4aE4_JLdIHA_vYvckXQAb9BcDCulvBRD2oHGqwThWaYOTMuj7Ff9W6RFqu8DaefPpv-TOcJ6fcqZ3ohTVJTDz6rvy249skyzynE5pRLd5DMtWX59M4EIQ/s1600/2013-01-18+16.00.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtngPs72vnsJnWzBE2NryOb4aE4_JLdIHA_vYvckXQAb9BcDCulvBRD2oHGqwThWaYOTMuj7Ff9W6RFqu8DaefPpv-TOcJ6fcqZ3ohTVJTDz6rvy249skyzynE5pRLd5DMtWX59M4EIQ/s320/2013-01-18+16.00.28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Hubs joined in the fun...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVIbDk7QReW7WlrZbRZJYW_ld4G4NUbcbL_mqDhm86TvVGvbiJgC4vPzWcFFfekplBtxYiHnmfuEJu_WbgUIDgRQbxE7YE8iYkfOGQrS2aOfqEN-yTB2I6UuvuX6WT4blQoReDmbspHI/s1600/2013-01-18+16.01.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVIbDk7QReW7WlrZbRZJYW_ld4G4NUbcbL_mqDhm86TvVGvbiJgC4vPzWcFFfekplBtxYiHnmfuEJu_WbgUIDgRQbxE7YE8iYkfOGQrS2aOfqEN-yTB2I6UuvuX6WT4blQoReDmbspHI/s320/2013-01-18+16.01.24.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Hubs helping reel in the daily catch</i></div>
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After a few hours on the beach, we decided to walk up the beach to see what we could see..</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvEkD1Fbf-UHdv5GrgB2ew-N78J21MGn70lYEGlJ8KH9AqXoKYWSlzk-I2-F7Ijrf-2u-o5AQxg7oEDufWi7iid0aF-WhU_XEgrRQ_bDgbAF0IjMZ53_DAjtXgxdnbTuTWTmlk9hlnVQ/s1600/2013-01-18+16.25.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvEkD1Fbf-UHdv5GrgB2ew-N78J21MGn70lYEGlJ8KH9AqXoKYWSlzk-I2-F7Ijrf-2u-o5AQxg7oEDufWi7iid0aF-WhU_XEgrRQ_bDgbAF0IjMZ53_DAjtXgxdnbTuTWTmlk9hlnVQ/s320/2013-01-18+16.25.48.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>American priced jet skis, no thanks!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-GN_UlEiwoGJSwT5isbSxHUH5GYmO4USdMxhxC9e9kojy1tphrz1zJC803FDQ8MD4nomPRusmMMf3vNY4BJq9XX-VkG63zBoZThq7ZCGunKNNlQb_jscyzQgWrA1HJztzeeXMQfXGD0/s1600/2013-01-18+16.26.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-GN_UlEiwoGJSwT5isbSxHUH5GYmO4USdMxhxC9e9kojy1tphrz1zJC803FDQ8MD4nomPRusmMMf3vNY4BJq9XX-VkG63zBoZThq7ZCGunKNNlQb_jscyzQgWrA1HJztzeeXMQfXGD0/s320/2013-01-18+16.26.53.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The Aroma Spa, surrounded by trash...not so aromatic...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBk6U4RXzafK6Ln_gWCAILlVk-EUAJwiq-NDISGOsloqc4rOgXPlOKN_5hc3SlqXKA9_PwyRcLOaegRDld8FJ6Hp_Q8SbRpp-9CX30b12tm8VUDdfpfCn32sFl_wR4xb9NrPFbwkNA-28/s1600/2013-01-18+16.42.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBk6U4RXzafK6Ln_gWCAILlVk-EUAJwiq-NDISGOsloqc4rOgXPlOKN_5hc3SlqXKA9_PwyRcLOaegRDld8FJ6Hp_Q8SbRpp-9CX30b12tm8VUDdfpfCn32sFl_wR4xb9NrPFbwkNA-28/s320/2013-01-18+16.42.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We stopped for a happy hour at a nearby resort and enjoyed the sunset...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogIGdI3Xk5pKl9gLAWVOB4hqZubyR0a76mJZCt5r3wdsd01339s1pstcnlrHB5lFpjWPpe8FTHwVhb0YMczyBQNU3wUe952DzbQiKg-HvsbhILJ0mV2wHLoBOMZeyZRaViPsKKPPEyM0/s1600/2013-01-18+16.43.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogIGdI3Xk5pKl9gLAWVOB4hqZubyR0a76mJZCt5r3wdsd01339s1pstcnlrHB5lFpjWPpe8FTHwVhb0YMczyBQNU3wUe952DzbQiKg-HvsbhILJ0mV2wHLoBOMZeyZRaViPsKKPPEyM0/s320/2013-01-18+16.43.20.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>There are fishing boats everywhere</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4Idvdlcf2GmuMsNcXUuZo61Uo84LoxCXRMC0PgPJvCmgJ_3IZh5qwrYvqMarzhQXxVUMmvny6savxmngxgvTcLnRUSK6YQCI2CrrO8-f8EfR7jg8Mau9eQe7VLo3c5KNqq7fVdju5IQ/s1600/2013-01-18+16.52.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4Idvdlcf2GmuMsNcXUuZo61Uo84LoxCXRMC0PgPJvCmgJ_3IZh5qwrYvqMarzhQXxVUMmvny6savxmngxgvTcLnRUSK6YQCI2CrrO8-f8EfR7jg8Mau9eQe7VLo3c5KNqq7fVdju5IQ/s320/2013-01-18+16.52.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Hubs enjoying coconut juice</i></div>
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<i>A view of our resort at sunset</i></div>
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<i>Can you believe we left?!</i></div>
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<i>Even the ocean is peaceful: it was so quiet and lovely</i></div>
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<i>I drank several fresh mango daquiris over the course of the weekend</i></div>
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That evening, we went to the night market for food and shopping...</div>
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<i>There were several restaurants with FRESH seafood</i></div>
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<i>Oysters anyone?</i></div>
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<i>(No I did not eat any)</i></div>
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<i>Grilled garlic bread: YUM</i></div>
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<i>Lemongrass clams</i></div>
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<i>Mi Xao Hai San: Seafood noodle stir-fry...mmmmmm!</i></div>
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<i>One of the island specialties: blackened fish</i></div>
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<i>Banh Xeo and Spinach and the remnants of grilled vegetables which we devoured</i></div>
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<i>For dessert we had fried bananas: 50 cents each, Hubs and I shared one</i></div>
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<i>We also tried some sugarcane juice, which is what this machine makes</i></div>
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<i>Our fried bananas.....mmmmm....so sinful, I am glad we shared!</i></div>
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<i>What's a night market without Facebook flip flops?! </i></div>
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<i>The only thing we purchased in Phu Quoc at the night market was some Phu Quoc pepper, which is amazing!</i></div>
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We went back to our resort for a nightcap and we all got to bed early. It was perfect. </div>
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<i>My first Vietnamese coffee in Vietnam, I had one every day, they are amazing.</i></div>
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<i>Good Morning Vietnam!</i></div>
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<i>(I like to say that as much as possible, it has not gotten old yet)</i></div>
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Our group decided to rent mopeds and ride around the island, they were a whopping $10/day for 7 hours!</div>
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<i>Hubs and I and our awesome helmets</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYK5je_2eweNswS1wV6q-YfHgDNy_quB6TpC_HJdVXFY1nmxTx4GgZ_iXI1ANvHjW4xi2qsYxJMQhhXMmsxOLGDJDmJ4dSQlgv88Sp0ZO4vCz0Gk7SBVkfJk-xgbyAdWc-UeIJJlocz6A/s1600/2013-01-19+10.54.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYK5je_2eweNswS1wV6q-YfHgDNy_quB6TpC_HJdVXFY1nmxTx4GgZ_iXI1ANvHjW4xi2qsYxJMQhhXMmsxOLGDJDmJ4dSQlgv88Sp0ZO4vCz0Gk7SBVkfJk-xgbyAdWc-UeIJJlocz6A/s320/2013-01-19+10.54.50.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We stopped on our ride to enjoy a quiet beach</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmyr869hnyO0eweTB6fu_hOdbSB7VMPykZdxc_dbqDxpqZK_gvIjO9G5wA3ZEWINBxubd7rfhyzUZkdS2pSyV4855sfVSRX7aQjfGuQdRZ2yhj8imHxGu9C8njysS45TfU6sY63bVSA8/s1600/2013-01-19+09.54.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmyr869hnyO0eweTB6fu_hOdbSB7VMPykZdxc_dbqDxpqZK_gvIjO9G5wA3ZEWINBxubd7rfhyzUZkdS2pSyV4855sfVSRX7aQjfGuQdRZ2yhj8imHxGu9C8njysS45TfU6sY63bVSA8/s320/2013-01-19+09.54.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We saw many crabs at the beach, and thought they possibly mating, so we googled it. The rest of the weekend, the boys imitated the crab mating dance....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgD4gWk-aoRleBFmA44dezyhkJAkBZWpC9DXyKPzPaT8EMjXGO2Cfdxkj9snAzKYUpGRbWWXbpMppmU_AkgJD8FfCLM6wPA6XCXkQ3wmqedQF8e8Mg-I98SaGKuyL-Wf3f4C2-l3HpWY/s1600/2013-01-19+10.57.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgD4gWk-aoRleBFmA44dezyhkJAkBZWpC9DXyKPzPaT8EMjXGO2Cfdxkj9snAzKYUpGRbWWXbpMppmU_AkgJD8FfCLM6wPA6XCXkQ3wmqedQF8e8Mg-I98SaGKuyL-Wf3f4C2-l3HpWY/s320/2013-01-19+10.57.13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Sassy moped riders</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEa0V3vYlupkQBrsAoK380xoFyCgWzj3Px8E_E-09TU7EApnhd7vnr-Ca8Bc-xK_hNLU6z7jECyQivFui7mNGH9iOlASFe55irWGieqk-uFJjVYlHorIlcNESvPzc7PTqUA0AD93qOvM/s1600/2013-01-19+11.06.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEa0V3vYlupkQBrsAoK380xoFyCgWzj3Px8E_E-09TU7EApnhd7vnr-Ca8Bc-xK_hNLU6z7jECyQivFui7mNGH9iOlASFe55irWGieqk-uFJjVYlHorIlcNESvPzc7PTqUA0AD93qOvM/s320/2013-01-19+11.06.26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We stopped at a Pearl Farm and met a new friend there</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3rppR3vp-NgcDFL9KYrDyyTLMFT0gqaL6dlbWgCt8sbgMwiBIEkXKddzNCeXz5c_opnkHoT2jrzt_6YqmbpZJrjF-4y4YOrYWTeCNh7lhyphenhyphenwmBpBOhPPX2CkcgAwN9N80SvSa154wnb4/s1600/2013-01-19+11.31.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3rppR3vp-NgcDFL9KYrDyyTLMFT0gqaL6dlbWgCt8sbgMwiBIEkXKddzNCeXz5c_opnkHoT2jrzt_6YqmbpZJrjF-4y4YOrYWTeCNh7lhyphenhyphenwmBpBOhPPX2CkcgAwN9N80SvSa154wnb4/s320/2013-01-19+11.31.51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>I could not take enough photos of the water, so peaceful</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLZZkyO90YzxhK9ZFTaCoXGM5G2HcI7DYBhTPz1WAWEB2FOON5y6aSBpj5KNrziJAU9mXCXGzSoumtd-wRNxzWkEBH7DWccSSu9XUD9xO0Vu0V9bYMlMgIdpDGQMXC993bGv69qU-PJ4/s1600/2013-01-19+11.33.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLZZkyO90YzxhK9ZFTaCoXGM5G2HcI7DYBhTPz1WAWEB2FOON5y6aSBpj5KNrziJAU9mXCXGzSoumtd-wRNxzWkEBH7DWccSSu9XUD9xO0Vu0V9bYMlMgIdpDGQMXC993bGv69qU-PJ4/s320/2013-01-19+11.33.28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Large oysters from the Farm</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjym7dlm8Vn6y7P_9FoQc792ID6msp9I55vix3G9BRVuVq16QNee3hJqpV2obqj0i_u-8bQvus7beQJqobDQMOBkHsr-Ttk46jm4WdyJ7XlvkQERXqj2LHkvGhE-vrer7lBfYyWjvcGQ-4/s1600/2013-01-19+11.08.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjym7dlm8Vn6y7P_9FoQc792ID6msp9I55vix3G9BRVuVq16QNee3hJqpV2obqj0i_u-8bQvus7beQJqobDQMOBkHsr-Ttk46jm4WdyJ7XlvkQERXqj2LHkvGhE-vrer7lBfYyWjvcGQ-4/s320/2013-01-19+11.08.12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>A live demo pearl harvest, it was pretty neat!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfuJRFSeZcs7PSUvP1tQT9Zwip55OjlokCUARGkW18m6DLmuf5SEkqVvmsj5DHdLelubfKLSlLZyjPeOY7kvRweZFZtYTUhEceELMy6kF0XaDg6f5ZDdMm_6hSjhrPTLrfZO2EgGRhVg/s1600/2013-01-19+12.24.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfuJRFSeZcs7PSUvP1tQT9Zwip55OjlokCUARGkW18m6DLmuf5SEkqVvmsj5DHdLelubfKLSlLZyjPeOY7kvRweZFZtYTUhEceELMy6kF0XaDg6f5ZDdMm_6hSjhrPTLrfZO2EgGRhVg/s320/2013-01-19+12.24.49.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We went in search of the coconut prison and found this monument, but no prison...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMAtm0ezERH5WlVjT_TggwFZGK4ms1PX6t2SlwgeirW74AWUtMmLvCVlumIGVZVkhvljOQ8fOoaO0PLHwgHXf6Om3xZhLh4vd7mEd_XuN4z4jbePcjSlM2sfxGDGOVeqvtAyyNJaVXMk/s1600/2013-01-19+12.25.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMAtm0ezERH5WlVjT_TggwFZGK4ms1PX6t2SlwgeirW74AWUtMmLvCVlumIGVZVkhvljOQ8fOoaO0PLHwgHXf6Om3xZhLh4vd7mEd_XuN4z4jbePcjSlM2sfxGDGOVeqvtAyyNJaVXMk/s320/2013-01-19+12.25.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The only surfing done in Phu Quoc</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkssGt5iUSG-toLFCpKmLbyd3AT3W4FiBPCL0-haHAQOUdmDM88HXLHAA-dMkxOm0h3z1UPeRg1fG9s1UDkGYeOaLbtDHTM50ZLpYDypGsLOYr6sEWvm92IHpZXnTrCIN0I3AVvEWgw0/s1600/2013-01-19+13.33.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkssGt5iUSG-toLFCpKmLbyd3AT3W4FiBPCL0-haHAQOUdmDM88HXLHAA-dMkxOm0h3z1UPeRg1fG9s1UDkGYeOaLbtDHTM50ZLpYDypGsLOYr6sEWvm92IHpZXnTrCIN0I3AVvEWgw0/s320/2013-01-19+13.33.25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We stopped at a quaint little corner store at port on the south of the island after riding motorbikes for two hours. This was some of the best Nem I have ever had. So delish!</i></div>
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On our way back, we discovered the prison! Coconut tree prison was a US backed prison for Viet Cong fighters in the Vietnam war. It's now more of a museum with statues and more....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoxDvV_BTGALUsocXTlMyW6xPOMK7nQgabfzn7UIfIKvEW8gPZMKKKshZjqlcdIWDWHciMOt4FSDxwabe02dSJhM4B2PaXaE2Fx4dNPL3DJA7VmxaK5hFrN42oWwB-pDJ0kvfMVc8ZYk/s1600/2013-01-19+13.57.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoxDvV_BTGALUsocXTlMyW6xPOMK7nQgabfzn7UIfIKvEW8gPZMKKKshZjqlcdIWDWHciMOt4FSDxwabe02dSJhM4B2PaXaE2Fx4dNPL3DJA7VmxaK5hFrN42oWwB-pDJ0kvfMVc8ZYk/s320/2013-01-19+13.57.47.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The boys climbed the tower to observe</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEg77xXAYB-EkewD5uiHKFbR_r8CcgTw-a5BihAtW_ndPZOJpml342A0vovzA0QR62SmZ55H-d5tKYgfWu-4adAHy5PAsa9MRdNwEs_G6_iiEFTkGjAeV1dAlVlC6BY8IJ2tw0ODmgalg/s1600/2013-01-19+13.58.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEg77xXAYB-EkewD5uiHKFbR_r8CcgTw-a5BihAtW_ndPZOJpml342A0vovzA0QR62SmZ55H-d5tKYgfWu-4adAHy5PAsa9MRdNwEs_G6_iiEFTkGjAeV1dAlVlC6BY8IJ2tw0ODmgalg/s320/2013-01-19+13.58.21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The translation was "American Puppet Government"...interesting....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPg6N7cu3NSV6TaOqkkT61n_Cvy4ekOhSNx0oUX0Nrt0ghlzvzRLJKxK-L012bs_neT_jqMQDjxACZv8DlQUXZQkYnGXruoVRP958y5q4NnMl6t8aHV-VcCeu9dqCgAT_Yyji7xIDEpmo/s1600/2013-01-19+13.59.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPg6N7cu3NSV6TaOqkkT61n_Cvy4ekOhSNx0oUX0Nrt0ghlzvzRLJKxK-L012bs_neT_jqMQDjxACZv8DlQUXZQkYnGXruoVRP958y5q4NnMl6t8aHV-VcCeu9dqCgAT_Yyji7xIDEpmo/s320/2013-01-19+13.59.03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUL6OA91pc24qJtZ_To9vL5KMyAlC06MQ2keIM9r_ovjViKplr_yH-8PAXFCwSOTTuE50dXlvSVW4Rb1_KwBAWy5JA6m_j6CqyoYWOp3WmnMyLC8AxQRPE-7K7iQveT_Z54ePw_wBt2E/s1600/2013-01-19+14.02.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUL6OA91pc24qJtZ_To9vL5KMyAlC06MQ2keIM9r_ovjViKplr_yH-8PAXFCwSOTTuE50dXlvSVW4Rb1_KwBAWy5JA6m_j6CqyoYWOp3WmnMyLC8AxQRPE-7K7iQveT_Z54ePw_wBt2E/s320/2013-01-19+14.02.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Some scenes were pretty brutal..</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtb4_dvHASip6AQqSSS3p-4GE31TqYU2RMqqEDnRGUUdGGM9z0D2BGm9m4snvTpEXluZvIOvkv615s7v3fJBCdIayNz6ABoM0gYqYP211l6G4Z8oxzVnLWWKKRWkLERWVh191g8eK1cs/s1600/2013-01-19+14.02.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtb4_dvHASip6AQqSSS3p-4GE31TqYU2RMqqEDnRGUUdGGM9z0D2BGm9m4snvTpEXluZvIOvkv615s7v3fJBCdIayNz6ABoM0gYqYP211l6G4Z8oxzVnLWWKKRWkLERWVh191g8eK1cs/s320/2013-01-19+14.02.21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Javi made a friend....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8r3YVCmJz0lLC6ge3ur3TAjrIQB1jHXp3CcMKuv8C5zEi6BDOOVnKjGUHTKlt2lTaIxJ5anPLsRbR7Nq5bs2WPuQpo45FZsvompqsahQqiEb7iOvOEeakwWqucsVux8ulTlhuT3icjo/s1600/2013-01-19+14.04.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8r3YVCmJz0lLC6ge3ur3TAjrIQB1jHXp3CcMKuv8C5zEi6BDOOVnKjGUHTKlt2lTaIxJ5anPLsRbR7Nq5bs2WPuQpo45FZsvompqsahQqiEb7iOvOEeakwWqucsVux8ulTlhuT3icjo/s320/2013-01-19+14.04.29.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>The conditions of these prisoners were terrible, 4,000 prisoners died here</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qCHCHP7Pf72yZhAPzATWNNNCIoxEcATQEx4te9DRZ3DVbDOHLkXVbT4sXD73rXe1UaywTsb5fKSDwGV4d8IMHJzCI9VzGuvKVAvSmtKfMc4nNNhCzg2L4cQAL11sy4CMrcH4g8VhR88/s1600/2013-01-19+14.08.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qCHCHP7Pf72yZhAPzATWNNNCIoxEcATQEx4te9DRZ3DVbDOHLkXVbT4sXD73rXe1UaywTsb5fKSDwGV4d8IMHJzCI9VzGuvKVAvSmtKfMc4nNNhCzg2L4cQAL11sy4CMrcH4g8VhR88/s320/2013-01-19+14.08.28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>More statues are being made for exhibits</i></div>
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<i>In the kitchen</i></div>
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<i>Role call</i></div>
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After we found the prison, we headed north to find a waterfall. However, the waterfall is without water from Nov-April, so we missed it. Luckily we made it back in time for the sunset.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNF8kZIKA5NhTLGHHStpts0seoPHbDM4Wl5CrmWZt0idFG3XAoD3Ft-2dz_NDzU40X4Y6YA59WaljzTC6Tjrvpf84SS-GNKnR9yXj2usq5sNwDjIIrdKiwCaNkG_sgSSFRXYf9MnZNck0/s1600/2013-01-19+17.37.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNF8kZIKA5NhTLGHHStpts0seoPHbDM4Wl5CrmWZt0idFG3XAoD3Ft-2dz_NDzU40X4Y6YA59WaljzTC6Tjrvpf84SS-GNKnR9yXj2usq5sNwDjIIrdKiwCaNkG_sgSSFRXYf9MnZNck0/s320/2013-01-19+17.37.20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We enjoyed some sunset cocktails....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SAcbq5tR2QX82-F2NpNMGHjpIZrrr4EWPB0Fe-tzBg_XQcz8JLiHxboRQGiaIIVVDF98ZflRShXWfDeI07HoHFSGyNnGmPq_Si8XBLDUWUdnSo6hzc9oZ0euLHxmbv6FzfcRv17iK6I/s1600/2013-01-19+18.24.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SAcbq5tR2QX82-F2NpNMGHjpIZrrr4EWPB0Fe-tzBg_XQcz8JLiHxboRQGiaIIVVDF98ZflRShXWfDeI07HoHFSGyNnGmPq_Si8XBLDUWUdnSo6hzc9oZ0euLHxmbv6FzfcRv17iK6I/s320/2013-01-19+18.24.42.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We love a good prom picture!</i></div>
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We went back to the night market, to the same restaurant. There was a cute kid that worked there who told us he was 15, however he looked 11. His name was Thinh. I thought it was cute that he worked with his family, until I found out he wasn't working for his parents, but someone else. He was having a great time....and so were we....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kC2A-L910JYxnq0Pl1BvVlJMxV5713bT6cD44xrapnZcnytbfOaOVVI_UzOXH3vuPdsif38Diey0GEvSelkhKGXf0dCCSzFhw2A6GbuC9GaTv57lLt6em4M-vIRdFPna2wZ8svpFRkI/s1600/2013-01-19+19.30.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kC2A-L910JYxnq0Pl1BvVlJMxV5713bT6cD44xrapnZcnytbfOaOVVI_UzOXH3vuPdsif38Diey0GEvSelkhKGXf0dCCSzFhw2A6GbuC9GaTv57lLt6em4M-vIRdFPna2wZ8svpFRkI/s320/2013-01-19+19.30.33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Pineapple chicken stir fry</i></div>
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After dinner, we stopped at a "Resto Lounge" called <a href="http://itacalounge.com/">Itaca</a>, it looked nice from the road, but even nicer inside.....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnIWDaikU8KeYqN9W-smtITc9wrfqEPd-For9p04BWfd8qg9HUXb3hapmUjuo0dkfhNk4PXsU8i-0UMyAqIJGjuDlXYZg_yaUcEZfE-7OtPBIe08eIitW0KGdUm3urmBAyJ5c5PASvx0/s1600/2013-01-19+20.28.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnIWDaikU8KeYqN9W-smtITc9wrfqEPd-For9p04BWfd8qg9HUXb3hapmUjuo0dkfhNk4PXsU8i-0UMyAqIJGjuDlXYZg_yaUcEZfE-7OtPBIe08eIitW0KGdUm3urmBAyJ5c5PASvx0/s320/2013-01-19+20.28.47.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>It was so peaceful</i></div>
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<i>We asked for the classiest table, and we sure got it!</i></div>
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<i>The menu looked incredible, so we ordered dessert. This is their brownie with dragonfruit coulis.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMkVW0tl5RxYuPeTZdKgfhWzKQ2Fe7OqPHxykA95T8oVg64rc1yRz-itSi0ptRI6kdUfSBvm61WOBqBdBdrYbnsjQlKj2G10lmTrRTDsQndT5MYVgBWhOhPLBcDR1bFnbkjE0ngxhy_E/s1600/2013-01-19+20.33.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMkVW0tl5RxYuPeTZdKgfhWzKQ2Fe7OqPHxykA95T8oVg64rc1yRz-itSi0ptRI6kdUfSBvm61WOBqBdBdrYbnsjQlKj2G10lmTrRTDsQndT5MYVgBWhOhPLBcDR1bFnbkjE0ngxhy_E/s320/2013-01-19+20.33.36.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The sangria was delicious, made with clove and cinnamon sticks</i></div>
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<i>Did I mention I fell off my motorbike on Saturday? Well, I did, and as you can see, I scratched my leg just a bit. Luckily I was slowing to a stop on gravel and just tipped over.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTobLIIPsd0ZLeuA8NddlCEnMA5urxS-8oYeaoL2ISozs-wgs6gxo5hHFfdO6styafA3Q_-WyHQSC_VjYcyQePZto6bWkw_II_vKfpJlBeC_eZnSEt6zZfPGh8vatP5clwndhevDTLSI/s1600/2013-01-20+08.31.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTobLIIPsd0ZLeuA8NddlCEnMA5urxS-8oYeaoL2ISozs-wgs6gxo5hHFfdO6styafA3Q_-WyHQSC_VjYcyQePZto6bWkw_II_vKfpJlBeC_eZnSEt6zZfPGh8vatP5clwndhevDTLSI/s320/2013-01-20+08.31.40.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Hubs and I woke up early the next day and took a walk on the beach before breakfast. We found all kinds of cool shells....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-UcdjEQBtb1cPKejoaXGoxLqq9t2DZeUqxgVlBwPgr2mcEEfxoqMNwM83w2HLrJLQhzjmOWWM_9zh_zdNTFxKTHu1_wD8ZIEnSiIwSjN71qZZHl-xv9GEZRE4VJPu8pElB_6nlZuGdZA/s1600/2013-01-20+08.38.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-UcdjEQBtb1cPKejoaXGoxLqq9t2DZeUqxgVlBwPgr2mcEEfxoqMNwM83w2HLrJLQhzjmOWWM_9zh_zdNTFxKTHu1_wD8ZIEnSiIwSjN71qZZHl-xv9GEZRE4VJPu8pElB_6nlZuGdZA/s320/2013-01-20+08.38.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>I am so lucky to have such a romantic hubs</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg341sb9ixwjxzBnmDMiijqOZfiaD6VKgefYw-b7QyzZihbv9CV9MIAososESQXK7N7bmeZlaGTdyXq5lDjYPxsPe-KpBI8Sxyf99HlMxhP27e2V2uWyZ0nyW6n9HIJUNwWcNIm7-mPxyU/s1600/2013-01-20+08.59.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg341sb9ixwjxzBnmDMiijqOZfiaD6VKgefYw-b7QyzZihbv9CV9MIAososESQXK7N7bmeZlaGTdyXq5lDjYPxsPe-KpBI8Sxyf99HlMxhP27e2V2uWyZ0nyW6n9HIJUNwWcNIm7-mPxyU/s320/2013-01-20+08.59.51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The breakfast bread was crab shaped and delicious!</i></div>
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<i>We spent the entire day laying by the beach reading our kindles and magazines, it was bliss</i></div>
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After a day on the beach, we all got $5 massages(most of our party got them all three days, I got them one day), we got ready for dinner and....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWcsKjUonuWYl5WVwxI3cuICQyMuhgiD1lt-lIgxD_MiftjfpuFgUA-_WIgXO3B51UGb7Nl12HuYrQf3U5NQfkLyjEYFneWby4gv0VtzzyZlSIsRuUpuv05_xO6ATVZKaG_j_vci37G4/s1600/2013-01-20+17.24.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWcsKjUonuWYl5WVwxI3cuICQyMuhgiD1lt-lIgxD_MiftjfpuFgUA-_WIgXO3B51UGb7Nl12HuYrQf3U5NQfkLyjEYFneWby4gv0VtzzyZlSIsRuUpuv05_xO6ATVZKaG_j_vci37G4/s320/2013-01-20+17.24.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The boys matched without planning it. They are so cute.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UDaxFaD9r6iv_W9E2VLszUvA6E8EWRjjmPujzLtd8bJNMmT4hCBLeWZHmaprWjGrxEn4BCjGt0A2-4W1oSkr5qLgDm4byY5hTo0WwKoCjDDXkZwQ0VLhJyQ9KgfEmb_7DQNmQIf_CPs/s1600/2013-01-20+17.45.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UDaxFaD9r6iv_W9E2VLszUvA6E8EWRjjmPujzLtd8bJNMmT4hCBLeWZHmaprWjGrxEn4BCjGt0A2-4W1oSkr5qLgDm4byY5hTo0WwKoCjDDXkZwQ0VLhJyQ9KgfEmb_7DQNmQIf_CPs/s320/2013-01-20+17.45.33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>It was another gorgeous sunset</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38jk0iRe8Nj3FzMgTSDjijk468updXE-dM2m385sJGdqHRPM1C_cxy9e-U9Hda4sNwRTcfPPdtpXoTi3mtl7msikkHUjKClw4czdYIszhaaQQDr-h5ZXWfphxjzSGZjjzJ87ODEw6DIg/s1600/2013-01-20+08.43.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38jk0iRe8Nj3FzMgTSDjijk468updXE-dM2m385sJGdqHRPM1C_cxy9e-U9Hda4sNwRTcfPPdtpXoTi3mtl7msikkHUjKClw4czdYIszhaaQQDr-h5ZXWfphxjzSGZjjzJ87ODEw6DIg/s640/2013-01-20+08.43.40.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>This is a photo of two fishing boats, reeling in one giant net</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBrW9jxAOKq6rdagDn060-JEBImF8LQIB2OSdB1mzgnb1MoovdsRRFkz8RXwUXBuYRRg4Ul7mXKlTjsxyQWE2gtytavGlJ0AHq9b2sGtLdw54nQsr3ees4nYrezIBLPgoK2e3guVV5RA/s1600/2013-01-20+17.55.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBrW9jxAOKq6rdagDn060-JEBImF8LQIB2OSdB1mzgnb1MoovdsRRFkz8RXwUXBuYRRg4Ul7mXKlTjsxyQWE2gtytavGlJ0AHq9b2sGtLdw54nQsr3ees4nYrezIBLPgoK2e3guVV5RA/s320/2013-01-20+17.55.05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Wonderful sunset and company</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBJAsP4p_6NsLAQb97QjbFilh2hSyWT3C0y74P43aNN6BtAWSNhzOhyrotSmZlAQ-JMoFrs_ugHbSoYe2DqQO7GH3mLKlA-jD0MKNcvktUUeg44YwmEnZjO13PONmqPNshEFUKhJBLg0/s1600/2013-01-20+17.57.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBJAsP4p_6NsLAQb97QjbFilh2hSyWT3C0y74P43aNN6BtAWSNhzOhyrotSmZlAQ-JMoFrs_ugHbSoYe2DqQO7GH3mLKlA-jD0MKNcvktUUeg44YwmEnZjO13PONmqPNshEFUKhJBLg0/s320/2013-01-20+17.57.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Banana and Mango daquiris AND great friends!</i></div>
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<i><br /></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQPjv34EKK1EhPX5x3nkORytOtQ6IfRs5B18KFJV3Pc4wSYVaPTzLh_BWIrjKQ5zHBnAw_4OocmTMNEvu1n_aFF8tyR28P3xnKwh8YbrqyGMIfabLmpYc1ERtqxRxidTjJCQLDDkg6_Y/s1600/2013-01-20+17.51.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQPjv34EKK1EhPX5x3nkORytOtQ6IfRs5B18KFJV3Pc4wSYVaPTzLh_BWIrjKQ5zHBnAw_4OocmTMNEvu1n_aFF8tyR28P3xnKwh8YbrqyGMIfabLmpYc1ERtqxRxidTjJCQLDDkg6_Y/s400/2013-01-20+17.51.56.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We decided to go back to Itaca and try out the tapas for dinner, we were a bit sad to miss the night market, but we all think that this place is one of the BEST restaurants in Vietnam.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAC8yzFTQFtjIoYe00Hr3Gdqxot3XI6K4zrsyl9p1JNNQTjU5ZmhXpYVM7tsQOLFBsNQVS8y2EvQF23I5onxBJWN-wpM31mOEoLTg4i5GSPtfh32KeBzsAAesfTdZZ-9BRMv7jEQ8ec4/s1600/2013-01-20+19.26.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAC8yzFTQFtjIoYe00Hr3Gdqxot3XI6K4zrsyl9p1JNNQTjU5ZmhXpYVM7tsQOLFBsNQVS8y2EvQF23I5onxBJWN-wpM31mOEoLTg4i5GSPtfh32KeBzsAAesfTdZZ-9BRMv7jEQ8ec4/s320/2013-01-20+19.26.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Cheers to great company!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwTsxNcHlxFMYFNXiYZK2QsZSiy6uCHoJxSma-Rh15lgg5ykNTblgj5yOXYzsMZdYKv8izypVqycYRLIg6Y868LIIiRQbukH_q6pgcy_8y1zhlEa6ZtKrHEWs0egqFpvs6MLqCDsGKZs/s1600/2013-01-20+19.36.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwTsxNcHlxFMYFNXiYZK2QsZSiy6uCHoJxSma-Rh15lgg5ykNTblgj5yOXYzsMZdYKv8izypVqycYRLIg6Y868LIIiRQbukH_q6pgcy_8y1zhlEa6ZtKrHEWs0egqFpvs6MLqCDsGKZs/s320/2013-01-20+19.36.48.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Spinach au gratin and risotto balls</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54xvb2cAfvvqrPhgpfiro-e8cZumYLhVuOohZs1gduTyfJ_vf5zMepHTo5PIxPUHfwndvK_OGRcG5puc-iMMxclhdB7fOk-JCroysDmt7kpEqL9TqChNb1F-Fs0F-8a8aXfAIFDrJnhM/s1600/2013-01-20+19.34.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54xvb2cAfvvqrPhgpfiro-e8cZumYLhVuOohZs1gduTyfJ_vf5zMepHTo5PIxPUHfwndvK_OGRcG5puc-iMMxclhdB7fOk-JCroysDmt7kpEqL9TqChNb1F-Fs0F-8a8aXfAIFDrJnhM/s320/2013-01-20+19.34.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Baked goat cheese: so amazing, we ordered another plate of it!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-1D-OfzvVFM8S0qyflO1CsG17JYKeme3qod0LDdFixcMmXLnPIfLobMryMUdMAECBKjbSsbwblxf6qvN9ycq3E8S8xCa0eu9wcU8QY9IKJvgx425wLg2xuM_NMJagnw-Ecfe_nLKyg8/s1600/2013-01-20+19.33.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-1D-OfzvVFM8S0qyflO1CsG17JYKeme3qod0LDdFixcMmXLnPIfLobMryMUdMAECBKjbSsbwblxf6qvN9ycq3E8S8xCa0eu9wcU8QY9IKJvgx425wLg2xuM_NMJagnw-Ecfe_nLKyg8/s320/2013-01-20+19.33.58.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Potatas bravas</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhQQcnEUcovTYBuO6RHoaowPay4f47RT5tzlFbka6YRsbxxJI570PLLgRzladutb4Dnjo-F1USnkuD3GMXI__EtD_ljlHJGoDCR7x2zn8n8w9yWGirbyOGnuwRpUsvgWJGIqSZ5GN3l4/s1600/2013-01-20+19.39.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhQQcnEUcovTYBuO6RHoaowPay4f47RT5tzlFbka6YRsbxxJI570PLLgRzladutb4Dnjo-F1USnkuD3GMXI__EtD_ljlHJGoDCR7x2zn8n8w9yWGirbyOGnuwRpUsvgWJGIqSZ5GN3l4/s320/2013-01-20+19.39.04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Seabass green curry: my fave</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpTzBzEC0WgCeCUHszoToFQmce3FTw-iaXpwt0-37OlsQfAy-Z6pzFkjsknfETCxmTXQNRg7ozxP0xDTbjP6yGcgsrUocs8a0G0KM166jNVByrRPmB1rSZfcsS4uRmxtUFxGnsIkJjSE/s1600/2013-01-20+19.37.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpTzBzEC0WgCeCUHszoToFQmce3FTw-iaXpwt0-37OlsQfAy-Z6pzFkjsknfETCxmTXQNRg7ozxP0xDTbjP6yGcgsrUocs8a0G0KM166jNVByrRPmB1rSZfcsS4uRmxtUFxGnsIkJjSE/s320/2013-01-20+19.37.38.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Croquettes</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfBRYt9wwx1kicHu0UW78dxIY85nqbGhaNDHHvD6tVe9nUtpbf5tM4ijzU0rmH4i-IjGjO7uzpRZo224Yo1EFlo0DvJKk7kTetyiE8bOmIVT3uES1NChdQsg3Y7gsXHQM_VOEP-ec6t0/s1600/2013-01-20+20.32.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfBRYt9wwx1kicHu0UW78dxIY85nqbGhaNDHHvD6tVe9nUtpbf5tM4ijzU0rmH4i-IjGjO7uzpRZo224Yo1EFlo0DvJKk7kTetyiE8bOmIVT3uES1NChdQsg3Y7gsXHQM_VOEP-ec6t0/s320/2013-01-20+20.32.42.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Dessert: chocolate coulant(which was so good we ordered another, Javi and I considered ordering a third but we got vetoed) and banana tart </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbyLYhUxL74NVCFpvnQAoo96YGIjJIVDnbh9RAiOj5QpIz_u-tsvjopz1_St3To6vQJ7KjF1fy0AlGRb_i5qE6QFTPKdCFtW4jDaCWwTFdALu1_RWEiuqyn-3jQQL6QXe5ffWQaHCf_I/s1600/2013-01-20+21.02.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbyLYhUxL74NVCFpvnQAoo96YGIjJIVDnbh9RAiOj5QpIz_u-tsvjopz1_St3To6vQJ7KjF1fy0AlGRb_i5qE6QFTPKdCFtW4jDaCWwTFdALu1_RWEiuqyn-3jQQL6QXe5ffWQaHCf_I/s320/2013-01-20+21.02.51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>This bar is so hott it has a pool to cool off in</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYlzSwvYCQvNEwmXsFSKDIqA-mfZgEy6qcuP_l6xA0fpe1lVWAMjv9gXnc7SxhynL_-H6FE5U7BW6btYXN0AzBKw_tv_mozBvaP-spYbAY_DFvJd0a2LlDdNh76la0NjI1FWSFszYZSY/s1600/2013-01-20+21.03.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYlzSwvYCQvNEwmXsFSKDIqA-mfZgEy6qcuP_l6xA0fpe1lVWAMjv9gXnc7SxhynL_-H6FE5U7BW6btYXN0AzBKw_tv_mozBvaP-spYbAY_DFvJd0a2LlDdNh76la0NjI1FWSFszYZSY/s320/2013-01-20+21.03.38.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Pool party!</i></div>
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Such a fun night! I think the best part about this vacation is that we were in bed by midnight every night and woke up early to enjoy the sunshine every day!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEXEOFVQTT7-qIQ_Tvd5jFHVkST_TlQ2VcrrJdYBOIQOWX5wS0T32_-Gt_NG9yrvmnCGM9W_57bmW0dEqnc_8xl56nC0mcDOHLG_JAESigpVXoJsWhvbRFflo3waiVQjKNtiVVVtmMKY/s1600/2013-01-21+10.01.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEXEOFVQTT7-qIQ_Tvd5jFHVkST_TlQ2VcrrJdYBOIQOWX5wS0T32_-Gt_NG9yrvmnCGM9W_57bmW0dEqnc_8xl56nC0mcDOHLG_JAESigpVXoJsWhvbRFflo3waiVQjKNtiVVVtmMKY/s320/2013-01-21+10.01.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Our last day on the beach</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioozL6seSCMa9ms6BP0jcrDQw7UOQNEQwms80B1KApyFg1Gt1A64RFsku2kUMK0IVMWWmrbnrST29LLTDyMr6g8WchLlR4navm8GJkN86S9Ae2wsR0f1MydxGBH7pkBqjFi4G7clVuSEw/s1600/2013-01-21+09.46.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioozL6seSCMa9ms6BP0jcrDQw7UOQNEQwms80B1KApyFg1Gt1A64RFsku2kUMK0IVMWWmrbnrST29LLTDyMr6g8WchLlR4navm8GJkN86S9Ae2wsR0f1MydxGBH7pkBqjFi4G7clVuSEw/s320/2013-01-21+09.46.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>A beautiful view</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVM8DtHXrIoL93EjPmPscm4YX26NK29TBBAsEhwtFU42ZXyP9eZxlE_q8dIEZb-ngLUzadKcqZxiBAkuFq5l1F4fyN8cz4prY4o1C0GKrEsrLeiANvdMpOY2WNHEcIfIsmLeAJltP179k/s1600/2013-01-21+09.45.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVM8DtHXrIoL93EjPmPscm4YX26NK29TBBAsEhwtFU42ZXyP9eZxlE_q8dIEZb-ngLUzadKcqZxiBAkuFq5l1F4fyN8cz4prY4o1C0GKrEsrLeiANvdMpOY2WNHEcIfIsmLeAJltP179k/s320/2013-01-21+09.45.59.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We will be back...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1zonKK09spc3NBHjFF5FyMAHLV7TXB1M6AcLILH0Ig-wmPUum17P3hsA16JTGJO1l-5IHhkcqXYfPjUv13t5nsV5IYI6EOe4I_8YpbFzc6z3pPmrpAApcSxmJTXZeMrNXrsGMSaBE9U/s1600/2013-01-21+10.02.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1zonKK09spc3NBHjFF5FyMAHLV7TXB1M6AcLILH0Ig-wmPUum17P3hsA16JTGJO1l-5IHhkcqXYfPjUv13t5nsV5IYI6EOe4I_8YpbFzc6z3pPmrpAApcSxmJTXZeMrNXrsGMSaBE9U/s320/2013-01-21+10.02.42.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The boys and the crab mating dance, no, they are not mating with one another</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSil0DDtYv6R_qTxAFYYw2-FlUKUUrTlFMxiZM7-9k5szfFcfrqy1qQPth8HEd83kaAwKLgzZPeiq-a9L7xiEnP6PnuUZvGtn1RBFxbXHRBb7pnDPomqHlHYFlvqGFnzsZp0pRgL8GdUQ/s1600/2013-01-21+10.06.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSil0DDtYv6R_qTxAFYYw2-FlUKUUrTlFMxiZM7-9k5szfFcfrqy1qQPth8HEd83kaAwKLgzZPeiq-a9L7xiEnP6PnuUZvGtn1RBFxbXHRBb7pnDPomqHlHYFlvqGFnzsZp0pRgL8GdUQ/s320/2013-01-21+10.06.06.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We found this guy washed up and threw him back in the sea before we left</i></div>
