Welcome to Hanoi, (North) Viet Nam
*****
Sofitel Hotel
In the heart of the Park/Lake district

Our hotel room
Despite being on the 8th floor, we still heard traffic/horns and loud speakers
most of the night. I was surprised

Some random notes from our trip to Thailand

1. Thai electrical plugs run on the same system as Canadian plugs-meaning you don't have to bring an adapter
2. There is a 7/11 convenience store on every corner (not an exageration). 
3. There are thousands of pictures of the King and Queen displayed EVERYWHERE! Mostly photos from their younger years. Both are lovely looking people
4. The public telephone system is terrible (don't ever ask Glen about it!) Directions for use very difficult. Despite the pictures of coins on the front of the phones, will not except coins. After 32 hours of traveling and not being able to find Brad in the airport (turns out we were on the wrong floor) one does not want to run into a telephone that doesn't work!!! Very Frustrating.
5. (Brad & Mary house) The bathroom does not have air conditioning...basically the toilet water steams and the seat is very hot. A completely unique experience
6. In the bedroom that M&B were kind enough to give us, there is no insulation in the ceiling, (nor should there be) thus the birds, lizards and whatever else is on the roof or ceiling is a little unnerving. Thankfully the sound of the air conditioning unit masks most of the noise
7. It's been said "If a monk says that your male child has a female spirit"  parents will raise their (infant) son as a girl. Creating "Lady Boys" as they are commonly called

                                                         and finally

8. Buddha says: "the longer your ear lobes, the longer your life!"
I found that after I heard this one, I was pulling on my ear lobes a lot more...

Next we go to Viet Nam

These are just a small sample of designer
gates in Brad's neighborhood
Again photos taken during nightly stroll...
some are not as crisp/sharp as I would have liked

There are no real (grass) yards here
A majority of these houses have a cement compound closed in by gates
To either park the car, hang out laundry, place for the kids to play
or in the case of Brad's neighbors open a small grocery/convenience store
Much to their annoyance...
Although Glen and I were happy to have ice cream and cold drinks
so close by

Lion statues are common in the Asian culture.
Quite a few of the houses in Brad's gated community had a statue
This one represents fortune.

Notice the bag of money that the lion
is holding down with it's paw
Photo taken during a lovely night stroll around the neighborhood

Meet Kitty McKenzie (Brad & Mary's cat)
She is the killer of bugs, lizards and almost everything else...smaller than her

Even in the evening light these flowers exude cheerfulness
I love the brilliant Pink and the soft Yellow.
This is a Frangipani and the Pink & Yellow is the most popular in Asia

Oncidium
Vanilla Orchid

Glen and I came across this little shrine while
exploring one evening.
 Just down the beach

I think I've seen this petite
flower in Costa Rica... It's name is Ixora

Orchid

                                                               Meet the Cordia Sebestena
                                                                     "Scarlet Sebestena"

Squirrel (?)
I did not have any luck finding this little guy
on the Thailand creature websites

Some of the lovely creatures I spotted
while hunting for that perfect photo

One the hotel workers pointed out this little nest. I would not have
see it!
I'm not having any luck finding the names for any of
these animals.
If there is a bird, butterfly/moth or tree rodent expert out
there, please feel free to comment. I will be happy to update this page

Night

&

Day
Pathway to our room

Downtown Pattaya in the distance
Miles and miles of beach to explore

Our first sunset in Thailand
All the other ones I had slept through...