A Day of R & R

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Today - we seized an opportunity to just relax. The weather was so cool and sunny -- and we didn't have any major plans for the day. The morning was spent touring the Summer Palace of the last King of Vietnam -- and then we visited the most enchanting monastery called Truc Lam (Bamboo Forest). It's a place where people come to learn meditation, and the monks chant for several hours several times a day. It is so peaceful and inviting -- with labyrinth gardens, wind chimes and the unexpected warm smell of pine. Afterwards, we took a sky cab (mini gondola) ride across fields of terrace gardens and pine forest. What a great way to see the countryside!

We arrived back in the city of Dalat and went to lunch at a cafe owned by a blues musician and native of Cleveland Ohio, Curtis King. His wife was holding down the fort while he was on tour with his band. Everyone agrees that his Vietnamese wife makes the best Lasagna on at least two continents. We then went our separate ways -- with David, Fred and Doug taking in an afternoon of golf. Meanwhile the non-golfers bagged candy for each of the school children at the dedication and picked up the instruments that were ordered yesterday. Many of the girls got massages, and Judy and her grandsons made their way to the park to play a little ball. They made a bunch of new friends.

We reconvened for a group birthday dinner, and just when Judy was about to call it a night and cancel the celebration due to lateness and impatience -- a cake the size of a snare drum (and possibly thicker) arrived at the table. We went to bed happy and full -- with visions of school children dancing in our heads. Tomorrow we dedicate the school.

PS. We are writing almost every day -- but the publishing seems to be a bit delayed -- please be patient and keep logging in!!

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Photos

Buddha with a Lotus flower
Inside the pagoda at Truc Lam

Caddy named Hoa
David's Caddy -- was the life of the party and offered good putting advice

Comments

[cicily]

... :(
carly!!! i missed two days.. :( buuutttt.. i'll make this one a little longer to make up for it! i can tell from all those pictures you're having fun! looks awesome! i can't wait to see you again. hahah. it feels like it's been 230483209489 years! i'm on my way to phoenix today! and yesterday we hiked 4.5 miles down into the canyon, and 4.5 miles back up!!! and let me tell you, it was some serious level four training! haha. :) oh! and i keep going to text you, because i miss our daily convos about boys, dance, and the likes. but then i realize.. oh.. she's in vietnam still.. buuutttt you're having an awesome time!!! and this means i'll have sooo much to hear about and i am sooo pumped!!! see you soon! ps, have you heard, JHS basketball - STATE CHAMPS!!!! although, they'll never be as much of a champ as you! haha. love you! <3

[kayla]

people
How many new people have you met?

[anthony]

I like all the picture
How is the food do you like anything more there than you like here, like chicken is the chicken better there?

[Abi]

candy
Did you get eat some candy?

[alex]

WOW!!
Those pictures are so awesome! Veitnam is so beutiful!

[steven]

yooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WILL' What do people where for dressing up?Andare there many churches there?Everyone mises you.Do you miss us?I love the pictures htat you sent.

[marie]

hot,cold
It's hot and swety there ,and cold and windy here. Say hi to Helen for me![: 0;

[eliza]

alalalalalllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllLlLlLLlLlalalalalalallallalallllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
I think its sad that someone put grafitii on that tree in the bamboo forest pic

[matthew]

How was your day?
Where are you staying, and what are you doing next?:)

[elizabeth]

Hi how are you? What do you drink there?

[Sarah]

???????????
Who's better at soccer?Us, or them? --Sarah

[lydia]

BAM!!
Have you eaten anything different from the last time you were in Vietnam?If you did what were theyand what they tasted like.

[riley]

sports
Are there any diffrent sports then there are in the usa.

[thomas]

Fun or Scary :^) or :^o
Was it scary being in the sky cab or was it fun being in the sky cab.I think it might be fun. This is would probably be my face :^) maybe... _ Thomas

[The Dinglers]

It looks like you guys are having a fantastic time. We really enjoy following you on this adventure. The pictures have been great! You are not missing a thing back here in Jackson Township.(except for maybe your friends) Looking forward to the next entry. See you soon and be safe!

[Caitlin]

Hello from the Hoag house!
Well, y'all are having an adventure over there and the love of my life is in Shanghai...what are Lois and I to do but watch Paula Deen and eat 27 boxes of Girl Scout cookies? (Those were for me, right?) Love your posts and beautiful pictures. Toodles!

[cicily]

yayyy!
hi carly! :) i'm in phoenix now, so it's much easier to be on the computer now!!! so hopefully i can comment more! :) i wish you were here with me right now! i miss you soo much!! but you're having an amazing time!!!! ahhh! i can't wait to see you! and talk to you! as soon as you land in the US i better be receiving a text from you missy!! :) love you! ps, when do you get back?! I'LL BE COUNTING DOWN THE DAYSSSS!!! <3

[The Bankys]

Happy Birthday to all of you!!!
Sorry we missed the big day. Lots to celebrate! Hope Dave finds his karoke bar along the Great Wall.