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We were feeling pretty melancholy for leaving the sun to come back to gray Hanoi, until we saw....</div>
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<i>Burger king! Wahooo!!! Yes, we have one in Hanoi, but it's not that close. </i></div>
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<i>Soft serve ice cream=a blissful ending to a wonderful vacation</i></div>
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It was exactly what we needed, an escape from the gray and a big dose of Vitamin D and rest. I am looking forward to going back to Phu Quoc as soon as we can!</div>
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<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-27912429590732583992013-01-21T07:28:00.002-08:002013-01-21T07:28:47.969-08:002013 Catch-Up: Food, Yoga, Chili & random thoughts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I could make up a lot of excuses about why I haven't blogged in awhile, I could say that the weather has been making me tired, that I've been tired from work, etc. However the truth is: I've been lazy. </div>
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Here's what we've been up to:</div>
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Big surprise: a LOT of <u>eating</u>!</div>
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We have been trying to branch out and try some new places, at the beginning of the month, </div>
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we went to <a href="http://www.dons-bistro.com/">Don's Bistro</a>. It was recommended by many from the Embassy, and it was pretty delish. Their specialty is seafood and it was delish. </div>
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<i>Lobster bisque</i></div>
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<i>Ah-mazing meatloaf</i></div>
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<i>Asparagus and a crab cake</i></div>
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<i>Noodles from the Embassy cafe, so simple, but so good</i></div>
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I made a resolution this year to start teaching yoga again after a 5 month hiatus. I started teaching at a lovely studio here called <a href="http://zenithyogavietnam.com/">Zenith Yoga</a>. I am SO happy to be back in a great space, serving the wonderful yoga community of Hanoi.</div>
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<i>One of the rooms at Zenith</i></div>
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<i>The chakras, hung on the wall in the main studio</i></div>
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<i>Calamari, made by Ms H</i></div>
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<i>The daily special, made at the other Embassy cafe, we are so lucky! </i></div>
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<i>Chicken ginger and veggie soup</i></div>
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<i>Veggie creation by Ms H: chickpeas and tofu in a mix of spices, YUM</i></div>
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We finally made it to the Czech Beer Haus in Hanoi; <a href="http://tnhvietnam.xemzi.com/en/spot/1031/hoa-vien-brauhaus-hanoi">Hoa Vien</a>. </div>
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<i>The outside was pretty decked out....</i></div>
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<i>....the inside was very surprising. It would have not felt like Vietnam if it wasn't filled with Vietnamese people.</i></div>
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<i>The beers are pretty great, and I am not a huge beer fan anymore, but these were tasty</i></div>
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<i>The menu was even more surprising; behold; baked salmon topped with cheese. Probably some of the the best salmon I have ever eaten.</i></div>
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<i>Yummy ribs</i></div>
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<i>Pineapple shrimp</i></div>
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Also this month, we hosted a Chili cookoff at our house. There were 8 chefs and everyone who attended were the judges.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYQWvdjEMSqsCVc0FKxTSm8vcM9hffgcVO9PL-MlDx-MTTUjYRyAZ6lP8L5ZQ80pFnPyY5iTDOjCObbqhSoh-5Urnp0aQZYMInAGJwov4cSi6LkYwS5ETUoAOwep73VScGUVE3duGHwI/s1600/2013-01-12+15.11.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYQWvdjEMSqsCVc0FKxTSm8vcM9hffgcVO9PL-MlDx-MTTUjYRyAZ6lP8L5ZQ80pFnPyY5iTDOjCObbqhSoh-5Urnp0aQZYMInAGJwov4cSi6LkYwS5ETUoAOwep73VScGUVE3duGHwI/s320/2013-01-12+15.11.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>My chili vs. Hubs chili</i></div>
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<i>Hubs got 2nd place, I did not place</i></div>
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<i>What is a party in Vietnam without bendy straws!?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVuyTbVxUs9SGnU2KfIibqWyFqe4HwyfekibwBr9RymkSSCOZUiYpX8hcMuKt7AZB8Hf2ItB6rt39mQyLEhdW2wcgPFo9r1IPRxKNcl6xPNF3Bq4bXh_CS9E3tyyorwYy9Gq8xl5-YbM/s1600/2013-01-12+16.20.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVuyTbVxUs9SGnU2KfIibqWyFqe4HwyfekibwBr9RymkSSCOZUiYpX8hcMuKt7AZB8Hf2ItB6rt39mQyLEhdW2wcgPFo9r1IPRxKNcl6xPNF3Bq4bXh_CS9E3tyyorwYy9Gq8xl5-YbM/s320/2013-01-12+16.20.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Before the party got started...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscgnWkmD9UuY5q5JlU1BJdC0c6NOJZbRA5xv0CD4lzlhI6sBjWK6Ie1llDY8I4RtBOZxZ2yo5l-bNScy8LFFzKGz84-Zbx5jULjggtV7yg7qjEmQ0gfH4eh0-Kcelfu5SjOCizpbpDfI/s1600/2013-01-12+16.20.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscgnWkmD9UuY5q5JlU1BJdC0c6NOJZbRA5xv0CD4lzlhI6sBjWK6Ie1llDY8I4RtBOZxZ2yo5l-bNScy8LFFzKGz84-Zbx5jULjggtV7yg7qjEmQ0gfH4eh0-Kcelfu5SjOCizpbpDfI/s320/2013-01-12+16.20.40.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The fixins</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtDCOPIEkfYcDfcBIW2cAZ_hu1kOE-7ahYxzgMzTGyCneJ2If47LJsOceOKxCMbKw94Q69qxZQ_UjPdagNQTtlEbxcsO9jRM_0lR4hi0SX1qzu4MLpPpWvuTmg012bFq-gPyDwPDNeUI/s1600/2013-01-12+16.21.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtDCOPIEkfYcDfcBIW2cAZ_hu1kOE-7ahYxzgMzTGyCneJ2If47LJsOceOKxCMbKw94Q69qxZQ_UjPdagNQTtlEbxcsO9jRM_0lR4hi0SX1qzu4MLpPpWvuTmg012bFq-gPyDwPDNeUI/s320/2013-01-12+16.21.27.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>My mouth is watering just looking at these pots again...we have a LOT of talented chefs at our Mission!</i></div>
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As you can see above, I love bendy straws. My friend Sam just gave me a belated Christmas present....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnINbtd2AOWaqRNjvpQMnQzY-o8lQ0j63bWku0_XDBVEYAhtaoiQPZ-qsMsxlQPYzdF8WR6wgO2NYCwhCiyiX45SzW3nLt1VjkTxvdH08_msOb7k8zieCUEBBh881yow3i2tU_PD-8h4/s1600/2013-01-14+15.50.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnINbtd2AOWaqRNjvpQMnQzY-o8lQ0j63bWku0_XDBVEYAhtaoiQPZ-qsMsxlQPYzdF8WR6wgO2NYCwhCiyiX45SzW3nLt1VjkTxvdH08_msOb7k8zieCUEBBh881yow3i2tU_PD-8h4/s320/2013-01-14+15.50.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>isn't she the best?! A bendy straw with my new name! niCLO! </i></div>
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<i>Sam is pretty great, and also a new FS blogger, you can follow her here:</i></div>
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<i>http://keepcalmabroad.blogspot.com/</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycQ4T62GFQlCceV0fhcFiSLfXm4hsg3MIp2F7Gf6iuC9nT8U7TuWCOGGN8T5XvrryIFoPbCBx0Dj8wHTOqhMiZvcHLbrdl8dWKsF9wP89A1e3lMtAA4WvForbThfeeouqjhKxzvdSHFg/s1600/2013-01-14+17.48.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycQ4T62GFQlCceV0fhcFiSLfXm4hsg3MIp2F7Gf6iuC9nT8U7TuWCOGGN8T5XvrryIFoPbCBx0Dj8wHTOqhMiZvcHLbrdl8dWKsF9wP89A1e3lMtAA4WvForbThfeeouqjhKxzvdSHFg/s320/2013-01-14+17.48.49.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>This is a mug on sale at Zenith. It was exactly what I needed to see the day I found it. Lately I have been feeling lonely and missing my family & friends back home, however, this mug reminded me that I am surrounded by all kinds of greatness inside and out. I am starting a new gratitude mission....more on that later.</i></div>
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I have become incredibly obsessed with Indian food since moving here. Perhaps because it's so readily available and DELICIOUS. I have been sticking to my standys; Foodshop 45 & Namaste, but this week I went to <a href="http://www.khazaana.vn/">Khazaana</a>. </div>
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<i>I think it wins for the most beautiful decor-as far as Indian restaurants go</i></div>
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<i>I got the chicken set menu. It was pretty good, but not mind-blowing. It's farther from my house and the price point is much higher, but I am interested in going back someday to taste more of the menu. </i></div>
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When I was chatting with my dad after NYE he said to me "who is that other GUY in all of your photos?" This is our dear friend Javi. We were in Lnaguage class together at FSI and Hubs and I call him our adopted son. We spend a lot of time together. This week he came to my yoga class and gave me a lift home on his motorbike.</div>
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<i>Gucci facemask? Faux or no?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fhDYSHXFvIEjFtN4Y6WY8du0wmxwdJG96rzBcP0W2StG2LDwb3yOQiaE1ROOIAVAfyUXon7IixoydRVs06_T_HC4lgomkKVoy_XxZfKcO7Da2gx18F3LXImmd28yEXxntSRwmhWn6iA/s1600/2013-01-16+19.35.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fhDYSHXFvIEjFtN4Y6WY8du0wmxwdJG96rzBcP0W2StG2LDwb3yOQiaE1ROOIAVAfyUXon7IixoydRVs06_T_HC4lgomkKVoy_XxZfKcO7Da2gx18F3LXImmd28yEXxntSRwmhWn6iA/s320/2013-01-16+19.35.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>How funny is this? Now, just imagine me on the back with two bags and a yoga back slung behind me. Never a full moment. Hubs and I hope to buy a motorbike this spring, they are fun!</i></div>
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Forgive me for my lack of organization, and my laziness in blogging. I am back on the horse!</div>
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More to come on our recent trip to Phu Quoc!</div>
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NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-45648006058675493732013-01-04T00:44:00.001-08:002013-01-04T01:41:51.939-08:00HONG KONG NYE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For New Year's we went to Hong Kong with some friends. We had a lot of fun, a little too much for my immune system, as I have been sick for the last few days. </div>
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Our first night we arrived late, I asked the concierge where we could go for a "drink and an appetizer"...he directed us to Lan Kwei Fong, which felt a little bit like college on crack...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7lpTAB4_Y1CuUSSjNuh32IO21l1hYl-9exOncxQTLdhQ_7h5mWanSUbLCpO4feFLmvsAYMH3VCEv7cwZOnCcDkklbuWT-9QT5sWQ3oMHUZIixLjWzCE0vFbIv8nT0JUZxle8KPJDEz4/s1600/2012-12-29+00.51.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7lpTAB4_Y1CuUSSjNuh32IO21l1hYl-9exOncxQTLdhQ_7h5mWanSUbLCpO4feFLmvsAYMH3VCEv7cwZOnCcDkklbuWT-9QT5sWQ3oMHUZIixLjWzCE0vFbIv8nT0JUZxle8KPJDEz4/s320/2012-12-29+00.51.43.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>I was not prepared for this...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aQfbrU3hJ-4onbycTHjmp2HsGj16_atD7Zlmsgmb-j8oOgd8zCDafgDf4v1Ri3oarZi_V9RpeEtTD0YRP8eeFTvWK8cVuhEYPWJZCbtTlRPI7MmnSCvFnhQa6ECmkFuqWuSHAXaTnCo/s1600/2012-12-29+00.52.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aQfbrU3hJ-4onbycTHjmp2HsGj16_atD7Zlmsgmb-j8oOgd8zCDafgDf4v1Ri3oarZi_V9RpeEtTD0YRP8eeFTvWK8cVuhEYPWJZCbtTlRPI7MmnSCvFnhQa6ECmkFuqWuSHAXaTnCo/s320/2012-12-29+00.52.13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>the people watching was incredible...</i></div>
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<i>the boys were very excited to find Guinness on tap</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kMkyXIPHpSYyQmaUO0Cv16NoDBQwlbVRtR7cQEPWVR67WcHqWvOtqxIHRq5Gyh85t6ZrC6kKyDNN6KmOrVAxbBieaB7w0lTkIiCwbShnDCVfRfCQrQLSem64AwE3f_I8a3tz63iAmL0/s1600/2012-12-29+01.32.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kMkyXIPHpSYyQmaUO0Cv16NoDBQwlbVRtR7cQEPWVR67WcHqWvOtqxIHRq5Gyh85t6ZrC6kKyDNN6KmOrVAxbBieaB7w0lTkIiCwbShnDCVfRfCQrQLSem64AwE3f_I8a3tz63iAmL0/s320/2012-12-29+01.32.05.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Why did this man have a large sticker on his jacket? I have no idea. </i></div>
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<i>We sat next to him and his loud friends only to find out that they were no longer serving food...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaq7rN3TcmaTZHI6uDy7hO1AHMsQqGeb0IhfcTFWOIDccsUwvzDtLwwkcwwYeFnz3kvGM2gw6s_NMBKCsawICe0hs4J45BqmGnkV4BXB8Ff-LPLvM_gYREVFG6gpVoe8seG_IPgN32YLE/s1600/2012-12-29+01.48.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaq7rN3TcmaTZHI6uDy7hO1AHMsQqGeb0IhfcTFWOIDccsUwvzDtLwwkcwwYeFnz3kvGM2gw6s_NMBKCsawICe0hs4J45BqmGnkV4BXB8Ff-LPLvM_gYREVFG6gpVoe8seG_IPgN32YLE/s320/2012-12-29+01.48.35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>So I opted for a gyro from the late night place and we bought beers from 7-11 and drank in the street, we're so classy...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIb8WRs5FzMoJURvvHiFEadKabZLzuYJcOgoajxI6bJsErk5ZZjxsfCGHMcXkQMn3Rb6i1ChJmVyLCvYeHkOnCTwPxP0jyFv7bNo7DGMatuu4qONay8vDMNJJw4aQtZ49OIpwLzJM4aI/s1600/2012-12-29+01.58.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIb8WRs5FzMoJURvvHiFEadKabZLzuYJcOgoajxI6bJsErk5ZZjxsfCGHMcXkQMn3Rb6i1ChJmVyLCvYeHkOnCTwPxP0jyFv7bNo7DGMatuu4qONay8vDMNJJw4aQtZ49OIpwLzJM4aI/s320/2012-12-29+01.58.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Party time in LKF! </i></div>
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<i>(we didn't last very long, but we were entertained)</i></div>
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<i>Strange dancing dogs on the street</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbaB6f1qRZm4SZkjqWcPZOpddc2KjoFa3diszEoYSzKThvr9na4LAWQBTWBXSopRplAEq_mqByTBBBahEEeuNONdC0sU_pa3YC0mCPo88AaZAMYIVyP65pmmRnZ1Xs74sOXDU2CyeUdM/s1600/2012-12-29+02.01.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbaB6f1qRZm4SZkjqWcPZOpddc2KjoFa3diszEoYSzKThvr9na4LAWQBTWBXSopRplAEq_mqByTBBBahEEeuNONdC0sU_pa3YC0mCPo88AaZAMYIVyP65pmmRnZ1Xs74sOXDU2CyeUdM/s320/2012-12-29+02.01.03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Are we at the Ice Capades? Nope, just HK.</i></div>
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We fell asleep hard and woke up to enjoy the view from our hotel. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPib6nn7eobWPEXv_V8mJwbG8EnkRLowXRcFmnHqzHvhWeYDMrfkm9JTLeZ7op_IwwFOdzawrUSMeHOCg6aJWuP7qPPQOerSeKKsgh1htIR0YV1HVpzCLV8k4SKFLE6V4vNYSCW4jSBY/s1600/2012-12-29+09.28.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPib6nn7eobWPEXv_V8mJwbG8EnkRLowXRcFmnHqzHvhWeYDMrfkm9JTLeZ7op_IwwFOdzawrUSMeHOCg6aJWuP7qPPQOerSeKKsgh1htIR0YV1HVpzCLV8k4SKFLE6V4vNYSCW4jSBY/s320/2012-12-29+09.28.49.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>not too shabby, eh?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ooVoqQfGY8bbbZrCVUkKkVfaxj3NyItJDYjeth23q-TAgK0Lj-OHYpPjJQZLeNDz4VAD3oM5UcG04CIoFTHnLIJAwpMneFw5a7kt_TM8-7xJvoiPGRPsNGWXbXniYFcEq89JqyRf-xk/s1600/2012-12-29+09.29.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ooVoqQfGY8bbbZrCVUkKkVfaxj3NyItJDYjeth23q-TAgK0Lj-OHYpPjJQZLeNDz4VAD3oM5UcG04CIoFTHnLIJAwpMneFw5a7kt_TM8-7xJvoiPGRPsNGWXbXniYFcEq89JqyRf-xk/s320/2012-12-29+09.29.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>this does not suck.</i></div>
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We had a pretty sweet room with access to the Executive level. We tried to go up there for breakfast....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg024y1osSACJ2c3leycG90CqsY1PgMOO5VppY43kIqnvGecpm6ahy9HZZPO7AgUccaJrJp7lEPWFXPx0AchdPE8l0hyphenhyphenP6kxnt3NjD8nDYO1rAUbLbqK-4GYc6_yliV4IFjm02i-3a-5uE/s1600/2012-12-29+09.46.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg024y1osSACJ2c3leycG90CqsY1PgMOO5VppY43kIqnvGecpm6ahy9HZZPO7AgUccaJrJp7lEPWFXPx0AchdPE8l0hyphenhyphenP6kxnt3NjD8nDYO1rAUbLbqK-4GYc6_yliV4IFjm02i-3a-5uE/s320/2012-12-29+09.46.35.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>However, Javier got asked to leave because he was wearing the hotel slippers.</i></div>
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<i>He changed shoes and we ate breakfast and headed out to Stanley Market.</i></div>
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First, we went to Pacific Place mall, which was attached to our hotel.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uy2UnoEqucCw5hULnAwdQBItJiPe7htXqaXkPJCJUGSIdfUoIf2T1N-Bh_3O8RgIQO9eL2hjiQR0py_6-20nUY6ZjhWOqPGAaXabP3Rkrn0RU3AzW7r_GaGw7q84P0w5Wj0HR2-uyME/s1600/2012-12-29+10.38.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uy2UnoEqucCw5hULnAwdQBItJiPe7htXqaXkPJCJUGSIdfUoIf2T1N-Bh_3O8RgIQO9eL2hjiQR0py_6-20nUY6ZjhWOqPGAaXabP3Rkrn0RU3AzW7r_GaGw7q84P0w5Wj0HR2-uyME/s320/2012-12-29+10.38.20.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>HK mall decorations intrigue me....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iJhJpzFD7TnjkJwKG587hsoKdLiP6pA6tdoIlsFiTox_CkrbXI0Jjk6XeO-ajdVdeDrtL6hl9g5Ie6LhGBhZ7W7zy4SRu0895oEV3iYKOWXa30k3GbGENc8DW8D7jJYKvpwlcQD8U6o/s1600/2012-12-29+10.47.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iJhJpzFD7TnjkJwKG587hsoKdLiP6pA6tdoIlsFiTox_CkrbXI0Jjk6XeO-ajdVdeDrtL6hl9g5Ie6LhGBhZ7W7zy4SRu0895oEV3iYKOWXa30k3GbGENc8DW8D7jJYKvpwlcQD8U6o/s320/2012-12-29+10.47.00.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>I was so happy when I saw Starbucks, I may have run....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizch1aPpXGZe9ayTFDm8VNkC0ti6TbAE6r0KdVG2qKU60MkWiGtPe-jpwFMM3aARZaS0dPI4q5E-xFvlhh47lQm2u35WI3P_A3D4dLMx63dPTN8XeDSH7ctng47JUJWjEvmYLfNAL48PI/s1600/2012-12-29+10.52.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizch1aPpXGZe9ayTFDm8VNkC0ti6TbAE6r0KdVG2qKU60MkWiGtPe-jpwFMM3aARZaS0dPI4q5E-xFvlhh47lQm2u35WI3P_A3D4dLMx63dPTN8XeDSH7ctng47JUJWjEvmYLfNAL48PI/s320/2012-12-29+10.52.35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Victory! Chai tea latte:)</i></div>
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We took a double decker bus along the bay and landed at Stanley market...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Xz2QQ-WQ7RWihtc2eirDott_5Umr0TrlnAgmwmxGEWF3zJugr8mwqoiWH_yvBR3V_yYak5yHUWYWLB3c0w7oiSrGtCf6ghDm7pAMwU8zFZSpIHEVugYeWh7W9oFvgZvd0GMidVpDQWk/s1600/2012-12-29+11.38.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Xz2QQ-WQ7RWihtc2eirDott_5Umr0TrlnAgmwmxGEWF3zJugr8mwqoiWH_yvBR3V_yYak5yHUWYWLB3c0w7oiSrGtCf6ghDm7pAMwU8zFZSpIHEVugYeWh7W9oFvgZvd0GMidVpDQWk/s320/2012-12-29+11.38.25.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>"Most people brushing dogs teeth simultaneously"</i></div>
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<i>What? Ok.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyD9IiHDyXKPntkV1YOE6kV8EwRfDlKZgyBusTDrVvps1TYSF2Yk03HkRtO4OkecJjGdI7VHRY3-PEt8Pvr7IrrWThGNnW_qCGaDq4jDtxnU56Z8c1frSpQkhToHcsXDIybc1gTwbf64A/s1600/2012-12-29+11.52.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyD9IiHDyXKPntkV1YOE6kV8EwRfDlKZgyBusTDrVvps1TYSF2Yk03HkRtO4OkecJjGdI7VHRY3-PEt8Pvr7IrrWThGNnW_qCGaDq4jDtxnU56Z8c1frSpQkhToHcsXDIybc1gTwbf64A/s320/2012-12-29+11.52.33.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>It was a rainy day, but it was lovely!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2lMgxsmSoXXyhZAqCqNd9JMEOV9DtpmD23geIMTSSta9LRj99iWL7Z-lM_BIJZGfwfw44pJcljqh1keDMc6HwhVDD_jvV8oU5XFTxz2Ii0rkZx6az9IATUgjxjA0eiaB9fnBRgj7p7E/s1600/2012-12-29+13.08.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2lMgxsmSoXXyhZAqCqNd9JMEOV9DtpmD23geIMTSSta9LRj99iWL7Z-lM_BIJZGfwfw44pJcljqh1keDMc6HwhVDD_jvV8oU5XFTxz2Ii0rkZx6az9IATUgjxjA0eiaB9fnBRgj7p7E/s320/2012-12-29+13.08.54.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>XXXXXXXXL clothing? In Hong Kong? Maybe this is where they are made....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-oBTHkeBlMxhwB8Ef2jPfvfBBvyOEJGTZEGhLjcmf3RR5URJkWPO2WsCdI0p35BEM3rztdHge61NeHfltq8Hk4lPZE0g7JrowmHznl6O20VHz5BW-bLN7qhTzdmZQB5pvjvmny_BJcc/s1600/2012-12-29+13.13.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-oBTHkeBlMxhwB8Ef2jPfvfBBvyOEJGTZEGhLjcmf3RR5URJkWPO2WsCdI0p35BEM3rztdHge61NeHfltq8Hk4lPZE0g7JrowmHznl6O20VHz5BW-bLN7qhTzdmZQB5pvjvmny_BJcc/s320/2012-12-29+13.13.14.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Umbrellas with sword and rifle handles....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJRrSA6p0kzSoVaY-7mw6UEcytuGyL6xw5gc1EcZoDrtoB6OSV_tQY0gbDsWOvhO8AyW9d1J_EFwp_UFxj5yhEnejzKK2Gh5KFNUGU6Z7ScD8eLloS-6W24zXKgDli0xvViMvfmbXKZs/s1600/2012-12-29+13.18.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJRrSA6p0kzSoVaY-7mw6UEcytuGyL6xw5gc1EcZoDrtoB6OSV_tQY0gbDsWOvhO8AyW9d1J_EFwp_UFxj5yhEnejzKK2Gh5KFNUGU6Z7ScD8eLloS-6W24zXKgDli0xvViMvfmbXKZs/s320/2012-12-29+13.18.04.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Hello Elmo? Only in HK....</i></div>
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<i>Stanley Market--nice view, eh?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pXGbIbz68Z9r8x4LUJPnNd7etFDdujgTHPFKFnnLcxUwTOlxZqxlCvAQRfkF22lyDiA66w51hWawpqVjNjJSHnVipmOlbS2plH6Lk7PtxjNJI0obCbAdyJGv2AWKO2Em5DlrkZ7XSRs/s1600/2012-12-29+13.48.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pXGbIbz68Z9r8x4LUJPnNd7etFDdujgTHPFKFnnLcxUwTOlxZqxlCvAQRfkF22lyDiA66w51hWawpqVjNjJSHnVipmOlbS2plH6Lk7PtxjNJI0obCbAdyJGv2AWKO2Em5DlrkZ7XSRs/s320/2012-12-29+13.48.39.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>tacky-tie central</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmY1sKaVWV87KPkSHsARKmHV1Qq1lJTyBivmN9pIRcAVgPFKcwQ3hwE_75i8v1ZDAAuWEJ6w71V92YjFIkYggeioGTj2o051LSc6tQVptxiWddUfzxFePe_Nf834LoRWgHfwVeoU1rEQ/s1600/2012-12-29+13.51.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmY1sKaVWV87KPkSHsARKmHV1Qq1lJTyBivmN9pIRcAVgPFKcwQ3hwE_75i8v1ZDAAuWEJ6w71V92YjFIkYggeioGTj2o051LSc6tQVptxiWddUfzxFePe_Nf834LoRWgHfwVeoU1rEQ/s320/2012-12-29+13.51.23.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Our friend found a fancy umbrella</i></div>
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What does one do in Hong Kong? Go to a British Pub, of course! We tried out <a href="http://www.openrice.com/english/restaurant/sr2.htm?shopid=18011">The Pickled Pelican</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIiamxP0_cr7ckPALmvdsG4vwcKd_WsicbqxPRnCAq39Df69bGszQNMwzSfpSn3eBUt8rWV69-GOqwTVmYYE9TCD35ET8B9bnl6TA7xzNcpINOiHlBTwix5z1cEy8BBiO14zzjbqYgE8/s1600/2012-12-29+14.02.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIiamxP0_cr7ckPALmvdsG4vwcKd_WsicbqxPRnCAq39Df69bGszQNMwzSfpSn3eBUt8rWV69-GOqwTVmYYE9TCD35ET8B9bnl6TA7xzNcpINOiHlBTwix5z1cEy8BBiO14zzjbqYgE8/s320/2012-12-29+14.02.39.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Mini-guinness and mini-burgers for Hubs</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgc-mZfzBuHKkfDbj8F9AU_fageQU2u9hGx4vnRJ8kkI0Bz_Fp9AU-O3KwQukCxfXD2P9ymPbVmIiyo84t3lsfDKgo-71qX6yOzcTp_PQIgPIly2q-xcY9YYpI_32y3qSjCzVd6Q0MWI/s1600/2012-12-29+14.31.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgc-mZfzBuHKkfDbj8F9AU_fageQU2u9hGx4vnRJ8kkI0Bz_Fp9AU-O3KwQukCxfXD2P9ymPbVmIiyo84t3lsfDKgo-71qX6yOzcTp_PQIgPIly2q-xcY9YYpI_32y3qSjCzVd6Q0MWI/s320/2012-12-29+14.31.44.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>The most amazing French Onion soup of my life!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtrtJeVbvfl3KAt6sKe8xzA2f4uE2sLZU24IRoQjJym8oXcHQ4n5UDCvVJN-6pyu6NSI7i4c2ODkcNxFaDtbszL9P42cFpks74JkGzV4QKEx_zHYb07lGyoxpBzA5E65S_7CfWrU1dTA/s1600/2012-12-29+14.32.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtrtJeVbvfl3KAt6sKe8xzA2f4uE2sLZU24IRoQjJym8oXcHQ4n5UDCvVJN-6pyu6NSI7i4c2ODkcNxFaDtbszL9P42cFpks74JkGzV4QKEx_zHYb07lGyoxpBzA5E65S_7CfWrU1dTA/s320/2012-12-29+14.32.24.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Bangers and mash!</i></div>
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After lunch, we had to go shopping a bit more. We bought some ah-mazing souveneirs, which we cannot show because they are coming your way!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8wlXNL8zkuhM12E_6q-sCwRMf3ytN6G9td12d9oU_GfyEypRDERjBntACV-rkbW0VWr85ojQLWoRaQCScvBxpvXrXKnm7zbytZYOK9XM3VpZaqLSwAP_up_Xxf2LC-PBbTvG0Qptly0/s1600/2012-12-29+15.42.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8wlXNL8zkuhM12E_6q-sCwRMf3ytN6G9td12d9oU_GfyEypRDERjBntACV-rkbW0VWr85ojQLWoRaQCScvBxpvXrXKnm7zbytZYOK9XM3VpZaqLSwAP_up_Xxf2LC-PBbTvG0Qptly0/s320/2012-12-29+15.42.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Any hugs are good, but holiday ones are the best!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7t16TDPqgxNwPrL_dL5j7UuUWkiOV0SXqAyqfDGHbIVUqm7MohAiSdv7ccsoxYHkU1H08ybvIyZQv1ez5ot-Kl6aOcHZ1x-KW8gciANdPL9HjlWONrGGA0fu-kcgZbJHK7G35h6yJAs/s1600/2012-12-29+15.47.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7t16TDPqgxNwPrL_dL5j7UuUWkiOV0SXqAyqfDGHbIVUqm7MohAiSdv7ccsoxYHkU1H08ybvIyZQv1ez5ot-Kl6aOcHZ1x-KW8gciANdPL9HjlWONrGGA0fu-kcgZbJHK7G35h6yJAs/s320/2012-12-29+15.47.26.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Yoma-don't you think the Princess needs one of these?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEink33xNaDZ1MCGXAvkj1LJsvUSDMRE18EffFyhr-DpF0neQezZXutpRBRKqZLFEKN7NDK86F7Gcc8mBZNBEdy9ilzynVoeu-7vnX-GBy4B-zRu6Aan6iOtMKrfY-SBdM2BNsmd1jYwFRQ/s1600/2012-12-29+16.44.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEink33xNaDZ1MCGXAvkj1LJsvUSDMRE18EffFyhr-DpF0neQezZXutpRBRKqZLFEKN7NDK86F7Gcc8mBZNBEdy9ilzynVoeu-7vnX-GBy4B-zRu6Aan6iOtMKrfY-SBdM2BNsmd1jYwFRQ/s320/2012-12-29+16.44.37.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>More strange decorations at Pacific Place...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3uxfusezXdPkDT5KD7JJNbnaU1wrmMg8qNlZDMHWpn-MfHmhfZL3gFwXVXbPGhmUMoYGDHaH4DQ4ZoPHicn4jE48kdRBrBkAhLoGiSA3F66VU-6nU48oDm3-uesdbIp-R7cA-HSHznQ/s1600/2012-12-29+16.53.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3uxfusezXdPkDT5KD7JJNbnaU1wrmMg8qNlZDMHWpn-MfHmhfZL3gFwXVXbPGhmUMoYGDHaH4DQ4ZoPHicn4jE48kdRBrBkAhLoGiSA3F66VU-6nU48oDm3-uesdbIp-R7cA-HSHznQ/s320/2012-12-29+16.53.09.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Ballerinas in eggs, of course!</i></div>
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We were pretty spent, but we didn't want to miss out on our hotel's happy hour...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFB8fpYhXvg2PD_sMMPJ9BeE3tBjaqx4D598zhY7-q9sySvIzoyFf9sb-Ij2MaFtfs6ugpsXzX3_kTPcHto36-AjsHNGxUWOez00Q-_6PWUNFwTUd_huJOSySLl37dpbn-cFUCLbbpCd4/s1600/2012-12-29+17.41.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFB8fpYhXvg2PD_sMMPJ9BeE3tBjaqx4D598zhY7-q9sySvIzoyFf9sb-Ij2MaFtfs6ugpsXzX3_kTPcHto36-AjsHNGxUWOez00Q-_6PWUNFwTUd_huJOSySLl37dpbn-cFUCLbbpCd4/s320/2012-12-29+17.41.45.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Javi lounging in the lounge</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4ZLaytx__Aod97LnpPibRHTxOywd-p8hIewVj1QYxWBImIaCJDnSWG06tdJGgfSg8CLcEMqHlD3etLOFTP_Vh4yLMdp9cBI0UTXAAiph5b_bSqCJFb86S789Z7Kn1zeYAOsctTq57oY/s1600/2012-12-29+17.56.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4ZLaytx__Aod97LnpPibRHTxOywd-p8hIewVj1QYxWBImIaCJDnSWG06tdJGgfSg8CLcEMqHlD3etLOFTP_Vh4yLMdp9cBI0UTXAAiph5b_bSqCJFb86S789Z7Kn1zeYAOsctTq57oY/s320/2012-12-29+17.56.07.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Our VERY happy hour: dim sum, quiches, sushi and more!</i></div>
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For dinner, we decided to go where one might first think of in HK: Mexican Food! Okay, not really, I know it sounds crazy, but we heard about an amazing place called <a href="http://www.brickhouse.com.hk/">Brickhouse</a>. It was pouring, and we got a little lost. It was right outside of LKF.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqid4Ox8mUJBlRQNpK4_WbSQy_iZRwa3HG3iFT1tsoVDimuxDbgZkX6M5WXnAl2mBoX5S_T1HLLb_a2TlgxNYZcO0_fMAeh1zE4XNaiAiG3yhZ2upYd0Uav37rhLFqxd5IZ9a4tNyTAAE/s1600/2012-12-29+19.50.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqid4Ox8mUJBlRQNpK4_WbSQy_iZRwa3HG3iFT1tsoVDimuxDbgZkX6M5WXnAl2mBoX5S_T1HLLb_a2TlgxNYZcO0_fMAeh1zE4XNaiAiG3yhZ2upYd0Uav37rhLFqxd5IZ9a4tNyTAAE/s320/2012-12-29+19.50.22.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Where IS this place?!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZSW8jekTahmEWboUs3RCYDYYxvyc0BkPcSyRzcA_tcpESf2Y6I6y8rAI-PZ-3FMs0vzl_DmzRMDgwAuSq4Nb8pghhcNZ0IRpK3qbPFzIDgxqeseUyyp2CIvQScrfeuQ6FW1eKo6hmII/s1600/2012-12-29+20.01.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZSW8jekTahmEWboUs3RCYDYYxvyc0BkPcSyRzcA_tcpESf2Y6I6y8rAI-PZ-3FMs0vzl_DmzRMDgwAuSq4Nb8pghhcNZ0IRpK3qbPFzIDgxqeseUyyp2CIvQScrfeuQ6FW1eKo6hmII/s320/2012-12-29+20.01.12.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Would you go down that alley? We did....and there we found a packed restaurant....</i></div>
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<i>and....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0JvVrmGbWROXcxO3UQ-UNWSq-_dAuOQqPGOzjw9ajdJvRUnh-2NHYpNxgSrbptSAX_WUfWbAPWw-m4okeTUdDHevBcy_ID5uEmPgYRqtj-cpA4_ZJWr6WSLjYxyYxI9NkomJ6zy7xRc/s1600/2012-12-29+20.27.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0JvVrmGbWROXcxO3UQ-UNWSq-_dAuOQqPGOzjw9ajdJvRUnh-2NHYpNxgSrbptSAX_WUfWbAPWw-m4okeTUdDHevBcy_ID5uEmPgYRqtj-cpA4_ZJWr6WSLjYxyYxI9NkomJ6zy7xRc/s320/2012-12-29+20.27.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Delish salsa and guacamole</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2pYLSYTMB1BZ0hWN6KOKhPciAQcLXKxp9lsAWr4Zn8nRKhCdzrOrYTa4VXo1GCOkED5QChYPq8Ov3iRrNl9vCRg4yKqSSwFuec7i0S3W4Zi9lkzvYVpGlg5aewtUXL53UsuYEq4NWOc/s1600/2012-12-29+20.32.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2pYLSYTMB1BZ0hWN6KOKhPciAQcLXKxp9lsAWr4Zn8nRKhCdzrOrYTa4VXo1GCOkED5QChYPq8Ov3iRrNl9vCRg4yKqSSwFuec7i0S3W4Zi9lkzvYVpGlg5aewtUXL53UsuYEq4NWOc/s320/2012-12-29+20.32.25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Yummo grilled corn</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69KZ02qNQDb8SASkaKJ7ykkt4cv8vVUP00WizdxvwJHPmO6bOicQF9b23adwvXS5tCxDwovp2VWEuuM_B57Et9mMiglK6OuD6iAd7JaCgfnoZGv5fyv41TF-Fxr7z_IoNNHMe3XGDGJA/s1600/2012-12-29+20.33.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69KZ02qNQDb8SASkaKJ7ykkt4cv8vVUP00WizdxvwJHPmO6bOicQF9b23adwvXS5tCxDwovp2VWEuuM_B57Et9mMiglK6OuD6iAd7JaCgfnoZGv5fyv41TF-Fxr7z_IoNNHMe3XGDGJA/s320/2012-12-29+20.33.44.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Queso fresco</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib47-SxcFqktZfTVpE3akWwOUwq39Z3LHec4k6QOwte8LABUfVax3lScBpfcpb8JsANGtPZJPOrgCSw6RwUdqPsUyIEdivBR1Rn_8M0RZwiQYkDCc1neOy85cn3CL9Xv0UoahOB144Zgo/s1600/2012-12-29+20.36.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib47-SxcFqktZfTVpE3akWwOUwq39Z3LHec4k6QOwte8LABUfVax3lScBpfcpb8JsANGtPZJPOrgCSw6RwUdqPsUyIEdivBR1Rn_8M0RZwiQYkDCc1neOy85cn3CL9Xv0UoahOB144Zgo/s320/2012-12-29+20.36.29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The taco platter</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEWeWWbp6tNABJclYatC9zKqjp5vtvtSv4RdRq9ulyOeiWBItUmhd8-k6nLOGPyNz9hdlrBwzIJ6rT4caA0rBnJXU1ECMDPLpJF3A84HQNcqviS9eedcdSBoWoFQKy1TA4CpkYlYZR6U/s1600/2012-12-29+20.56.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEWeWWbp6tNABJclYatC9zKqjp5vtvtSv4RdRq9ulyOeiWBItUmhd8-k6nLOGPyNz9hdlrBwzIJ6rT4caA0rBnJXU1ECMDPLpJF3A84HQNcqviS9eedcdSBoWoFQKy1TA4CpkYlYZR6U/s320/2012-12-29+20.56.26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>A group of great people!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscvcyGS2l_X67uKmq6jJVf7xv1BzdZhFuqit2AnYgdLvdGa6KmcUlywFLgEDk9gPvcQrbblplrkL9WR-mbgMyXtdms8xHE2LjjGksax6J5b_Uvy4rahIUg6OCHxPMQbFU6Izo0_6KQ3o/s1600/2012-12-29+21.16.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscvcyGS2l_X67uKmq6jJVf7xv1BzdZhFuqit2AnYgdLvdGa6KmcUlywFLgEDk9gPvcQrbblplrkL9WR-mbgMyXtdms8xHE2LjjGksax6J5b_Uvy4rahIUg6OCHxPMQbFU6Izo0_6KQ3o/s320/2012-12-29+21.16.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Hubs and I with his new shirt</i></div>
