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Published: December 2nd 2006
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Playing with Nyguen
One gorgeous CP girl - whom we spent a lot of time working with For those of you would just cant get enough of storytime, I have a treat for you! Whilst you would think that having spent the amount of time in bed that I have lately (see previous blog), you would think I couldnt possibly have anything more to write home about - but oh so wrong! Those of you who know me well, would also know that I am never short for words, verbally or written! This will be my last post from Hanoi, before we head down south, so read on if you're at all interested!
Whilst I lay in bed this past Wednesday, Ange Ali Claire and Cath were treated to a cuisine and a half for lunch, curteousy of some of our clinical supervisors and doctors. On the back of their motorbikes, the girls were wizzed around the streets of Hanoi, to arrive at a tin shed on West Lake for a good old local meal. With buckets of snails and shrimp cakes tails, eyes and all, the girls were in for a treat. When potato chips were brought out they took their opportunity to fill up (except for Ali who devoured the snails!)...but little did they know that
Play-dough world!
Every morning at clinic we have 1/2hour play with Cerebal Palsy - Thursdy was playdough day! this was only the start of it. Massive bowls of noodles followed, together with beef and whole chickens with heads and the works! All I can say is thank god i wasnt there - i think the very sight of the food would have returned me to a hospital bed!
On Thursday I managed to climb out of bed, and re-adjust to the vertical position, managing our last morning at clinic. It was a similar morning at clinic as previous days,however with a slighly sadder note - our last morning before we would say goodbye. Our attitudes have all changed a lot since the beginning- working with kids has been fantastic, particularly when they start to recognise and trust you. One of our supervisors, Mrs Huong, who has fed us everything from corn tasting potatos to raw guava, insisted that we join her at her favourite foot massage place that afternoon. Having said our farewells, we all met up at this little place and enjoyed a $6 one hour massage, including arms, neck, head, back, shoulders and feet! Not bad at all! It would be just my luck that on walking out the door with the most beautifully clean feet
Tanj and Me!
Evidence that I met Tanj in Vietnam! I have ever had, that I chose to step into a lovely muddy puddle within 10m of the shop!
That evening we were joined by Tanja for dinner at Hoa Sua,a sister school of Baguette and Chocolate. It was an awesome dinner, and our waiter was great - clarifying every order, and even throwing in a 'Fanny special' for Anges dessert, 'Fanny' being a brand of icecream in Vietnam!
Yesterday was a day of shopping - for those of you who are lucky enough to receive a Christmas present from me! Its not hard to spend one million dollars in this place, given that that equates to 100 aussie dollars! Claires boyfriend Matt also arrived, and so that has mixed up our female dominated niche - I hope for his sake that he has a sister of two worth of experience!
Until now I've managed to keep this next bit a secret from mum and dad (hint, mum and dad close your eyes now if you dont want to know!), but .....struggling to get back my walking feet after a week off food, I have finally succumb to the easiest way of getting around Hanoi.... the xe may, otherwise commonly
known as the motorbike! And no dad, I wasnt wearing a helmet......honestly though, it is definately safer on the back of bike than crossing a road i'm sure, as long as you dont look when your bikeman is flying across an intersection through a red light!?
Only one last thing to add! Today we finally visited Uncle Ho! After 3 previous attempts - twice on a Monday, once on a Friday (both of which are when the mausaleum is closed!) we saw Ho Chi Mihn in his conserved state - a pretty interesting experience!
And so with clinic over, and Hanoi all but conquered, we head to Halong Bay tomorrow morning, hopefully to warmer weather (its been a chilly 18 or so degrees here), and then on down the coast on Tuesday evening. Caths 21st is on Tuesday, so hopefully we can celebrate on Cat Ba Island - and we have promised an 'all you can eat Fannys' affair on Tuesday night before we board the train....i'll explain later! So thats bye for now - hope you are all well!
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