[KidsBuildingHope]

To Kaleigh From Will
Lots. Our guides, the kids at the schools, kids in the park

[KidsBuildingHope]

To anthony; From Will
The fruit is really great here -- more variety. the chicken tastes the same. But I really miss hamburgers.

[KidsBuildingHope]

To Abi From Will
Yes - we got to eat some of the candy (thank God!)

[KidsBuildingHope]

To Alex; From Will
It is beautiful - especially that Monastery -- I wanted to stay there for a month.

[KidsBuildingHope]

To Steven; From Will
There are traditional vietnamese dress clothes that are like long silk shirts and pants (like for weddings). Women wear them a lot around here. A lot of people wear clothes like ours for business. There are a few Catholic churches here, buddhist temples and a small amount of islamic temples. I miss you guys -- some -- just kidding -- I miss you guys a lot.

[KidsBuildingHope]

To Caitlin; From the Hoags
Caitlin, feel free to eat all those cookies, as we're eating more than we figured! Hope school is going well. Take care of Lois!

[KidsBuildingHope]

To Caitlin; From the Hoags
Caitlin, feel free to eat all those cookies, as we're eating more than we figured! Hope school is going well. Take care of Lois!

[KidsBuildingHope]

To Thomas; From Will
Thomas, the sky cab was fun, I got to stick my hand out this little window and touch the tops of trees. My stomach had butterflies because I was so high up. There were only three of us in the cab... my cousin and our tour guide (Quan the Bomb).

[KidsBuildingHope]

To Riley; From Will
Riley, there is one sport I can think of that is different... Coa. It is like hacky-sack, but not with a ball, rather it's a 6 inch long plastic piece with feathers on the end. People can hit it with their feet to each other from long distances away! Also, tennis and golf are "for millionaires," and I've seen volleyball nets, badminton courts, basketball courts (in the forbidden city), home made soccer nets and lots of pool tables, even in the most run-down houses you could imagine!

[KidsBuildingHope]

To Lydia; From Will
Lydia, I ate goat this time around. We were at a barbaque place on a rooftop in Ho Chi Minh City. I got to fry it myself and I like it best well done! It tasted like chewy chicken. It was good with a little spicy sauce.

[KidsBuildingHope]

To Sarah; From Will
Sarah, we had a soccer shoot out against the kids from the kew school. They were really good, but we beat them four out of five times! However, my uncle thinks those kids are tougher because they don't play video games!

[KidsBuildingHope]

To Elizabeth; From Will
Elizabeth, I drink mostly Sprite and 7-up because we shouldn't drink the tap water here. That means that the ice can't be trusted either. Some hotels and coffee shops are trustworthy, and our guides know where to take us for good water. My parents drink beer and pop too. But one treat I really like is "white coffee," which is condensed milk, very strong coffee and ice. My parents have let me try that a few times. It is so good.

[KidsBuildingHope]

To Matthew; From Will
Matthew, I am staying at the Novo Hotel in Beijing, China. And tomorrow (Thursday) we will be walking and seeing the Great Wall of China.

[KidsBuildingHope]

To Eliza; From Will
Eliza, We didn't see that graffitti on that tree until you pointed it out. Remarkably, we haven't seen much graffitti at all!

[KidsBuildingHope]

To Marie; From Will
Marie, Beijing (where I am now) is a lot like home, a little cool during the day, and colder at night!

[alex]

ummmmm...................
uh...WOW!!!!! that cake looks huge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[marie]

sky cab
Are you sacred of hights, if you are were you sacred on the sky cab?:]

[KidsBuildingHope]

To Talia and Anna from Mrs Hoag
Hi Girls! The cake was spongy and the frosting tasted like chocolate whipped cream. I think it was the biggest cake I've ever seen! Being on the sky cab was fun -- at one point it stopped while we were up really high -- and we just sat there -- I was scared it wasn't going to restart!! After about 2 minutes it started back up. See you soon!!

[KidsBuildingHope]

To Marie; From Will
I'm not scared of heights - but I felt a little nervous when it came to a stop while we were up in the air. One time our tour guide was stuck in this sky cab for an hour!! We were only stuck for a few minutes.

[KidsBuildingHope]

To Alex; From Will
Alex, yeah the cake was big, and I ate alot!

[maggie]

everything is so beautiful!
wow! what gorgeous pics and that cake is unbelieveable. i want some more pictures of the official photographer...ask David to snap a few of Tracy xxoo mag

[Dave Ewing]

Love the Photos
The photos are great. What a beautiful birthday cake! What a great looking golf course. Is Doug and David bringing the caddy Hoa home. I need a lot of putting advice. Today we got to 72 degrees and maybe 80 degrees on Friday. Thanks for the blog. We are traveling with you in spirit. Have a great time and keep up the great work.

[KidsBuildingHope]

To the Dingler's
Yes we are having an amazing time here! The school is beautiful and it was so great watching our kids interact with them. Yes we do miss our buddies in Jackson and look forward to a night of wings at the Lizard.