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<i><thanks Javi></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-NS6_fnaqNjZg4tf_n8YbPcZgX58n6oRdlxGygAmHCV1-7lxrcPV0BDgWg0b6t_IV6VeZ8Yfe7R2DDPnmxPqsWxa3clX5HVLIUWz9vSUOTZMGvCL_LRw5pqHFZ1Qt_GlL7j658Hrd5c/s1600/2012-12-29+21.47.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-NS6_fnaqNjZg4tf_n8YbPcZgX58n6oRdlxGygAmHCV1-7lxrcPV0BDgWg0b6t_IV6VeZ8Yfe7R2DDPnmxPqsWxa3clX5HVLIUWz9vSUOTZMGvCL_LRw5pqHFZ1Qt_GlL7j658Hrd5c/s320/2012-12-29+21.47.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Members of Hubs training class, reunited!</i></div>
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After dinner, we decided to explore LKF with our friends. It was very entertaining.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhveRax6KWlvo9squkfKMRGHh6F9qP7n6XGz2sw4bNkFw-xdGl7Whhc_ncTAhRyRKVcilY6QBWhBZV0kKVedV4pcCOHpvao41pqWNgKgDTvjbvpbkVpf6uyYkyFnm_VoTjLpJAcBJEBXls/s1600/2012-12-29+21.53.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhveRax6KWlvo9squkfKMRGHh6F9qP7n6XGz2sw4bNkFw-xdGl7Whhc_ncTAhRyRKVcilY6QBWhBZV0kKVedV4pcCOHpvao41pqWNgKgDTvjbvpbkVpf6uyYkyFnm_VoTjLpJAcBJEBXls/s320/2012-12-29+21.53.05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Wall art in LKF</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVkAI30jROUhSJQnQuvSrFsAqcHglFueuJqtnkDefphXdye6EgEhbSN2EwWvW41A_EFOalv_k1vxdSD10LiXvrxu9XBO3gvTqObWZra05AnlG53tc-tYSM1Y3vboFS2P-pj4qFM3B9U0/s1600/2012-12-29+21.59.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVkAI30jROUhSJQnQuvSrFsAqcHglFueuJqtnkDefphXdye6EgEhbSN2EwWvW41A_EFOalv_k1vxdSD10LiXvrxu9XBO3gvTqObWZra05AnlG53tc-tYSM1Y3vboFS2P-pj4qFM3B9U0/s320/2012-12-29+21.59.59.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Jumbo beers....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDgD-JQYp_snvuVUypK2AXErEaSeefsowUlp9nDRSxoik2-mXNo2E4OpzDVvdq-5XvdYsDDlFIcQYbzkIbM4xEPe1aYWtMIDLoKD9sqBAxJgbmpGx_PAD5Cjn9UeOhuAFaogQ_ZEfFzs/s1600/2012-12-29+22.11.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDgD-JQYp_snvuVUypK2AXErEaSeefsowUlp9nDRSxoik2-mXNo2E4OpzDVvdq-5XvdYsDDlFIcQYbzkIbM4xEPe1aYWtMIDLoKD9sqBAxJgbmpGx_PAD5Cjn9UeOhuAFaogQ_ZEfFzs/s320/2012-12-29+22.11.45.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Jumbo beers and jumbo smiles</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMlYMtq1wSvRFFb8JpDWHvchPvy0C46WV5g2raEmoQ3NG5ARkEkExRe7kSx4VLXmUVNRtayzZvjCW4LKrHYACYX3TGDYInDssdl1V-RIRLh_bEHs9TO5rE-aowWTmMjYdfE68WmbTNHSM/s1600/2012-12-29+22.34.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMlYMtq1wSvRFFb8JpDWHvchPvy0C46WV5g2raEmoQ3NG5ARkEkExRe7kSx4VLXmUVNRtayzZvjCW4LKrHYACYX3TGDYInDssdl1V-RIRLh_bEHs9TO5rE-aowWTmMjYdfE68WmbTNHSM/s320/2012-12-29+22.34.29.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Woman down!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQK1KQnEkliYgi1gfWOH15ajTNnpD5uOpQAaMaXKyVvASL-2hZE27Gh4NRuFYSFEAwDoSO0v1BZw3Ywvft9w6QJ2D3H7HkhNyRhTmNWHImecGfvfMoI9sDjyANbDg63Y9HgMKK5xdBU4/s1600/2012-12-29+22.35.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQK1KQnEkliYgi1gfWOH15ajTNnpD5uOpQAaMaXKyVvASL-2hZE27Gh4NRuFYSFEAwDoSO0v1BZw3Ywvft9w6QJ2D3H7HkhNyRhTmNWHImecGfvfMoI9sDjyANbDg63Y9HgMKK5xdBU4/s320/2012-12-29+22.35.24.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Artsy beers</i></div>
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<i>(we didn't drink that many, but aren't they HUGE?! we needed to take many photos)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfZr4c58-EPxNGVy0Yk5w0xhMlrxQUrX12WhxbPb8J4odyI1rxn5_4DPM9fCB94Jy3wt1VqZMFdRNXvqr8GDBYs01I6oHYBOpL5vvveRte6hrphV13_bgcT4U4elggMBjLLv36ISvbj8/s1600/2012-12-29+23.33.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfZr4c58-EPxNGVy0Yk5w0xhMlrxQUrX12WhxbPb8J4odyI1rxn5_4DPM9fCB94Jy3wt1VqZMFdRNXvqr8GDBYs01I6oHYBOpL5vvveRte6hrphV13_bgcT4U4elggMBjLLv36ISvbj8/s320/2012-12-29+23.33.36.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>No shirts were removed, but this is a funny sign</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DPDdSX3lRew9OjvV2a0QRloysJxUV9ACuVR9OJhCYjXy0V2gZlWY5CQsYeXr3y0oi-aDW6VL5mecOAPybjBawk43zKgQHARQ5JKalTOb5hr_e0w-NV7F2rxBjokgbxktjEJuLsfIRts/s1600/2012-12-30+00.35.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DPDdSX3lRew9OjvV2a0QRloysJxUV9ACuVR9OJhCYjXy0V2gZlWY5CQsYeXr3y0oi-aDW6VL5mecOAPybjBawk43zKgQHARQ5JKalTOb5hr_e0w-NV7F2rxBjokgbxktjEJuLsfIRts/s320/2012-12-30+00.35.21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Santa was EVERYWHERE and so was Christmas music, it was fun:)</i></div>
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The following day, we met up with friends for the cheapest Michelin star restaurant in the world.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLB0ja_1YfJTLMGqYYDxQi1DL1Lr-KZrM6MEXFrFh5pgt3yTRSXi217sAsTabsDnTRxHkyfGhhUebusG79EW5JCay-p6tgfmsTKkn7XDX-5Xy0iqyK4SfV1D0iFwY81aia9SMvtpL-Jho/s1600/2012-12-30+11.20.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLB0ja_1YfJTLMGqYYDxQi1DL1Lr-KZrM6MEXFrFh5pgt3yTRSXi217sAsTabsDnTRxHkyfGhhUebusG79EW5JCay-p6tgfmsTKkn7XDX-5Xy0iqyK4SfV1D0iFwY81aia9SMvtpL-Jho/s320/2012-12-30+11.20.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Alas, the store sells "tickets" and we didn't make it in time for brunch</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQdriiIvBRy8BSmOr8Ju26PtF4JDYv0XDPtFJC4Fqt15b3lITbZ7Gp9Alpi-pZwIsYGS0mBIDmlMx17KD8Cv1SkNA4GBhqfZ8hTljzR0CQmmKhJRmM1Lrp1IJJ-ydBdTAlZOlgo2XkXQ/s1600/2012-12-30+11.28.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQdriiIvBRy8BSmOr8Ju26PtF4JDYv0XDPtFJC4Fqt15b3lITbZ7Gp9Alpi-pZwIsYGS0mBIDmlMx17KD8Cv1SkNA4GBhqfZ8hTljzR0CQmmKhJRmM1Lrp1IJJ-ydBdTAlZOlgo2XkXQ/s320/2012-12-30+11.28.42.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>We DID get to see cute pugs in sweaters though....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-kEkQ_fd4xfNICDo48xNmWBAgHPVGEmI-dmWkyRWmaXRNJ3s-lUkxEOeMzWfyW08UVdlJWAHWhChgzI9iL4jXDl4jueJ_TcJQzokBDNUb2oWRpv_ZRxJRMloV2vvp2zI3vOaRHnnpfg/s1600/2012-12-30+11.45.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-kEkQ_fd4xfNICDo48xNmWBAgHPVGEmI-dmWkyRWmaXRNJ3s-lUkxEOeMzWfyW08UVdlJWAHWhChgzI9iL4jXDl4jueJ_TcJQzokBDNUb2oWRpv_ZRxJRMloV2vvp2zI3vOaRHnnpfg/s320/2012-12-30+11.45.17.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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We took a lovely drive back from Kowloon to a recommended place: <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294217-d798091-Reviews-Maxim_s_Palace_City_Hall_Dim_Sum-Hong_Kong.html">Maxim's Palace at City Hall</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCq9EnoS_oWMwDzCm0_nX3ObJA_w6G_d5Yx4TKTU7TuLHVF7tGFWGx8Kyxq461khhKYXAldSekmZtjGTR9EjR5rTCo4Rdk1ZXYRju0e30QMDGnKJ8aD2uMxyNYgMEO7xBl8d_AQVCYO0/s1600/2012-12-30+11.49.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCq9EnoS_oWMwDzCm0_nX3ObJA_w6G_d5Yx4TKTU7TuLHVF7tGFWGx8Kyxq461khhKYXAldSekmZtjGTR9EjR5rTCo4Rdk1ZXYRju0e30QMDGnKJ8aD2uMxyNYgMEO7xBl8d_AQVCYO0/s320/2012-12-30+11.49.17.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>the line was very long....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo10fSjggbQKAYG1n-KcIpqSIXao0-5iDXxq-Sb9jLD9nxLVWWGFNtea6wvw7-u_sHDZIlNZsWt6i5ZnbMB_436XZWhc9orie6pxxijINPjU68f3_Ms3GPrKQLwImJFSrJDRxmGlUzs40/s1600/2012-12-30+12.09.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo10fSjggbQKAYG1n-KcIpqSIXao0-5iDXxq-Sb9jLD9nxLVWWGFNtea6wvw7-u_sHDZIlNZsWt6i5ZnbMB_436XZWhc9orie6pxxijINPjU68f3_Ms3GPrKQLwImJFSrJDRxmGlUzs40/s320/2012-12-30+12.09.48.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>...so we camped out...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjooK1Qw9m5o0j43R5u4eHkhvzI1f-E8n3lLNznzE6yPS_NycU9yucX0ILTZDQWnmv9287CkutKa4zEKL2kjN-evHfUoTBbdFGt152CAXWX4z68N56C2pZdLwaZqELuA80ivSo1hStBO60/s1600/2012-12-30+12.20.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjooK1Qw9m5o0j43R5u4eHkhvzI1f-E8n3lLNznzE6yPS_NycU9yucX0ILTZDQWnmv9287CkutKa4zEKL2kjN-evHfUoTBbdFGt152CAXWX4z68N56C2pZdLwaZqELuA80ivSo1hStBO60/s320/2012-12-30+12.20.06.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Who is placing hard objects in toilets in HK?!</i></div>
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After an hour, we got in!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06G_Yw8V3rDWdnzYzOm711Pwvn3OorZsA6tGuWSgZd7PeCxxSHbLO1dMzHGSfFxcdVKNeroHetRojorvY8UiRQKlFNKBT-eWG5-tw1XJFgG-O2UjvzDlJoAmVK9tdBrRZD_q9L9wqH6w/s1600/2012-12-30+12.51.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06G_Yw8V3rDWdnzYzOm711Pwvn3OorZsA6tGuWSgZd7PeCxxSHbLO1dMzHGSfFxcdVKNeroHetRojorvY8UiRQKlFNKBT-eWG5-tw1XJFgG-O2UjvzDlJoAmVK9tdBrRZD_q9L9wqH6w/s320/2012-12-30+12.51.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The place is HUGE!</i></div>
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<i>We were ravenous, but we still "mindfully" ordered dim sum</i></div>
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<i>Above: shrimp dumplings</i></div>
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<i>the most amazing tofu ever!</i></div>
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<i>Veggie dumplings, shrimp rolls and spring rolls!</i></div>
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<i>Getting ready to attack the BBQ pork buns</i></div>
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<i>Happy Javi</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqVeOuNUBvKLkynLYtyBUZLi4zUfPeVOI_9Zgzl9C6VmavQk3Fp25zbgOY9UDWcEUK2AnpKiNkT9GpBJS8yIQAHSRJ7ErPvX-Yy2lwdO7IKOy7hZfVNbsFRkzffdn1HZ8_1Yq031QnIQ/s1600/2012-12-30+13.20.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqVeOuNUBvKLkynLYtyBUZLi4zUfPeVOI_9Zgzl9C6VmavQk3Fp25zbgOY9UDWcEUK2AnpKiNkT9GpBJS8yIQAHSRJ7ErPvX-Yy2lwdO7IKOy7hZfVNbsFRkzffdn1HZ8_1Yq031QnIQ/s320/2012-12-30+13.20.33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>the dessert cart, with a hi-tech tv!</i></div>
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<i>Sesame pudding aka Mime dessert</i></div>
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<i>Coconut pudding!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGD3KC1C5gj6KkPr5_aFPa7-ztafXPnW7_menphbnwQFeBESUR1qUWOxBnAiqnnA7Llv6Bl3ihoadprqaiMUYYCYMZUXWPuDLE4CXGe4wOJbwI7lRvditCRUfm3-HzNMpaqNBbJ2OPd70/s1600/2012-12-30+13.45.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGD3KC1C5gj6KkPr5_aFPa7-ztafXPnW7_menphbnwQFeBESUR1qUWOxBnAiqnnA7Llv6Bl3ihoadprqaiMUYYCYMZUXWPuDLE4CXGe4wOJbwI7lRvditCRUfm3-HzNMpaqNBbJ2OPd70/s320/2012-12-30+13.45.01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>BBQ pork pastry-YUM.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XlaBKkUemq3jnP2XYq6uyGyNaIOYncC-eJGT8GQ7ywHKBILQGLdq1cb4zirMx4lCgarp0wH8iJRIrHKetGS6jRSufrWVx5rZc72aTHj7-OcmHecmQM5Zbii0_4dRX_jA6FfpSdpgW94/s1600/2012-12-30+13.52.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XlaBKkUemq3jnP2XYq6uyGyNaIOYncC-eJGT8GQ7ywHKBILQGLdq1cb4zirMx4lCgarp0wH8iJRIrHKetGS6jRSufrWVx5rZc72aTHj7-OcmHecmQM5Zbii0_4dRX_jA6FfpSdpgW94/s320/2012-12-30+13.52.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Some kind of sesame balls with peanut and egg yolk, I don't remember, but it was awesome</i></div>
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<i>5 people, one dim sum card:)</i></div>
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<i>Ladies everywhere were hanging out in the skyways, playing cards, knitting and having fun. Apparently, these women are all nannies and service workers who spend their Sundays together hanging out. </i></div>
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<i>Another intriguing mall display--tights vending machines...</i></div>
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<i>I would have bought these if they weren't $40+ USD</i></div>
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<i>Every trolley needs SPAM advertising, don't you think?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA25lQngu0FXikL-8CJ-nvW0AyvLynoK23I5XpKKZQLiz2FzKrlBaUS9uPcj-XU87MYBu5xjCgiPCt2noFuGzQQCUULFMF4oZW-MIkbuiCf14upKBl1vPOx4Kp8MG3ubMEJ8Q-RlaS4So/s1600/2012-12-30+14.30.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA25lQngu0FXikL-8CJ-nvW0AyvLynoK23I5XpKKZQLiz2FzKrlBaUS9uPcj-XU87MYBu5xjCgiPCt2noFuGzQQCUULFMF4oZW-MIkbuiCf14upKBl1vPOx4Kp8MG3ubMEJ8Q-RlaS4So/s320/2012-12-30+14.30.18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>I found AVEDA in HK! </i></div>
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<i>My mama owns an Aveda salon and it always reminds me of home, I had to pop in for some comforting tea:) Smells like home!</i></div>
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After dim sum, we went back to our hotel for tea time, this was the view:)</div>
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<i>Not quite high tea, but it was lovely</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ln1ctMzGH9_Di_2WGdqTOS-4J3CMNLxyUOONLncMPpjdzTFiownaNHJXztkLr_b1Krs4YZEhdFGnYbNAqPD8kA9KqTHPYgllioQVjEp-ahlq7jgr-JTKDknoCkMeqzaBI_X-DgYMAk0/s1600/2012-12-30+15.46.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ln1ctMzGH9_Di_2WGdqTOS-4J3CMNLxyUOONLncMPpjdzTFiownaNHJXztkLr_b1Krs4YZEhdFGnYbNAqPD8kA9KqTHPYgllioQVjEp-ahlq7jgr-JTKDknoCkMeqzaBI_X-DgYMAk0/s320/2012-12-30+15.46.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Tea and crumpets</i></div>
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After tea time, we got ready for our evening in Macau</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsTSlQ4oOP3G4rqWyqmHKARW67qMefYa5M2ChN-t3PbISIbPvZkVM-pmGHrHMK8eQ7vF2fMnWObYhJBvbgStR3RuCGPkgId_NkJEun-sYyATZ1SWD8Mwsd1FyLfJI8gM8Jgz9xRn-e3E/s1600/2012-12-30+17.24.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsTSlQ4oOP3G4rqWyqmHKARW67qMefYa5M2ChN-t3PbISIbPvZkVM-pmGHrHMK8eQ7vF2fMnWObYhJBvbgStR3RuCGPkgId_NkJEun-sYyATZ1SWD8Mwsd1FyLfJI8gM8Jgz9xRn-e3E/s320/2012-12-30+17.24.05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Naturally, the boys brought their tuxes</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietQDvB9XSgkwtDjsgidq87tqeD72JLEtzUP_ILPASfdxEjP3GNsuXxEBb5_iZnc-7ww-3XjK46X-zEJ_KrjKnpGaU9we-Ekb-ktTrjNm6w28d33vB8j-FazsNFuErVHqUSxmhF-wErCo/s1600/2012-12-30+17.48.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietQDvB9XSgkwtDjsgidq87tqeD72JLEtzUP_ILPASfdxEjP3GNsuXxEBb5_iZnc-7ww-3XjK46X-zEJ_KrjKnpGaU9we-Ekb-ktTrjNm6w28d33vB8j-FazsNFuErVHqUSxmhF-wErCo/s320/2012-12-30+17.48.18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Javi wore his slippers and no one turned him away from the Executive lounge:)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpCHlKsu_K_mtmEx-Rh3EsEPG84bYVqM525qU4Mjf8j1StBx5G4EbnnAo8NkbWAliZtD8YikR8hyphenhyphenVb7zRVbyRbDacPz_B2ueKCB8zPgLqIQna8QV72PbsHkXm9SG-uakEpLFwTC6y-IU/s1600/2012-12-30+17.54.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpCHlKsu_K_mtmEx-Rh3EsEPG84bYVqM525qU4Mjf8j1StBx5G4EbnnAo8NkbWAliZtD8YikR8hyphenhyphenVb7zRVbyRbDacPz_B2ueKCB8zPgLqIQna8QV72PbsHkXm9SG-uakEpLFwTC6y-IU/s320/2012-12-30+17.54.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Me and two of my faves</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJCh54PMbN9ODN1Vdvn82DLZxKuvTNnk2HlCHvjB6Ur0iks0YnWuVWJmyDA_ldrHh-XLlPbOvqjpSgI63IhYDKlwssLvbC1fCanjDYb6ZmwxQOjMs_EPE4BOluyCr6HPMB-Fe9v_BFIs/s1600/2012-12-30+18.25.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJCh54PMbN9ODN1Vdvn82DLZxKuvTNnk2HlCHvjB6Ur0iks0YnWuVWJmyDA_ldrHh-XLlPbOvqjpSgI63IhYDKlwssLvbC1fCanjDYb6ZmwxQOjMs_EPE4BOluyCr6HPMB-Fe9v_BFIs/s320/2012-12-30+18.25.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Javi left his cuff links at home, so they boys bought semi-matching cufflinks-heart shaped, of course.</i></div>
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<i>So they could "wear their hearts on their sleeves"</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqz_3dMfR3ob6PJME7Qm5mSz0NMwV7Im-ipkWnyhvAx8gKzxtI-Kpy9XhyscVhMANf3goN2jF4fJAR0YaWiO2j-r1-PoHTjcecH5PF8L3dwOvfEmqxsis31dNTVoRlRq3_4JB3l4FDWQ/s1600/2012-12-30+18.44.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqz_3dMfR3ob6PJME7Qm5mSz0NMwV7Im-ipkWnyhvAx8gKzxtI-Kpy9XhyscVhMANf3goN2jF4fJAR0YaWiO2j-r1-PoHTjcecH5PF8L3dwOvfEmqxsis31dNTVoRlRq3_4JB3l4FDWQ/s320/2012-12-30+18.44.25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We love photo opps!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzBXM5z1ZidPmDbQ8p5b6cCW4C6_PBxTgSgcTf_9ssbusbSrB-sAkWrqEFQry2hKZ8qKTPIhK-fozFbovVy8fm84F81w-eRJYgXfUZcw4dSTUNAZRd89N53a1hEhxkHl_7xjrZDzljaA/s1600/2012-12-30+18.47.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzBXM5z1ZidPmDbQ8p5b6cCW4C6_PBxTgSgcTf_9ssbusbSrB-sAkWrqEFQry2hKZ8qKTPIhK-fozFbovVy8fm84F81w-eRJYgXfUZcw4dSTUNAZRd89N53a1hEhxkHl_7xjrZDzljaA/s320/2012-12-30+18.47.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Our ride to Macau....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7PDxo9rb_w_o5nyt-etfcEYGTmzGGavbBHdOla6UsVxZ4MkWm8BZCUUz36U9foq8I5slUBVw1pAThyphenhyphenJEOV5mNLL3q3TNo46myEtizQRnuSlUb2FNTJYjyG62lwo63q7nmwhFHtcjuTw/s1600/2012-12-30+19.07.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7PDxo9rb_w_o5nyt-etfcEYGTmzGGavbBHdOla6UsVxZ4MkWm8BZCUUz36U9foq8I5slUBVw1pAThyphenhyphenJEOV5mNLL3q3TNo46myEtizQRnuSlUb2FNTJYjyG62lwo63q7nmwhFHtcjuTw/s320/2012-12-30+19.07.11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Just kidding! We took the ferry, it was 60 minutes....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_MLOSE0rcrmtINDIzhOCNh83uyJHBV0_4XTb7XlsjgH3JgdGHOCuNjDMPIAQfUT1vqezyn8Gc3UcmUmAp_-nHAdB-ISS6qF_BSbSUp7Q5QdLYt7h8l7-vtmVl4ePzdra2oJEs5u7HeQ/s1600/2012-12-30+19.32.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_MLOSE0rcrmtINDIzhOCNh83uyJHBV0_4XTb7XlsjgH3JgdGHOCuNjDMPIAQfUT1vqezyn8Gc3UcmUmAp_-nHAdB-ISS6qF_BSbSUp7Q5QdLYt7h8l7-vtmVl4ePzdra2oJEs5u7HeQ/s320/2012-12-30+19.32.46.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>"Brave Battle Warriors"</i></div>
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<i>The name of our boat</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KSmUE0nPpnOuQwkA2xQZ3xudQBtgWQcwapJGcdcZd-OarGd6uM1Wpj0V-u2HbT3hM5PjsgSAdq4I1ZiGM-KRGnR8yZmmHKh16741m29RtPdt45V7QArI-kbKJyjtJSefXwwySehYSRo/s1600/2012-12-30+19.34.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KSmUE0nPpnOuQwkA2xQZ3xudQBtgWQcwapJGcdcZd-OarGd6uM1Wpj0V-u2HbT3hM5PjsgSAdq4I1ZiGM-KRGnR8yZmmHKh16741m29RtPdt45V7QArI-kbKJyjtJSefXwwySehYSRo/s320/2012-12-30+19.34.45.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We're on a boat!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDIq1XyS0cedZpSBU-QtY7O4krkY5ni4BD81Fg5Nvhq49_dqOvx645g-8SOUiGa5EdYQnR88Rhn8d18niCRsl4WZZX4pYvDBeSAHJI0AiCfN7ltwCYqYnVv56_abW4o2DZtmwXO1xhB0/s1600/2012-12-30+21.06.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDIq1XyS0cedZpSBU-QtY7O4krkY5ni4BD81Fg5Nvhq49_dqOvx645g-8SOUiGa5EdYQnR88Rhn8d18niCRsl4WZZX4pYvDBeSAHJI0AiCfN7ltwCYqYnVv56_abW4o2DZtmwXO1xhB0/s320/2012-12-30+21.06.21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Macau at night...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuHZ4DFIs6_OpjqqKmWgefOqnwFOzZLGsOU004XKwETD5MalXiNyWBGuyswU80oWygtIONy9l1MKiJXjf7EvAztsjWpt8pzPVlQuCLpty7h4VhSgKxhGrqXQNFEmZ8PlRImr4egkT3U4/s1600/2012-12-30+21.13.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuHZ4DFIs6_OpjqqKmWgefOqnwFOzZLGsOU004XKwETD5MalXiNyWBGuyswU80oWygtIONy9l1MKiJXjf7EvAztsjWpt8pzPVlQuCLpty7h4VhSgKxhGrqXQNFEmZ8PlRImr4egkT3U4/s320/2012-12-30+21.13.46.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The Venetian</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVNl3tnGUvDzjew6K38o_VZmquoIbCt_QcCVsFiMGDb2a9Y8-bLrOPq_lBAwwOvxrwjuhAE7n04RosQa8ZminCkgY3fgQ5RQu1iXk5VoqOBjBEHLHv2skt2yh9eOqSSdwC4CtgOQ2OKY/s1600/2012-12-30+21.34.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVNl3tnGUvDzjew6K38o_VZmquoIbCt_QcCVsFiMGDb2a9Y8-bLrOPq_lBAwwOvxrwjuhAE7n04RosQa8ZminCkgY3fgQ5RQu1iXk5VoqOBjBEHLHv2skt2yh9eOqSSdwC4CtgOQ2OKY/s320/2012-12-30+21.34.00.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Macau doesn't mess around!</i></div>
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<i>We went to a restaurant, but it closed before we could order, so we ended up at the Hard Rock Cafe</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7We1Q10Q1a-VCPYLXrLBidXlzqGAap-FKrACcz_vQjh5G2JVcz0Z7LjDCWx2sJkeeBLaHCZFUI1PzTs71c4_T8dnQv8dpy6O9jQXeT5JCj5iD9XwPPAsLkeBSrrzABKhXJrYlLvxhecY/s1600/2012-12-30+22.16.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7We1Q10Q1a-VCPYLXrLBidXlzqGAap-FKrACcz_vQjh5G2JVcz0Z7LjDCWx2sJkeeBLaHCZFUI1PzTs71c4_T8dnQv8dpy6O9jQXeT5JCj5iD9XwPPAsLkeBSrrzABKhXJrYlLvxhecY/s320/2012-12-30+22.16.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>There was a terrible band...but we enjoyed it</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhW8RSPXuyqmkS_1h2yt7IGoYOUcF-2UBNo4GFp6PR1yNoO13RsJafiKcNWnEq6WlGSiH6MqqrT-3nDVBDk6npPcux8NPFgGeP_xBhH5tWzEOdwD7v16kODbT_uYc0K8995xkEpYJhTg/s1600/2012-12-30+22.51.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhW8RSPXuyqmkS_1h2yt7IGoYOUcF-2UBNo4GFp6PR1yNoO13RsJafiKcNWnEq6WlGSiH6MqqrT-3nDVBDk6npPcux8NPFgGeP_xBhH5tWzEOdwD7v16kODbT_uYc0K8995xkEpYJhTg/s320/2012-12-30+22.51.18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>All-American Burger</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5mKM3446flMops40JCShRH3eZGiUuLQd3s6nexc6_r3_DKyA1deGzRi8Hv8zU0wOmMUjDd6hGiqaxhEsY2l4msxGr3sv63awd4TjwnOY1_xwRBmlIvAXDwPrdYcp9ZWqJ6-ZQ2bJjJs/s1600/2012-12-30+23.32.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5mKM3446flMops40JCShRH3eZGiUuLQd3s6nexc6_r3_DKyA1deGzRi8Hv8zU0wOmMUjDd6hGiqaxhEsY2l4msxGr3sv63awd4TjwnOY1_xwRBmlIvAXDwPrdYcp9ZWqJ6-ZQ2bJjJs/s320/2012-12-30+23.32.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>City of Dreams aka City of Broken Dreams, as our restaurant closed early:(</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYKhw-0kz-w6AaunaXSEv4ZeRizGYqOFp2nsOBJfg0Bw26vMZSid5_RG8p-WbOT6M9wyD2wR2fkT6MOYiEBeDGVOxGn2iTUlCYe-nv30hJlCcCQG9K_zR8M_eb68lF11__ebPxdoVBLg/s1600/2012-12-30+23.35.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYKhw-0kz-w6AaunaXSEv4ZeRizGYqOFp2nsOBJfg0Bw26vMZSid5_RG8p-WbOT6M9wyD2wR2fkT6MOYiEBeDGVOxGn2iTUlCYe-nv30hJlCcCQG9K_zR8M_eb68lF11__ebPxdoVBLg/s320/2012-12-30+23.35.15.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Prettiness</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtMTJkUVKXaP8Gc7_jlycy4KIF4rrIAo-5Gqx5RpH2PZYH0qwBqerJZ6T47JOpWUw9Uw3JWLTtteMiAIOTADQ3_ONBv5gRfnXwGRkbB6TgBxxklBflTLDXGir6iEDiybKARqkdgJzPUw/s1600/2012-12-30+23.37.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtMTJkUVKXaP8Gc7_jlycy4KIF4rrIAo-5Gqx5RpH2PZYH0qwBqerJZ6T47JOpWUw9Uw3JWLTtteMiAIOTADQ3_ONBv5gRfnXwGRkbB6TgBxxklBflTLDXGir6iEDiybKARqkdgJzPUw/s320/2012-12-30+23.37.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Inside the Venetian</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2yy3Rw6bAQ3W1Np2wnk0oPfaWlxOz16Ab82wSOCkzFG2De6I-KdYj-UynW2qzQEecrHvh8Vj17KijxpRNEXRi4VND7zxxC7WgbOvsg-fZkSo3MdUyqF4rvu-D945o6HhE4dtg1XH9ig/s1600/2012-12-30+23.39.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2yy3Rw6bAQ3W1Np2wnk0oPfaWlxOz16Ab82wSOCkzFG2De6I-KdYj-UynW2qzQEecrHvh8Vj17KijxpRNEXRi4VND7zxxC7WgbOvsg-fZkSo3MdUyqF4rvu-D945o6HhE4dtg1XH9ig/s320/2012-12-30+23.39.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Looks like Vegas, without the cocktail waitresses</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhcQTf52Xs-a2hA0Cd-7fdUYMlNbsRZxiqCK8YYSYgI7hzd7HRTgIrm7reU5kWff4xY-lKJXiLeBQ4-kuiiEnIiaImEfMoXcQZhwjPaMVW_5I1XHc7-awST3O_jE4-usPqWHhHbU-pvA/s1600/2012-12-31+00.01.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhcQTf52Xs-a2hA0Cd-7fdUYMlNbsRZxiqCK8YYSYgI7hzd7HRTgIrm7reU5kWff4xY-lKJXiLeBQ4-kuiiEnIiaImEfMoXcQZhwjPaMVW_5I1XHc7-awST3O_jE4-usPqWHhHbU-pvA/s320/2012-12-31+00.01.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>A creepy vibrating chairs </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5XxjakVFx4VCo1zs2WcSQvO3yJU2Cbc2_BTi9wdDqdjaAj6ItdAauk3WbNI9Tei56A3y1EknT3oqzN0-DJHT3Gi9wjaO5yGx8pcex2vhxLLKwVISCH8gzIFyz5r3Y9a_RN6hxOqrU9g/s1600/2012-12-31+00.48.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5XxjakVFx4VCo1zs2WcSQvO3yJU2Cbc2_BTi9wdDqdjaAj6ItdAauk3WbNI9Tei56A3y1EknT3oqzN0-DJHT3Gi9wjaO5yGx8pcex2vhxLLKwVISCH8gzIFyz5r3Y9a_RN6hxOqrU9g/s320/2012-12-31+00.48.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We only lasted 45 minutes because we wouldn't bet more than $100HK-$13USD, it was not exciting.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6aYMiZnsT1bd868R6ccONiP1Tunh4soMejvckZsE4nTGqbCyy7YFl8KccPvURqD1cosgGWUoAlu7WvnT4LuXLc4Y3fWNaO5aL2JhlZ5bIUcLll5uShoDsN3I4kiaOMOKskWgsY2LRQI/s1600/2012-12-31+01.00.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6aYMiZnsT1bd868R6ccONiP1Tunh4soMejvckZsE4nTGqbCyy7YFl8KccPvURqD1cosgGWUoAlu7WvnT4LuXLc4Y3fWNaO5aL2JhlZ5bIUcLll5uShoDsN3I4kiaOMOKskWgsY2LRQI/s320/2012-12-31+01.00.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Another view of Macau at night</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeO0kRZaLMAVBbzCJKeJf2mPHKvwiyzz5mxhA586sTvNMnsOWlTf2LjttVdpCJsAKqGVrr8GdwVJuYvLIh0sJzFaFUWPTGFqfuPPEGFlEoVUa513pphEU5DERG6nhcT9Xm0DE2HWlH9I/s1600/2012-12-31+01.02.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeO0kRZaLMAVBbzCJKeJf2mPHKvwiyzz5mxhA586sTvNMnsOWlTf2LjttVdpCJsAKqGVrr8GdwVJuYvLIh0sJzFaFUWPTGFqfuPPEGFlEoVUa513pphEU5DERG6nhcT9Xm0DE2HWlH9I/s320/2012-12-31+01.02.49.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>NYE practice at the MGM</i></div>
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We had a fun night with good friends, but we didn't win or lose too much money. We slept in the next day and went to breakfast with our travel companions.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyUUYt5t19cs0kMozEWFHYmTrkWVBlG4di4wFs0oWVLraVtftr0KCOr4pNi7TBGLNMIgfPwBKLF9utd5dBt01CKPMVUzcGm_nDYcnYmWAp6Te0q5Sqy78BxC03F6Qift6gFI97w9y5pU/s1600/2012-12-31+10.26.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyUUYt5t19cs0kMozEWFHYmTrkWVBlG4di4wFs0oWVLraVtftr0KCOr4pNi7TBGLNMIgfPwBKLF9utd5dBt01CKPMVUzcGm_nDYcnYmWAp6Te0q5Sqy78BxC03F6Qift6gFI97w9y5pU/s320/2012-12-31+10.26.42.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>From inside the trolley</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2y6gFFj8ti3STPpClSQWfs8DkQOrMow3uP_ES7gcD2O9rJH8hM_ueIKBmNVli617dvK4xzPg9v2Bm35VO_lMh0oYUSa3M6FaFMhOqHOcoIEe_nfLP4mbys5oyLVWl9vQNrMAcSyaxoA/s1600/2012-12-31+10.36.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2y6gFFj8ti3STPpClSQWfs8DkQOrMow3uP_ES7gcD2O9rJH8hM_ueIKBmNVli617dvK4xzPg9v2Bm35VO_lMh0oYUSa3M6FaFMhOqHOcoIEe_nfLP4mbys5oyLVWl9vQNrMAcSyaxoA/s320/2012-12-31+10.36.28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Walking to breakfast...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3wz4PujENdRiOXb5ExAMeZ4tfKaBPwCYahixtaZuwtGfqSiEy0YRLby-NNMOJhLCB47OUSqPvMpeIteyOkH6_ipWxaPGRRYYhBsgG6LyW9EYO9689gtYnoTSqfbZQQ-oojQzQx0FUl0/s1600/2012-12-31+10.43.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3wz4PujENdRiOXb5ExAMeZ4tfKaBPwCYahixtaZuwtGfqSiEy0YRLby-NNMOJhLCB47OUSqPvMpeIteyOkH6_ipWxaPGRRYYhBsgG6LyW9EYO9689gtYnoTSqfbZQQ-oojQzQx0FUl0/s320/2012-12-31+10.43.17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.the-flying-pan.com/">The Flying Pan</a></i></div>
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<i>Delicious All-American breakfast</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglH7xrI13sV_KrRGk6DpRD7mVbNOy1DXP1BbHkJoeFXF2XLyJtH3apxHJLpanhUl3_RSIUO40KMClnymPdfj2AHFWIzZgECCWNuiA5DrxxZhOoFsi4xMzQcVt6PGfOGAo6YAhUhuE3Hag/s1600/2012-12-31+11.09.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglH7xrI13sV_KrRGk6DpRD7mVbNOy1DXP1BbHkJoeFXF2XLyJtH3apxHJLpanhUl3_RSIUO40KMClnymPdfj2AHFWIzZgECCWNuiA5DrxxZhOoFsi4xMzQcVt6PGfOGAo6YAhUhuE3Hag/s320/2012-12-31+11.09.06.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Pre-food coma</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnr_00-eHgcmFyqk8Sf-dJRuZgReI1fIC_5K9vWKRCLVI7omBsoQ1nYKziYLagskp3pDaXE_Xez21VQUaZXb1ZHwA_2Fl4gq5QqnxlhWQXG_-DJAJoeIgXHGJGbUeGOjE3v8832tAO_18/s1600/2012-12-31+11.17.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnr_00-eHgcmFyqk8Sf-dJRuZgReI1fIC_5K9vWKRCLVI7omBsoQ1nYKziYLagskp3pDaXE_Xez21VQUaZXb1ZHwA_2Fl4gq5QqnxlhWQXG_-DJAJoeIgXHGJGbUeGOjE3v8832tAO_18/s320/2012-12-31+11.17.00.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Oreo shake!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VfIHiNHpGEK5p57jCr3_JWzvnCk4JsVSxzTsRtIJQ_b4UkAEQEaRxjSQ29cgTapgGDmDYox-54AiPtvNPlZf-kfp30CYdfaPCUhW-ZCbrQdUjqN5C-O9aABFYEdOJ4YPQsloaVhAo-8/s1600/2012-12-31+11.29.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VfIHiNHpGEK5p57jCr3_JWzvnCk4JsVSxzTsRtIJQ_b4UkAEQEaRxjSQ29cgTapgGDmDYox-54AiPtvNPlZf-kfp30CYdfaPCUhW-ZCbrQdUjqN5C-O9aABFYEdOJ4YPQsloaVhAo-8/s320/2012-12-31+11.29.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>A super platter for the Hubs</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2zdsyohUgLcXOVSpRIuvJauhmF4lOsos79q7ijCTsdwrfCzxKMS9YvI9Kep2eAx7xkXVvhH6nJ1J7i99w-sNH1ZfT8QJPGZMDc_UyoEuecuiW9QkGWsmYvyiHEQ4GwbC2mnOqhJfAOU/s1600/2012-12-31+11.31.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2zdsyohUgLcXOVSpRIuvJauhmF4lOsos79q7ijCTsdwrfCzxKMS9YvI9Kep2eAx7xkXVvhH6nJ1J7i99w-sNH1ZfT8QJPGZMDc_UyoEuecuiW9QkGWsmYvyiHEQ4GwbC2mnOqhJfAOU/s320/2012-12-31+11.31.11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Jumbo frittata for me</i></div>
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After breakfast, we decided to head to see The Peak, the highest view in HK...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGGpmxXe0L35pVdYxNTKEgMvLnmzmf2CjtQa7jLnq1Bqy0tBNyU_RflnDCPkmzTTcQ9J8mI2kw30jtmOKxwpvwfEmZGIAxkXGem-fpdqRsIICpctDPv1H6advvyeUQUDVTbFcEI3rGT8/s1600/2012-12-31+12.00.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGGpmxXe0L35pVdYxNTKEgMvLnmzmf2CjtQa7jLnq1Bqy0tBNyU_RflnDCPkmzTTcQ9J8mI2kw30jtmOKxwpvwfEmZGIAxkXGem-fpdqRsIICpctDPv1H6advvyeUQUDVTbFcEI3rGT8/s320/2012-12-31+12.00.36.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The line was "2 hours"</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2RV8a1lfnr2bXvJif1dDeTgpGXfzD7E_kdY7iQ4liDw3n8waRE95WQc7RZ9yOG_4_uesPw2hdCKuQA7Vse17D1aCR-Q4AlkNPcowtM9RjNkSJMzHnA2k5Z6cwpzIbDatVca_YQ7QtLk/s1600/2012-12-31+12.16.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2RV8a1lfnr2bXvJif1dDeTgpGXfzD7E_kdY7iQ4liDw3n8waRE95WQc7RZ9yOG_4_uesPw2hdCKuQA7Vse17D1aCR-Q4AlkNPcowtM9RjNkSJMzHnA2k5Z6cwpzIbDatVca_YQ7QtLk/s320/2012-12-31+12.16.02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We manifested 90 minutes...and it happened! Our friend opted to take a taxi up top and take a taxi down, that's what I recommend doing, but we had fun!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhX2hyITHuX0BXMcFgsgLe8g7IbQAjQGYMtp6R7nXIEb0Wyj8R5RGdgoOXXebewjq8CDjWMWe3DHoTfTLkdEkMBpEGPsC7oM3XXJLqk3gnfXkfcdXa84pO3oH1NQR0UkM1jUv8tv2A0I/s1600/2012-12-31+13.41.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhX2hyITHuX0BXMcFgsgLe8g7IbQAjQGYMtp6R7nXIEb0Wyj8R5RGdgoOXXebewjq8CDjWMWe3DHoTfTLkdEkMBpEGPsC7oM3XXJLqk3gnfXkfcdXa84pO3oH1NQR0UkM1jUv8tv2A0I/s320/2012-12-31+13.41.45.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUXEN8PKVSAcc2IH8-ZliY6rNfE1NAYdH9PN7djwFstxhQzY-lHSU1rdVIdSUoB9Kc0oq3cCKI16bCzhJpILd2L5cc658tKZZ57pmXoV_6EPfRnkBRFh1Xk18CoJD8-liBPCI2NfUh7E/s1600/2012-12-31+13.54.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUXEN8PKVSAcc2IH8-ZliY6rNfE1NAYdH9PN7djwFstxhQzY-lHSU1rdVIdSUoB9Kc0oq3cCKI16bCzhJpILd2L5cc658tKZZ57pmXoV_6EPfRnkBRFh1Xk18CoJD8-liBPCI2NfUh7E/s320/2012-12-31+13.54.02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>After crazy pushing, we made it on the tram!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BeoXGsRLnsYH2XhfzZxDSnj4k01MLA44FHv3SBtdKgQnCrs7wqbokI-mUMG5VxMMRbXFDcXsUTA4o3uu8HHfSNaQd4WcW0Uv8SyXAeBcX7BiB7o94ql96mpo-U3iRug4RD7Fewe-bc4/s1600/2012-12-31+13.54.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BeoXGsRLnsYH2XhfzZxDSnj4k01MLA44FHv3SBtdKgQnCrs7wqbokI-mUMG5VxMMRbXFDcXsUTA4o3uu8HHfSNaQd4WcW0Uv8SyXAeBcX7BiB7o94ql96mpo-U3iRug4RD7Fewe-bc4/s320/2012-12-31+13.54.40.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We're on our way!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDz0b4hmpXdFXx5O47GVOHXB8Fb0ClHI2aKYOXo2KWcVWfy0kp2Zcfr99KQRb6_m5LgtWhiuRgjYm3fyPur4H6ZCVnklFefCNbMpX_mJmdnRt0pTk2GIwec9fk58EoeAywDMrJY4H6BI/s1600/2012-12-31+13.57.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDz0b4hmpXdFXx5O47GVOHXB8Fb0ClHI2aKYOXo2KWcVWfy0kp2Zcfr99KQRb6_m5LgtWhiuRgjYm3fyPur4H6ZCVnklFefCNbMpX_mJmdnRt0pTk2GIwec9fk58EoeAywDMrJY4H6BI/s320/2012-12-31+13.57.46.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>it was very steep...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi984uxiDDzrIf51l0fo_6Mq64BsAMvuPYzGvb4y3HEPmlIc67bXcCvwOoQY6AVg0NiS_NMRmP9KhViqkqNdoVoFiBVHrjb2Y__GB20C79-DJliMOhV5mPkf9spSJE6IEioPLGp538iTuQ/s1600/2012-12-31+13.58.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi984uxiDDzrIf51l0fo_6Mq64BsAMvuPYzGvb4y3HEPmlIc67bXcCvwOoQY6AVg0NiS_NMRmP9KhViqkqNdoVoFiBVHrjb2Y__GB20C79-DJliMOhV5mPkf9spSJE6IEioPLGp538iTuQ/s320/2012-12-31+13.58.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>A view from the Tram..</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyIAhEQI15YI-WJsXjyEXuCXFwizWb_lLUVuZOKAEudjD8_SFYwClcXJIAhsFAinUtDD6r-05WAPKreLH-R3LbrzJ8kyviV4bbuZftzJvtNgtR1hQo9Pv9_c2O0yu_S3nl6zbi1nizK0/s1600/2012-12-31+14.00.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyIAhEQI15YI-WJsXjyEXuCXFwizWb_lLUVuZOKAEudjD8_SFYwClcXJIAhsFAinUtDD6r-05WAPKreLH-R3LbrzJ8kyviV4bbuZftzJvtNgtR1hQo9Pv9_c2O0yu_S3nl6zbi1nizK0/s320/2012-12-31+14.00.17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>At the top!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzETza_M4pDFHfUPh2_ZDOD_LdfQYVcYWdXsJB6TZUIGJjz0GHU91Gi-luSqYlwJdMZLSMDN8sZECCNzZJgT9npQ2DIZTd3ua9D221kyL4BLKyd3z0r4XOeVDYStZlZ1a_4UKpLiD3-Zk/s1600/2012-12-31+14.00.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzETza_M4pDFHfUPh2_ZDOD_LdfQYVcYWdXsJB6TZUIGJjz0GHU91Gi-luSqYlwJdMZLSMDN8sZECCNzZJgT9npQ2DIZTd3ua9D221kyL4BLKyd3z0r4XOeVDYStZlZ1a_4UKpLiD3-Zk/s320/2012-12-31+14.00.35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Our tram:)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgray8HdCpu5LYOPdPFIPg7TkBFgcQp7niMO-KM1wBVkIxjhj-yg5UGbRJgXSL7lZ7S7sauRwiG5mrYEZQEx6kjF0tMGXBeufbFKWgK60rvDoquea3XHwVQHD8aEOjqOiSmAflMLkCfyf0/s1600/2012-12-31+14.08.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgray8HdCpu5LYOPdPFIPg7TkBFgcQp7niMO-KM1wBVkIxjhj-yg5UGbRJgXSL7lZ7S7sauRwiG5mrYEZQEx6kjF0tMGXBeufbFKWgK60rvDoquea3XHwVQHD8aEOjqOiSmAflMLkCfyf0/s400/2012-12-31+14.08.17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Not a shabby view, eh?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNZlrNdGlROAnMv_OcXJM2TKQC8xQpW9knH2DRzjrdvlE5bVi0PXVs3c_5R0YaapkliG2Gtg17Wp1uAFcTlln_g8F8rkqMchyphenhyphenUMORiwdBC7Kt-NyJU1tT5gmedme4wG5_vYcAm39whTo/s1600/2012-12-31+14.10.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNZlrNdGlROAnMv_OcXJM2TKQC8xQpW9knH2DRzjrdvlE5bVi0PXVs3c_5R0YaapkliG2Gtg17Wp1uAFcTlln_g8F8rkqMchyphenhyphenUMORiwdBC7Kt-NyJU1tT5gmedme4wG5_vYcAm39whTo/s320/2012-12-31+14.10.02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>me and my love</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7mIprizsCa-nJVU2QS-0V2ZKMUCtUylgsyv5XSDQTdpT_qzeDpN8s3Fw82oEv1Ez1v1-Cwbm44vi83ktyfMLk4A3v5kkig7Td_PONF6LGvexXwuGZp6KH8GVEecQLdh6kMfh_tJezWs/s1600/2012-12-31+14.12.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7mIprizsCa-nJVU2QS-0V2ZKMUCtUylgsyv5XSDQTdpT_qzeDpN8s3Fw82oEv1Ez1v1-Cwbm44vi83ktyfMLk4A3v5kkig7Td_PONF6LGvexXwuGZp6KH8GVEecQLdh6kMfh_tJezWs/s320/2012-12-31+14.12.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Dudes</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6shulf8dAyHWxOtAfXuxy_sOaj1d_2evvcZJyJm97sy1XHuWKbmdgmIXiod92vr4pFxhZmq4pguaRdrUK-ZQDb8R3RyjpnHbB0iM8cMXQ7nisNQFkqiFppV4HGWvpaYFJOBgrcxsUHI/s1600/2012-12-31+14.13.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6shulf8dAyHWxOtAfXuxy_sOaj1d_2evvcZJyJm97sy1XHuWKbmdgmIXiod92vr4pFxhZmq4pguaRdrUK-ZQDb8R3RyjpnHbB0iM8cMXQ7nisNQFkqiFppV4HGWvpaYFJOBgrcxsUHI/s400/2012-12-31+14.13.36.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVGtd8O8gmb0HCWqVF0-wAhgDsvmDlarWZf4JoT_D0Kl6uCX9Nuu0Wm0hRNI-EXSg2XH1G9uA6SD8wdVoBuvLDlh_3ENatYg0K3Dx8cqn5vDWb1-TKqHZHlBSGbVFnyuP1oNnzHHO9rs/s1600/2012-12-31+14.15.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVGtd8O8gmb0HCWqVF0-wAhgDsvmDlarWZf4JoT_D0Kl6uCX9Nuu0Wm0hRNI-EXSg2XH1G9uA6SD8wdVoBuvLDlh_3ENatYg0K3Dx8cqn5vDWb1-TKqHZHlBSGbVFnyuP1oNnzHHO9rs/s320/2012-12-31+14.15.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>the view from the other side of the Peak</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FILRQtEjmqN68A9hP-XwFvE9efdN8yxDMzzrTXp9yFsSIG42_0hkIQhe_GZj-rKH62zjf5GK39EQM_IxniCkzoQXZIrRPa6Ece0K7bKQRB4iwRTpROT9sOiz3fZMlTUCmfpH0F1YV40/s1600/2012-12-31+14.22.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FILRQtEjmqN68A9hP-XwFvE9efdN8yxDMzzrTXp9yFsSIG42_0hkIQhe_GZj-rKH62zjf5GK39EQM_IxniCkzoQXZIrRPa6Ece0K7bKQRB4iwRTpROT9sOiz3fZMlTUCmfpH0F1YV40/s320/2012-12-31+14.22.08.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Bring it on 2013!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfVfdVD25LvPkyNiIzOLH6tCPPoTCeewCtg-Y57EkAbCCqOvQCHD2YuixYhWBWwczOn5LpSMdKEut6dP9hYkEV2jLdIwhuKJQB0xcQhBwn0wPgoQJBZMcVOsEz49EpnI67JlWA8BqSWc/s1600/2012-12-31+14.24.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfVfdVD25LvPkyNiIzOLH6tCPPoTCeewCtg-Y57EkAbCCqOvQCHD2YuixYhWBWwczOn5LpSMdKEut6dP9hYkEV2jLdIwhuKJQB0xcQhBwn0wPgoQJBZMcVOsEz49EpnI67JlWA8BqSWc/s400/2012-12-31+14.24.02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVy9LTwg5xQL56WIl9NMRcDwj_JggoHmOWn59ECzPpjeR0XtwIieDPEMhiMrdw_vWXwrm86lUDg2HMDpizO1CbPuD2UV5511ZSewb9HNvphsfi5tsiCiVW5fNB-Z0ClX1WK-qC9jbXcaI/s1600/2012-12-31+14.42.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVy9LTwg5xQL56WIl9NMRcDwj_JggoHmOWn59ECzPpjeR0XtwIieDPEMhiMrdw_vWXwrm86lUDg2HMDpizO1CbPuD2UV5511ZSewb9HNvphsfi5tsiCiVW5fNB-Z0ClX1WK-qC9jbXcaI/s320/2012-12-31+14.42.46.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>"no hawking" with our favorite hawk</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokMLYxPaJXM2Ek5xu0H8H2QBuhi2D-4VJLdUP3jnVYmdtNfdsig2yT2zIM8J1YRt44TyA-m0zbKw3h1gGgR6cITdGvQvwxpLJyrJz4gmxnCYQjFfXhCGICIISQq1XH-r0OuSqnFMvn2M/s1600/2012-12-31+15.11.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokMLYxPaJXM2Ek5xu0H8H2QBuhi2D-4VJLdUP3jnVYmdtNfdsig2yT2zIM8J1YRt44TyA-m0zbKw3h1gGgR6cITdGvQvwxpLJyrJz4gmxnCYQjFfXhCGICIISQq1XH-r0OuSqnFMvn2M/s320/2012-12-31+15.11.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The ride home takes cash or squid?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnATUJHatPJF70Dd459-791TK_wav1bxC6ee9uu9ZI7FBEKnpzSpRZ3VxVA7QZfTyQgexZWKAXDlHPJ0vUgbDhj8xiXcDwEq33X4zxlCfmJmvjVQlGprgCK-VLpJiZX1rfhsYPF4JxRiA/s1600/2012-12-31+15.18.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnATUJHatPJF70Dd459-791TK_wav1bxC6ee9uu9ZI7FBEKnpzSpRZ3VxVA7QZfTyQgexZWKAXDlHPJ0vUgbDhj8xiXcDwEq33X4zxlCfmJmvjVQlGprgCK-VLpJiZX1rfhsYPF4JxRiA/s320/2012-12-31+15.18.25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We survived more pushing and windburn!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtEMHCRQSbyvZLHldC4BwP2eXJALQfr8SKBERUsy3qgvTIhyphenhyphen6Uk-E6aw5K53hYYChclF16dFVUIL7F6sHGVp-XvL9qCCWZh-jZTpXChlJDGXBeGry0O3P_uwECJAq9bvGgMtlZGLvdDo/s1600/2012-12-31+15.35.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtEMHCRQSbyvZLHldC4BwP2eXJALQfr8SKBERUsy3qgvTIhyphenhyphen6Uk-E6aw5K53hYYChclF16dFVUIL7F6sHGVp-XvL9qCCWZh-jZTpXChlJDGXBeGry0O3P_uwECJAq9bvGgMtlZGLvdDo/s320/2012-12-31+15.35.47.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>HK on NYE</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZjQo1fPYLSz01-KvlK0fvXiFrvMYnNVYunpSx1kJ0nBgTbv9qtOJwQYQPJCkx9smLS5RBxYKkM6vhcg2WnIwY-aLhRuLRBET1L1UAsagOwaLeaZj_GVzTyAFzb4hgsLfz5KkBbhQZGw/s1600/2012-12-31+18.20.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZjQo1fPYLSz01-KvlK0fvXiFrvMYnNVYunpSx1kJ0nBgTbv9qtOJwQYQPJCkx9smLS5RBxYKkM6vhcg2WnIwY-aLhRuLRBET1L1UAsagOwaLeaZj_GVzTyAFzb4hgsLfz5KkBbhQZGw/s320/2012-12-31+18.20.06.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We went out to dinner at another friend from DC who now lives in HK</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaV1S4r_8fArdRxzErp48M9KpUaqhbGkpCpLgSDAREXo9zUX8QMMdgc6Q_tvgJvUpVtCl_Gek3_GLhRkRPRFFfv8nR18QUnjQ6PIQu1wQhC8LOAsH7783n7b0_h5_MvisHntiZxpUDnw/s1600/2012-12-31+19.01.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaV1S4r_8fArdRxzErp48M9KpUaqhbGkpCpLgSDAREXo9zUX8QMMdgc6Q_tvgJvUpVtCl_Gek3_GLhRkRPRFFfv8nR18QUnjQ6PIQu1wQhC8LOAsH7783n7b0_h5_MvisHntiZxpUDnw/s640/2012-12-31+19.01.58.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The lovely view from our friend's house</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakQ6FBm2Uh1IFVMhPD4i8dULTmgp6ooKjNwCvHPmiAIqXPse3iVe86i4U6Lig5xKqeYUbFwArD66TDcOygfAOK6ieNdyMIzVoKHKjnJ0OmIDMATNA9eCUS6B4ta8O6qrKOnviOzeFKOo/s1600/2012-12-31+19.12.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakQ6FBm2Uh1IFVMhPD4i8dULTmgp6ooKjNwCvHPmiAIqXPse3iVe86i4U6Lig5xKqeYUbFwArD66TDcOygfAOK6ieNdyMIzVoKHKjnJ0OmIDMATNA9eCUS6B4ta8O6qrKOnviOzeFKOo/s320/2012-12-31+19.12.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Reunited friends!</i></div>
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It was a lot of fun, but I was too tired from 3 days of fun, so I missed the fireworks, however, we had an incredible weekend!</div>
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HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!</div>
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<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-69628395593047113962012-12-27T05:29:00.003-08:002012-12-27T05:29:33.070-08:00Merry Everything!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We had a fun filled weekend holiday of merriness!</div>
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On Sunday night, a group of Mission families and friends went caroling...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAsjjPmM-4iA6ljmC8LiSYNGSxA1B7gQSkoYA3WSDNDr0v0TVh9hmmgLouvp-RWZcG2H-jJqHUS_mMOROOvPmGhBhSz1tb2FoZYcrAIcm-mTj2a6vrUr0nYJs0vmuKktk2MN8cNEZwxE/s1600/2012-12-23+18.51.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAsjjPmM-4iA6ljmC8LiSYNGSxA1B7gQSkoYA3WSDNDr0v0TVh9hmmgLouvp-RWZcG2H-jJqHUS_mMOROOvPmGhBhSz1tb2FoZYcrAIcm-mTj2a6vrUr0nYJs0vmuKktk2MN8cNEZwxE/s320/2012-12-23+18.51.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>there were 40-50 of us out and about...</i></div>
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<i>it was so merry, it was blurry!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlq1G9QG03RsuISqmGjRk58AWJOYybd8h_m5rz7pcWZ6p898qvRnCrYewIfNPNbfcoGpHPJe-trG0aNdGZEBYpt5OI59CoWge4Mfboeo0LF8im0eoCyrwfPssgGgFWr9EMhus_zIjZ7Ok/s1600/2012-12-23+19.00.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlq1G9QG03RsuISqmGjRk58AWJOYybd8h_m5rz7pcWZ6p898qvRnCrYewIfNPNbfcoGpHPJe-trG0aNdGZEBYpt5OI59CoWge4Mfboeo0LF8im0eoCyrwfPssgGgFWr9EMhus_zIjZ7Ok/s320/2012-12-23+19.00.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Merry Everything from niCLO & Hubs!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLG7ItR4gn1BwfxFwqOhK0V-rxywNBVl94fDa3xgURQnmowxOqnZ3ucNsHCwjhN0RoHA-XOOk3NKTOrTtmqsTNwm3xeJ1bgJslIvh6QYZpjgPnwVhT5eA7cOVAZAQb6IVSpLzblKIvdP4/s1600/2012-12-23+19.06.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLG7ItR4gn1BwfxFwqOhK0V-rxywNBVl94fDa3xgURQnmowxOqnZ3ucNsHCwjhN0RoHA-XOOk3NKTOrTtmqsTNwm3xeJ1bgJslIvh6QYZpjgPnwVhT5eA7cOVAZAQb6IVSpLzblKIvdP4/s320/2012-12-23+19.06.06.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Merry carolers....we were given candy, beer and cookies for our talents, it was a lot of fun!</i></div>
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On Christmas eve, we had the day off(Thank you, Mr. President), so we decided to organize our house and I baked a bit for our Christmas day celebration. We were on such a mission to get organized, we forgot to eat breakfast so we were starving by the time we had lunch. Instead of ordering in, as we always do from <a href="http://foodshop45.com/">Foodshop 45</a>, we decided to walk...</div>
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<i>Do not put your garbage here, the only time we have seen a sign like this in Hanoi....otherwise we see garbage on the street everywhere</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwG2XB2tOb_Zp6SzRDKM36IzfSzHWBVHgWP7W7fPqA-ELGFANdDm5rwfre-B2vo_gR3CMPx_vXKrNQzv8xXeXmEffnhheIozx6dr-opuBgZkJMLGifgdlAZLU-czBXES_3YVRrQwkOjOI/s1600/2012-12-24+12.22.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwG2XB2tOb_Zp6SzRDKM36IzfSzHWBVHgWP7W7fPqA-ELGFANdDm5rwfre-B2vo_gR3CMPx_vXKrNQzv8xXeXmEffnhheIozx6dr-opuBgZkJMLGifgdlAZLU-czBXES_3YVRrQwkOjOI/s320/2012-12-24+12.22.56.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Chai masala from Foodshop-amazing!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVir4USPlYgzDJVCzWiKQLoEJwtE9B49VPWOHgHokpJBaV-0Ijgu0eBOsWNHZ8q53Z92nSsmJQkNDQhQyzV09540z3-e3jOyuUHgItFfv_Ohl7KL5IIKj3g9iIWKdyg5_1dPrPcswXJD4/s1600/2012-12-24+12.26.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVir4USPlYgzDJVCzWiKQLoEJwtE9B49VPWOHgHokpJBaV-0Ijgu0eBOsWNHZ8q53Z92nSsmJQkNDQhQyzV09540z3-e3jOyuUHgItFfv_Ohl7KL5IIKj3g9iIWKdyg5_1dPrPcswXJD4/s320/2012-12-24+12.26.33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Our standard samosa order</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-J8M6G2lqXSDzJHLChmnQnAW_UtWONnq-f1SRraePQzWDahqMdSvhIijvTT1jHrdH2WnbAfLTHajx2lTuuSFloaVIoDql_s2EjhaS9ErolXPZZOy3jbdJuI1xWfCzqKjN1P4gtkVziAQ/s1600/2012-12-24+12.41.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-J8M6G2lqXSDzJHLChmnQnAW_UtWONnq-f1SRraePQzWDahqMdSvhIijvTT1jHrdH2WnbAfLTHajx2lTuuSFloaVIoDql_s2EjhaS9ErolXPZZOy3jbdJuI1xWfCzqKjN1P4gtkVziAQ/s320/2012-12-24+12.41.48.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Set menu for lunch; Chicken curry and Paneer Tikka Masala</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlAvWJhgmuKIW6GCDOlJ4LUD2neZ7Jrcywt4N0-5mSdiJNh23J7YDIBrD74uZO9AuHVNcXYNtMfd25R5QZH_cHkgnD74JFhEdAcaPppKgA8GuKt4vx1FJyvAp-wcmQvFsjeu-wJ_V3Ag/s1600/2012-12-24+12.42.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlAvWJhgmuKIW6GCDOlJ4LUD2neZ7Jrcywt4N0-5mSdiJNh23J7YDIBrD74uZO9AuHVNcXYNtMfd25R5QZH_cHkgnD74JFhEdAcaPppKgA8GuKt4vx1FJyvAp-wcmQvFsjeu-wJ_V3Ag/s320/2012-12-24+12.42.03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Full order of Tandoori Chicken, did I mention we were starving?</i></div>
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After lunch, I attempted to make green bean casserole. No, this is not another "Nic vs. the stove" episode...it was more of a "Nic vs. Ms. H" My housekeeper comes on Mondays and while I asked her to not make dinner that day and only BUY me green beans and onions to make green bean casserole, she was set on making it herself. She even had a recipe to make it from scratch! She was not impressed with my Campbell's mushroom soup, and insisted that I should put some thyme in the casserole(I didn't)--but it all turned out pretty delicious. We went to a Merry Carpness: A <a href="http://www.52insk.com/2010/carp/">Slovak Christmas Eve</a>. Our friend's boyfriend is Slovak and wanted to have the traditional Carp Christmas. Therefore, Merry Carpness was born on Christmas eve. They DID indeed go and buy the carp and try to keep him alive in the bathtub, but alas, Hanoi tap water killed him before the night was over. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuIa8nORWO0M_qplE4qLphTuZlETP7xGKdVl_fge2IZSEUvF8oDkXqp9Fk_KeEAcy855jA5Uhpp-RW8kSmPuy0Sa-hgNB9iHVNW2TsMlv7rYYBaqQ-r8qZxCGGW2JULsP4bh6bDB7CkI/s1600/2012-12-24+18.42.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuIa8nORWO0M_qplE4qLphTuZlETP7xGKdVl_fge2IZSEUvF8oDkXqp9Fk_KeEAcy855jA5Uhpp-RW8kSmPuy0Sa-hgNB9iHVNW2TsMlv7rYYBaqQ-r8qZxCGGW2JULsP4bh6bDB7CkI/s320/2012-12-24+18.42.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We had a gift exchange....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9rEwYAyxOc3JI8uM0o-qte9I6mkD7b8LaKrPweYsvc96wtR5MlEJvRbfnXJXixwNGp5lEz7uz1e080BG-jRC8wP24mr7mM7Z7_Xhlrk6owgl3lH0Vav_iMY9k1LNtuLPeYlC-D3Akloo/s1600/2012-12-24+18.43.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9rEwYAyxOc3JI8uM0o-qte9I6mkD7b8LaKrPweYsvc96wtR5MlEJvRbfnXJXixwNGp5lEz7uz1e080BG-jRC8wP24mr7mM7Z7_Xhlrk6owgl3lH0Vav_iMY9k1LNtuLPeYlC-D3Akloo/s320/2012-12-24+18.43.13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The amazing spread of food BEFORE it was cooked...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KCeLGUYY-5_KBtPgue350lo78TyH54a02OUQIFgAIDzxf05t5JWaZos6YFuvdx5qKkGlowjthU6vHi_5fJ7RMuDTjp4zzfAhvvUPD_haZWYWfh85IxX0a8aayyRGg1rtPXu69ldzXNI/s1600/2012-12-24+18.43.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KCeLGUYY-5_KBtPgue350lo78TyH54a02OUQIFgAIDzxf05t5JWaZos6YFuvdx5qKkGlowjthU6vHi_5fJ7RMuDTjp4zzfAhvvUPD_haZWYWfh85IxX0a8aayyRGg1rtPXu69ldzXNI/s320/2012-12-24+18.43.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Slovak potato salad</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJngra42FIOwM18uHDplNLqkn-lvoCePz5Lu8ZfXgaiy685b8r_dZvhUIAoVU2vRp_FU9S6sJ4nMQEh3YYDQ34Rc_-xMkAzcHPIyOzJWLKox5wSiQBppnVexsCRjtQrFm2_54QaIZQRoA/s1600/2012-12-24+18.44.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJngra42FIOwM18uHDplNLqkn-lvoCePz5Lu8ZfXgaiy685b8r_dZvhUIAoVU2vRp_FU9S6sJ4nMQEh3YYDQ34Rc_-xMkAzcHPIyOzJWLKox5wSiQBppnVexsCRjtQrFm2_54QaIZQRoA/s320/2012-12-24+18.44.21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Me and Ms H's green bean casserole</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj335Lt4yg23AXrCtos2QxVywjSB2VRL29lZut9N96qpAKHY4JPOMon_TijY6dbIaLfnqsZ5zYDLNn6keaY-XHXaklxfIXK0jkDWOImv5wHdh0KnoUnzZd8-htr0-5IAiEh_u8SEl0GPJE/s1600/2012-12-24+20.22.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj335Lt4yg23AXrCtos2QxVywjSB2VRL29lZut9N96qpAKHY4JPOMon_TijY6dbIaLfnqsZ5zYDLNn6keaY-XHXaklxfIXK0jkDWOImv5wHdh0KnoUnzZd8-htr0-5IAiEh_u8SEl0GPJE/s320/2012-12-24+20.22.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>My amazing plate of green bean casserole, baked cabbage, potato salad, stuffed chicken, fried carp, squash and potatoes!</i></div>
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We had SO much fun playing games and drinking eggnog and mulled wine. When we came home, we ran into two colleagues outside our buidling. One of them recently bought a new "toy."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSn5vs74Rp-bUZqeyR0Ik3dbIHB3lcC4hY25HlWLggG885hiziUe0O_bQ_n7hhAc1k48n2FhTs-k8kfBa4j102F5lLDzg4UI1uxqpgupj-KKB8-CSi1UK2uec1hhsW4jaxqm1Cyvkl8f8/s1600/2012-12-24+23.16.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSn5vs74Rp-bUZqeyR0Ik3dbIHB3lcC4hY25HlWLggG885hiziUe0O_bQ_n7hhAc1k48n2FhTs-k8kfBa4j102F5lLDzg4UI1uxqpgupj-KKB8-CSi1UK2uec1hhsW4jaxqm1Cyvkl8f8/s320/2012-12-24+23.16.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Doesn't that look like fun?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJW_xZ3_iUEzjOfArZzm227tFUvoa4WLM8ufRkb0Zfnxho27n_doBu1zMo1ODDjaMNNdKtxl6EXedTS1eZG0orHO0TkLPwFdDAOeNxQJel2dndDW9_t0nexOwq35rGVWfrvnNUKOMJmI/s1600/2012-12-24+23.18.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJW_xZ3_iUEzjOfArZzm227tFUvoa4WLM8ufRkb0Zfnxho27n_doBu1zMo1ODDjaMNNdKtxl6EXedTS1eZG0orHO0TkLPwFdDAOeNxQJel2dndDW9_t0nexOwq35rGVWfrvnNUKOMJmI/s320/2012-12-24+23.18.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The best part of this "ride" is that the owner filled the front with toys and drove all around Hanoi handing out presents to children all night! </i></div>
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We went home and tried to watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation(a tradition in the Hubs family), but we were too tired to make it through the entire movie. We went to bed and I woke up at 4:30am too excited to sleep! Hubs didn't feel the same, so after a few hours, I went back to sleep also and we rose together to open presents...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclt3KmNcyrCBRgaQOyLWS1QsSqnImmA-kE12wkoHU3VP2KiDT8c5xe7pOowqs7kayXmbj9Lv5nQFOPlfjFasmlevgeAdbgG-wZQFhJAO7SgWJN_RT9iQSIMWhx4r4e_bEsyae8hvnjfc/s1600/2012-12-25+08.41.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclt3KmNcyrCBRgaQOyLWS1QsSqnImmA-kE12wkoHU3VP2KiDT8c5xe7pOowqs7kayXmbj9Lv5nQFOPlfjFasmlevgeAdbgG-wZQFhJAO7SgWJN_RT9iQSIMWhx4r4e_bEsyae8hvnjfc/s320/2012-12-25+08.41.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>We must have been good this year, at least Santa thought so...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1j6R8G7CIh4UytoO-yWJ8jxoPzZ4g34aJ4eZQRMxnob7IV7-p_1DeI6AC4j2UdNCZN6R_xKtzi95e1KolFf1MahvW_SlnZu9b7ttd2G4kLGeEE6oeU7YQxmlGygJp0Ev0gp5lBQBDAE0/s1600/2012-12-25+09.32.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1j6R8G7CIh4UytoO-yWJ8jxoPzZ4g34aJ4eZQRMxnob7IV7-p_1DeI6AC4j2UdNCZN6R_xKtzi95e1KolFf1MahvW_SlnZu9b7ttd2G4kLGeEE6oeU7YQxmlGygJp0Ev0gp5lBQBDAE0/s320/2012-12-25+09.32.11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>My dad sent me this book from my childhood, it seems pretty accurate :)</i></div>
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After our gift openings, I skyped with my #1 blog fan <HEYYYY JSWOLL!> and we went and got massages in the afternoon(my present to Hubs). Later on, we went to dinner at a dear friend's house.</div>
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<i>This is the centerpiece I bought :) Not bad, Vietnam.</i></div>
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<i>I brought the Christmas goodies sent from my Gram and Aunt, they were a hit!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0nMtDyX3n1BBOmKRLJWHl-G5najhc0iESRADmnmwS9kFMyWeJYogPWKwX_6tA5aTdB7aNyi2Gy7SaD29av-I9jlFHv6AM3HHgY90Be4b1kRpcjcTmbkSr3smHka6kzf0z2zMxiAY_NQ/s1600/2012-12-25+14.45.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0nMtDyX3n1BBOmKRLJWHl-G5najhc0iESRADmnmwS9kFMyWeJYogPWKwX_6tA5aTdB7aNyi2Gy7SaD29av-I9jlFHv6AM3HHgY90Be4b1kRpcjcTmbkSr3smHka6kzf0z2zMxiAY_NQ/s320/2012-12-25+14.45.56.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Amazing spread by many talented chefs and Turkey and Ham from <a href="http://www.donkeybakery.com/">Donkey Bakery</a></i></div>
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<i>A happy plate is a full plate:</i></div>
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<i>Green bean casserole, turkey, ham, sweet potato casserole, stuffing, mashed potatoes and salad</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKz4XXZVUdNTmnktvBedsd18JXqI6KYr2izx4_Kg0MTW9wC78N88J3z1njS9UVpycsqyY0ox_eaibjrWb0MfyMfGh3pcOLOZX2XkwOCGl_y78MXGVPsQEq8p8KBr0Ng_OHRn2kAAg2-e0/s1600/2012-12-25+15.47.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKz4XXZVUdNTmnktvBedsd18JXqI6KYr2izx4_Kg0MTW9wC78N88J3z1njS9UVpycsqyY0ox_eaibjrWb0MfyMfGh3pcOLOZX2XkwOCGl_y78MXGVPsQEq8p8KBr0Ng_OHRn2kAAg2-e0/s320/2012-12-25+15.47.17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>the desserts!</i></div>
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<i>I made the peanut butter balls and pumpkin pie bars, but there was also fudge, cookies galore and MORE!</i></div>
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After dinner, we had a white elephant exchange, which was pretty hilarious....</div>
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I would show you some of the gifts, but it was a white elephant...</div>
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:)</div>
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It was VERY MERRY! </div>
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Yes, we missed our families and friends, however; we were surrounded by the spirit of Christmas: wonderful people, love, laughter and most importantly-we had each other. </div>
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Love was all around, and that's what it's all about, right?</div>
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I am so grateful to have such a wonderful partner on this grand adventure.</div>
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I love you Hubs!</div>
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We hope you had a very Merry Holiday and wish you a Happy New Year!</div>
<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-22270610569225327542012-12-23T07:06:00.001-08:002012-12-27T05:29:44.274-08:00Happy America Day to Me!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;">On Thursday, my friend C took me on an American
adventure/educational tour of Hanoi places that I haven't been...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><a href="http://tnhvietnam.xemzi.com/en/spot/5842/new-york-crispy-doughnuts-hanoi"><span style="color: #0000f5;"><i>New York Crispy</i></span></a><i>--the closest thing
to Krispy Kreme that I have encountered in Hanoi. YUM. Beware--if you try to go
by taxi, you really need to know where the Garden Mall is! I tried to send two
friends there and they got lost yesterday:(</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><a href="http://thegarden.com.vn/trang-chu.htm"><span style="color: #0000f5;"><i>The Garden Shopping Mall</i></span></a><i> has a
new store: The GAP! I was shocked...</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>Doesn't this look like America? Save for the
Vietnamese banner....</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>After my Garden Mall experience, my friend took me
to <a href="http://www.indochinaplazahanoi.com/en/index.html"><span style="color: #0000f5;">Indochina Plaza</span></a>, which is not a far drive from
the Mall...</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>Yes, that's Burger King, Pizza Hut and KFC...the
ONLY Burger King in Hanoi</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>There is also a Body Shop inside and more!</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>My friend C ordered the Whopper....</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>..and I ordered the Spicy Chicken crispy, which I
don't think I have had in over ten years, but the nostalgia made it worth it. I
did add the chili sauce though, which made it even better. At BK in VN you only
get the choice of a small coke and small fries; there is no other soda option,
it was delish!</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>After my American retail adventure, I went back to
work. Hubs and I went out on Thursday night to say farewell to a dear friend
leaving back to the States for good. It was near the <a href="http://www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-1555-sofitel-legend-metropole-hanoi/index.shtml"><span style="color: #0000f5;">The Metropole</span></a>, a fancy hotel surrounded by
luxury shops....</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<i>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>Where are we? Feels like Georgetown...</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>Are we in America? Well, no because you will not
see local people taking TONS of pictures around a hotel in America. If you
drive by the Metropole during the day, you will see at least 3 couples getting
wedding pictures being taken, at night it's teenagers taking each others photos
on their iPhones.</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>Notice: the Hubs striking a pose, do as the locals
do!</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>Gucci and Christmas lights! Feels like home!</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>We went for Happy Hour at <a href="http://www.hanoi-pressclub.com/"><span style="color: #0000f5;">The Press
Club</span></a> to sendoff Miss Jenny right: we miss you already!</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
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<i><br /></i></div>
<i>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>We had some pizza and other goods, and then the
Karaoke began....</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>"I will survive" by Diva D</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>Our happy crew</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>The Hubs singing "Summer of 69" with Miss
Anna</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>Such a fun night! We have the most fun friends!</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>On the way home, we saw an impromptu circus show in
the road!</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>The next day, my office handed out stockings(with
contents contributed by our community) to our Marine Security Guard. </i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>Thank you for your service gentlemen!</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>On Friday we received some more Christmas cheer:
packages from our families! One of them was a box full of my Grandma's homemade
goodies! It feels like Christmas, and TASTES like Christmas too! YUMMMMMM!</i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>Saturday morning we woke up to an email notifying
us that Mr. Barack Obama has given us Monday off, then later in the morning
Mrs. Hillary Clinton sent us an email thanking us for all that we do to advance
our nation's interests and values. I am pretending like she sent it just to me,
when in reality, I know that it went to all State employees. Either way, I
thought that it was pretty rad. Although I am feeling a bit homesick for the
holidays, I am also feeling very grateful to serve our country, very
blessed to be working at such an awesome Mission in Hanoi and very proud to be
an American. </i></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>MERRY
CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY!</i></span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-75151645564725993132012-12-19T05:35:00.000-08:002012-12-19T05:35:07.827-08:00Hodge-podge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This blog has no theme, except perhaps winter. It's a hodge podge of events, but I like the photos, so here goes:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhfvTQrTpI0kc7oXxjgIIaW6eVAQG303Bn6V0HhUTMYsY4W0qm3lZkrJTay2QKldqZtCSIUETPGavOoj-gM-Z4Ocn2PXBSiw0CTiHNQCS7OCluLKU-CPIT05DZHnvM9nprhgEyT-Qu2Q/s1600/2012-12-17+18.23.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhfvTQrTpI0kc7oXxjgIIaW6eVAQG303Bn6V0HhUTMYsY4W0qm3lZkrJTay2QKldqZtCSIUETPGavOoj-gM-Z4Ocn2PXBSiw0CTiHNQCS7OCluLKU-CPIT05DZHnvM9nprhgEyT-Qu2Q/s320/2012-12-17+18.23.19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Our housekeeper made Bun Thang; chicken, egg, mushroom and shrimp with noodles and a fish broth. Not my fave, but aok with chili sauce on top:)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Pbs_tkjt4um2IIvr4wt2UQJ36ob0ko-7EYEBq-x4i6TxCDmnEUf_PMTg_EWAZIE-OOnIPTE-LXhZXF8oNRXh7OhbM5wDUjW76g2TBkJz10w7UiaHJnckhw18No80uk2mStEYIBlJtbU/s1600/2012-12-18+07.59.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Pbs_tkjt4um2IIvr4wt2UQJ36ob0ko-7EYEBq-x4i6TxCDmnEUf_PMTg_EWAZIE-OOnIPTE-LXhZXF8oNRXh7OhbM5wDUjW76g2TBkJz10w7UiaHJnckhw18No80uk2mStEYIBlJtbU/s320/2012-12-18+07.59.27.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Ew. Rainy Monday. It was so cold and took forever to get to work, can you IMAGINE driving to work on a scooter in THIS. </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDA3HTd8fCuLKssF19o9_-ergeGjnecEEeKFvU0lYw7q-5tPSBMB9ZDYf0cdc4uLbIHcZqCrgTlcBcIlkclbkPd0rt8Vn8pKbnQSd7TrxinS5ZLbpmHjo2HwYyoqiMAnazmLUgqw1D9s/s1600/2012-12-18+08.01.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDA3HTd8fCuLKssF19o9_-ergeGjnecEEeKFvU0lYw7q-5tPSBMB9ZDYf0cdc4uLbIHcZqCrgTlcBcIlkclbkPd0rt8Vn8pKbnQSd7TrxinS5ZLbpmHjo2HwYyoqiMAnazmLUgqw1D9s/s320/2012-12-18+08.01.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Mopeds galore; I will one day get a good picture of the different kinds of raincoats, but for now, I will borrow from the internet:</i></div>
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_h_EiYz5LC0XX5WccfMMx05JlqyGOpZnGMdMDNwEUPW9BT1D3BqQ3xa8W3H24RY3KGN84QDy6QcSF2lKmvgBfCO4FAZIFgdqwUMJJjKNW9Z1ri3aHkFOTBI5xV_DxVKixOW01ehMBJs0/s1600/dualhood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_h_EiYz5LC0XX5WccfMMx05JlqyGOpZnGMdMDNwEUPW9BT1D3BqQ3xa8W3H24RY3KGN84QDy6QcSF2lKmvgBfCO4FAZIFgdqwUMJJjKNW9Z1ri3aHkFOTBI5xV_DxVKixOW01ehMBJs0/s1600/dualhood.jpg" /></a></i></div>
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<i>From sourcingmap.com; the dual hood poncho: note the clear square in the front--this is for your scooter light, of course! I love it.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVW5caEBycVx3zzDilyhHFdYiXxzlPUsy8xQcTfs6yEN8Vmxi7qnPWGTcOMd6xf2dksBTPcNZilB5CECNduKnpIPF0W48SeoD5S4VZMvqXmXdt_7b1Qf0hME3XTC2rah3ZOqQd7z0nT4/s1600/2012-12-19+11.06.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVW5caEBycVx3zzDilyhHFdYiXxzlPUsy8xQcTfs6yEN8Vmxi7qnPWGTcOMd6xf2dksBTPcNZilB5CECNduKnpIPF0W48SeoD5S4VZMvqXmXdt_7b1Qf0hME3XTC2rah3ZOqQd7z0nT4/s320/2012-12-19+11.06.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Today was our Management Section holiday party, we had International fare: </i></div>
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<i>Above: Chinese....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQ05BtgaojhIadPQix9306Xi4_XEqjiPxXFbAvPv-3Sl3hqzmaVBy9gdgxjfaD8QpTEEDvUt8myGxupU0shLsjQjZgB6ODJoiCi4x0gGRllZ_zosk70wGM54qdAygwiG04D7iYi-w-vw/s1600/2012-12-19+11.06.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQ05BtgaojhIadPQix9306Xi4_XEqjiPxXFbAvPv-3Sl3hqzmaVBy9gdgxjfaD8QpTEEDvUt8myGxupU0shLsjQjZgB6ODJoiCi4x0gGRllZ_zosk70wGM54qdAygwiG04D7iYi-w-vw/s320/2012-12-19+11.06.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Indian....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpu1F9fRM5dTsiAtcQmGRKzsxR6OO4E-ncQzuoDqHeLeGOH9_cXklqEsYZjc2C_2OvMkiS0DVOwJSWTAIhUQ3A9dI6IigcNIugLKsk-ex-e1a9kFcS4SFyd4BxPMxDtQBRN5qYOM22Li0/s1600/2012-12-19+11.06.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpu1F9fRM5dTsiAtcQmGRKzsxR6OO4E-ncQzuoDqHeLeGOH9_cXklqEsYZjc2C_2OvMkiS0DVOwJSWTAIhUQ3A9dI6IigcNIugLKsk-ex-e1a9kFcS4SFyd4BxPMxDtQBRN5qYOM22Li0/s320/2012-12-19+11.06.42.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Pizza and sodas!</i></div>
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<i>I love my section, they are an awesome group of people:)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4XC90yuF9UWWz9jNdUHtfcbdNnVbxewyO-4OQ-xmTI5jBJrdc7CzJIwiOtwCQv6gvPEOnMsAgrfsZQx1jBlrZqk4MXulHpeBBU3UOp1Iaj1jOT14OKDLwD8pXrl7nPt5ylME9YgGRLY/s1600/2012-12-19+19.05.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4XC90yuF9UWWz9jNdUHtfcbdNnVbxewyO-4OQ-xmTI5jBJrdc7CzJIwiOtwCQv6gvPEOnMsAgrfsZQx1jBlrZqk4MXulHpeBBU3UOp1Iaj1jOT14OKDLwD8pXrl7nPt5ylME9YgGRLY/s320/2012-12-19+19.05.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>To sum up the hodge-podge of photos, I am posting a pic for my Gram(who didn't love the cinnamon roll frosting, btw): this is our tree in all her glory, WITH both Hubs and My ornaments from our childhoods with a few we have picked up in the last three Christmas seasons. </i></div>
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<i>If you look close, you can see that it's leaning forward a little bit. </i></div>
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<i>I think we will buy a bigger tree next year!</i></div>
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<i> ....and we will find a better space for it since our presents are starting to overflow...</i></div>
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<i>Thanks everyone for sending us goodies! We are feeling the love!</i></div>
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<i>To our parents: See, we promised we would wait until Christmas to open our gifts! </i></div>
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<i>Happy Holidays!</i></div>
<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-54409605594020943082012-12-16T06:03:00.001-08:002012-12-16T06:03:23.181-08:00Xe Om: Hugging Vehicle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In Vietnam, the motorbike taxis are called "Xe Om", which translates to Hugging vehicle. Today we got a ride home from brunch from our friend Javi...three Americans on a motorbike, we got some laughs and chuckles from several Vietnamese on the way. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2TjMfHTv7v28m50xUUkU7BLhRcuVD4FBCPTmdSRZI6iXz8k3-WPNEgQBx8qvqMwbY0nW6oJtd2egLxb5Wqk4wHu1lU1dFQVKObd7dIzYFP-KZB0m2JBau-DuoJr6SiQ5urDYXfdLJQw/s1600/xeom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2TjMfHTv7v28m50xUUkU7BLhRcuVD4FBCPTmdSRZI6iXz8k3-WPNEgQBx8qvqMwbY0nW6oJtd2egLxb5Wqk4wHu1lU1dFQVKObd7dIzYFP-KZB0m2JBau-DuoJr6SiQ5urDYXfdLJQw/s320/xeom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was really fun, and now I want a motorbike!</div>
NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-36424489831658693422012-12-15T23:02:00.001-08:002012-12-15T23:02:23.437-08:00Christmas is all around us....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We watched Love Actually with some friends this weekend and I cannot get the remix of "Love is all around us" out of my head....it's not such a bad thing:) Luckily, Christmas IS all around us...it's been another holidazed week...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZXXj7lo9dWvxqzdoxQY052kEWtpLrQQNKuYfS2N63ibigUH86XOaR6gLIEy-jZ27CnSCi1XlzUFGtaDu6t7xwege7Dab4QQZ2iebIpUmkyiNuERULiFl8VqNk9lablcnkH5kJnDIsag/s1600/2012-12-12+11.55.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZXXj7lo9dWvxqzdoxQY052kEWtpLrQQNKuYfS2N63ibigUH86XOaR6gLIEy-jZ27CnSCi1XlzUFGtaDu6t7xwege7Dab4QQZ2iebIpUmkyiNuERULiFl8VqNk9lablcnkH5kJnDIsag/s320/2012-12-12+11.55.30.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>More delicious food: Bun Bo Nam Bo from Commune, I think I have an obsession</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmVFnVaEkXvcgepyiN-XQfTMYYBmRPewurSBkUkcOVuNW42xX0GFbNY1mvvvkmLUt8GPFaImE5NjUACZVERXqM2fF7PF-hbPUHG20GKd0S00wuxZ658CaWKG3lBxK16rnIBvw4774Nc0/s1600/2012-12-12+12.21.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmVFnVaEkXvcgepyiN-XQfTMYYBmRPewurSBkUkcOVuNW42xX0GFbNY1mvvvkmLUt8GPFaImE5NjUACZVERXqM2fF7PF-hbPUHG20GKd0S00wuxZ658CaWKG3lBxK16rnIBvw4774Nc0/s320/2012-12-12+12.21.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The Holiday tree in the foyer of the Rose Garden, done by VN staff, pretty rad!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOU6rTUHPg9wcFqf7Jp8Ab5f896sNUMSVucMfi-gNwuzzPvB8AtARNSMPilcT1wLSTCDiHx6g4q4y2CxpRVLA-QqM41etFGxa7SZjC4uyXdNkgTjtG_tjEKBoGJYRJioaBpwoohdy9yF4/s1600/2012-12-12+19.43.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOU6rTUHPg9wcFqf7Jp8Ab5f896sNUMSVucMfi-gNwuzzPvB8AtARNSMPilcT1wLSTCDiHx6g4q4y2CxpRVLA-QqM41etFGxa7SZjC4uyXdNkgTjtG_tjEKBoGJYRJioaBpwoohdy9yF4/s320/2012-12-12+19.43.30.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Pad thai, spinach and red curry</i></div>
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<i>YUM!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEN8DwTItcb8erb2gI2TIyRVUc5SIIriyRThZhyphenhyphent-iRpNhCwiYHEOGqb_BdZIKhRal6yg8uJDprBm2MHOcpUBE4KnuUF20Rx0LpUjW_COWxwSbLYUnLKMv0HH2QtXqV1kQbazIyDEjdU/s1600/2012-12-13+10.18.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEN8DwTItcb8erb2gI2TIyRVUc5SIIriyRThZhyphenhyphent-iRpNhCwiYHEOGqb_BdZIKhRal6yg8uJDprBm2MHOcpUBE4KnuUF20Rx0LpUjW_COWxwSbLYUnLKMv0HH2QtXqV1kQbazIyDEjdU/s320/2012-12-13+10.18.47.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Hot apple cider from an HIWC "Coffee" morning</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dnpQc4qCVGRl5WeCeQXb8dbowFn7AB0uDF-2YJ1Lfw1e6UVSVarufmFtAI_ihPRp9L0TIiW2loZBMbonLg4gXIoNgKHXZwBiqtmppsaSwFzw-1-zckD8pUqlAx77MML1Vk7vPb0OfZQ/s1600/2012-12-13+10.24.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dnpQc4qCVGRl5WeCeQXb8dbowFn7AB0uDF-2YJ1Lfw1e6UVSVarufmFtAI_ihPRp9L0TIiW2loZBMbonLg4gXIoNgKHXZwBiqtmppsaSwFzw-1-zckD8pUqlAx77MML1Vk7vPb0OfZQ/s320/2012-12-13+10.24.02.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Look at all of the holiday goodies I can buy from <a href="http://www.uma.vn/shop/index.php/?___store=english&___from_store=english/">UMA</a>!</i></div>
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<i>I resisted and only bought a few goods, I am continuously amazed by the availability of Western goods</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgZtfFEBCzas_6SZM7P-h2Z2CY6gN3_WqW3ie6m5Ond4L9jBmKN_z7181pQMvP7wK6VxncT89ViiB3YtBEUGscjWjSwy8uuLQ9riXCwiQZYbc7jkM_fvmdMV1H0GKsSGIHkzd_4tm9zw/s1600/2012-12-13+12.19.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgZtfFEBCzas_6SZM7P-h2Z2CY6gN3_WqW3ie6m5Ond4L9jBmKN_z7181pQMvP7wK6VxncT89ViiB3YtBEUGscjWjSwy8uuLQ9riXCwiQZYbc7jkM_fvmdMV1H0GKsSGIHkzd_4tm9zw/s320/2012-12-13+12.19.59.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Fried tofu at <a href="http://Savour Asia - Bi Do (Red Pumpkin) www.savourasia.com/content/view/63/72/">Bi Do: Red Pumpkin</a> for lunch</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_5I0kTspvzliVQu1e0klYPeBV5lgojPRLte8bvvTmUDjPrH4S_9PpHCRlGtkw1Pvbqtz1WPxdRfEMs6xwXEKedO4D2Z3wfE1oTKcZJ92Vz_e8Fd4voLKPWwON78Cj5tJgvedLg5K-7A/s1600/2012-12-13+12.28.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_5I0kTspvzliVQu1e0klYPeBV5lgojPRLte8bvvTmUDjPrH4S_9PpHCRlGtkw1Pvbqtz1WPxdRfEMs6xwXEKedO4D2Z3wfE1oTKcZJ92Vz_e8Fd4voLKPWwON78Cj5tJgvedLg5K-7A/s320/2012-12-13+12.28.01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>shrimp and peppers at Bi Do</i></div>
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In addition to the holidays, we had a Medical visitor in to do lead testing for the small kids. Since our offices are close, I got a lot of visitors in my office this week, which resulted in this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJy555E5Lv24nl52XVrHpD1MK2lNIOb9rh81RGiAt_Pr3OWHQRh0Y09MJUEnIBymej9nMo0Bg_SeHwnmxHcaweHD_6Wp0iefwdtgWcHphJINO8bJhkb8-XKw0sx-45Ha2U7ljSmzxVQ8/s1600/2012-12-13+16.02.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJy555E5Lv24nl52XVrHpD1MK2lNIOb9rh81RGiAt_Pr3OWHQRh0Y09MJUEnIBymej9nMo0Bg_SeHwnmxHcaweHD_6Wp0iefwdtgWcHphJINO8bJhkb8-XKw0sx-45Ha2U7ljSmzxVQ8/s320/2012-12-13+16.02.28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The talented artists of US Embassy Ha Noi!</i></div>
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On Friday, we had our door decorating contest. There were some pretty amazing doors....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLn73NJqyASlXCs0QRIrwFXE219YQgVHWuc7fLVxm1_0YdMdS8G8Y4iPm3oZE-ZBdAmjD2w9BywwhfGFyNnR0ZzPSb-mkdm1pEbulsVZlllCTJE4y0zFbCppRZYfQLgfHobYbFfTs16Q/s1600/2012-12-14+14.05.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLn73NJqyASlXCs0QRIrwFXE219YQgVHWuc7fLVxm1_0YdMdS8G8Y4iPm3oZE-ZBdAmjD2w9BywwhfGFyNnR0ZzPSb-mkdm1pEbulsVZlllCTJE4y0zFbCppRZYfQLgfHobYbFfTs16Q/s320/2012-12-14+14.05.00.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>MED: See the flu shots in Santa's sleigh?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZsLa48bmySTFwZPhn9hgfhWiJFoF5DucPwywN7TqPk_1twir7d3_Vu-S7lUAn11Rt8h3KSxU5xA5_BosA6Dw3hKpa8qlBG97B7eOmcqE03rYFlO7M-zgcemK-HUEKWJ543htlUNt6Ek/s1600/2012-12-14+14.06.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZsLa48bmySTFwZPhn9hgfhWiJFoF5DucPwywN7TqPk_1twir7d3_Vu-S7lUAn11Rt8h3KSxU5xA5_BosA6Dw3hKpa8qlBG97B7eOmcqE03rYFlO7M-zgcemK-HUEKWJ543htlUNt6Ek/s320/2012-12-14+14.06.02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>MED: with pictures of their kids who made it possible:)</i></div>
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<i>Information Resource Management: </i></div>
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<i>Of course, IT had all the bells and whistles: even music and a slideshow!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcRMUiZqlpudAmwfIq5q7N1LRr6b3ZdUgmtm3XG5lliH7DefyIEtk6kLjmSrxIUoP8c0wbP_tCiZg2Z7j8wR2mGdyScaqLxBw_biitpeQPwo2yNFFnJlAO0J3ZEd737q6-w08yRQrBkQ/s1600/2012-12-14+14.08.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcRMUiZqlpudAmwfIq5q7N1LRr6b3ZdUgmtm3XG5lliH7DefyIEtk6kLjmSrxIUoP8c0wbP_tCiZg2Z7j8wR2mGdyScaqLxBw_biitpeQPwo2yNFFnJlAO0J3ZEd737q6-w08yRQrBkQ/s320/2012-12-14+14.08.58.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfLiJgETKOYoWtp1CPCS-E66atQBlJQw25-xeB7vsp3tFnXiUrblqRl29VSmLB-29ep_9FMutHZHOU8htInZTjJ2VY2s5qzxph4F5Ai5T6pTOvOQAAsHT5J66RYQY-M3IdhipqWz-pYM/s1600/2012-12-14+14.11.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfLiJgETKOYoWtp1CPCS-E66atQBlJQw25-xeB7vsp3tFnXiUrblqRl29VSmLB-29ep_9FMutHZHOU8htInZTjJ2VY2s5qzxph4F5Ai5T6pTOvOQAAsHT5J66RYQY-M3IdhipqWz-pYM/s320/2012-12-14+14.11.48.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>ECON: the nerdiest by far :) </i></div>
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<i>"A Free Toy Agreement for the 21st Century"</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeZSB-eb0d39VgpmyRTLwfwONdFW1CzgZSGg9-mepXEbRH7KCbN3SY-LIO0PwqkM7Sln4vmtLI__nFfudkBLCjr2wu0BBBTMegWcN87UGAt2pwSzgMcsR6V7qpiWgq7IZ_NASwcW9upc/s1600/2012-12-14+14.12.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeZSB-eb0d39VgpmyRTLwfwONdFW1CzgZSGg9-mepXEbRH7KCbN3SY-LIO0PwqkM7Sln4vmtLI__nFfudkBLCjr2wu0BBBTMegWcN87UGAt2pwSzgMcsR6V7qpiWgq7IZ_NASwcW9upc/s320/2012-12-14+14.12.05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>more of ECON</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5JTbs-90cBv0oJn5pSumISUXnu5ruTaNBRI_sv6Zb1-UuuvO8PGK7Qu6BlpN6P1ch4XqmTQXogFJxJsoIrA7-O26mgTqYL3fZtQdX6VKTBP9zP-mQy5o6-1LeF_f5KexsGgdUB-cWZQ/s1600/2012-12-14+14.13.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5JTbs-90cBv0oJn5pSumISUXnu5ruTaNBRI_sv6Zb1-UuuvO8PGK7Qu6BlpN6P1ch4XqmTQXogFJxJsoIrA7-O26mgTqYL3fZtQdX6VKTBP9zP-mQy5o6-1LeF_f5KexsGgdUB-cWZQ/s320/2012-12-14+14.13.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Is this the Mailroom, or a rave?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPamCqdMPVOyN1nODVo_2XAQWuGTaW0KTCL2ktewFklG3yBGalhf9J8hIQ2CnvyMI4qmuHYGxc4aJnInr5j0YWzwJWLRiyQmqEV_agc27yFJr06cGLFsJ3tgqRebTGSc-K_oHcbaHpxAI/s1600/2012-12-14+14.14.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPamCqdMPVOyN1nODVo_2XAQWuGTaW0KTCL2ktewFklG3yBGalhf9J8hIQ2CnvyMI4qmuHYGxc4aJnInr5j0YWzwJWLRiyQmqEV_agc27yFJr06cGLFsJ3tgqRebTGSc-K_oHcbaHpxAI/s320/2012-12-14+14.14.56.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>The Mailroom door: a package, very clever!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRQGm1q7tOOwPnbXE1Qcv8y2hpnKQo_MUyujNc8k5x2L3OU0LiVpRofbQIpGVx93eTL3TFT4vAD-t5SZqn1pV26UTEpiQUt0dzYnFkory77GdQd46DA-xRrNWaLAxt4HA-j7YjoZPpNw/s1600/2012-12-14+14.18.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRQGm1q7tOOwPnbXE1Qcv8y2hpnKQo_MUyujNc8k5x2L3OU0LiVpRofbQIpGVx93eTL3TFT4vAD-t5SZqn1pV26UTEpiQUt0dzYnFkory77GdQd46DA-xRrNWaLAxt4HA-j7YjoZPpNw/s320/2012-12-14+14.18.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The Mailroom gets props for dressing as reindeer</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZDJ5QOVDxckBqOuYnGCB1345fm97kbSFL8UN1T6tu_OmYxLbww0wR-ig0IFv92k2mEHxukLmC_ASKOyGUZ8BYt-8zwcC6slDNY80er7IlkcWh_IVX3Ffjc4d4z6VrlqY12etXhbnNWc/s1600/2012-12-14+14.27.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZDJ5QOVDxckBqOuYnGCB1345fm97kbSFL8UN1T6tu_OmYxLbww0wR-ig0IFv92k2mEHxukLmC_ASKOyGUZ8BYt-8zwcC6slDNY80er7IlkcWh_IVX3Ffjc4d4z6VrlqY12etXhbnNWc/s320/2012-12-14+14.27.29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>CONSULAR</i></div>
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<i>With a recycling theme, very creative!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84QGioJ27mOY0zO1P0Y9oJnRUMsf_HRWSxu3o5iaEssbtmtAhXLyZYDIERfJHoPiM0bpaKU-pWROWKlLlogTnLno0KV32ILOjfQScwJZ3yO2Vz5nWe-zFXkYV69-tbSPDIsXlLRml1nw/s1600/2012-12-14+14.27.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84QGioJ27mOY0zO1P0Y9oJnRUMsf_HRWSxu3o5iaEssbtmtAhXLyZYDIERfJHoPiM0bpaKU-pWROWKlLlogTnLno0KV32ILOjfQScwJZ3yO2Vz5nWe-zFXkYV69-tbSPDIsXlLRml1nw/s320/2012-12-14+14.27.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>the actual door to CONSULAR</i></div>
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<i>everything is recycled here!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQbkok7F9dnZOzMBPeR1bROsnAv2nMDPFoAFhpLX-auFIXigQ4AvuU690SwpvmyTKkVDvrNkb5axlX9XgYmf-Sb_oArSw9lyItRyWWqkk9tM2awtBBNCoJrmbgdm4lnLFptHAVL-zXmI/s1600/2012-12-14+14.30.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQbkok7F9dnZOzMBPeR1bROsnAv2nMDPFoAFhpLX-auFIXigQ4AvuU690SwpvmyTKkVDvrNkb5axlX9XgYmf-Sb_oArSw9lyItRyWWqkk9tM2awtBBNCoJrmbgdm4lnLFptHAVL-zXmI/s320/2012-12-14+14.30.57.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Of course, the FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OFFICE door has a tree made of money</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYjrBOLcDPRCH-Pg8oj11lWxwrcRusantQN0Wyz5O6arJj4JmzE9jxHmpnlkzk3L_bcjU9nNYUHI23jt3bqkwYAqXmckCgSH0ZT01k222WZ3-SlqWKiolyLOphDgVrdnl74hYtUj1i9Y/s1600/2012-12-14+14.32.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYjrBOLcDPRCH-Pg8oj11lWxwrcRusantQN0Wyz5O6arJj4JmzE9jxHmpnlkzk3L_bcjU9nNYUHI23jt3bqkwYAqXmckCgSH0ZT01k222WZ3-SlqWKiolyLOphDgVrdnl74hYtUj1i9Y/s320/2012-12-14+14.32.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The HR Angels</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhEr85yQXuS0ysFlrRQpNZJVIxmNuV6Xp8J2R7r7LTTy-_HhKLhMaNKIGx51k30JfQXsv1oeaiMNK2o9ImWkO_IDppLKyOEkJz2PdR1E9LPM_b6OqRwHIUNZ5QazEffrNKXYmoe-_fSU/s1600/2012-12-14+14.32.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhEr85yQXuS0ysFlrRQpNZJVIxmNuV6Xp8J2R7r7LTTy-_HhKLhMaNKIGx51k30JfQXsv1oeaiMNK2o9ImWkO_IDppLKyOEkJz2PdR1E9LPM_b6OqRwHIUNZ5QazEffrNKXYmoe-_fSU/s320/2012-12-14+14.32.31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>one of my favorite Angels:)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWbUTsYpr0WhUHsy1T9Ih_qumVrn_Rgg8UFtby244aCh015M_yteXIWzS5uNrgsZfHwqcI3_RpfCapXocityQBZNa98swtnv-AAtW3RyftPMTBtmYzGNApoWW5IEUWiC8pSMAP223LE4/s1600/2012-12-14+14.33.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWbUTsYpr0WhUHsy1T9Ih_qumVrn_Rgg8UFtby244aCh015M_yteXIWzS5uNrgsZfHwqcI3_RpfCapXocityQBZNa98swtnv-AAtW3RyftPMTBtmYzGNApoWW5IEUWiC8pSMAP223LE4/s320/2012-12-14+14.33.05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>another favorite angel....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ixZ5LwgLb6n637_dCEZNw2HGh_6XkIlP0d5-47Cb-1HqHoF4_UA_qWAWLjHs96eCu3_u4Z2jM7D7gKuPstSiEBjjCDF8fs2VoAhWEiLQ44L7TnPVLuzc7qWMllMlE6jMZ79TcHZ23Xs/s1600/2012-12-14+14.34.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ixZ5LwgLb6n637_dCEZNw2HGh_6XkIlP0d5-47Cb-1HqHoF4_UA_qWAWLjHs96eCu3_u4Z2jM7D7gKuPstSiEBjjCDF8fs2VoAhWEiLQ44L7TnPVLuzc7qWMllMlE6jMZ79TcHZ23Xs/s320/2012-12-14+14.34.06.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>The Management Counselor in a banana split sleigh</i></div>
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<i>He has an ice cream social and taught the local staff how to make banana splits:)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56wvJs8BdUykHYrv3WkG-G0L-4P08prdzS_tNS4udLD7BccUsl4FR52hEBbRtq13k-3LKZFFGKmMZhvPFCGEyYE3tDpERaz_J5JVk5wqYJwxLTx8Fc3yj20VnrOsacmNYBqi7GFUsPGA/s1600/2012-12-14+14.36.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56wvJs8BdUykHYrv3WkG-G0L-4P08prdzS_tNS4udLD7BccUsl4FR52hEBbRtq13k-3LKZFFGKmMZhvPFCGEyYE3tDpERaz_J5JVk5wqYJwxLTx8Fc3yj20VnrOsacmNYBqi7GFUsPGA/s320/2012-12-14+14.36.09.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Back to CONSULAR to view the slideshow!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNiI-qPv067rrBSr-T7YOPgobe3Pmxs3E-EXJA-ynx_55u39eITcQjt9-jt3_u3TKX_DMyrnQoyRzDMTWpQzLN-XzLELyu3tHXg0P1BjierZBH8N7ottwL_FLXAUtb48bH9O76ev2XJY/s1600/2012-12-14+14.39.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNiI-qPv067rrBSr-T7YOPgobe3Pmxs3E-EXJA-ynx_55u39eITcQjt9-jt3_u3TKX_DMyrnQoyRzDMTWpQzLN-XzLELyu3tHXg0P1BjierZBH8N7ottwL_FLXAUtb48bH9O76ev2XJY/s320/2012-12-14+14.39.58.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>REGIONAL SECURITY OFFICE:</i></div>
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<i>with walkie-talkies and badges!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yw9NBDlqtXhwID74pwEdQcmBpYS5lw59xBWREqWio33YGOxPIavp7gcdtbCgjCWmy_eLp2diaYQ4-VjHdLIUbRrV2zATLxm_qckgGl5zmPbPnEcdVkDoJJco6kfp0mWMB_gTrTvktao/s1600/2012-12-14+15.08.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yw9NBDlqtXhwID74pwEdQcmBpYS5lw59xBWREqWio33YGOxPIavp7gcdtbCgjCWmy_eLp2diaYQ4-VjHdLIUbRrV2zATLxm_qckgGl5zmPbPnEcdVkDoJJco6kfp0mWMB_gTrTvktao/s320/2012-12-14+15.08.52.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>USAID had an entire presentation...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhG5nS5Lar5WXys8S6-DaWSULTEcDMaR08NCTOcF7zHZwhRn_9FIW4wcXcfk9ZQdCgSuAsTLK8vCsLW9ZVm48u3Mvf4bcZZ2S9PYP0xoWiUfpYeMxiDxzrggGofoahgqv0uW8pk1c7sw/s1600/2012-12-14+15.09.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhG5nS5Lar5WXys8S6-DaWSULTEcDMaR08NCTOcF7zHZwhRn_9FIW4wcXcfk9ZQdCgSuAsTLK8vCsLW9ZVm48u3Mvf4bcZZ2S9PYP0xoWiUfpYeMxiDxzrggGofoahgqv0uW8pk1c7sw/s320/2012-12-14+15.09.00.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Very impressive! An entirely recycled display:)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrEd_msLt5MNyXl_2BrtJqlYGmYW7xJxvHsfyxPiEUgJu7xw3hKvqblHuGKOnTHm4saicT-8j6mbxwRwIj5AKd-RkXPpq3pYV-jjRpbX8R_BkYC7QR9-yfBZltCfEpGAxTS9IJdH4NzE/s1600/2012-12-14+15.09.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrEd_msLt5MNyXl_2BrtJqlYGmYW7xJxvHsfyxPiEUgJu7xw3hKvqblHuGKOnTHm4saicT-8j6mbxwRwIj5AKd-RkXPpq3pYV-jjRpbX8R_BkYC7QR9-yfBZltCfEpGAxTS9IJdH4NzE/s320/2012-12-14+15.09.34.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Notice how everyone has plastic bag "stockings"</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqJfM3oYAAKmmScAdXiEbZHsd0SOV73AUVphBMhKfRcmMTJTAUpeo9V4s3RUv0SPYtrbNJNu5kAWkA9Am6xe5gGRKEhyaieyTViPqbAgZvU7VOHR0hSWu0x3EiyOaEeCWSYFAyqfDQRE/s1600/2012-12-14+15.15.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqJfM3oYAAKmmScAdXiEbZHsd0SOV73AUVphBMhKfRcmMTJTAUpeo9V4s3RUv0SPYtrbNJNu5kAWkA9Am6xe5gGRKEhyaieyTViPqbAgZvU7VOHR0hSWu0x3EiyOaEeCWSYFAyqfDQRE/s320/2012-12-14+15.15.09.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>CDC had Dr. Santa!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1b8F8KPRVqAiSLBaU_6K3hE_1gQcwSdPQdmlEEx3wAUOxH6fZIJSvSTXsWsGSFGYIjU69dd_4WqhZ95YtCe9ueySsQy-ikiTxirAnwfbL-Okw6I9GuIsvTvoy-t3gCulIjxMZHzkMk8/s1600/2012-12-14+15.15.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1b8F8KPRVqAiSLBaU_6K3hE_1gQcwSdPQdmlEEx3wAUOxH6fZIJSvSTXsWsGSFGYIjU69dd_4WqhZ95YtCe9ueySsQy-ikiTxirAnwfbL-Okw6I9GuIsvTvoy-t3gCulIjxMZHzkMk8/s320/2012-12-14+15.15.14.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>More CDC....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpcjDY4LBFODYaDGUdg3Rfmt4JbQa8Q-nTCNiFhNlKdYSAs8UT7z9CQNhAsN7pVWjjPN4ECjVvVhF2oi7GdSdGIWsWrnI_weIzTxTZduetBX8gxRiydSNPhgRr1XCsT5OypFYY017X-I/s1600/2012-12-14+15.15.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpcjDY4LBFODYaDGUdg3Rfmt4JbQa8Q-nTCNiFhNlKdYSAs8UT7z9CQNhAsN7pVWjjPN4ECjVvVhF2oi7GdSdGIWsWrnI_weIzTxTZduetBX8gxRiydSNPhgRr1XCsT5OypFYY017X-I/s320/2012-12-14+15.15.33.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>See the snow made of recycled shredded paper?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5mplZc6Dp11v0bvMMdKFmCC-JE3QBmIfCME6dbWyjUoJ-CSOShXC6RKGwU-C2xIJ98xZ85I39zhkxdACjISOS7IhBq54EIx6iP97Um9jX5F7GRbpILrv-T_CqHrLRMaU0eGv0CftXoA/s1600/2012-12-14+15.16.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5mplZc6Dp11v0bvMMdKFmCC-JE3QBmIfCME6dbWyjUoJ-CSOShXC6RKGwU-C2xIJ98xZ85I39zhkxdACjISOS7IhBq54EIx6iP97Um9jX5F7GRbpILrv-T_CqHrLRMaU0eGv0CftXoA/s320/2012-12-14+15.16.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>What makes me feel like Christmas? A sleigh full of condoms, thank you CDC!</i></div>
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As many of you know, I was feeling very sad about not having many ornaments that were "mine" on the Christmas tree, so I asked my dad to send me a few....I was VERY happy to receive a care package this week!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqAxhBwJYWs4TjFjQwzr7AQqOXswIgx3clReFCxlbOsNrm46W4rmOZJ1aeq7crukqINTBLeprFj-ls9JCeDxey05zCQJJf9hdxqNbCU8WTsL2JrY_3w-NoPnmyFDS51kK_8IwovesyrQ/s1600/2012-12-14+17.43.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqAxhBwJYWs4TjFjQwzr7AQqOXswIgx3clReFCxlbOsNrm46W4rmOZJ1aeq7crukqINTBLeprFj-ls9JCeDxey05zCQJJf9hdxqNbCU8WTsL2JrY_3w-NoPnmyFDS51kK_8IwovesyrQ/s320/2012-12-14+17.43.18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Who remembers this guy?! I don't even remember how old he is, but I am so happy to have him in our Christmas decorations:)</i></div>
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<i>A box of ornaments from my childhood; I am pretty sure that the Hulk Hogan santa isn't mine, but I am keeping him! Sorry bro!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsfh_6hX2gRNFam8EGBG9TJkkIMdGZgO5r9JnXHN-U-jFu3KlHLYS3dm4Vi56EjZBxUBTzLVWM90_y2TezZ-JHmhc_DsfEIGpSARpxr0rZvx1YvJL5KwQFZW4CWZJH3e5Uu_cp7_6gqE/s1600/2012-12-14+17.51.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsfh_6hX2gRNFam8EGBG9TJkkIMdGZgO5r9JnXHN-U-jFu3KlHLYS3dm4Vi56EjZBxUBTzLVWM90_y2TezZ-JHmhc_DsfEIGpSARpxr0rZvx1YvJL5KwQFZW4CWZJH3e5Uu_cp7_6gqE/s320/2012-12-14+17.51.33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The angel from my tree, with VN/US wings</i></div>
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In the spirit of the holidays, I have been doing a lot of baking. I am planning to take several of my Grandma's peanut butter balls to a few parties, so I bought three bags of semi sweet chocolate chips....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7ZUiLGpGh5W7gmKr7gC-FwCMjPm2ZDQM5YXSZEOEiC5NB_pErZ2UVZZefh0Om7PQBntUM4-3MRepe-icbxzm8XBhuEylqx05oLXEo8rPokV4aQUud3RG6CHP4pET1DoXm5XdDvwz3NY/s1600/2012-12-15+10.10.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7ZUiLGpGh5W7gmKr7gC-FwCMjPm2ZDQM5YXSZEOEiC5NB_pErZ2UVZZefh0Om7PQBntUM4-3MRepe-icbxzm8XBhuEylqx05oLXEo8rPokV4aQUud3RG6CHP4pET1DoXm5XdDvwz3NY/s320/2012-12-15+10.10.25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>These bags cost $21 total. I am going to order some online. Oi gioi oi!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKonmr_MwhCTm-6T4nKzlksk8tFrSdwbszT_ayteYAcpOAPuQoNkU8a6Vx7NDPlignAquOmF5Twds89xqls6QvCsLblHGl-3j8wh9GYBV1KlLnki_-rh3UdJuchKm2Fp4IVRU3BIGiA1w/s1600/2012-12-15+13.26.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKonmr_MwhCTm-6T4nKzlksk8tFrSdwbszT_ayteYAcpOAPuQoNkU8a6Vx7NDPlignAquOmF5Twds89xqls6QvCsLblHGl-3j8wh9GYBV1KlLnki_-rh3UdJuchKm2Fp4IVRU3BIGiA1w/s320/2012-12-15+13.26.13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>I bought my own snowflakes for our house, it's getting festive in here!</i></div>
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Last night we had an ugly sweater party for a friend's birthday and a going away party also....thanks to my mama, we got into it:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4FVzVyU-gLWRxcAa_jz1VDBU_2exm-9HC4kH3q_A1VmHqi1izz0M6e0B-Q0RA8robezhi_dGEoe4gm-setip9z2ChEeKBw-UkRQQIV8_BzfiRlKJkeXLuSC_oK9ZgFBzGvSfqtVVmro/s1600/2012-12-15+19.08.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4FVzVyU-gLWRxcAa_jz1VDBU_2exm-9HC4kH3q_A1VmHqi1izz0M6e0B-Q0RA8robezhi_dGEoe4gm-setip9z2ChEeKBw-UkRQQIV8_BzfiRlKJkeXLuSC_oK9ZgFBzGvSfqtVVmro/s320/2012-12-15+19.08.13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Hubs and his ugly sweater....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZhEUVg4c3ac8r3mpBlxf3pQVgcpYp5SF6_GbvzduPb5uuxCQv7lebaPUcnCpjHPDuXLqJL2IFGaZwc7SETbW8QpFaMXuteDt-6YoBXU5pjT8RyLz8uzE4nYddG3ugsMmG-ju3XZWY6k/s1600/2012-12-15+19.14.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZhEUVg4c3ac8r3mpBlxf3pQVgcpYp5SF6_GbvzduPb5uuxCQv7lebaPUcnCpjHPDuXLqJL2IFGaZwc7SETbW8QpFaMXuteDt-6YoBXU5pjT8RyLz8uzE4nYddG3ugsMmG-ju3XZWY6k/s320/2012-12-15+19.14.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The peanut butter balls! Ready for the party!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4AOBHiAvQUHQeGJhMVKBPaTEKigulxHlf_fzKVHO8VbPSz_KptbufpTRfy6wiBCOwgyHJ7CbBfO8V9m5RHQk6hrbtDKQUWWZ0MaN6S2TQuGC1Eh-TugL5BFzRx7B6Q_DLFCd6Ssu3rg/s1600/2012-12-15+19.17.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4AOBHiAvQUHQeGJhMVKBPaTEKigulxHlf_fzKVHO8VbPSz_KptbufpTRfy6wiBCOwgyHJ7CbBfO8V9m5RHQk6hrbtDKQUWWZ0MaN6S2TQuGC1Eh-TugL5BFzRx7B6Q_DLFCd6Ssu3rg/s320/2012-12-15+19.17.44.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Taking the elevator to the party....it was only 5 floors away, but the stairs are sketchy...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtooAukkPPqG72_guUp24-3Scc-z7dh2LD9cyspY11bLGzigHfJv9J2tycyE_KxggUJQ6cTv8CB4zGIqKr_bKzH58kimVNzxzFkxnN5kgptgYjxdefEBfUW6rSzs2KANYR6D7GbqEXZAo/s1600/2012-12-15+19.20.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtooAukkPPqG72_guUp24-3Scc-z7dh2LD9cyspY11bLGzigHfJv9J2tycyE_KxggUJQ6cTv8CB4zGIqKr_bKzH58kimVNzxzFkxnN5kgptgYjxdefEBfUW6rSzs2KANYR6D7GbqEXZAo/s320/2012-12-15+19.20.53.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Oh fer cute....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTp9ZlPOjTXLZVI2N5cIz87KAysdMYUsUv7xuSP6xSwAohqNFAsI3vqsvgLz8nZtMAgDEu0jHfsF_Q1UNeILr-j1HfaUGFv2hsxbtXwNQB4oHUmk2G45O1CqhUZXwlisefOJk3tWMYKFA/s1600/2012-12-15+20.20.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTp9ZlPOjTXLZVI2N5cIz87KAysdMYUsUv7xuSP6xSwAohqNFAsI3vqsvgLz8nZtMAgDEu0jHfsF_Q1UNeILr-j1HfaUGFv2hsxbtXwNQB4oHUmk2G45O1CqhUZXwlisefOJk3tWMYKFA/s320/2012-12-15+20.20.17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Ugly sweaters!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0wEy37zoKKRVWGAqpuGfjPp8WLrohyphenhyphen_HWHL4DEgObJjIvYWQ6N1qIXVXV84BbZuQdadl1ajrFxa0_M_zfS5_RDvaHK7TwvirU5enFSFIsfu_DFztxujhKhMUAIMJFlMy0LS3feLZWrw/s1600/2012-12-15+20.21.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0wEy37zoKKRVWGAqpuGfjPp8WLrohyphenhyphen_HWHL4DEgObJjIvYWQ6N1qIXVXV84BbZuQdadl1ajrFxa0_M_zfS5_RDvaHK7TwvirU5enFSFIsfu_DFztxujhKhMUAIMJFlMy0LS3feLZWrw/s320/2012-12-15+20.21.03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>More "ugly" sweaters</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL365hpjZSEZDjAAfT82M-brxB7Q3I9LauLfm_mflN9rB3b-EUN5uoGvzWM7MXoF1s67z5kNJZbeW2ArU0ba1szyfftdkD-bb2hz-8XkobdBw3QvhB84LLXUULtkWEW1vFeodYA-2hRZA/s1600/2012-12-15+20.22.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL365hpjZSEZDjAAfT82M-brxB7Q3I9LauLfm_mflN9rB3b-EUN5uoGvzWM7MXoF1s67z5kNJZbeW2ArU0ba1szyfftdkD-bb2hz-8XkobdBw3QvhB84LLXUULtkWEW1vFeodYA-2hRZA/s320/2012-12-15+20.22.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The cutest sisters in HaNoi</i></div>
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<i>Happy birthday Sam--Jenny; we are going to miss you!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJGDw1FeDMup9TSh12lxVFCAbn-gH5OygkLSSUt78eYJf7e-zU0QLJIS1Q99oYMfzfWWtUdEa_p8dbJpDqJzVYtlEATZVZs4KAo1tOkwn3XvTMWtoMvE1d4Qj6kJxXeRGrWNw5Z8MTL8/s1600/2012-12-15+20.22.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJGDw1FeDMup9TSh12lxVFCAbn-gH5OygkLSSUt78eYJf7e-zU0QLJIS1Q99oYMfzfWWtUdEa_p8dbJpDqJzVYtlEATZVZs4KAo1tOkwn3XvTMWtoMvE1d4Qj6kJxXeRGrWNw5Z8MTL8/s320/2012-12-15+20.22.59.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>These ladies make ugly sweaters look good!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGrl0TtV0hZ3-5MLrwvuNaPGM7n-wVRjNuNYU2y6BVnHo-LP5D8xHpklrb0c3cnjCPI12m7PRl-IRnuZ64-C_FNCvKqg23pK_MeukQpRTJOdHBOJ6ysNyRTsFf9pd7HzRESrAorP2HwM/s1600/2012-12-15+20.25.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGrl0TtV0hZ3-5MLrwvuNaPGM7n-wVRjNuNYU2y6BVnHo-LP5D8xHpklrb0c3cnjCPI12m7PRl-IRnuZ64-C_FNCvKqg23pK_MeukQpRTJOdHBOJ6ysNyRTsFf9pd7HzRESrAorP2HwM/s320/2012-12-15+20.25.51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>SO FUN!</i></div>
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This morning we went to a Hanukkah brunch and I was so overwhelmed by the amazing latkes and quiches that I forgot to take photos! Whoops....It was a lot of fun. One of the highlights was a little boy singing "dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of play-doh"<which he did!> The Hubs and another friend got schooled playing dreidel with two kids and we had a lovely morning. </div>
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This next week will be a little more low key....well, probably not.</div>
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!</div>
<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-10795830736948490912012-12-11T06:49:00.002-08:002012-12-11T06:49:13.767-08:00Santa, Smoothies, and more of the Stove Saga:)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This past Saturday was our Mission Holiday Party. </div>
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It was at the Deputy Chief of Mission residence, and a jolly good time; Santa made an appearance, there was cookie decorating and craft tables for the kids, the DCM's famous punch and spiced wine AND Christmas carols! It definitely helped me get into the holiday spirit:) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyISoe5ecMDXNeqYughMBcVwI1NGRSREfM79ojqyJC3Ic6UIcNr6Z5ZRRVqaDLcqQMHe0slvsyiT5I2-8016yeKTAUOvAk4x6GW8zCtGHiSrr4vkPkP9C4H83vwXSTIASlvid7teHbiLk/s1600/2012-12-08+16.18.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyISoe5ecMDXNeqYughMBcVwI1NGRSREfM79ojqyJC3Ic6UIcNr6Z5ZRRVqaDLcqQMHe0slvsyiT5I2-8016yeKTAUOvAk4x6GW8zCtGHiSrr4vkPkP9C4H83vwXSTIASlvid7teHbiLk/s320/2012-12-08+16.18.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Work of art: an entire Salmon</i></div>
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<i>Turkey and Ham was also served</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53PzgKQt76G7AScszxxANXbTj5pajjeClBR8eJIccgcgNpVq02tmrCb-xeSiRG_ng1kpDa6KIO8V4sL-qfScgS-E7LefnfK5t8VGCoAq3K-Az9Y1sFb0BXDZ5VtyAREQoJqAHvcSWz0Y/s1600/2012-12-08+16.55.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53PzgKQt76G7AScszxxANXbTj5pajjeClBR8eJIccgcgNpVq02tmrCb-xeSiRG_ng1kpDa6KIO8V4sL-qfScgS-E7LefnfK5t8VGCoAq3K-Az9Y1sFb0BXDZ5VtyAREQoJqAHvcSWz0Y/s320/2012-12-08+16.55.45.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>The craft and cookie table by CLO(my office) there are a lot of talented artists here!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Wqq-hxWuXpdoyRMw2ygDAGPBZt_IMgJBw3xDPn8rIiju6cUDgA9ldilVvdyAXhn_UrFsuGrVMYAQI4i_-YUZw_AUftRm7-kHdrvbDvjlWlOZAl97uHbpY-fmJz9Da3HRPNujuGfk1pE/s1600/2012-12-08+16.55.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Wqq-hxWuXpdoyRMw2ygDAGPBZt_IMgJBw3xDPn8rIiju6cUDgA9ldilVvdyAXhn_UrFsuGrVMYAQI4i_-YUZw_AUftRm7-kHdrvbDvjlWlOZAl97uHbpY-fmJz9Da3HRPNujuGfk1pE/s320/2012-12-08+16.55.53.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>The beautiful tree</i></div>
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<i>Super Santa!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAHjEc3jKHxaPL5koEeSrDRFdOrHLMYcqF1fZe378VrH4sJvKyrAHkgj5_cbIw5jzafleKgAJZHEteApjkCyuz7qk-QWdK7xnhwB26JflPYum3VVIYlVu6e3VlGunbnkrAFoYakSVj9I/s1600/santa2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAHjEc3jKHxaPL5koEeSrDRFdOrHLMYcqF1fZe378VrH4sJvKyrAHkgj5_cbIw5jzafleKgAJZHEteApjkCyuz7qk-QWdK7xnhwB26JflPYum3VVIYlVu6e3VlGunbnkrAFoYakSVj9I/s320/santa2012.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<i>Me with Bad Santa</i></div>
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<i>isn't he getting a little handsy? Yes, he apologized. </i></div>
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<i>Now I know why some of the kids were calling me "Santa's wife" and "Mrs. Claus"</i></div>
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<i>Carols for everyone! </i></div>
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It was a fun night. I am continuously amazed by what a great group of people that we are surrounded by.</div>
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On Sunday morning, I decided to try out the fabric market with some girlfriends. We made a day of it; fabric market, lunch and a movie. However, we had so much fun at the market that our lunch ended up being popcorn--we didn't even make it through HALF of it!</div>
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<i>The view from the second floor of the fabric market</i></div>
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<i>One of the stalls, I was a bit overwhelmed, but I bought some fun material</i></div>
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<i>A corner in the fabric market, so many colors!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXZ2uOG2vPYxJDwtQey_GRAepsAXctLvOfyaYxX5DrLOGD3vRRrBM8GaEGXlK2MAeOD1_aD3IWRuHKlv2kYW0K9b5VjaKRyN-Lw_W7ts-nGFhoS4z3V1nOANXepN-aDsQUxZDHTFQQqU/s1600/2012-12-09+12.33.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXZ2uOG2vPYxJDwtQey_GRAepsAXctLvOfyaYxX5DrLOGD3vRRrBM8GaEGXlK2MAeOD1_aD3IWRuHKlv2kYW0K9b5VjaKRyN-Lw_W7ts-nGFhoS4z3V1nOANXepN-aDsQUxZDHTFQQqU/s320/2012-12-09+12.33.42.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Another corner. The fun never ended! I bought enough fabric for two dresses, one shirt and a pair of pants for under $30! </i></div>
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Now I just need my tailor to get working. Luckily she is coming over on Sunday to bring me my dresses for Hong Kong NYE. </div>
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On Monday night I came home to another fabulous meal my Ms. H. She has not made us one thing twice yet!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUp-aBxPXfWeZFbu7MJuLUVCiCXlc09h6rmUN2Uf7cuitZjTDFVjhaGn5v9JkSp0bH507v9dYNL6ncdt1L1yX0lx0E-JXQ_7SgR5KwOcExdAP4XaCqOJOvKFfM09Uj-BePIR-JzW-g2-Y/s1600/2012-12-10+19.43.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUp-aBxPXfWeZFbu7MJuLUVCiCXlc09h6rmUN2Uf7cuitZjTDFVjhaGn5v9JkSp0bH507v9dYNL6ncdt1L1yX0lx0E-JXQ_7SgR5KwOcExdAP4XaCqOJOvKFfM09Uj-BePIR-JzW-g2-Y/s320/2012-12-10+19.43.56.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Pho Ga</i></div>
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<i>aka</i></div>
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<i>Chicken noodle soup</i></div>
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<i>Ms. H's version has MUCH more herbs which I LOVE</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRls7zyooBuRRXDbWvSf4m1F-WjdiYqJV54LHy7cs2TjDZ6INodk-Xegj4J00O21dILRYdijkFMCh3PI-49OD-4NF9zRwmeuHScp1apkh5P_D6Ra4cK8jwHKynfwgLz7_s3ubHMkEDpQ/s1600/2012-12-10+19.46.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRls7zyooBuRRXDbWvSf4m1F-WjdiYqJV54LHy7cs2TjDZ6INodk-Xegj4J00O21dILRYdijkFMCh3PI-49OD-4NF9zRwmeuHScp1apkh5P_D6Ra4cK8jwHKynfwgLz7_s3ubHMkEDpQ/s320/2012-12-10+19.46.13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Tamarind Lemongrass clams that will rock your world, it rocked ours</i></div>
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<i>I asked her to prepare less fruit for us and she did this instead: </i></div>
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<i>Coconut cream Mango Banana Passionfruit Smoothies! </i></div>
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<i>Mind=Blown</i></div>
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We are very well fed. </div>
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Today an embassy colleague took me out to lunch at <a href="http://tnhvietnam.xemzi.com/en/spot/8157/the-bistro-restaurant-hanoi">Bistro</a> to talk about upcoming events. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiid3NDY_t168HwFX70yX8rHPYfUJCK4gqdUDhDVqy3_BL_p-9s40VY91_YJvMfY-hiQ0xSc3iC3VvoRnRSabum_j68xy5-2euV-pcrqWStiRDYhRP1chisAcgenpDOGRXtOV4N18qsh0Y/s1600/2012-12-11+12.18.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiid3NDY_t168HwFX70yX8rHPYfUJCK4gqdUDhDVqy3_BL_p-9s40VY91_YJvMfY-hiQ0xSc3iC3VvoRnRSabum_j68xy5-2euV-pcrqWStiRDYhRP1chisAcgenpDOGRXtOV4N18qsh0Y/s320/2012-12-11+12.18.33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Mushroom and chicken soup</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaed0Ot_leMiaGplqybqpP_6Ez5j3CT9WEnv4GVyMllQ7FLxqtYkzIT698pm9i0zzva39ZGA5RTJOdGqS98I28cQiPU-WUlpUrEcL06myubBqKcFgXyiHoCURcB0VbJ8UuyCx24Q0a4k/s1600/2012-12-11+12.26.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaed0Ot_leMiaGplqybqpP_6Ez5j3CT9WEnv4GVyMllQ7FLxqtYkzIT698pm9i0zzva39ZGA5RTJOdGqS98I28cQiPU-WUlpUrEcL06myubBqKcFgXyiHoCURcB0VbJ8UuyCx24Q0a4k/s320/2012-12-11+12.26.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Prawn and Mixed Vegetable salad</i></div>
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It was good, but then our taxi driver took us for a RIDE on the way home. We made it back in time for work though, safe and sound.</div>
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Tonight I decided to tackle the stove once again, this time without the borrowed oven temperature gage from M. I think I checked on them every five minutes.....</div>
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and.....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7-8g8M005war-GMlu6K9jXZdovG1_ZNAhyGs0GCzEj_iWi9u_2rBK-JpDJIEiELd6dnBsdVGfXAuT6ErRACx8KLgrra1Whs5lIYSMdgAWLcu_LiM5SZ397YzU0SFUQAR-ZcN-Vh0HlI/s1600/2012-12-11+21.03.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7-8g8M005war-GMlu6K9jXZdovG1_ZNAhyGs0GCzEj_iWi9u_2rBK-JpDJIEiELd6dnBsdVGfXAuT6ErRACx8KLgrra1Whs5lIYSMdgAWLcu_LiM5SZ397YzU0SFUQAR-ZcN-Vh0HlI/s320/2012-12-11+21.03.20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>TA-DA!!!! </i></div>
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<i>Now one of my favorite parts of Christmas has been realized in Vietnam: </i></div>
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<i>Grandma E's cinnamon rolls! </i></div>
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<i>Now I just need to make Grandma G's fudge and it will all be complete...</i></div>
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The Holiday Spirit is All Around!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsfwunR0hgk1ZVZHezzkGwsOREOh9VFOX_te_ozklxy0m52W64vnqQfBy2LH20i7QOP0Quo8AB9PMyJSew-WkgzKcPZNPyhFKrWXTgY_aNH1VDOnJX7KL15w7O6mJV_2Qm3eKXqAHp4I/s1600/2012-12-11+21.40.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsfwunR0hgk1ZVZHezzkGwsOREOh9VFOX_te_ozklxy0m52W64vnqQfBy2LH20i7QOP0Quo8AB9PMyJSew-WkgzKcPZNPyhFKrWXTgY_aNH1VDOnJX7KL15w7O6mJV_2Qm3eKXqAHp4I/s320/2012-12-11+21.40.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>I added a festive twist, we will see what Grandma E thinks about it</i></div>
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<i>(she is an avid blog follower-</i><i>Hi Gram!)</i></div>
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These are coming with me to work tomorrow, yes, I saved some for Hubs and I to have at home. We will see how quickly they go...and how many of my colleagues actually read this!</div>
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To conclude this post, I wanted to share with you an amazing light display video that my Yoma sent us:</div>
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<i>Enjoy!</i></div>
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<a href="http://www.flixxy.com/best-christmas-lights-display.htm#.UMckxu09DFI">Best Christmas Lights Display EVER</a></div>
<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-87756544069876639662012-12-09T02:21:00.001-08:002012-12-09T03:13:49.561-08:00It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's been a very festive week. Lots of dinners, lunches and holiday shopping. The weather is getting colder (50-65 degrees), scarves are coming out and several shops have decorated for Christmas. It's definitely helping me get into the holiday spirit....</div>
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This week I had dinner with some girls at <a href="http://www.labadiane-hanoi.com/">La Badiane</a>. It's a fancy little place with US prices, but it's a work of art. I tried the three course gastronomic menu:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0DB637HLfTUZHVcVwPoNk7_MC2Pn7aaW0Rgp9K6de5wXtIAbAXFhjqCI3WTCQzq73jZhGQeCWh_epszky3euw1XzdcU901skeIoPmzi-xdU4ffBK4mC5hmSEEcPx4L_mwLAMPxf3ljc/s1600/badiane1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0DB637HLfTUZHVcVwPoNk7_MC2Pn7aaW0Rgp9K6de5wXtIAbAXFhjqCI3WTCQzq73jZhGQeCWh_epszky3euw1XzdcU901skeIoPmzi-xdU4ffBK4mC5hmSEEcPx4L_mwLAMPxf3ljc/s320/badiane1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Crab “remoulade” in ginger essential oil, beetroot Carpaccio & Dalat asparagus</span></span></span></em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUm9rVwKFjzX51TDz-NNSVCnLkrOj_YVTexIBY8irWF34vHpqxoxQ6ChSUTwvQRlTH_tBgPZJmJQP2uVcYfJADFKCCVv3fwGTO8CTzkCFr6_QdPufTv4G2XUtOh7bGLK7Z_2Lzt7GcPjs/s1600/badiane2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUm9rVwKFjzX51TDz-NNSVCnLkrOj_YVTexIBY8irWF34vHpqxoxQ6ChSUTwvQRlTH_tBgPZJmJQP2uVcYfJADFKCCVv3fwGTO8CTzkCFr6_QdPufTv4G2XUtOh7bGLK7Z_2Lzt7GcPjs/s320/badiane2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Prawns & sesame, leek in coconut & curry, mashed sweet potatoes, lemon grass emulsion</span></span></span></em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrrt-IZDCKX4UYuNNcrRJzhUEaLNyaRb91CkMLAZ1VilvUXX6QH-xRw-ZJ-OOTtTMG4P-fJO2y0zZmM6fFynGtXAJfjtAWw4z1YgH9lfDdeo0KknGXYqkqzMi9U3AT23rFCZSTjmBuyU/s1600/badiane3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrrt-IZDCKX4UYuNNcrRJzhUEaLNyaRb91CkMLAZ1VilvUXX6QH-xRw-ZJ-OOTtTMG4P-fJO2y0zZmM6fFynGtXAJfjtAWw4z1YgH9lfDdeo0KknGXYqkqzMi9U3AT23rFCZSTjmBuyU/s320/badiane3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hot mellow chocolate with Grand Marnier, tangerine sorbet & coffee deglaze</span></span></span></em></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></span></em></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not only was this the same week as the holiday party, but it's also my assistant M's last week in the office, we are really going to miss her! Yet, this is the life of the Foreign Service, we are all constantly saying hello and goodbye. One perk of goodbyes are the parties/celebrations.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">M, V and I went to Quan Nem for a farewell lunch.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qjFh7ZdQi7BKoxM7zFiKapJymEMDB1Lq1PXBGK2-c5dCwy7GB4ZEjfalgY2zPK0fFcYgjiOLMho6UtpFUHqTPR_z3aOBF_xIFHS6CMhEgYME6oY-0JrcXoHkYVbGwOER8SxOD949ELk/s1600/2012-12-04+12.09.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qjFh7ZdQi7BKoxM7zFiKapJymEMDB1Lq1PXBGK2-c5dCwy7GB4ZEjfalgY2zPK0fFcYgjiOLMho6UtpFUHqTPR_z3aOBF_xIFHS6CMhEgYME6oY-0JrcXoHkYVbGwOER8SxOD949ELk/s320/2012-12-04+12.09.46.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Cutesy stir straws make everything better</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByS8rvr9X1hmWtMxFmRnDIOwNdSqBHeiwSiyWDR4FdO8tZlkWJc98mbh4KsFfouC_3EADkrXKA5uFDGQ2T5NASRUq-GLrpJfLy7TZxT4iezC3bdKOs1NR0K3gr-Gs_MhiIt96W8xW2Xw/s1600/2012-12-04+12.17.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByS8rvr9X1hmWtMxFmRnDIOwNdSqBHeiwSiyWDR4FdO8tZlkWJc98mbh4KsFfouC_3EADkrXKA5uFDGQ2T5NASRUq-GLrpJfLy7TZxT4iezC3bdKOs1NR0K3gr-Gs_MhiIt96W8xW2Xw/s320/2012-12-04+12.17.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>There is never enough Nem</i></div>
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<i>We three couldn't finish it!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk78uBzQ-329cxNf9a5fUsNamQ7ARwCgQzFho4rDQ4MvYWXsCF9O4cenrKwe4NoV2AbzV1HPguh5Vzl3npUGPCfhUGHRZNEneajNpug0PsAj6SgiULxVFviP1beyIuWWmfMXkRa2CsPI8/s1600/2012-12-04+12.17.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk78uBzQ-329cxNf9a5fUsNamQ7ARwCgQzFho4rDQ4MvYWXsCF9O4cenrKwe4NoV2AbzV1HPguh5Vzl3npUGPCfhUGHRZNEneajNpug0PsAj6SgiULxVFviP1beyIuWWmfMXkRa2CsPI8/s320/2012-12-04+12.17.26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The full spread: nem, noodles, herbs and fish sauce</i></div>
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<i>I don't think I'll ever be sick of it!</i></div>
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After the lunch, V and I went shopping for the Mission holiday Party..</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7uemw-zAJbC2dH-sUG7EagJQSMLoYolA6AHf6o-ssKcsqu7p8VcVOzrIB3RT46ARrGDWA8H9reSBy_gQ3aAnys3C4KIwMSVgUSrJ7bJz45eP2124E5az0ESyc5J6AG9WPllmsFo4miM/s1600/2012-12-05+13.50.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7uemw-zAJbC2dH-sUG7EagJQSMLoYolA6AHf6o-ssKcsqu7p8VcVOzrIB3RT46ARrGDWA8H9reSBy_gQ3aAnys3C4KIwMSVgUSrJ7bJz45eP2124E5az0ESyc5J6AG9WPllmsFo4miM/s320/2012-12-05+13.50.26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Hang Ma street is full of holiday cheer!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Gv8zNkN52eSl7k2SUiQidhOnVCkjzZ1KstqAB7YdnryKwm0aIyNDPMcLPF9voR5rU9N22BgcqOPx5BPDomntBguAifi_NCc4kEerCyE8TtfIIGQDOKeBT-zuSMlScv4Zip_yELc5prE/s1600/2012-12-05+13.51.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Gv8zNkN52eSl7k2SUiQidhOnVCkjzZ1KstqAB7YdnryKwm0aIyNDPMcLPF9voR5rU9N22BgcqOPx5BPDomntBguAifi_NCc4kEerCyE8TtfIIGQDOKeBT-zuSMlScv4Zip_yELc5prE/s320/2012-12-05+13.51.28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Santas, anyone?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPjCbSxIzOI2jX52-_c_MtO9WwpUDeVltKI0fOFMLeCzshb130_dJLZI4SUyq4OqjQy1BhbPw7brMZjC69f3wFvv1Oo90EV9TR_JEaG8IbaI6o7vkHZC5mCfZ5086mWx997CQ8aQrAIU/s1600/2012-12-05+13.52.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPjCbSxIzOI2jX52-_c_MtO9WwpUDeVltKI0fOFMLeCzshb130_dJLZI4SUyq4OqjQy1BhbPw7brMZjC69f3wFvv1Oo90EV9TR_JEaG8IbaI6o7vkHZC5mCfZ5086mWx997CQ8aQrAIU/s320/2012-12-05+13.52.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Stockings and nicknacks galore!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjTBYHgXGMpGvRsj0PrYf-cijaDZ1-uE5bZdnalDlLZcqS4q6Zrh6rEoV9bZ5ByeXYN1Oa0wibeqS3EfGW_X19MrxYgz6gG7xFH8Tz8KIE7h7FDq3TruVCjF3U9HAG6C0cPMWEPJxVZk/s1600/2012-12-05+13.53.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjTBYHgXGMpGvRsj0PrYf-cijaDZ1-uE5bZdnalDlLZcqS4q6Zrh6rEoV9bZ5ByeXYN1Oa0wibeqS3EfGW_X19MrxYgz6gG7xFH8Tz8KIE7h7FDq3TruVCjF3U9HAG6C0cPMWEPJxVZk/s320/2012-12-05+13.53.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Who needs snow when you have styrofoam?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXl47Mce45FZoFDSRfZsOeZl0cmS2BC_nbuXUGQMEZwhr7YXTjms4XTpxy64BcxGVJ-97ZNCr8tXhqNyOvfXueHVV6uh-oWEtCCr8qZykqXHBd3taJVHmCkqJ579kEyKf-4W14JPffBA0/s1600/2012-12-05+13.57.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXl47Mce45FZoFDSRfZsOeZl0cmS2BC_nbuXUGQMEZwhr7YXTjms4XTpxy64BcxGVJ-97ZNCr8tXhqNyOvfXueHVV6uh-oWEtCCr8qZykqXHBd3taJVHmCkqJ579kEyKf-4W14JPffBA0/s320/2012-12-05+13.57.35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Even the birdcages are getting festive</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzUqRmbVOUUXLtMG8NniJX-gBPHQ8jufp2lOOMMzjz4O_XQBuPwytFuDQ13En0YgWHsmbY5sQ4e9eAkF1yOLgOxfN5Adh941VyGEQWkr0fCcee0zWT3Wbq9qXObEv89q5VfdaLYo3b3s/s1600/2012-12-05+14.42.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzUqRmbVOUUXLtMG8NniJX-gBPHQ8jufp2lOOMMzjz4O_XQBuPwytFuDQ13En0YgWHsmbY5sQ4e9eAkF1yOLgOxfN5Adh941VyGEQWkr0fCcee0zWT3Wbq9qXObEv89q5VfdaLYo3b3s/s320/2012-12-05+14.42.49.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Metro wholesale, the Costco of Ha Noi</i></div>
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The HIWC Christmas lunch was this week. We celebrated the HIWC Bazaar's success(it raised over $115,000 USD for local charities!), ate great food and danced a bit. I never thought I would be dancing in the middle of the afternoon at the Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel....or living in Hanoi for that matter!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir44iFkcixD5pUes0xJZ_6TzuSxaY4LfLtJjEatSeXUZk7hVcEOSbKLRTWSzUIuH5lF6MJ2-lsMPlsvmzrXz_m3TR-wZN46kgoDpAbKCahJCqUWquNMSsEZ5ovQGaQpK4N2QfLDujVdow/s1600/2012-12-06+13.03.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir44iFkcixD5pUes0xJZ_6TzuSxaY4LfLtJjEatSeXUZk7hVcEOSbKLRTWSzUIuH5lF6MJ2-lsMPlsvmzrXz_m3TR-wZN46kgoDpAbKCahJCqUWquNMSsEZ5ovQGaQpK4N2QfLDujVdow/s320/2012-12-06+13.03.19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Even Casual Santa showed up!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiUkgbZbEZiF8E61M2B7IAJGeFmFRr8pnkXZhtMrQlL-TunkHd2UiKyNzDOQnLhRWEoKw6-FETs6eONJ86hHuEzjdZdPJDk2Ie6IPUtzeeVRtjyFgCpj6lfoT_uLoSUUahygVmIBYATk/s1600/2012-12-06+13.07.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiUkgbZbEZiF8E61M2B7IAJGeFmFRr8pnkXZhtMrQlL-TunkHd2UiKyNzDOQnLhRWEoKw6-FETs6eONJ86hHuEzjdZdPJDk2Ie6IPUtzeeVRtjyFgCpj6lfoT_uLoSUUahygVmIBYATk/s320/2012-12-06+13.07.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Timbale of Eggplant and Chickpeas</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0UXjJqa3npArNWhEtNgdVgGOLubHnIvCHfHSgcFWW4nzqkTTt2TnOuSOh0DzK0If5bE00YJnxJ-yfZpj_5ugm9pKJTHXpxRYwoSgjlgZYRgqOHLQeVHw6gmSUo3jeaQIVkjrUmwHVAo/s1600/2012-12-06+13.45.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0UXjJqa3npArNWhEtNgdVgGOLubHnIvCHfHSgcFWW4nzqkTTt2TnOuSOh0DzK0If5bE00YJnxJ-yfZpj_5ugm9pKJTHXpxRYwoSgjlgZYRgqOHLQeVHw6gmSUo3jeaQIVkjrUmwHVAo/s320/2012-12-06+13.45.11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Roasted turkey and herbed mashed potatoes and cranberry gravy</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ouVqYtif3ynXwsSvEdijxy51u7X7TzQwscud8U4XDayDz0mVrJX7iKIOgFltHSIO4bCKSI-vYq-PiQDklT91Vn2g9Vi8i0MxhtvpvAJRflLp_0KwPIQktc7IcnqpLcJkJwfeGPn7lks/s1600/2012-12-06+14.29.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ouVqYtif3ynXwsSvEdijxy51u7X7TzQwscud8U4XDayDz0mVrJX7iKIOgFltHSIO4bCKSI-vYq-PiQDklT91Vn2g9Vi8i0MxhtvpvAJRflLp_0KwPIQktc7IcnqpLcJkJwfeGPn7lks/s320/2012-12-06+14.29.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Christmas holiday log</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhOA5anjcCiMwjkpY93mK032Mh8LMxcKcIXUCla50NyLEPVAFpnoZNbwyQ7RlvsUrfRQFvugRsGyNX9MqFC0WMuZ_T2BvUD2vI0YyfHG9iDTPws1kSvA2uE9UTSBjGZG1vHDiLQo8Y8Q/s1600/2012-12-06+14.58.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhOA5anjcCiMwjkpY93mK032Mh8LMxcKcIXUCla50NyLEPVAFpnoZNbwyQ7RlvsUrfRQFvugRsGyNX9MqFC0WMuZ_T2BvUD2vI0YyfHG9iDTPws1kSvA2uE9UTSBjGZG1vHDiLQo8Y8Q/s320/2012-12-06+14.58.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The tree in the Hilton lobby, so cute!</i></div>
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Hubs and I have been social butterflies, so we decided it was time for a date night. We chose to try <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293924-d1124698-Reviews-Quan_An_Ngon-Hanoi.html">Quan An Ngon</a>. It was filled with Westerners and Vietnamese. Hubs was felt up by a wasted British man who told him that he looked like Robbie Williams and rubbed his abs. It was HUGE. I was told 150 people are employed there, mostly students.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf23JGOxY-K6tK5-ZbQ-qGD4ci0nmuvotlOBhyiBJIKksJhNS-5hLWZtD7-Ge_t8OeWvetelqMGR0NCBXtRVTtHYNU2aPkis99Z_52oxlwl_K13yzihJNNliePrRsLd0QVzqNWHXii8r4/s1600/2012-12-06+18.28.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf23JGOxY-K6tK5-ZbQ-qGD4ci0nmuvotlOBhyiBJIKksJhNS-5hLWZtD7-Ge_t8OeWvetelqMGR0NCBXtRVTtHYNU2aPkis99Z_52oxlwl_K13yzihJNNliePrRsLd0QVzqNWHXii8r4/s320/2012-12-06+18.28.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Quan An Ngon</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtdjkPr2JIZgHKEV2tMybjGVM3IumNOICLMLHFfbX4CJREJey-ShuRzJOfFelEjWHfuJx3xFCqkrLLc76XbvY04Sl7ihsoFYKhnvXZccP0Ern6k-b2F2HZCEILiPfG3J_Y7CfyCGtra4/s1600/2012-12-06+18.32.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtdjkPr2JIZgHKEV2tMybjGVM3IumNOICLMLHFfbX4CJREJey-ShuRzJOfFelEjWHfuJx3xFCqkrLLc76XbvY04Sl7ihsoFYKhnvXZccP0Ern6k-b2F2HZCEILiPfG3J_Y7CfyCGtra4/s320/2012-12-06+18.32.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Personalized wet naps--a VN restaurant staple</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QvK5-upV9cgnt6fBZfgyNyvqdy_vEWoRPaJWcvODHM6GSAQA3hklCjPsOiXsRbO41jzLO0YcDLYdFnKbgUI_Aaoz3powrQO5P15g2xBbaT8gK_iEsuXlqOvcdp6y9aijSX0Dc8zan8w/s1600/2012-12-06+18.40.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QvK5-upV9cgnt6fBZfgyNyvqdy_vEWoRPaJWcvODHM6GSAQA3hklCjPsOiXsRbO41jzLO0YcDLYdFnKbgUI_Aaoz3powrQO5P15g2xBbaT8gK_iEsuXlqOvcdp6y9aijSX0Dc8zan8w/s320/2012-12-06+18.40.45.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Banh Xeo, it was almost as good as the one in Da Nang</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32bQx6dMJiCvpN7tazlI01FM8iVZnBlsX-qSQBngMXqQCxGG1PDviE81Mlwc6qwfuCi8jUGBm7ZAc2yZ42boKMvggsdX_39dAZAOGL-3pqmnSkeZfdd_YebheuRyIu6fbtr_5P-U2srQ/s1600/2012-12-06+18.44.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32bQx6dMJiCvpN7tazlI01FM8iVZnBlsX-qSQBngMXqQCxGG1PDviE81Mlwc6qwfuCi8jUGBm7ZAc2yZ42boKMvggsdX_39dAZAOGL-3pqmnSkeZfdd_YebheuRyIu6fbtr_5P-U2srQ/s320/2012-12-06+18.44.25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>More nem--are you sick of looking at it?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCADZe63WR9_flp-KbyEA9cHdxcCmBC3V8g067fyvVX_7JwWVRF1BJlaUK9mlFwTUC76ppTSY6xNumlw4LKo30EVs09oDTXu4llvLx1mkvcvZQPdWBcPt_aY7Td6T7bvqTXTeSTw2wV9E/s1600/2012-12-06+18.49.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCADZe63WR9_flp-KbyEA9cHdxcCmBC3V8g067fyvVX_7JwWVRF1BJlaUK9mlFwTUC76ppTSY6xNumlw4LKo30EVs09oDTXu4llvLx1mkvcvZQPdWBcPt_aY7Td6T7bvqTXTeSTw2wV9E/s320/2012-12-06+18.49.29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Would you like a side of MSG with your grilled shrimp?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wEFMUU12IoYgD43y2hxdluoCvEU3AzbbIcVQzHdr3vehd4bpaWYmlZFmkkPicbyvi-L3ZAgiY4e3gxqBwFFLa24uhn9cYK0dIMGXybGLvATgyYQDGCCI8qQ-X_h1HovhTvAuOSCIpg4/s1600/2012-12-06+18.49.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wEFMUU12IoYgD43y2hxdluoCvEU3AzbbIcVQzHdr3vehd4bpaWYmlZFmkkPicbyvi-L3ZAgiY4e3gxqBwFFLa24uhn9cYK0dIMGXybGLvATgyYQDGCCI8qQ-X_h1HovhTvAuOSCIpg4/s320/2012-12-06+18.49.58.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Lemongrass clams, different style. Not as good as street food.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfBpqqD837Wppe3LHjYxNcb7ioEraQZr8ivjzryuRxYONTi6o4bu7XVWtzz13zyleZ0E3GZP7jNgkQVbTcv407OzHckfoWkKJUTumhQlPv1g78SpHmpISHVFDM_Sk0gE3YTW-9-dWatc/s1600/2012-12-06+19.09.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfBpqqD837Wppe3LHjYxNcb7ioEraQZr8ivjzryuRxYONTi6o4bu7XVWtzz13zyleZ0E3GZP7jNgkQVbTcv407OzHckfoWkKJUTumhQlPv1g78SpHmpISHVFDM_Sk0gE3YTW-9-dWatc/s320/2012-12-06+19.09.11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The power went out after dinner, never a dull moment in Ha Noi!</i></div>
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As we can never have enough celebratory lunches, V and I took M out for dim sum on her last day.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulDVAdtdykirbAofLWn6L7CqsbcXWFceg6EiUUmfXQfkDwk3Y3MjSQEojbdBjrABKy0Qp-ViWkW6xqO1127Yr0MdQFXxWqBJwWud2Y8g2OrCkAVdxd0ypvB6Yly7S0qP-FQ7lo54k6SI/s1600/2012-12-07+12.22.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulDVAdtdykirbAofLWn6L7CqsbcXWFceg6EiUUmfXQfkDwk3Y3MjSQEojbdBjrABKy0Qp-ViWkW6xqO1127Yr0MdQFXxWqBJwWud2Y8g2OrCkAVdxd0ypvB6Yly7S0qP-FQ7lo54k6SI/s320/2012-12-07+12.22.01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Shark fin soup and Jasmine tea</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwuRqw9_aezqP2MzbpOrpS_b-GDxG3UgO_hytihoR-l1my4AKbqmUXCh3yXanlxtOXl_BHSQ4v7fiO5miFiKluVEbDzaMkJLQLQ7WiaqS-PoZQrN3nSDdZrYg3MAGmGSAPYZHZiiCLkI/s1600/2012-12-07+12.27.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwuRqw9_aezqP2MzbpOrpS_b-GDxG3UgO_hytihoR-l1my4AKbqmUXCh3yXanlxtOXl_BHSQ4v7fiO5miFiKluVEbDzaMkJLQLQ7WiaqS-PoZQrN3nSDdZrYg3MAGmGSAPYZHZiiCLkI/s320/2012-12-07+12.27.31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Assorted dumplings and chinese cabbage</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4Cv9TKB5XEcUxxCLQ-XnwsCFbwhQUfWtJw5_nRoaNkvXFlksdnjORnUybsGl8TnsecLnhR-h4WvPxfvT4d_PW36-44sbg1SRoKvbbg3KoVb841MAZh-nt8u-zlMn0zMIdx__I-0fnlQ/s1600/2012-12-07+12.29.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4Cv9TKB5XEcUxxCLQ-XnwsCFbwhQUfWtJw5_nRoaNkvXFlksdnjORnUybsGl8TnsecLnhR-h4WvPxfvT4d_PW36-44sbg1SRoKvbbg3KoVb841MAZh-nt8u-zlMn0zMIdx__I-0fnlQ/s320/2012-12-07+12.29.51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>BBQ pork dumplings</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQDWQfg5AipJoGn9mkIIMqDTI-YoZEdt1Dkr_YF9PiKnn3GV4RBmUYEfFnSQNlk_BQwMorNQSVpizRARRVrdlwNKIPaYkyScGcBF5Tp9KWDT4SbiW-8HjArJx0LYLHjJiQDSZrqbCXIQ/s1600/2012-12-07+12.30.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQDWQfg5AipJoGn9mkIIMqDTI-YoZEdt1Dkr_YF9PiKnn3GV4RBmUYEfFnSQNlk_BQwMorNQSVpizRARRVrdlwNKIPaYkyScGcBF5Tp9KWDT4SbiW-8HjArJx0LYLHjJiQDSZrqbCXIQ/s320/2012-12-07+12.30.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Seafood dumplings</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLsuCDE3kEI8CtV5s1bDIV1sVrw5gntNNO5VFmffx9EChrhBM3z-ZZD-34D7kbUn6IFHfdu5MJLEyVv62fhYfZ3A4n9vPycp6Peck1YLT-ySOqtQ4sqYN0lo3iyUob3At_f5YbN1lrhc/s1600/2012-12-07+12.33.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLsuCDE3kEI8CtV5s1bDIV1sVrw5gntNNO5VFmffx9EChrhBM3z-ZZD-34D7kbUn6IFHfdu5MJLEyVv62fhYfZ3A4n9vPycp6Peck1YLT-ySOqtQ4sqYN0lo3iyUob3At_f5YbN1lrhc/s320/2012-12-07+12.33.25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Taro and pan fried beef dumplings</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLdouYO1A8h2maCFjmmBlmv6P4pLIruNOHTiFYPSuFn2i03iZEWctmjivwjoSOJPypFCwSv3rYKQJWzfLwSiz2Luc3iu31iLQRlNDJDox4WMIHkut0QgnR2h3BFXq-aay5xGtHV2y4Rk/s1600/2012-12-07+12.34.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLdouYO1A8h2maCFjmmBlmv6P4pLIruNOHTiFYPSuFn2i03iZEWctmjivwjoSOJPypFCwSv3rYKQJWzfLwSiz2Luc3iu31iLQRlNDJDox4WMIHkut0QgnR2h3BFXq-aay5xGtHV2y4Rk/s320/2012-12-07+12.34.06.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Some kind of shrimp concoction, yes, it was as appetizing as it looks:(</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWnBMmR-9iq3VOphlIhfy2SKQW21ClumWGPdOQqa8Q40p4jCK8rt_-o6xbqQn1DJOGmDjDLxL8Eo5_TQ9JfeQabRhtxR-KzYF9SsdbKuxH4VH6Bh5wnXJWML6layBVl5CVhF748OVu8o/s1600/2012-12-07+13.08.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWnBMmR-9iq3VOphlIhfy2SKQW21ClumWGPdOQqa8Q40p4jCK8rt_-o6xbqQn1DJOGmDjDLxL8Eo5_TQ9JfeQabRhtxR-KzYF9SsdbKuxH4VH6Bh5wnXJWML6layBVl5CVhF748OVu8o/s320/2012-12-07+13.08.28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Mango pudding</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6K_mCsLmV1ZY3tcJbGvNopl3vyCxaPm95Bu0KHqEdGSn0AZWURgZy3-hJdAm6a1m15iqEWAUSgncJNBWHC_4wE3CZcrcYW9hxlU0aJEGoq8xv-Ks3mqfbvGFoQ0aWt7qCVtDFxbsiKc/s1600/2012-12-07+13.13.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6K_mCsLmV1ZY3tcJbGvNopl3vyCxaPm95Bu0KHqEdGSn0AZWURgZy3-hJdAm6a1m15iqEWAUSgncJNBWHC_4wE3CZcrcYW9hxlU0aJEGoq8xv-Ks3mqfbvGFoQ0aWt7qCVtDFxbsiKc/s320/2012-12-07+13.13.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Sesame and peanut dessert</i></div>
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I was so surprised that we were able to find so many things that we needed for the holiday party; stockings for the Marines, festive holiday sprinkles, ornaments, holiday frosting, stocking stuffers, etc. Vietnam is definitely IN the holiday spirit! At the last store that we went to, one of the ladies who works there asked me to translate something for her. Afterwards, V asked her what I get in return. She fussed about it, and then hesitantly shoved me a package.....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUG4sXWyEwWEz_eCHH7FC90L5je9h7D_yuoPdw9sQoN2OhSJzP14tASd6N1WTJjvwgwZlovK5ItnmyUkEJo7_r1FD7lpep2kbMbBo3w5QrnISP5nqEF_EdUB-2cDqHUCO4p6H1tTUwBCs/s1600/2012-12-07+17.34.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUG4sXWyEwWEz_eCHH7FC90L5je9h7D_yuoPdw9sQoN2OhSJzP14tASd6N1WTJjvwgwZlovK5ItnmyUkEJo7_r1FD7lpep2kbMbBo3w5QrnISP5nqEF_EdUB-2cDqHUCO4p6H1tTUwBCs/s320/2012-12-07+17.34.35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Marshmellow rats! Who doesn't love those? I cannot bring myself to eat them....</i></div>
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<b>I hope everyone is having a Happy Holiday season! </b></div>
<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-47189780739149363912012-12-03T06:11:00.002-08:002012-12-03T06:11:53.470-08:00Getting my hair did in Ha Noi....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have been very nervous about today. Today I had my first hair appointment in Ha Noi. I am always nervous when I get my hair done, even in the states. Perhaps it's because I have been spoiled having a mother who owns an amazing salon, but also because I have curly hair and it's almost never done right. </div>
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Luckily, I came home to an amazing dinner to take the pre-appointment edge off.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYjEBZN9zTcqslhOFRhFNCCb3W8uxX7m5HKrGALMw4QxkQIwKxOPGyeym_2Ru4ONzfuuAq02lF-2CYXE2iwbAcqRLHTY9CknHQbxJRF5ISbhwrSz-HT-8di7MDFiCtq0NDduqfyI0ugE/s1600/2012-12-03+17.33.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYjEBZN9zTcqslhOFRhFNCCb3W8uxX7m5HKrGALMw4QxkQIwKxOPGyeym_2Ru4ONzfuuAq02lF-2CYXE2iwbAcqRLHTY9CknHQbxJRF5ISbhwrSz-HT-8di7MDFiCtq0NDduqfyI0ugE/s320/2012-12-03+17.33.56.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Mi xao dac biet & papaya pineapple salad</i></div>
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<i>"mi xao" is a Vietnamese stir fry of noodles and veggies, we call it "dac biet"=special, because it also had squid and pork. We love Ms. H!</i></div>
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Before I went to my appointment I stopped by <a href="http://www.elitefitness.com.vn/fitness_facilities.php">Elite Fitness</a>. I won a 6 month membership at the HIWC Bazaar, I am SO amped! It's definitely one of the nicest gyms I have ever been to *and* it's the perfect motivation to start moving more.</div>
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Afterwards I headed over to <a href="http://tnhvietnam.xemzi.com/en/spot/8916/binhs-salon-hanoi">Binh's salon</a>. He was recommended to me by a new friend who teaches at the International School. She told me that most of the Danish folks get their hair done there. Since she is a fellow blonde and I liked her color, I trusted the recommendation. Mr. Quyen was my stylist and he was lovely from the beginning. His assistant started by brushing out my hair, she was so gentle and sweet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsddtxfcVWndOKVWd7bvVwKn63ttTNnnluxkAhLb0up4Y3iXXfVnZzu7KDhG_PVc4Mu-DhB_4HUrUDC7j5Mf4s93M8hwLW16a9tccOkSuQeaRgq3kAXa35215oXZNHh7oDIM6rT-zw8rU/s1600/2012-12-03+18.28.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsddtxfcVWndOKVWd7bvVwKn63ttTNnnluxkAhLb0up4Y3iXXfVnZzu7KDhG_PVc4Mu-DhB_4HUrUDC7j5Mf4s93M8hwLW16a9tccOkSuQeaRgq3kAXa35215oXZNHh7oDIM6rT-zw8rU/s320/2012-12-03+18.28.45.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>My hair has been looking so bad that I haven't wanted to show my face...well, not really--but you can see my roots from that far away, yuck!</i></div>
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The appointment included a 10-15 minute scalp massage(I lost track of the time, I was so happy) by his assistant followed by a haircut. He explained that we are not going to go any blonder, but should start doing lowlights. He also told me that he likes cutting layers in curly hair. I feel like he did everything that I wanted him to do without me telling him. It took two hours...</div>
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and....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXWcj9_LVIj8EA_sQtmne5c88IQEOmM8A8l-ajC1WxmKBpBnYS6Z1pztxncKuLNoQEAC8aiRAsUz4ASOAaSpPIA4WHMor5IGHmlG4Fta4d8eDwzA21coDHi5OttCE2k656j4H0cDDyw8/s1600/2012-12-03+20.18.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXWcj9_LVIj8EA_sQtmne5c88IQEOmM8A8l-ajC1WxmKBpBnYS6Z1pztxncKuLNoQEAC8aiRAsUz4ASOAaSpPIA4WHMor5IGHmlG4Fta4d8eDwzA21coDHi5OttCE2k656j4H0cDDyw8/s320/2012-12-03+20.18.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>ta-da!</i></div>
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<i>I am SO happy! Mr. Quyen is in the background:)</i></div>
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I told him to straighten it dry because it was quicker and his wife called him inquiring where he was during the appointment. He has a young daughter at home. </div>
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I highly recommend Mr. Quyen. I would say this is one of my top three haircuts/colors after my mama of course. This was another example of how to hope for the best and allow yourself to be surprised. Sometimes the best parts of life happen when you expect it the least.</div>
<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-51805480159475791092012-12-02T04:41:00.000-08:002012-12-02T04:41:08.341-08:00Repatriation Ceremony and much more...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
What a week!</div>
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I know, I am starting to say that every week. However, this one was incredibly fun. We went to a Repatriation Ceremony, our final Shipment of goods arrived, we attended a cocktail party, went to the pottery village, went to a baby shower and went to a cookie exchange. It was a bit much, even for us, but it was awesome. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgPeVxJ6-Pk16mW1wmIjBeWdz-xS8Ea0phcguZBy7bLkYB8R0qHmh6sZDxFjbyeE3ZsC4wy-0uPhM14u_vsE8VRsWbE8HabJUICi84L3RQpFyDuQZjxeljXw6NJ9MD-xicV68_Ne2yn0/s1600/2012-11-28+17.59.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgPeVxJ6-Pk16mW1wmIjBeWdz-xS8Ea0phcguZBy7bLkYB8R0qHmh6sZDxFjbyeE3ZsC4wy-0uPhM14u_vsE8VRsWbE8HabJUICi84L3RQpFyDuQZjxeljXw6NJ9MD-xicV68_Ne2yn0/s320/2012-11-28+17.59.45.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Ms. H's pork stuffed squid with garlic pumpkin greens and brown rice</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfKsN4Y74f9ZpPONpME2l7ZVUw4_T_g37fxBDWa4_Io-s6rP2LACxa6DvExOlIOY_4pWUHKA7U-wiMYrur6LLCfHUBShDwVFJPtb-f5xDKAkZ59ax0yg48OE7qnFajK3D3XatvaLSQJg/s1600/2012-11-30+06.55.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfKsN4Y74f9ZpPONpME2l7ZVUw4_T_g37fxBDWa4_Io-s6rP2LACxa6DvExOlIOY_4pWUHKA7U-wiMYrur6LLCfHUBShDwVFJPtb-f5xDKAkZ59ax0yg48OE7qnFajK3D3XatvaLSQJg/s320/2012-11-30+06.55.59.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Winter has arrived, this was what we saw Friday morning. Yikes.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXOkRJ8zcRSEjKv_oDoA2rYDS41a4AKeqB_hXMsuk8C-nmXYrSul18o7yyVWM-gE0LtK0zPU6URpSoge_rNyITDOjXF1N4MuFVM7FTP4b5kMgtBUAGkd17NMa8CbnyN6u6yG7ekVHzrtk/s1600/2012-11-30+07.39.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXOkRJ8zcRSEjKv_oDoA2rYDS41a4AKeqB_hXMsuk8C-nmXYrSul18o7yyVWM-gE0LtK0zPU6URpSoge_rNyITDOjXF1N4MuFVM7FTP4b5kMgtBUAGkd17NMa8CbnyN6u6yG7ekVHzrtk/s320/2012-11-30+07.39.56.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The drive-by flower market across from our building</i></div>
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On Friday we attended a Repatriation Ceremony. It was very moving. There is a group here called <a href="http://www.jpac.pacom.mil/index.php?page=mission_overview&size=100&ind=0">JPAC</a>; the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command. Our team is one of four detachments in the world searching for the 83,000 missing servicemen from past US Conflicts. They go on several missions during the year. At this ceremony, we witnessed three of our fallen boarded on a plane for home. It was powerful. My heart goes out to their families who have been waiting for them for many decades.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEx7rU4niV1IG9svWBq2wTpzUb4zKOUsidO-mzkekeUdYauUCR-2rpjd3JpWaC0SqUCJy2udrbz2T2KQn50pPLX-k0x0ufYlW8hrKDzUYiEQOhQ4BusCVQC6jnYD_NFbf06kmAfZGpIY/s1600/2012-11-30+10.58.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEx7rU4niV1IG9svWBq2wTpzUb4zKOUsidO-mzkekeUdYauUCR-2rpjd3JpWaC0SqUCJy2udrbz2T2KQn50pPLX-k0x0ufYlW8hrKDzUYiEQOhQ4BusCVQC6jnYD_NFbf06kmAfZGpIY/s320/2012-11-30+10.58.05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Before the ceremony....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qMTKjgz-G13gdUUjedcEM4LU1yvkG4JfW09Y7b69PgStEo_iky0QBGNDCOkrIMMd4AUwxUqw6M5A25DRGEfu7VmMJi9D7hlWB7Qq7ORff4YaM2eHLKUp8LeTTLB2rP3xFrke4yaer48/s1600/2012-11-30+10.58.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qMTKjgz-G13gdUUjedcEM4LU1yvkG4JfW09Y7b69PgStEo_iky0QBGNDCOkrIMMd4AUwxUqw6M5A25DRGEfu7VmMJi9D7hlWB7Qq7ORff4YaM2eHLKUp8LeTTLB2rP3xFrke4yaer48/s320/2012-11-30+10.58.35.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Part of the recovery team</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTB2DzZ-qEZCkXvU5r6J-RRbjRDrWMt8iqnSs6zG7E7l2mO_pp2tTqmNTUj88sKPHZocK8IZA5t9E8qq3QBFG4YW1AI6CE2zJ8gZLwO1ILS8XDQu3IzD6klBLY5VLl21WZIQ9oiKQN9Ho/s1600/2012-11-30+10.59.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTB2DzZ-qEZCkXvU5r6J-RRbjRDrWMt8iqnSs6zG7E7l2mO_pp2tTqmNTUj88sKPHZocK8IZA5t9E8qq3QBFG4YW1AI6CE2zJ8gZLwO1ILS8XDQu3IzD6klBLY5VLl21WZIQ9oiKQN9Ho/s320/2012-11-30+10.59.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10P5LlOaxfiSpoaQCmKT55PlJgF5OPaBN_ka8M7yeypy1AxPXCxwh5hCyGX-jj4tkSaRoup5HiYwDD_hKCizBBdGhr0h0WhWjk02Mo8dVspK_UoN2iaSTRNEh6n07Rc1vgIB0aVWxe5U/s1600/2012-11-30+10.59.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10P5LlOaxfiSpoaQCmKT55PlJgF5OPaBN_ka8M7yeypy1AxPXCxwh5hCyGX-jj4tkSaRoup5HiYwDD_hKCizBBdGhr0h0WhWjk02Mo8dVspK_UoN2iaSTRNEh6n07Rc1vgIB0aVWxe5U/s320/2012-11-30+10.59.46.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Lt. Col. Keane with his counterpart, in the background is our Ambassador </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD8eVVIgcM1xSACZFt0r1hyphenhyphenuIx1GAO-lIsAvhZesvl1Ol_aIJPKkLnqKD1PZjCChPXSHwUIYBfRn6Nb1EoMda0nXMj8WlPiqIttIFWKu3ZDJ6_B1nk6_AQwmeHQenpmWkdg9D62QgLYQ/s1600/2012-11-30+11.00.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD8eVVIgcM1xSACZFt0r1hyphenhyphenuIx1GAO-lIsAvhZesvl1Ol_aIJPKkLnqKD1PZjCChPXSHwUIYBfRn6Nb1EoMda0nXMj8WlPiqIttIFWKu3ZDJ6_B1nk6_AQwmeHQenpmWkdg9D62QgLYQ/s320/2012-11-30+11.00.54.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYq5O8HUqttEm4VohID2eLDZwQR0Z5GGLigAspfjEwMTRpQ1zm7L9TozVNIf-TvpYl9Iw6CqQY7Uc41NbOp8Sq4WhZ9qWOB9AOUzucYNKwfTT_3IhJbaz6VQerw_kIpOaX_-tb0rTlZg/s1600/2012-11-30+11.02.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYq5O8HUqttEm4VohID2eLDZwQR0Z5GGLigAspfjEwMTRpQ1zm7L9TozVNIf-TvpYl9Iw6CqQY7Uc41NbOp8Sq4WhZ9qWOB9AOUzucYNKwfTT_3IhJbaz6VQerw_kIpOaX_-tb0rTlZg/s320/2012-11-30+11.02.29.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>The team moving in to begin loading the three fallen soldier's remains</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKqOC_bV0CyOCft5ztO2tpnu7anNhcVxU1rwHHQjpZlsGN4I_nnSzegHnurWcOHQvEJA421afvCcNVorz_ASsYa_Lw9u_QiOJ0-c8STUMZMFePoiQLKn8T6cORbHKQxTSc0Hi2k9baK0/s1600/2012-11-30+11.02.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKqOC_bV0CyOCft5ztO2tpnu7anNhcVxU1rwHHQjpZlsGN4I_nnSzegHnurWcOHQvEJA421afvCcNVorz_ASsYa_Lw9u_QiOJ0-c8STUMZMFePoiQLKn8T6cORbHKQxTSc0Hi2k9baK0/s320/2012-11-30+11.02.46.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiOEdaN8SpJGPPqg9PqV088CCbj7jfcwMSWOY78q3GEIrn3Q1inYwKFKL7h_Qn5w9chwYFNXWJ89QLy3oBkv3n6riCyRWvQG-ppcsT9S2ErbUj3T3TqqQxOAHcMIQFkIHDUePdkGDOyM/s1600/2012-11-30+11.08.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiOEdaN8SpJGPPqg9PqV088CCbj7jfcwMSWOY78q3GEIrn3Q1inYwKFKL7h_Qn5w9chwYFNXWJ89QLy3oBkv3n6riCyRWvQG-ppcsT9S2ErbUj3T3TqqQxOAHcMIQFkIHDUePdkGDOyM/s320/2012-11-30+11.08.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGqYQbASuM4xNGGPhj33fBupaihyphenhypheno700hxx7VYFJCjayYeFpjj96Llf0bSr4cCTPeEVe_PxJKgdmVrd9uUdIc10cMwO6bD4MsnErJ8DD9t3RScU9BlCTLjndwJlqaqcgzg_G4UVJh0gs/s1600/2012-11-30+11.09.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGqYQbASuM4xNGGPhj33fBupaihyphenhypheno700hxx7VYFJCjayYeFpjj96Llf0bSr4cCTPeEVe_PxJKgdmVrd9uUdIc10cMwO6bD4MsnErJ8DD9t3RScU9BlCTLjndwJlqaqcgzg_G4UVJh0gs/s320/2012-11-30+11.09.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Going home...many tears were shed....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdR08knES5fMKmwZ2cB6j4LpriP0b_v6H4VNYLseeCDJeOx_OGvBm92JZUWuxoBlX9qAdIBWQnIOvQFBNDhM4zkKbB-uifurmZFfYN-a6HLuAxZuYwaRBfRcpDhxGihzhorpBcjO26ow/s1600/2012-11-30+11.19.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdR08knES5fMKmwZ2cB6j4LpriP0b_v6H4VNYLseeCDJeOx_OGvBm92JZUWuxoBlX9qAdIBWQnIOvQFBNDhM4zkKbB-uifurmZFfYN-a6HLuAxZuYwaRBfRcpDhxGihzhorpBcjO26ow/s320/2012-11-30+11.19.02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Hug a serviceman or servicewoman today--it's amazing what they do for our country!</i></div>
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It was a somber morning, but beautiful. </div>
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We were excited to go home to receive our final shipment of goods!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKdqRnT7slcbOWef0pXVpG5a1cNMkwanBwijpsJvP5cdBprf6enicVY5j2rhGTYMmx1RKHF_zuN3tn_jNpSaTK9lWZCXdw71zdaIv9m5VrO9yw1ZVgnsEuqV85kqPtDnQEXUAr_AVtc8/s1600/2012-11-30+13.45.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKdqRnT7slcbOWef0pXVpG5a1cNMkwanBwijpsJvP5cdBprf6enicVY5j2rhGTYMmx1RKHF_zuN3tn_jNpSaTK9lWZCXdw71zdaIv9m5VrO9yw1ZVgnsEuqV85kqPtDnQEXUAr_AVtc8/s320/2012-11-30+13.45.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Christmas is here!! Wahoo! 1600lbs arrived on friday.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-YS_W8lKZIIvnysdKrO0QRKsS2NjzaWJbXqG2l2qPgHZrhpAbRE5v-K0b2UvuIs6ou3UDvZfcNzWQaeysCVPQTliO8un0vDvy3iYT4Enbv_SXfUr5jmmZ_XV0IsikAiMNAhNUtsW0Mg/s1600/2012-11-30+13.47.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-YS_W8lKZIIvnysdKrO0QRKsS2NjzaWJbXqG2l2qPgHZrhpAbRE5v-K0b2UvuIs6ou3UDvZfcNzWQaeysCVPQTliO8un0vDvy3iYT4Enbv_SXfUr5jmmZ_XV0IsikAiMNAhNUtsW0Mg/s320/2012-11-30+13.47.26.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSenNC_IMGCvO9NFRnJflJqiHOBi60WwPitdYE9H8-UcUHk5u1VmtgDePCOTnq6K0q9b3YQxv3nuC_awx83wpQFkD5mGVaBM1tJjYeVZbJ0ljPMGecmNhyXzd0jEkTxJme9dTC2d3miUc/s1600/2012-11-30+13.47.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSenNC_IMGCvO9NFRnJflJqiHOBi60WwPitdYE9H8-UcUHk5u1VmtgDePCOTnq6K0q9b3YQxv3nuC_awx83wpQFkD5mGVaBM1tJjYeVZbJ0ljPMGecmNhyXzd0jEkTxJme9dTC2d3miUc/s320/2012-11-30+13.47.42.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>They unloaded everything in an hour!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_od8YwIBjC1sI4RbNT_HnmYpFXzE-dPrjbUFs38ZEQbt1x9QQNCVqB9hPf86bVCGbUPf3D3QXuupjm-zWI-6IfnR-tBZdPTolJYEwrotTiCoJWn5VZjZ-Xu3MGpg56PDyjGn7Y6LAlVM/s1600/2012-11-30+14.35.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_od8YwIBjC1sI4RbNT_HnmYpFXzE-dPrjbUFs38ZEQbt1x9QQNCVqB9hPf86bVCGbUPf3D3QXuupjm-zWI-6IfnR-tBZdPTolJYEwrotTiCoJWn5VZjZ-Xu3MGpg56PDyjGn7Y6LAlVM/s320/2012-11-30+14.35.15.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Naturally, we decided to put up the tree first.</i></div>
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<i>Before....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-l2OnrD8uOw-yAYKy7fwDRZdK2uK09-0lgP7RcwScj2104bKpvtcjC59pdNV51QzepZTnSx3a4bfM_CMA4OYMX43o9LCYKh2RgVSXMSP7Jm0BdX560fM6fnWSR7LGRhaL4Ztd5x7060/s1600/2012-11-30+15.27.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-l2OnrD8uOw-yAYKy7fwDRZdK2uK09-0lgP7RcwScj2104bKpvtcjC59pdNV51QzepZTnSx3a4bfM_CMA4OYMX43o9LCYKh2RgVSXMSP7Jm0BdX560fM6fnWSR7LGRhaL4Ztd5x7060/s320/2012-11-30+15.27.06.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>After!</i></div>
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<i>Hurrah! I realized that our Christmas tree is full of Hubs childhood ornaments. I love them, but our tree is a bit sports heavy. I emailed my dad to send mine to me ASAP. </i></div>
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<i>I think our tree looks great though.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiwNuC_ZsutbA2yLqDHCq7_bYo9ufHEoy47qb-D7sg0ksxye0wnGgJyQS6IqHo8K4uaApoLqIeOnwuXVm2ZApRvXr0edygffmvutbMvFB6UwGjlO5x8HnshzTF5Q76IlOL8XsaZsZlVw/s1600/2012-11-30+15.56.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiwNuC_ZsutbA2yLqDHCq7_bYo9ufHEoy47qb-D7sg0ksxye0wnGgJyQS6IqHo8K4uaApoLqIeOnwuXVm2ZApRvXr0edygffmvutbMvFB6UwGjlO5x8HnshzTF5Q76IlOL8XsaZsZlVw/s320/2012-11-30+15.56.17.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>The Hubs put together our kitchen island while I put up the tree, both efforts were quite successful!</i></div>
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After an afternoon of organizing, we decided to try a Thai restaurant before heading to our friend's housewarming party.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8c94rYhOH03JSUyGi1jPMHi8cUeffXRXrHlCaoWx_B0jMx63r1MHNWm-oQRgzj9H2cdKd2HdhMydWjWxOkoDAws42bYA7vOvjT27atr6obmQQytYaQZOP0gdse0Cbv0G2y_9EwBr68g/s1600/2012-11-30+18.22.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8c94rYhOH03JSUyGi1jPMHi8cUeffXRXrHlCaoWx_B0jMx63r1MHNWm-oQRgzj9H2cdKd2HdhMydWjWxOkoDAws42bYA7vOvjT27atr6obmQQytYaQZOP0gdse0Cbv0G2y_9EwBr68g/s320/2012-11-30+18.22.59.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>3D menu!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iWLaadzxbkm1VSZckhlNY10aO7nZMyRBIhzRXE1_E9UdnoIW1QapZKQUUpTsWVJOcYGqxR9xK8P30lvhSUtk8HyNrvls6P6SjHuZK-tTw4IMXw0iUr_tNXPqlS759sHsl2_7sxm85_4/s1600/2012-11-30+18.37.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iWLaadzxbkm1VSZckhlNY10aO7nZMyRBIhzRXE1_E9UdnoIW1QapZKQUUpTsWVJOcYGqxR9xK8P30lvhSUtk8HyNrvls6P6SjHuZK-tTw4IMXw0iUr_tNXPqlS759sHsl2_7sxm85_4/s320/2012-11-30+18.37.36.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Stir fried calamari</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfG__GgQvlsn_QwKvnj4Js9xfYsKLhk4bbSF3avbp35Rz6pC3AcuM7R7wZt3EVtXyzpY_7LxsKZodZeJG2CnyCi9pPYVDK_WZUMQbWrfRAAKJyjpUCGojL1Wec6k3fJjiDmWGzD5S_1M/s1600/2012-11-30+18.37.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfG__GgQvlsn_QwKvnj4Js9xfYsKLhk4bbSF3avbp35Rz6pC3AcuM7R7wZt3EVtXyzpY_7LxsKZodZeJG2CnyCi9pPYVDK_WZUMQbWrfRAAKJyjpUCGojL1Wec6k3fJjiDmWGzD5S_1M/s320/2012-11-30+18.37.51.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Red curry with chicken</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hFtn_ysLiNGJalC7BJtkMA9kyuvgXeVAR__l8BKbtVtDH-iuCZ2crdlUcny92sFT9Zc0U4SmG803E_sP-LH9qGQ6-Q-5ImSu-gn62Iak_ZXVBzRZCZ-PGCHk2_7ChbYlXC6up7snCZU/s1600/2012-11-30+18.41.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hFtn_ysLiNGJalC7BJtkMA9kyuvgXeVAR__l8BKbtVtDH-iuCZ2crdlUcny92sFT9Zc0U4SmG803E_sP-LH9qGQ6-Q-5ImSu-gn62Iak_ZXVBzRZCZ-PGCHk2_7ChbYlXC6up7snCZU/s320/2012-11-30+18.41.27.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Green curry with prawns</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OYEQybSiGultWD59AIK1ZvLy05muGv-7Q5nWiqN1YyuQ1mJpIlAYZeFY-mX875yTdkDWZ9LMa828qFmJrUOES5emTKEQbFNfpSS4abP7RtM3TimaJrKMMK8wpUoz3GDknoCd5mkRTPg/s1600/2012-11-30+19.15.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OYEQybSiGultWD59AIK1ZvLy05muGv-7Q5nWiqN1YyuQ1mJpIlAYZeFY-mX875yTdkDWZ9LMa828qFmJrUOES5emTKEQbFNfpSS4abP7RtM3TimaJrKMMK8wpUoz3GDknoCd5mkRTPg/s320/2012-11-30+19.15.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Cocktail party with recipes!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXLmkeQKgC2qAc43xXROBpstRA3gLofGOpkOHee5n27_0mT5i55SbpLAUneC2Q2x02jMV9V6GaF_Xm3VfLK3axNMrDmGZ_1iihu_f2sF5OOJ0F3WVRoa6Pm0dBYTAOUHSpQdBbCT5Eps/s1600/2012-11-30+19.15.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXLmkeQKgC2qAc43xXROBpstRA3gLofGOpkOHee5n27_0mT5i55SbpLAUneC2Q2x02jMV9V6GaF_Xm3VfLK3axNMrDmGZ_1iihu_f2sF5OOJ0F3WVRoa6Pm0dBYTAOUHSpQdBbCT5Eps/s320/2012-11-30+19.15.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh534H8bles2HxgrfEeygq9GOmwsiAj3rWfR9gqv-9Lo4vZ32X80nAGbIjzwTLjqMMr2I6lF7iW8NoiQRvlJH0T_GZVKAHPKFS0uRIFUuGcvEjE909jteAP7AwKBJrrgil9UhODF2IZvwk/s1600/2012-11-30+19.16.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh534H8bles2HxgrfEeygq9GOmwsiAj3rWfR9gqv-9Lo4vZ32X80nAGbIjzwTLjqMMr2I6lF7iW8NoiQRvlJH0T_GZVKAHPKFS0uRIFUuGcvEjE909jteAP7AwKBJrrgil9UhODF2IZvwk/s320/2012-11-30+19.16.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>A stocked fridge is a happy fridge</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRw0jRl7JWUUFLo7jxLeLMH8q6nR-s3_3OeTVDGTKARFR8Hc1bRIw4Kns3QRyGZQdxZsA19MhJUUWHid1t9KL3q_PcKiiW8_gJaNlih1_z3qrB51s-vSf4rW47N76K-ZjYyta2vvb7X4/s1600/2012-11-30+19.17.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRw0jRl7JWUUFLo7jxLeLMH8q6nR-s3_3OeTVDGTKARFR8Hc1bRIw4Kns3QRyGZQdxZsA19MhJUUWHid1t9KL3q_PcKiiW8_gJaNlih1_z3qrB51s-vSf4rW47N76K-ZjYyta2vvb7X4/s320/2012-11-30+19.17.03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The host with the most(delicious homemade sangria!)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuMFkQbcUGy4X1lD_wDR72pyL5VIEZG8lHPjWVoX51mNZLaVfZZlML54y08GeooiYa5rsVMcY1WqRXCg2BzuggwhRf6p5IJsVEumlGCvDl2eeIBshBPU6F_Th3msa7HyTQnpW_zGQfV4/s1600/2012-11-30+19.17.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuMFkQbcUGy4X1lD_wDR72pyL5VIEZG8lHPjWVoX51mNZLaVfZZlML54y08GeooiYa5rsVMcY1WqRXCg2BzuggwhRf6p5IJsVEumlGCvDl2eeIBshBPU6F_Th3msa7HyTQnpW_zGQfV4/s320/2012-11-30+19.17.53.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>I am a bit envious of his housekeepers sushi skillz</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBwOfOUGrQy4nUMEVHxkHMX2IU0fraDZfIdbHODQ6nsXSNIbtpQKP1dMmu7NH2T5LeTZRNGzCA8TLlOpnbfL5ZGFss6ymQ8rkW1cTQf7k4ATvc83joMj80LRHHokVeo25Bpqq2WNk6A0/s1600/2012-11-30+19.22.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBwOfOUGrQy4nUMEVHxkHMX2IU0fraDZfIdbHODQ6nsXSNIbtpQKP1dMmu7NH2T5LeTZRNGzCA8TLlOpnbfL5ZGFss6ymQ8rkW1cTQf7k4ATvc83joMj80LRHHokVeo25Bpqq2WNk6A0/s320/2012-11-30+19.22.49.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Mojitos anyone?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WsfYpL0d9aHuLqcpQ6ZTXYK7hoR4DYFcaCWKvA_ERgP4XekWxRtDk4mQPfUDl4mwDVEGvuAQoaszV3ZrSHG4KdwyZGrwfbTDY_B5NcU85qb3Jh7AZ9Qdk8EiFJeh87KXwl4EHfUDYOc/s1600/2012-11-30+19.29.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WsfYpL0d9aHuLqcpQ6ZTXYK7hoR4DYFcaCWKvA_ERgP4XekWxRtDk4mQPfUDl4mwDVEGvuAQoaszV3ZrSHG4KdwyZGrwfbTDY_B5NcU85qb3Jh7AZ9Qdk8EiFJeh87KXwl4EHfUDYOc/s320/2012-11-30+19.29.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was a fun-filled day. We slept especially well that evening, especially since we got a memory foam pillow top in our shipment!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtE013w_0iczCdzwUGDhzNfHaBIUqGKYOvHNwtqhv9WbMaiGG7sn5xOvmxYRupt4SR5moax6piMhgnnkTu2rN6Hct2QvIrvrZSjV7XRRB1q1qNzNrfaZgGisr2Bll4Iyy5C3DO4V9XA8Q/s1600/2012-12-01+07.50.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtE013w_0iczCdzwUGDhzNfHaBIUqGKYOvHNwtqhv9WbMaiGG7sn5xOvmxYRupt4SR5moax6piMhgnnkTu2rN6Hct2QvIrvrZSjV7XRRB1q1qNzNrfaZgGisr2Bll4Iyy5C3DO4V9XA8Q/s320/2012-12-01+07.50.00.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Then we woke up to THIS. I thought the previous day was bad. Notice how you cannot see ANY lakes. The Hubs went golfing in THIS. I went to the pottery village....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_81gZlUfDKJ0SEQ7arjodicig4ws_-CMGsijtvkL-NL1U7Fue8JetPSk-jKIwd5iukiaYAcAwF6M_NQMCP0wNbQSLREfeC1SMcV_b1wSEG5MPR_SMhMZpVtJRLfHBTJ0opEaASYEbQI/s1600/2012-12-01+10.05.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_81gZlUfDKJ0SEQ7arjodicig4ws_-CMGsijtvkL-NL1U7Fue8JetPSk-jKIwd5iukiaYAcAwF6M_NQMCP0wNbQSLREfeC1SMcV_b1wSEG5MPR_SMhMZpVtJRLfHBTJ0opEaASYEbQI/s320/2012-12-01+10.05.59.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>It was bit overwhelming....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAvzBlhGak4r2Z-acyZubW-hRmdQNWclNW16mJrG1CGIk9nGw-MJk-Rdup3lxPdslb4ISEpwo0yWJZJZIZ5Q7TNo8T_r-TqpsLRBHSTF-6bs5fkRVqXEu0jNBcb4Y8knu6Vl35Ds7Fos/s1600/2012-12-01+10.06.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAvzBlhGak4r2Z-acyZubW-hRmdQNWclNW16mJrG1CGIk9nGw-MJk-Rdup3lxPdslb4ISEpwo0yWJZJZIZ5Q7TNo8T_r-TqpsLRBHSTF-6bs5fkRVqXEu0jNBcb4Y8knu6Vl35Ds7Fos/s320/2012-12-01+10.06.42.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3q0INcFGWZiDM1p3v-6XMuIxhqJ-jlRVWa8avPMfHoSeKXB8D5_W3D1KjI0cJ6pnQjTnRkL1VwQMWW4Z7Wpr6FPK-IpxxhOT_Pon1pRahCYfj7lAD1OQmk_sS2bWytPkL6pLv50cCNU/s1600/2012-12-01+10.13.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3q0INcFGWZiDM1p3v-6XMuIxhqJ-jlRVWa8avPMfHoSeKXB8D5_W3D1KjI0cJ6pnQjTnRkL1VwQMWW4Z7Wpr6FPK-IpxxhOT_Pon1pRahCYfj7lAD1OQmk_sS2bWytPkL6pLv50cCNU/s320/2012-12-01+10.13.30.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Classical Vietnamese pottery: Angry birds:)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9v8qDurvnBWcaojyf2qpS7jruSXh1KtQEvXJxh6COCmbqMKMCox5tlhZt-hC8Ha25ghdqd0OgW-AVLkwDEmBmLOCW_EpYpUUi_yq0refJy_HWyil7jGB4hYqzPYr8t7QuxEnuMai4io/s1600/2012-12-01+10.25.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9v8qDurvnBWcaojyf2qpS7jruSXh1KtQEvXJxh6COCmbqMKMCox5tlhZt-hC8Ha25ghdqd0OgW-AVLkwDEmBmLOCW_EpYpUUi_yq0refJy_HWyil7jGB4hYqzPYr8t7QuxEnuMai4io/s320/2012-12-01+10.25.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Does anyone out there need a giant vase?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3wZ3JiXWqgO40KKRVI8ZPMlzfcBj_5hDC8zDsO7h2WW1R1V4NeIm4MYY3aIupRklC675Yz4_kFssEo_UGFYSfmsltN79LY5Jo-sJOO6BqpQLnoD03WK5v34hxrUObu3r39SQwhf7NtU/s1600/2012-12-01+10.34.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3wZ3JiXWqgO40KKRVI8ZPMlzfcBj_5hDC8zDsO7h2WW1R1V4NeIm4MYY3aIupRklC675Yz4_kFssEo_UGFYSfmsltN79LY5Jo-sJOO6BqpQLnoD03WK5v34hxrUObu3r39SQwhf7NtU/s320/2012-12-01+10.34.12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Vietnamese pyrex</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dd25SvBeueLe_YBrPRBXZHCk2upzmgh1nG71as7HR8dIXKJKb83bQdBYoFF3rFH_Y9rhYUcGTMytCH1gaa9WmfvdoFid-D5gZ551cX6kneZaajqKmYLDUgF_M21DccDi3afFVABSYl0/s1600/2012-12-01+10.34.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dd25SvBeueLe_YBrPRBXZHCk2upzmgh1nG71as7HR8dIXKJKb83bQdBYoFF3rFH_Y9rhYUcGTMytCH1gaa9WmfvdoFid-D5gZ551cX6kneZaajqKmYLDUgF_M21DccDi3afFVABSYl0/s320/2012-12-01+10.34.50.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Waterfalls</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixr2rIvKv5KtLyyMneQlxXBNAAkaJlj-7SpFoqI9eqv0uVrN4E9mPvSrp_GhNp9iUzBmctHgNmJ0wmGTvRwJvhxVzFZ0iyVEM808EPn_x5-tn3a-nf6LjPpFH0xmAVI6Q2WLh4gM2V_kU/s1600/2012-12-01+11.11.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixr2rIvKv5KtLyyMneQlxXBNAAkaJlj-7SpFoqI9eqv0uVrN4E9mPvSrp_GhNp9iUzBmctHgNmJ0wmGTvRwJvhxVzFZ0iyVEM808EPn_x5-tn3a-nf6LjPpFH0xmAVI6Q2WLh4gM2V_kU/s320/2012-12-01+11.11.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Beauty amongst the fog</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7EnbEJgnWjLJktmn1KTWFe5j10877t7eww8X5agjuUW_C3ovXh8VN8I_Wt_-sBC3PBZWGPElCl2ZCRu-YpOpX_ECNpzg-ED3z8eSpwKGQAG0l4pcOTMK4Nz3qIJq08NRb4qHnApCx7Y/s1600/2012-12-01+11.16.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7EnbEJgnWjLJktmn1KTWFe5j10877t7eww8X5agjuUW_C3ovXh8VN8I_Wt_-sBC3PBZWGPElCl2ZCRu-YpOpX_ECNpzg-ED3z8eSpwKGQAG0l4pcOTMK4Nz3qIJq08NRb4qHnApCx7Y/s320/2012-12-01+11.16.29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>More classic Vietnamese pottery:)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEDKCWbK1M9tOvGedTUXKHKSlQfvT21CzxxS-aFP5NKgV3DBPQ3WKUro6eSWzE5nZHkYv1vCBH5Hf8JsE35cyb2e1-HMl2NP1E5YTHbjqvFs9IQ2kpW7Qoiqx5HS8YmI4jiz3CGLdu-E/s1600/2012-12-01+11.19.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEDKCWbK1M9tOvGedTUXKHKSlQfvT21CzxxS-aFP5NKgV3DBPQ3WKUro6eSWzE5nZHkYv1vCBH5Hf8JsE35cyb2e1-HMl2NP1E5YTHbjqvFs9IQ2kpW7Qoiqx5HS8YmI4jiz3CGLdu-E/s320/2012-12-01+11.19.01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobhvTLlmHHNYZUIp8em8N_y2Q2aRgeaVsDX6t6Z-DdXzKYtVvfqIuEszp4rOUCxKBYt9YTGhD5WI-HeqJKeoRnBfbTyQQdBjzswZMh-Ompk1EbhdMxRHeqOC74XDPcRofqqQHp5SO08Q/s1600/2012-12-01+11.24.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobhvTLlmHHNYZUIp8em8N_y2Q2aRgeaVsDX6t6Z-DdXzKYtVvfqIuEszp4rOUCxKBYt9YTGhD5WI-HeqJKeoRnBfbTyQQdBjzswZMh-Ompk1EbhdMxRHeqOC74XDPcRofqqQHp5SO08Q/s320/2012-12-01+11.24.28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Wow. There was so much, I think I only photographed 10% of what I saw. I am proud of myself for only buying two bags of things....then again, it was a CLO trip and I know I will be back in three months....</div>
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Sunday the CLOffice co-hosted a cookie exchange with the lovely Ms. J. </div>
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We will be eating cookies for weeks. I am so blessed to be surrounded by so many talented bakers! And also blessed to be surrounded by tailors to make me clothes that are stretchy.</div>
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I made Grandma Elma's peanut butter balls in the bottom right corner</div>
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<i>My two trays of goodies: I totally scored!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtTl_rJ_IpGceR7bTe0i39lnNU-ni8XQnGx3Zfrait6deT_v8aEwPKS3RNwHJMSas84lw_LD4m4v80VQbZQbYn3Yx3KmhqeqaRdNwNq40gEK5uvFIygIqn9As3zD7bWs4aFMTJZ452DY/s1600/2012-12-02+15.27.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtTl_rJ_IpGceR7bTe0i39lnNU-ni8XQnGx3Zfrait6deT_v8aEwPKS3RNwHJMSas84lw_LD4m4v80VQbZQbYn3Yx3KmhqeqaRdNwNq40gEK5uvFIygIqn9As3zD7bWs4aFMTJZ452DY/s320/2012-12-02+15.27.25.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>after: the table was completely destroyed. </i></div>
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<i>I took the rest home with me to bring to the Mission on Monday. </i></div>
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This week was a lot of fun, I'd like to say that our house is completely organized, but it's not. We will get there....things are going to slow down soon....well, probably not. </div>
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:)</div>
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<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-45922347978000936712012-11-27T04:58:00.001-08:002012-11-27T04:58:09.029-08:00Ups and Downs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Today I came across this picture:</div>
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Its true. I forget that the downs are what make me appreciate the ups. We have been having a great time in Vietnam, but some days are good and some days are less than that. There is homesickness and culture shock and all of the other normal human emotions. Today I am feeling especially grateful for the downs of transitions, because the ups today felt WAYYYY UP!</div>
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Today we received our first care package/Christmas present. I emailed my mama a few weeks back and asked her to send me a couple ugly Christmas sweaters for a party next month. Knowing my mama, she always includes a little extra to make us smile....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZ-ljBwttUc0mwmHRTs8EvD2VVfr60ptJ1GnLkNT3nY4qlz_EGSsYvrvlujO9vaPdvkiNWdAcbmUHXYy6ZHCRum0T_KUOUD59cyk7Jl35Bin069DzcFRon7PR5vFoNqLGklk0XLnzcnE/s1600/2012-11-27+18.02.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZ-ljBwttUc0mwmHRTs8EvD2VVfr60ptJ1GnLkNT3nY4qlz_EGSsYvrvlujO9vaPdvkiNWdAcbmUHXYy6ZHCRum0T_KUOUD59cyk7Jl35Bin069DzcFRon7PR5vFoNqLGklk0XLnzcnE/s320/2012-11-27+18.02.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>American goods! </i><i>WAHOO! </i></div>
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<i>I did not include pictures of the sweaters because I am going to wait until the party, but we DID get "Ugly sweater" branded coffee:)</i></div>
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It feels like Christmas today! </div>
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I came home with a skip in my step and got inspired to cook. Our fridge has been packed since Thanksgiving, so we have been on the leftover wagon. </div>
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Therefore, I improvised with what we had in the fridge.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNt9gdf540IVn77_4q1u5wEr7e0P0p4MvUm6uqTx_7-OtXhXs5KWeTz8pNO8faTl9QjdcqLa7TUGxc5WNVMdZ-QMbvQu5wISQwWuuFBdsg7BPb1q9uDQJhy5w2knns_5SVa2sjQInCLQ/s1600/2012-11-27+18.37.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNt9gdf540IVn77_4q1u5wEr7e0P0p4MvUm6uqTx_7-OtXhXs5KWeTz8pNO8faTl9QjdcqLa7TUGxc5WNVMdZ-QMbvQu5wISQwWuuFBdsg7BPb1q9uDQJhy5w2knns_5SVa2sjQInCLQ/s320/2012-11-27+18.37.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Chicken sausage in a bacon mushroom white wine sauce.....</i></div>
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<i>with thyme, onions, garlic....</i></div>
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<i>....and shredded gouda on top!</i></div>
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It was an afternoon of ups, which is what I need to remember the next time I am feeling down. </div>
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Just like the shadow exists due to light, the downs and ups need one another as well. </div>
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Let's just hope I remember that next time. </div>
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Happy Tuesday everyone!</div>
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<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-88876920733912786302012-11-26T06:25:00.000-08:002012-11-26T06:25:52.808-08:00Hai dong toi (My two cents) <---posted by Hubs<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It has been six weeks since we arrived in Hanoi and while
one cannot truly know a place after such a short time, there have been a couple
of things that I have noticed that I would like to share with everyone…that and
my beautiful wife has done an amazing job of chronicling our journey so far. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hanoi is in every sense of the word a combustion of the senses.
On a daily basis, you have the traffic that seems-on the outside-to be a
chaotic mix of people going in every direction they please without any regard for
anyone else but themselves or any semblance of accordance with the law.
However, if you look a little closer one could call it a beautiful dance. One
that is the perfect representation of a high traffic current filled with
thousands of beautiful colored fish in the Caribbean or you could call it a
representation of a culture that refuses to move anywhere but forward. The
constant honking of motor bikes, taxis, and buses that give a cacophonous roar
might cause a migraine for some. However, after a couple of days in the mix you
realize that the honking of horns here is nothing like that in U.S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the most part in the U.S. people only use
their horns when they want to make sure that people in other cars can hear the
intent of the four letter words they are screaming at each other. However, on
the other hand here generally it can mean, “Excuse me” “Hey I’m here, don’t run
me over please.” “I’m moving into the intersection now, please pardon my
movement.” It is more of a Morse code of communication than a cursing out of
road rage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, as for the culture of food…the one thing that both
Nicole and I absolutely love (other than each other of course) in Hanoi everything,
every food, every relationship, every time hanging out with friends is all
about balance and respect. The flavors, textures and smells are a respect for
tradition with a blend of new world dishes of sophistication that comes with a
rise in cosmopolitanism. For example, here in Hanoi there are countless numbers
of food shops that can be nothing more than a woman with a wok, ingredients,
and a bunch of stools and sign. Furthermore, there are restaurants that just
make one dish all day and make it again and again…cha ca, bun cha, bun bo nam bo,
cau lau, pho, spring rolls and many many more are all names for restaurants
that make an absolute delicious dish of food for cheap (emphasis on a dish!).
This is a tradition that goes back hundreds of years to when guilds divided up
city blocks to their own restaurants. There was no competition within the
blocks because those families that made bun cha would not attempt to make any
other dish out of respect for the others in the area. While this noble idea
doesn’t exactly transcend into modern day, there is a sense of modern day
competition, but the restaurants that remain popular to those who have lived
their lives here are those that do one thing really well, day in and day
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to a number of people
that I have talked to, the concept of what we in the U.S. would classify as a “restaurant”
is a fairly new concept here in Hanoi. However, with the increasing growth of
the Vietnamese economy more and more western styled restaurants have arisen in
Hanoi. You can find the white tablecloths, you can have Italian food, you can
have tapas, and you can even find fast food places like Burger King and KFC if
you want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, what does all this mean? It
means that food brings people together here more so than any other place that I
have been. So, not only do you have a balance of flavors both tradition and
modern, you have an immense respect for where one comes from without blinding
yourself in the light of the new and fancy. It’s a yin and yang, a dark and
light, a history and a future, and it all blends into a culture that everyday
shows you something new. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, the one other thing that I wanted to talk about was
about the work. It’s amazing that we have both been able to do thus far is
fantastic. It’s taking both of us some time to get used to being an office from
8am to 6pm (one of us coming from the yoga world and the other from the fine
dining industry), but all in all, each day we get a chance to not only
represent the greatest country in the world, but we get to make a difference in
people’s lives every day. I can say with all confidence that people (both young
and old) will remember Nicole’s Halloween Party for a long time to come. I get
to see the look on some student’s faces when after all of the long hard work
that they have done over the past couple of years that they finally get a
chance to go to the U.S. to complete their dreams. The songs and laughter that
we had at Thanksgiving that Nicole and her staff organized. It’s the look on a
families face when they get the chance to see their eldest daughter graduate
from an MBA program. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words,
this means that despite being thousands of miles away from our loving friends
and family, we get the chance to bring joy and change into the world. It’s a
life and job that I could not imagine doing without the best partner in the
world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hope to write more again soon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p>-Hubs</o:p></span></div>
NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-11477784462378418982012-11-26T05:09:00.002-08:002012-11-26T05:20:58.341-08:00So, what do you DO?--or--how I became NiCLOI have received several emails and messages from friends and family asking me;<br />
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<b>"So, what do you DO exactly?"</b></div>
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This was a big question before I moved overseas. Many people would ask me "What are you going to DO?" Usually my answer was <with a very straight face> "I am going to look REALLY pretty, <i>all the time</i>." <pause for effect> Now most people know me and would laugh, but this was most entertaining when people didn't know how to respond.<br />
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This is one of the misconceptions of a diplomat's wife. People think that we buy a lot of dresses and go to a lot of parties and hobknob with fancy people all day. However, it's different. Being a diplomat is a tough job. In light of the recent attacks in Libya, there are a slew of amazing articles on the incredible men and women in the Foreign Service. If you have time, I suggest you do some googling.<br />
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<i>--ANYWAY--</i></div>
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Back to me. What do I <i>DO</i>?<br />
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Recently a colleague called me out on something that diplomat spouses do frequently; I was asked what I did before "we" joined the Foreign Service and I responded by naming everything that my husband did beforehand. Not me. Whoops. Luckily, my friend J was there to call me out on it in a polite way, but I don't know why I did that. Perhaps it's because us dip-spouses are also known as "trailing spouses"-we follow our spouses around the world and make jokes and call ourselves "LOLs"(Ladies/Lords of Leisure) and make up other silly acronyms. We also "give up" our careers or take them with us. We speak of when "we" joined the Foreign Service, because it's a Lifestyle change for the entire family. I know that we, myself and Hubs, would not have it any other way, it's a great life(6 weeks into our first post overseas), but I must say it's also very challenging.<br />
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Despite the challenges, the Embassy does it's best to make everyone as happy as they can be. They reserve jobs within the Mission just for AEFMs(Appointment Eligible Family Members=the REAL acronym of what American spouses/partners/young adult children are called), then if no one applies, then it opens to Americans, then local staff. Thanks to one of these extra special jobs; I am gainfully employed!<br />
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The job I currently have is one of the BEST jobs at the Embassy. Ever since I heard about it at my Spouse Orientation three days into DC, I started manifesting that I would be a CLO someday.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My position is Community Liaison Office Coordinator aka "the CLO" aka "NiCLO" as a dear friend named me after I applied. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have Eight Areas of Responsibility, here's the cliff notes version of what I do:</span><br />
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<ul style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #252525; font-style: inherit; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2.5em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b>Community Liaison:</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: inherit;"> Develop and Maintain relationships within all agencies in the Mission</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b>Crisis Management and Support Services</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: inherit;">: Share relevant security information with Mission members and be the POC for the Family Liaison Office during an Evacuation/Crisis</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b>Education Liaison:</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: inherit;"> Develop and Maintain relationships with local schools available to Mission families and educate them on all of their Education options</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b>Employment Liaison:</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: inherit;"> Support family member's employment by advocating for them within the Mission and educating them on their options at post outside the Mission</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b>Events Planning:</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: inherit;"> Plan & execute events for the Mission community(Halloween party, Holiday party, Wine & Cheese, Thanksgiving pot luck, etc) </span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b>Guidance and Referral:</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: inherit;"> Direct members of the community to support that they need in areas beyond my expertise, be a confidential ear for them to vent/discuss their challenges</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b>Information and Resource Management</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: inherit;">: Keep track of important information regarding post and relay it to the community, while maintaining a variety of information regarding post within the Mission via the Mission newsletter and other channels</span></li>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Welcoming and Orientation</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: inherit;">: Welcome new arrivals, assign sponsors, hold newcomer orientation, and assist people in their departures</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;">For the extended version of my job description read <a href="http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/69945.pdf">here.</a></span><br />
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I am VERY fortunate to also have a full time Administrative Assistant and a part time CLO Assistant to help me. Many posts only have a CLO, while some have 4+ people in their office.<br />
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So, that's what I DO all day. It's a lot. It's a lot of fun. </div>
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In the meantime, I also work on being REALLY pretty <i>all the time</i>....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">hehehe</span></div>
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<i>Me on our rooftop before the Marine Corps Ball</i></div>
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<i>Who knew a smoggy sunset could be so pretty?</i></div>
NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-44514771333633829072012-11-25T01:29:00.001-08:002012-11-25T01:29:30.148-08:00HIWC Bazaar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Today was the Annual <a href="http://hanoi-iwc.com/">Hanoi International Women's Club</a> Bazaar. Each year HIWC puts on this bazaar and raises tens of thousands of dollars for local charities. The charities are selected by <a href="http://hanoi-iwc.com/?page_id=210">Community Aid Commitee</a>, last year the Bazaar raised over $100,000USD. The Bazaar is one of the most exciting events in Ha Noi. This year there were 35 "Country Tables" and several more vendor tables. The Hubs and I volunteered to donate brownies and our time to the US Country table. It was a really fun day.</div>
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<i>The line to get in, we showed up right at 10am when it started. Luckily we only had to wait ten minutes, which was much shorter than waiting for a taxi to get home.</i></div>
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<i>USA Country table! God Bless America!</i></div>
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<i>Hubs and I in our aprons, we look like we are ready to run for office.</i></div>
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<i>The cutest sisters in Ha Noi:)</i></div>
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<i>We had the best view of the stage. Several different groups performed, including a group of Koreans in traditional Korean dress to Gagnam Style, it was amazing....until we heard the song overplayed all day</i></div>
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<i>Our American food for sale: BBQ pork with cole slaw and veggies</i></div>
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<i>At the Canada table you could take your picture</i></div>
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<i>Germany was selling good beer and of course, lots of sausages</i></div>
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<i>We opted out of the Vietnam table, we think we will have enough food from them</i></div>
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<i>Belgium!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrtvWLkGDfg3K1PZmsZWOKAYtOIdGzzgPPwYRtkWvDEWbSwBXKFrQ08iWqyRem46ITUCqLF9Oe3m5QHxHAoHiL4B9X9IKb2q5EZ67h220PisKU5W670Jl2RqJu0_lz4X9PUhy49LmuZ8/s1600/2012-11-25+12.07.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrtvWLkGDfg3K1PZmsZWOKAYtOIdGzzgPPwYRtkWvDEWbSwBXKFrQ08iWqyRem46ITUCqLF9Oe3m5QHxHAoHiL4B9X9IKb2q5EZ67h220PisKU5W670Jl2RqJu0_lz4X9PUhy49LmuZ8/s320/2012-11-25+12.07.41.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Ireland: Their sign read "Molly O'Nguyen's"--they were selling Guinness, we were excited</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0L9cQW5kknn3EEtDRzhFeIyZjFuyTAg09wUy8qhisDwnxS8LZb_pCEktuEU0EhACWGbfIJQ_LzUd4CxpN6PBOYRHYPCDnp4cKGW64fcUFeDOM5Pa3lWDMpBFpnxYZ6Y1Hhh04dZ4hew/s1600/2012-11-25+12.09.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0L9cQW5kknn3EEtDRzhFeIyZjFuyTAg09wUy8qhisDwnxS8LZb_pCEktuEU0EhACWGbfIJQ_LzUd4CxpN6PBOYRHYPCDnp4cKGW64fcUFeDOM5Pa3lWDMpBFpnxYZ6Y1Hhh04dZ4hew/s320/2012-11-25+12.09.52.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Saint Patrick was there!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EP5WOrvi-gp-sirQA7Y5R_9oyK3_QpMOEtjclFIPcIDth1SkdN4QSb2otCCXA_kFBxq0miFSeC1_1gWyfK1ykAuBbHg9XUY8PNfMOBZ3p-kMHv3eynDYY8dTFVeaD4022WKMPSOjTO0/s1600/2012-11-25+12.11.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EP5WOrvi-gp-sirQA7Y5R_9oyK3_QpMOEtjclFIPcIDth1SkdN4QSb2otCCXA_kFBxq0miFSeC1_1gWyfK1ykAuBbHg9XUY8PNfMOBZ3p-kMHv3eynDYY8dTFVeaD4022WKMPSOjTO0/s320/2012-11-25+12.11.32.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Singapore!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlgl1GvJbABPkAMPUKrreFlhp7sWZZU-SlU6P6NPrXpLsQXHODKh-LDe2eEJjX-vVGLni-m3SNuxWYdmIGaxseLKuuyyC-KCSHMtpJ-wbHEkIH3IYK86_qXyMg9oNRus8nia4-95qEWc/s1600/2012-11-25+12.11.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlgl1GvJbABPkAMPUKrreFlhp7sWZZU-SlU6P6NPrXpLsQXHODKh-LDe2eEJjX-vVGLni-m3SNuxWYdmIGaxseLKuuyyC-KCSHMtpJ-wbHEkIH3IYK86_qXyMg9oNRus8nia4-95qEWc/s320/2012-11-25+12.11.48.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Palestine!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9Utniqi1q9GmwrqNYzbtqC-dAu4zFO1ffNUoNevnJHXFcBWRByPeP5PfDZEQIozWq7ls2GomzdFlhnm9TZvhd6zvUTJ0yz2WLQ8e1fbziQ87z-_e5imuZPYjD8C7Xgyx-U7f3-4R2v0/s1600/2012-11-25+12.12.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9Utniqi1q9GmwrqNYzbtqC-dAu4zFO1ffNUoNevnJHXFcBWRByPeP5PfDZEQIozWq7ls2GomzdFlhnm9TZvhd6zvUTJ0yz2WLQ8e1fbziQ87z-_e5imuZPYjD8C7Xgyx-U7f3-4R2v0/s320/2012-11-25+12.12.05.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>The UK: Keep Calm and Eat Bacon Sandwiches</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCjK37SrN2UiV8Ui5fw3ykS3DU85L4MWXxLEUYMY4EA6cPJgXnnEZ6a_Mt64zo2GJ4zhkuPgkoIJ_RlSv8U93XEuK034rP6SGhED4Jp6LoxG6i4zPoeoevDXxB_Z24iQhWxXQZ2JB424/s1600/2012-11-25+12.13.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCjK37SrN2UiV8Ui5fw3ykS3DU85L4MWXxLEUYMY4EA6cPJgXnnEZ6a_Mt64zo2GJ4zhkuPgkoIJ_RlSv8U93XEuK034rP6SGhED4Jp6LoxG6i4zPoeoevDXxB_Z24iQhWxXQZ2JB424/s320/2012-11-25+12.13.03.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Sri Lanka!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3SN_zisAyInM4wHFRJ7KUL4iNDCeOUMpqimQkE3BHyvNrBWHcUQHprWxdbKkhHC_7VaJ4p21NO8SJ6CjeiSUB1wnntda2Wv7eLOywx_9bmHT8jnNOmauFxHehqSUYH7fuk6tGA7UvvA/s1600/2012-11-25+12.14.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3SN_zisAyInM4wHFRJ7KUL4iNDCeOUMpqimQkE3BHyvNrBWHcUQHprWxdbKkhHC_7VaJ4p21NO8SJ6CjeiSUB1wnntda2Wv7eLOywx_9bmHT8jnNOmauFxHehqSUYH7fuk6tGA7UvvA/s320/2012-11-25+12.14.11.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Sri Lankan Kottu; traditional street food from Sri Lanka: "Kottu": chicken, veggies and pieces of bread stir fried together: YUMMMMMM</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja86m88Alki1olTjja1GXnuEzWUzG6nk7WnoNphxn4ITQ27JRStzfdzx3Rm3AdkyaXEo-1cFgGh9aUbnTZXjnaHkLSGgQHbs5uOc4VlicPbSqLcrVBl2EcK2PrjpboadcIWfWwfF6gdTE/s1600/2012-11-25+12.23.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja86m88Alki1olTjja1GXnuEzWUzG6nk7WnoNphxn4ITQ27JRStzfdzx3Rm3AdkyaXEo-1cFgGh9aUbnTZXjnaHkLSGgQHbs5uOc4VlicPbSqLcrVBl2EcK2PrjpboadcIWfWwfF6gdTE/s320/2012-11-25+12.23.11.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Sri Lankan Kottu; they are opening a restaurant next month! Wahoo!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JDfB4Ni17s-5blhyphenhyphenPzJdlJpOc-pDATXY7o0-GBSD3_nKY2h9fNpc6t7CQPmDfYZfN98mp_2GjExqFrRVB_0q2auKpaDuFzN7HLZwnnVR30du7B974qDaWks81Em53RDTIkrg-ivB34E/s1600/2012-11-25+12.31.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JDfB4Ni17s-5blhyphenhyphenPzJdlJpOc-pDATXY7o0-GBSD3_nKY2h9fNpc6t7CQPmDfYZfN98mp_2GjExqFrRVB_0q2auKpaDuFzN7HLZwnnVR30du7B974qDaWks81Em53RDTIkrg-ivB34E/s320/2012-11-25+12.31.20.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>from the UK booth</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWSj-AjCsKLDqbhJSBxpEd1ZTHt_HkK1eV7-AUXSn7tq5FIjgKHRoB01Vv52Gu8iS5Q2_4zT4RXHcSP_4WgyI13ryomrydSyPT-qT-fYCBxnyil2FZnf1m7DMqtE0OhbLOUjH4EbgXZo/s1600/2012-11-25+12.33.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWSj-AjCsKLDqbhJSBxpEd1ZTHt_HkK1eV7-AUXSn7tq5FIjgKHRoB01Vv52Gu8iS5Q2_4zT4RXHcSP_4WgyI13ryomrydSyPT-qT-fYCBxnyil2FZnf1m7DMqtE0OhbLOUjH4EbgXZo/s320/2012-11-25+12.33.38.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Australia! I tried a Shiraz Viognier for the first time; not bad!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlu_i6N-QRs0TMfXV-KHkXnjUzMHiHbUGMfVhMxwldr12bnsJQj-D-g5hld-lTL2sEki6xyD2Mja5Ae-Ps_HeS-MYKkQD0DhNYlQb32rsWHuMnyMjsujc3pzl-UaUv5FtJncTuUdSu1Q/s1600/2012-11-25+12.34.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlu_i6N-QRs0TMfXV-KHkXnjUzMHiHbUGMfVhMxwldr12bnsJQj-D-g5hld-lTL2sEki6xyD2Mja5Ae-Ps_HeS-MYKkQD0DhNYlQb32rsWHuMnyMjsujc3pzl-UaUv5FtJncTuUdSu1Q/s320/2012-11-25+12.34.12.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Indonesia!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-RGiJCoExa7r2OEgxZ_cyxXhjYMlbDRQRKD0HNlTLQMua5DyFP-oft7Mn0FqjI28zHmF16TYBj79PMxaHGbakGuDjTwCkI447PLlMQsJ0Gx6ysjzE9E_CJf0Aex1668q6cWmzSllRSA/s1600/2012-11-25+12.36.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-RGiJCoExa7r2OEgxZ_cyxXhjYMlbDRQRKD0HNlTLQMua5DyFP-oft7Mn0FqjI28zHmF16TYBj79PMxaHGbakGuDjTwCkI447PLlMQsJ0Gx6ysjzE9E_CJf0Aex1668q6cWmzSllRSA/s320/2012-11-25+12.36.30.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Russia!</i></div>
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<i>Hubs had to get some beer from here as well:)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKTx4IuzMZnG-Zh0gIHjBQUdZzQ3mLTjaz5AIcyUffvs2E3a4_AW3VvyKLKojHYMckOm5fXMCSzinBTwbVthtP1XbOtH8fYj5JeypysaQHK4KUHXJZX5HuWEajHw3hDpq5dpHtJr9y-U/s1600/2012-11-25+12.37.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKTx4IuzMZnG-Zh0gIHjBQUdZzQ3mLTjaz5AIcyUffvs2E3a4_AW3VvyKLKojHYMckOm5fXMCSzinBTwbVthtP1XbOtH8fYj5JeypysaQHK4KUHXJZX5HuWEajHw3hDpq5dpHtJr9y-U/s320/2012-11-25+12.37.49.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Thailand! We volunteered the first two hours of the Bazaar so that we could go and eat afterwards, however, most of the places had run out of food by noon:(</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIibdM7PwfJ5ezi1mt3OF3ItIqShjRnCy89GOc8DJ1PLnI7wkTOtP_BB5Zvplmdrpp2z8TaPFYUd0QM25tOiMcnJv9xh2e3UJvfodYi9X76s9IppMyUxMWOZG7MkjNeZNVYRmN5A3-_Wk/s1600/2012-11-25+12.39.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIibdM7PwfJ5ezi1mt3OF3ItIqShjRnCy89GOc8DJ1PLnI7wkTOtP_BB5Zvplmdrpp2z8TaPFYUd0QM25tOiMcnJv9xh2e3UJvfodYi9X76s9IppMyUxMWOZG7MkjNeZNVYRmN5A3-_Wk/s320/2012-11-25+12.39.49.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Brazil!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7XfivLr5mcmwSR2uZVUExbvHb2hyphenhyphentebwqGKOnLKGqIRKaIe2riwPYrQfo7dtgc8GJtSOpR_KG9plJziUjxgylr6yducFV_c2ol7rvITtA0B69NfUBl5eUVXK1BprFElqEOHVo5CXSiA/s1600/2012-11-25+12.41.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7XfivLr5mcmwSR2uZVUExbvHb2hyphenhyphentebwqGKOnLKGqIRKaIe2riwPYrQfo7dtgc8GJtSOpR_KG9plJziUjxgylr6yducFV_c2ol7rvITtA0B69NfUBl5eUVXK1BprFElqEOHVo5CXSiA/s320/2012-11-25+12.41.24.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Brunei! </i></div>
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<i>We had a curry puff from here, not too shabby..</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUz9z30zg5cqd0QFjGlVhQdImsiTbQbApBjqQe5K5jvAqxqkYyQYSg786aqLDXTzSDa9ihkWNNwjOaCiPY-X7TlqHAa_fYD1Z5BGOLv4UjRFEM7XUM-NPlkQe0vc3L9cuUFKhiTKhwSjo/s1600/2012-11-25+12.42.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUz9z30zg5cqd0QFjGlVhQdImsiTbQbApBjqQe5K5jvAqxqkYyQYSg786aqLDXTzSDa9ihkWNNwjOaCiPY-X7TlqHAa_fYD1Z5BGOLv4UjRFEM7XUM-NPlkQe0vc3L9cuUFKhiTKhwSjo/s320/2012-11-25+12.42.30.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>China was making their own dumplings, but the line was too long for us</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dk-95Ou9s-Hz-AES1nKVEjxiMfQsY3VK6V6N47j8FoW2JpCgVlyU_6QHDxlniHw8OXeKx7i406Fsj_zxA5GxCNYpuHJwUWnz5aA45snwjlg3ebtOSO7TSdH-vwRyrS4LguZ1XbOp_vY/s1600/2012-11-25+12.44.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dk-95Ou9s-Hz-AES1nKVEjxiMfQsY3VK6V6N47j8FoW2JpCgVlyU_6QHDxlniHw8OXeKx7i406Fsj_zxA5GxCNYpuHJwUWnz5aA45snwjlg3ebtOSO7TSdH-vwRyrS4LguZ1XbOp_vY/s320/2012-11-25+12.44.04.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Ukraine!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOF8Jx43ao8_hbG2nX93mrAr5U0boxLoaJGgujeW8jT5q_cJvOWRmoKa2gxpdHWRu-DayM42-bUQBY6Q6cpkjeQGGl112nOzpq9N1ew5RNPts4eIBAdKQEGjpSY4xWGd8QxXtNLVr51Ag/s1600/2012-11-25+12.44.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOF8Jx43ao8_hbG2nX93mrAr5U0boxLoaJGgujeW8jT5q_cJvOWRmoKa2gxpdHWRu-DayM42-bUQBY6Q6cpkjeQGGl112nOzpq9N1ew5RNPts4eIBAdKQEGjpSY4xWGd8QxXtNLVr51Ag/s320/2012-11-25+12.44.14.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>"Live beer" at the Ukraine tent, made in Ha Noi, it was delish!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKo_Rqmkus7BEuD3pjUf-o-YsloH2lAnJ60NjpD5UQGZLG39_X7ji54bVgbZxde2C__QD4D2khdQmw348fQwzUWm_M9d6r6eS2Q8UzSW1QV8pHlxJcakEzv-fTL_m2rMh7fA8StaIS9s/s1600/2012-11-25+12.45.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKo_Rqmkus7BEuD3pjUf-o-YsloH2lAnJ60NjpD5UQGZLG39_X7ji54bVgbZxde2C__QD4D2khdQmw348fQwzUWm_M9d6r6eS2Q8UzSW1QV8pHlxJcakEzv-fTL_m2rMh7fA8StaIS9s/s320/2012-11-25+12.45.30.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Taiwan!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3i_KwaVaGbaCsPOTYBmyODRu3JxGoiJioe0DilvsabB3fXony1-9z06y2X87nKYz4Olbwafxlgdg-lGcKQNv6Qlw904T3roDAd4C74zyTSXjfCiKP82F8qDmLUsHHIBwimpmqnQ8tEA/s1600/2012-11-25+12.50.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3i_KwaVaGbaCsPOTYBmyODRu3JxGoiJioe0DilvsabB3fXony1-9z06y2X87nKYz4Olbwafxlgdg-lGcKQNv6Qlw904T3roDAd4C74zyTSXjfCiKP82F8qDmLUsHHIBwimpmqnQ8tEA/s320/2012-11-25+12.50.49.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Ukranian beer and Taiwan food: squid on a stick, sausage sandwich and onion pancake</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcz_MLIDfs7oKSvJD1tKcMN8g6grLLum3OoWszLVFMKTWQ2R8C1H7ormDhvF_vuN4nKJZs-Wf_QceDbetJqnpZS1zyoItH9RQmfGmt5BkIPFcodcUkHGiIHpkHq2YhebvexzBBz51Iz1g/s1600/2012-11-25+13.04.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcz_MLIDfs7oKSvJD1tKcMN8g6grLLum3OoWszLVFMKTWQ2R8C1H7ormDhvF_vuN4nKJZs-Wf_QceDbetJqnpZS1zyoItH9RQmfGmt5BkIPFcodcUkHGiIHpkHq2YhebvexzBBz51Iz1g/s320/2012-11-25+13.04.10.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Denmark!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8ZkzVfaes2ojUtj_EhxXdtIFrnZrYAxwZqFOcyB9ZFuCZWiba4mCDwk5nYb1NU9MlCSCMnpRUlIAYjOax_VLsI1kh6tjcW88zPRTOP_-YCz5UcQQo2eE-xMAmU9gxd9Jpn2hObXHHuY/s1600/2012-11-25+13.22.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8ZkzVfaes2ojUtj_EhxXdtIFrnZrYAxwZqFOcyB9ZFuCZWiba4mCDwk5nYb1NU9MlCSCMnpRUlIAYjOax_VLsI1kh6tjcW88zPRTOP_-YCz5UcQQo2eE-xMAmU9gxd9Jpn2hObXHHuY/s320/2012-11-25+13.22.09.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Croatia! Nigeria! Egypt!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzMFEzOybaTpMvh15cUbwK3m4yCFXXn0F2yMYuNMiYTSrC96lPczkmGUz7SIukZljfY8dh-3f7Uy_umzB6oZbrYUldRTcolbblDA7X9TaBaAZNuQXuHcgWhuBmu_Dmuyga_f5YZSG6bM/s1600/2012-11-25+13.55.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzMFEzOybaTpMvh15cUbwK3m4yCFXXn0F2yMYuNMiYTSrC96lPczkmGUz7SIukZljfY8dh-3f7Uy_umzB6oZbrYUldRTcolbblDA7X9TaBaAZNuQXuHcgWhuBmu_Dmuyga_f5YZSG6bM/s320/2012-11-25+13.55.18.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>These guys made the most amazing balloon animals that I have ever seen</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZXT1dkBzHuTxqF5pZwqWIJMhRTBOgfs3YYCMGyTumCmDfu3okvtFD4siPgpXKWvDAfVtfmy7hhBO5dRgOuAazhtem97m5tVF2nIP66uaM3parCuKa24sN2s6eqL9tjDmHKR49TObDw8/s1600/2012-11-25+14.11.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZXT1dkBzHuTxqF5pZwqWIJMhRTBOgfs3YYCMGyTumCmDfu3okvtFD4siPgpXKWvDAfVtfmy7hhBO5dRgOuAazhtem97m5tVF2nIP66uaM3parCuKa24sN2s6eqL9tjDmHKR49TObDw8/s320/2012-11-25+14.11.43.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>There were Christmas decorations for sale everywhere!</i></div>
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<i>**note the conical hat on the angel:) It made me very happy.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTtjGlB9EYHYx81Okg5q-MxMFya80TXpewU4PuxbY04LjS9DDwNK7sAAkWlapjJxm7JTMqk4ZhKfMiuExo6Mz0c1qD5p_8XX3PeVEY32_r_snZe3zp9aL3XA57-jI3a1W7Ym2XcwKKgE/s1600/2012-11-25+15.03.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTtjGlB9EYHYx81Okg5q-MxMFya80TXpewU4PuxbY04LjS9DDwNK7sAAkWlapjJxm7JTMqk4ZhKfMiuExo6Mz0c1qD5p_8XX3PeVEY32_r_snZe3zp9aL3XA57-jI3a1W7Ym2XcwKKgE/s320/2012-11-25+15.03.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>A Vietnamese parking lot. </i></div>
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We were there for five hours and it flew by! We saw some friends and made some new ones. I think it was a very successful event, Kudos to HIWC and all the volunteers!</div>
<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-79753281599736388202012-11-24T00:48:00.003-08:002012-11-24T00:48:35.971-08:00A week of gobbling & gratitude...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's been awhile....brace yourself brave readers...</div>
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Sunday morning after the Marine Ball, we did a lot of nothing. We spent the morning watching Mad Men(which is not conducive to blog writing, I learned that this week, but we finished Season 5 so here I am) SO we decided to get out of the house for lunch at <a href="http://www.bobbychinn.com/?page_id=938">Bobby Chinn's</a>. </div>
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We both had the three course lunch menu--It was an ornate experience....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyus6vCUD8FP882e4xtysRYWZ9UY5bEzastH8UygK3UY2j2cSwYu1Uf0oSoEbXZHXplWEM2_nm8GY64e4oMNUE5G6daGH8wdVB5qAQMDf_JP0H4G7E0RQSrmKqF07K05m5i70Q8uYmpQE/s1600/2012-11-18+13.18.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyus6vCUD8FP882e4xtysRYWZ9UY5bEzastH8UygK3UY2j2cSwYu1Uf0oSoEbXZHXplWEM2_nm8GY64e4oMNUE5G6daGH8wdVB5qAQMDf_JP0H4G7E0RQSrmKqF07K05m5i70Q8uYmpQE/s320/2012-11-18+13.18.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Little men marching into the entrance</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJzANU_awZxLsOidZvMBVFj1wt2lM8cYt1J0yOjcvKsSj2Yn1-1oJ0tHX2Vb2J6IPkC0cqJcoMKQZR50vR3A6ykugPB7mD0HTUoTJ_vAT1vJj8xmb53zHcW8D7C8ZRmVapWicdEsV3GY/s1600/2012-11-18+13.19.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJzANU_awZxLsOidZvMBVFj1wt2lM8cYt1J0yOjcvKsSj2Yn1-1oJ0tHX2Vb2J6IPkC0cqJcoMKQZR50vR3A6ykugPB7mD0HTUoTJ_vAT1vJj8xmb53zHcW8D7C8ZRmVapWicdEsV3GY/s320/2012-11-18+13.19.42.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Ten stages of drunkenness by Bobby Chinn</i></div>
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<i>The entire menu is full of puns</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXa-JV7tmSzIM09f6rOWmPstBJstnot4U9UlRlZOm_DFDVCYJSSApSIHGbS7dp2vRyZCH4XCnd7zrB7TxqIuU-LEJ5n2pdCRUzOHRDBYwT2qjrWZrp6KnXTQs47jUpluNT7z1hOa4wHA/s1600/2012-11-18+13.24.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXa-JV7tmSzIM09f6rOWmPstBJstnot4U9UlRlZOm_DFDVCYJSSApSIHGbS7dp2vRyZCH4XCnd7zrB7TxqIuU-LEJ5n2pdCRUzOHRDBYwT2qjrWZrp6KnXTQs47jUpluNT7z1hOa4wHA/s320/2012-11-18+13.24.59.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>$2400 USD pieces of art</i></div>
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<i>(no, we didn't purchase any)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Z65TMzm6qvC84yETIntqH_GpKw1DGnWvvPXrSOK78LEs_KYg4KOuQz2eS2yLyZp9G1CScMeFzv_R8LGc6yOwwfONNZwaHERVZdns3pl_zX9VoPWdDCcDNW2XBVkqbQzeBQG2jtonpTk/s1600/2012-11-18+13.35.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Z65TMzm6qvC84yETIntqH_GpKw1DGnWvvPXrSOK78LEs_KYg4KOuQz2eS2yLyZp9G1CScMeFzv_R8LGc6yOwwfONNZwaHERVZdns3pl_zX9VoPWdDCcDNW2XBVkqbQzeBQG2jtonpTk/s320/2012-11-18+13.35.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Amuse bouche</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAIkBbRLjvkADWJ1BIm33MAYhuKRrdJtwwmsK2ghT4ZQiL2avb1YMkiPwoAJOVN-4YKkn4UkWTRF2QmY2nH1r006ope3U0EnCyFJa9u27474XAR38-j0chaFYYmAINbhsOdUxaWNRsfo/s1600/2012-11-18+13.40.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAIkBbRLjvkADWJ1BIm33MAYhuKRrdJtwwmsK2ghT4ZQiL2avb1YMkiPwoAJOVN-4YKkn4UkWTRF2QmY2nH1r006ope3U0EnCyFJa9u27474XAR38-j0chaFYYmAINbhsOdUxaWNRsfo/s320/2012-11-18+13.40.01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Lotus and prawn salad</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hkbL747YtiTV1h3TzOAXOGOgZODHmDS2lJMChbLBxYSgn9iRAMwj2YWFPayVEAZjwA7R3g7S5znh2qoDNmo32LujFH6bRhz42F6fa_Gbg2ztnaSAQg1qsmxxu-F4PqE1yVTMT_dst2A/s1600/2012-11-18+13.40.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hkbL747YtiTV1h3TzOAXOGOgZODHmDS2lJMChbLBxYSgn9iRAMwj2YWFPayVEAZjwA7R3g7S5znh2qoDNmo32LujFH6bRhz42F6fa_Gbg2ztnaSAQg1qsmxxu-F4PqE1yVTMT_dst2A/s320/2012-11-18+13.40.33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Pumpkin soup</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kCW-0p_ZQ6L73vVLRg0XPs7RSQNubl648XzRmET1xSV4zxZKux8CWM57bO2tDYTQipbB228MGtWZh2-LmWtmRaz5_ZTIVlvfsHYBG5UucTW8sQxqR7xkXnJiN7_FTJyVD3ryKUhaUQo/s1600/2012-11-18+13.52.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kCW-0p_ZQ6L73vVLRg0XPs7RSQNubl648XzRmET1xSV4zxZKux8CWM57bO2tDYTQipbB228MGtWZh2-LmWtmRaz5_ZTIVlvfsHYBG5UucTW8sQxqR7xkXnJiN7_FTJyVD3ryKUhaUQo/s320/2012-11-18+13.52.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Teriyaki burger and fries</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYnQl8ttipUyKomt5l75g4JHWx12F2Hj5NSLo9OVUoqTDP5ODYuBih7Vp9G-_TkCgFE4p3ybvfOf-FoeZN9D3V43x_CAXiLxSxJcCHWyAYMwA4TLs3Nq6tzuBMxrhBsDXhxF57WBohQE/s1600/2012-11-18+13.53.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYnQl8ttipUyKomt5l75g4JHWx12F2Hj5NSLo9OVUoqTDP5ODYuBih7Vp9G-_TkCgFE4p3ybvfOf-FoeZN9D3V43x_CAXiLxSxJcCHWyAYMwA4TLs3Nq6tzuBMxrhBsDXhxF57WBohQE/s320/2012-11-18+13.53.13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Filet Bun Bo Nam Bo</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVenhXiQY4dksQvozK31qybpq60nccDj21QemdfCjLoNav1cvRyEHHf-IlscE5Q8MKoCc-w23PTWzJepd4GYidzkjlIYVuE88EUCUz1JXBEqLySrLYHkyevZcRc13xgR26NxRpMgBOaR8/s1600/2012-11-18+14.09.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVenhXiQY4dksQvozK31qybpq60nccDj21QemdfCjLoNav1cvRyEHHf-IlscE5Q8MKoCc-w23PTWzJepd4GYidzkjlIYVuE88EUCUz1JXBEqLySrLYHkyevZcRc13xgR26NxRpMgBOaR8/s320/2012-11-18+14.09.38.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Coconut rice pudding</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7q1TYLFJh6yisS-UD00YrZC0fI58LCwjJVaIonzP_HZoj_7TCAqfEspDVkF71YopuIhFjz1DhlV-hpYjmf9AlD7wEMU_m8JpqEwaNxPZ9SGPkVFUeM4eAXCP9J-lRd-lTrTunLMxXGI/s1600/2012-11-18+14.09.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7q1TYLFJh6yisS-UD00YrZC0fI58LCwjJVaIonzP_HZoj_7TCAqfEspDVkF71YopuIhFjz1DhlV-hpYjmf9AlD7wEMU_m8JpqEwaNxPZ9SGPkVFUeM4eAXCP9J-lRd-lTrTunLMxXGI/s320/2012-11-18+14.09.57.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Itty-bitty Lemon creme brulee</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcmA_4hxH8hY8CpWyRlaDjkdokR2ip_4GDujJG2brT6C4nmSs-kpc6mfIWFVE6l4uVwJuUSRNZcqXgGZPtWGoYsWT49RerEfqNLLsk6QbaHCPRwNOwgv3AQApSXgGfUCqvxaIJHdMCLw/s1600/2012-11-18+14.17.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcmA_4hxH8hY8CpWyRlaDjkdokR2ip_4GDujJG2brT6C4nmSs-kpc6mfIWFVE6l4uVwJuUSRNZcqXgGZPtWGoYsWT49RerEfqNLLsk6QbaHCPRwNOwgv3AQApSXgGfUCqvxaIJHdMCLw/s320/2012-11-18+14.17.45.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The exterior of Bobby Chinn's</i></div>
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Everything was good, but a bit pricey. We decided to walk up and down Xuan Dieu afterwards. This is the street that Bobby Chinn's restaurant as well as a lot of other ex-pat good are on. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOvIw_HEI_5HhZx9F3jOsd4ua-4B1mwj2kOydFlowZtUHFzujnNYA2DDlL2Dt9NAQcMmf2cYbUYiZRIRhWQ5hkay_TPSsdQ66ebyvjNMPLiwDosb8-8L_0OyUgkplEmLjzEmJonNXWec/s1600/2012-11-18+14.31.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOvIw_HEI_5HhZx9F3jOsd4ua-4B1mwj2kOydFlowZtUHFzujnNYA2DDlL2Dt9NAQcMmf2cYbUYiZRIRhWQ5hkay_TPSsdQ66ebyvjNMPLiwDosb8-8L_0OyUgkplEmLjzEmJonNXWec/s320/2012-11-18+14.31.56.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Vietnamese power lines; when I first saw them in Ha Noi I thought "wow, look at those VINES!" Then I soon realized they were power lines, and they are EVERYWHERE. One must be very careful when walking down the street.</i></div>
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Later that evening, we joined a friend at a nearby Vietnamese restaurant <a href="http://www.seasonsofhanoi.com.vn/">Seasons of Ha Noi</a>. It was really good, however we felt underdressed with the white tablecloths until a bus full of Japanese tourists joined us.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfOjIXRkBoHInneKwD9Yv6COJZQ1lLHJC5UrRShDl5T88DEmqO9zcwnBgV3qs0Y2gV9M8xy8jY_B7_osE9-Bm6vY1KoGOsQSzAOso-837sUZeIm1VKWLilKer_jK0y91d9yzp_NNXnXI/s1600/2012-11-18+18.28.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfOjIXRkBoHInneKwD9Yv6COJZQ1lLHJC5UrRShDl5T88DEmqO9zcwnBgV3qs0Y2gV9M8xy8jY_B7_osE9-Bm6vY1KoGOsQSzAOso-837sUZeIm1VKWLilKer_jK0y91d9yzp_NNXnXI/s320/2012-11-18+18.28.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Fried spring rolls</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUITJShq-l-4FTcq3eYpo7Ut_2UQjlwx5w7sVXOj3cJDlC3VqIAqx6FMxUiy1Kkl4skGrmWAX0mR13FB7NxS5HboIsx28MzdOJgVHxfozXZH9SJtSwuytTlOm8-D1SI7rzgaHR2PXZD9c/s1600/2012-11-18+18.35.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUITJShq-l-4FTcq3eYpo7Ut_2UQjlwx5w7sVXOj3cJDlC3VqIAqx6FMxUiy1Kkl4skGrmWAX0mR13FB7NxS5HboIsx28MzdOJgVHxfozXZH9SJtSwuytTlOm8-D1SI7rzgaHR2PXZD9c/s320/2012-11-18+18.35.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Amazing fish soup--I forgot the name:(</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Y01lpGSvnGQT7d_jg6wVm73HbUV_YIsVaRXTSxSypWzLh4azz65dLv8PiWe9TrHWdaIiOaY1a3JUowPuDWyiR35sbkgRLLcpaczh9uQ3crk3Iv8HySSIzV94WYqgM3sUJCLXa6ZFp80/s1600/2012-11-18+18.36.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Y01lpGSvnGQT7d_jg6wVm73HbUV_YIsVaRXTSxSypWzLh4azz65dLv8PiWe9TrHWdaIiOaY1a3JUowPuDWyiR35sbkgRLLcpaczh9uQ3crk3Iv8HySSIzV94WYqgM3sUJCLXa6ZFp80/s320/2012-11-18+18.36.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Chili lemongrass shrimp with white rice in a coconut shell</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZNo2FYhWE9PsNW1HKkTuCr47tCs5Hf8a5y6xx7bSZ_qMLxB2v_JzIVKN677cnlwoz0GbMK6DNnD5oSLv1rqdbCX2s-e5IyzYv0cvVYpMnWiKxI1csGttWs-BtlHxGB5U-f1e5zcqb-g/s1600/2012-11-18+18.40.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZNo2FYhWE9PsNW1HKkTuCr47tCs5Hf8a5y6xx7bSZ_qMLxB2v_JzIVKN677cnlwoz0GbMK6DNnD5oSLv1rqdbCX2s-e5IyzYv0cvVYpMnWiKxI1csGttWs-BtlHxGB5U-f1e5zcqb-g/s320/2012-11-18+18.40.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Another picture of the fish soup. SO GOOD.</i></div>
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After dinner we went to a nearby Bia Hoi on the lake. </div>
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Many times we go to these little places and we are the only westerners there....I wonder if I will ever get used to people staring at us.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUW835Pqi8B4q_tFG7ULVdjdr7pkso9M70KpI7QBy3VzBxFz1nnm4ThmpE9INqOiCLILR7oWqHBT4yuj98GP8QgrEM8WnTHKVHAk8MKMX4Wy3R1tgfkUgD7BswYrhwY1_DfKdSEj8wXZA/s1600/2012-11-18+19.21.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUW835Pqi8B4q_tFG7ULVdjdr7pkso9M70KpI7QBy3VzBxFz1nnm4ThmpE9INqOiCLILR7oWqHBT4yuj98GP8QgrEM8WnTHKVHAk8MKMX4Wy3R1tgfkUgD7BswYrhwY1_DfKdSEj8wXZA/s320/2012-11-18+19.21.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>50 cent beers, they taste like 3.2 beer :)</i></div>
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This week was pretty mellow. A lot of people were traveling or had holiday-itis, which is a lot like senioritis. Nevertheless, both of us had a productive week at work as well as a lot of delicious food.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtx-GRVXZqtNrB9pBjgzfbScWJJwCalOsVKNvoI0Ci7uPyfwEnFa8ZuS1Oi9r1Edhyphenhypheni7NQbLayT7QVu69r57QF5ZXW-GZA6gJSJjyQISqIbQ2ODwu6_ZybI5AxH1_aZYfEk0HG_BJWafo/s1600/2012-11-19+17.58.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtx-GRVXZqtNrB9pBjgzfbScWJJwCalOsVKNvoI0Ci7uPyfwEnFa8ZuS1Oi9r1Edhyphenhypheni7NQbLayT7QVu69r57QF5ZXW-GZA6gJSJjyQISqIbQ2ODwu6_ZybI5AxH1_aZYfEk0HG_BJWafo/s320/2012-11-19+17.58.18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Our housekeeper's best meal: tofu & pork, beef and vegetables and spiced rice. YUMMM.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FSrR2fZy3V2U0Ljw0MJ6tPwPFXr6UjMQgN3TzCUJeXmbIhCQi_8mh7EB7uOod73BcH2go7LTf-t-x3e0O5iFW0mChrDEPGbD8VNJT64qd1vCBGD2Q5vE1OdYi8iBlVdB0CT6oVdiqRM/s1600/2012-11-19+18.17.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FSrR2fZy3V2U0Ljw0MJ6tPwPFXr6UjMQgN3TzCUJeXmbIhCQi_8mh7EB7uOod73BcH2go7LTf-t-x3e0O5iFW0mChrDEPGbD8VNJT64qd1vCBGD2Q5vE1OdYi8iBlVdB0CT6oVdiqRM/s320/2012-11-19+18.17.18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Mysterious Vietnamese fruit! I had to google the one on top; it's called Star Apple or Vu Sua, which translates to "Milk from the Breast", rightfully so it's a milky sweet fruit with the consistency of a melon. The fruit on the bottom is Mangosteen.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickABFY21p79aPFBsA62LGQCe3GBR9RaMOPp1tgbYIsgqTr0IQjTF7mXC1ZWTl4JzJuMqQaBu5slY-1aAWDOq9fp7iSGs1AUjA-W14ZKi2CFljuSCpkhz5BlBHnxdAZ_-Q0xbIf5vpzk4/s1600/2012-11-20+10.03.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickABFY21p79aPFBsA62LGQCe3GBR9RaMOPp1tgbYIsgqTr0IQjTF7mXC1ZWTl4JzJuMqQaBu5slY-1aAWDOq9fp7iSGs1AUjA-W14ZKi2CFljuSCpkhz5BlBHnxdAZ_-Q0xbIf5vpzk4/s320/2012-11-20+10.03.36.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>In the midst of our productive week I had breakfast at our Annex Cafe; yogurt, honey and the BEST granola EVER. Thank you <a href="http://www.communehanoi.com/">Commune</a> for your brilliant culinary creations!</i></div>
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We are really blessed to live in a city where dining out is very affordable. This week we tried <a href="http://tnhvietnam.xemzi.com/en/spot/6909/ola-de-tapas-hanoi">Ola de Tapas</a>, by the recommendation of our friends. Their specialty is Spanish tapas.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNim_64PASu0P5n4O-oL8C2x5dwQEzFFpQAEts_Xg2ZvN02ENo0TBIjZuvioHy5M_-wiKA2s3iJ0roP2vwmhksmskhEmWS6b3V-geX8vP_7xRucm73RLW6oj4TQdKVafM6Q_8XH1vJ1O4/s1600/2012-11-20+19.04.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNim_64PASu0P5n4O-oL8C2x5dwQEzFFpQAEts_Xg2ZvN02ENo0TBIjZuvioHy5M_-wiKA2s3iJ0roP2vwmhksmskhEmWS6b3V-geX8vP_7xRucm73RLW6oj4TQdKVafM6Q_8XH1vJ1O4/s320/2012-11-20+19.04.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The Sangria was amazing!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUr0nN0Nw1lIpE9WaCuxvoEOveX3fj5mlsM706dzDqBNMyil6UbQf7XOSLGPqNiebHJHPQfWPznhT-Qx5_9l703dUImvk5leAec7CB45clcwxfC5eSWGo7ThrDBioslAq622FT9N0aW_c/s1600/2012-11-20+19.17.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUr0nN0Nw1lIpE9WaCuxvoEOveX3fj5mlsM706dzDqBNMyil6UbQf7XOSLGPqNiebHJHPQfWPznhT-Qx5_9l703dUImvk5leAec7CB45clcwxfC5eSWGo7ThrDBioslAq622FT9N0aW_c/s320/2012-11-20+19.17.36.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>White bean and chorizo soup, I could have just eaten this. YUM.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyTNyrTH3pxgInxM-YAYG_iz4gylV8RtwLZbZiTm0x0XRtQF0SeYXFQHm7RrkTBe2a_ECK7QP2Bwb5QseDkrXSAD-Chn0xQbWRGZ8E0V1xP_vl97B7goyFOnjKTFYajgGfx5dvTX4uRs/s1600/2012-11-20+19.34.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyTNyrTH3pxgInxM-YAYG_iz4gylV8RtwLZbZiTm0x0XRtQF0SeYXFQHm7RrkTBe2a_ECK7QP2Bwb5QseDkrXSAD-Chn0xQbWRGZ8E0V1xP_vl97B7goyFOnjKTFYajgGfx5dvTX4uRs/s320/2012-11-20+19.34.04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Fried calamari, pancetta bread, potatoes bravas and baked chorizo. Mm-mm!</i></div>
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The following day I had lunch in our other Mission cafe <a href="http://tnhvietnam.xemzi.com/en/spot/445/papa-joes-hanoi-towers-hanoi">Papa joe's</a>. The special was Bun Bo Nam Bo:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOzNYfBlvE0RITUHiTKf1KHx9XEHhaGVEVL3mMG5iU193tWi5TTiBDyq1a6InksP-ViQUCvaPhCaA6068hyphenhyphenND521vHsL1NOUF9hOd4PoMes2eNCH9sNWXyLHZlDyQVdLoWRmO6Is1Aqc/s1600/2012-11-21+12.29.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOzNYfBlvE0RITUHiTKf1KHx9XEHhaGVEVL3mMG5iU193tWi5TTiBDyq1a6InksP-ViQUCvaPhCaA6068hyphenhyphenND521vHsL1NOUF9hOd4PoMes2eNCH9sNWXyLHZlDyQVdLoWRmO6Is1Aqc/s320/2012-11-21+12.29.57.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>YUM. Bun Bo Nam Bo: beef, peanuts, grilled scallions, rice noodles, herbs, lettuce and a little fish sauce concoction on the bottom. </i></div>
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THIS dish is SO much better than Pho: to all our friends in the US: go get this the next time you order Vietnamese food! Now, I'm not knocking Pho. I had some the following evening before a few of us girls went to see Breaking Dawn II:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKkjvVWk-NkH1wfm0x-i7mM4Yg_8F1IEjnqawhZ6SAq6rybqf7II5XJGhW0sXqF7SM7fsSXPvyDIspF8Mw64w87Oio47FsZfOYvllDP-LLd3L_jIcZt3I7zkP52JSN7jSy-PRb87RXog/s1600/2012-11-21+18.30.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKkjvVWk-NkH1wfm0x-i7mM4Yg_8F1IEjnqawhZ6SAq6rybqf7II5XJGhW0sXqF7SM7fsSXPvyDIspF8Mw64w87Oio47FsZfOYvllDP-LLd3L_jIcZt3I7zkP52JSN7jSy-PRb87RXog/s320/2012-11-21+18.30.59.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Pho ga: chicken noodle soup</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCn9TMAO8rsnVspFWjBLksmHp5_zlV7Th_SxLmzDhxpmSX1SXRkYKgUAf1G3sxBQSsXxYYNg2DWYdO_nT5X5q2tr0RVIhiaPYGj84mENPfcFm2ghJRVMF2gSqQvQmTeRz0AKgyYeJjBqM/s1600/2012-11-21+18.35.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCn9TMAO8rsnVspFWjBLksmHp5_zlV7Th_SxLmzDhxpmSX1SXRkYKgUAf1G3sxBQSsXxYYNg2DWYdO_nT5X5q2tr0RVIhiaPYGj84mENPfcFm2ghJRVMF2gSqQvQmTeRz0AKgyYeJjBqM/s320/2012-11-21+18.35.38.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>I am going to predict that I get sick of spring rolls by the Spring...</i></div>
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On Thanksgiving morning, we slept in and decided to go run errands. It was pretty surreal. The rest of the world was out and about, there was nothing different than any other day. Hubs got a haircut and we passed some time at a local coffeeshop.</div>
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<i>My new favorite thing from <a href="http://www.joma.biz/Joma/Welcome.html">Joma</a>: London Fog; Earl Grey Tea with steamed milk and vanilla syrup</i></div>
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We opted for a light lunch; our housekeeper prepped DIY spring rolls the night before:</div>
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<i>Me making spring rolls. This week my Language teacher told me that the peace sign means victory but it also means "HI" because the #2 in Vietnamese is "Hai" So; HAI EVERYONE!</i></div>
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<i>My spring roll, not so pretty, but so tasty</i></div>
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My office; the Community Liaison Office, planned to host a Thanksgiving potluck at the American Club, but the RSVP list was low so I decided to host it at our house:</div>
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<i>Happy Thanksgiving!</i></div>
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<i>We realized that we only have eight of everything, so we improvised a few things--I think it turned out pretty well.</i></div>
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<i>The Hubs carving the bird. We ordered it from <a href="http://www.donkeybakery.com/">Donkey Bakery</a>; a socially responsible company that employs people with disabilities. The bird was PERFECT: so moist, so perfect.</i></div>
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<i>I made mushroom and leek stuffing from scratch--YUM. I have fought the stove again and this time: I WON. I was cooking it at the wrong setting. Now all is well in the world again.</i></div>
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<i>Success #2: Pumpkin bars!</i></div>
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<i>I had to find a substitute for evaporated milk, but thanks to the internet--they were great</i></div>
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<i>Pumpkin bars with whipped cream topping</i></div>
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<i>I am very thankful for leftovers:)</i></div>
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<i>After dinner our Chief Health Affairs Attache serenaded us</i></div>
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It was a great Thanksgiving week. We had a traditional meal that was better than I could have imagined. We are surrounded by amazing people in our community. While we miss our friends and families in the States, we are very grateful to be where we are. </div>
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I hope you had a great Thanksgiving week with your loved ones!</div>
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There is so much to be thankful for. </div>
<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597762314035363620.post-10698337319372353702012-11-22T15:39:00.001-08:002012-11-22T15:43:19.932-08:00Balance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Last week I visited a school that some of our Mission children attend. I was speaking with the elementary school principal and explaining how I just moved to Vietnam last month, that this was my second big move in a year, that I just started a new job, this was our first post, first time working in an Embassy, how we got married last year, etc...and she said "wow, have you ever taken that stress test? You've almost completed everything on the list!" I laughed it off, and then I started thinking about it.....</div>
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Uh oh.</div>
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One should never start thinking about all of the things that do and could stress one out. </div>
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It's stressful. </div>
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<i>Hahaha. </i></div>
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In all seriousness, it got me thinking. So, I went and and looked at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes_and_Rahe_stress_scale">list</a> again. When I was going through it I realized something; we are all stressed. Some of us more than others, but we all face stress and we all need outlets....</div>
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...then I started thinking about yoga. I had only done yoga twice since we moved to Ha Noi. I used to practice 4-6 times per week and now...well, I let myself forget about it. That's the thing; I am so good at letting myself get so busy and lose sight of what I need the most. Then I got in the vicious cycle of being hard on myself for not being perfect and not taking better care of myself....<i>blah blah blah.</i></div>
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It's the same story, it comes up everywhere. It's boring. I'm sick of it.</div>
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So I decided to stop making excuses. I decided to try something and maybe not get it right.</div>
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This week I started another challenge for myself; get up at 5am and practice every day for an hour. I made it 4/5 days and while it wasn't always an hour and wasn't always at 5am on the nose, something beautiful happened; <b>I feel like myself again</b>. </div>
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However, I have also not blogged because I have been "too tired" or "too busy"...so I started beating myself up about not blogging....then I realized something when I was in <a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/785">Garudasana</a>. </div>
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It's all about <u><b>balance.</b></u></div>
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The beauty of balance is that it isn't perfect. It's perfect because it's not. Balance means allowing yourself to fall off course. Balance means getting back up and trying again. Balance is welcoming what is in front of you and trusting that you're on your path. Balance means keep going.</div>
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We all have things that we are working on, and we're not going to get it right all the time. So today I am recommitting to my blog, to finding a balance in everything; blogging, adapting to a new country, yoga, life/work boundaries, etc...It's a new day, and I am going to do my best. </div>
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That's all we can do: </div>
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Wake up and <i>practice</i> finding balance.</div>
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Here I go....</div>
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<i>My morning date with my mat </i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b><i>Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu</i></b></span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">(May all being everywhere be happy and be free)</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">**Don't worry friends, there are lots of other delicious updates from this week coming soon**</span></i></div>
<br />NiCLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01113952689610202206noreply@blogger.com0