kia ora dodson bell whanau lov the phots guys. disappointed you are not eating cats dogs insects and dodgy looking testicles, but you still have another week to go! Otis you should take over the banking for the whanau I can't believe they all paid so much for the bike ride - you are way more sensible.
Its boring over here. Rain Rain Rain. Have a great time love Billy
Faabbbuuulous!!! Hol Kia ora koutou te whanau e haere haere ana! Wonderful tales Ottie, and greta pics. The kai class sounded great! You haven't missed much back here; floods, storms and now cold chills. Have a drink, some swims and plenty of delicious kai for us..aroha nui Karu, G, Harata and whanauxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
tino pai te whanau o pikitia Kia ora
Hey neat to see more photos. Marls is back and boy is she tanned. Debs got her at the airport they had a good catch up got all the goss. Luv Bell whanau
u fullas r hot!! fanks for the photo's - bi golly u guys r hotter than the climate...i like the one of you's on the roof and ma n pa lookin great too. how was the cooking class otis? kisses 2 ya all xxxt
Good Stuff Dear Otis, Your blog is as close as I will ever get to Vietnam so I am very interested in what you have to say. That country has had a tragic history, especially in more recent times when America decided to use it as the battleground for their idea of freedom against the forces of evil -chinese communism!---as they saw it!! America loves to fight wars as long as it doesn't happen on American territory. Best wishes ------Poppa
kat shoes cuddle our cats lots !! Hi B and G xxx
not alot of room for yo hakaree boots anyways, after kara's 6 pairs
she just bought !!
have fun slb xx
Awesome Otis! Great Travel blog. Have taken possession of the house. Cant keep the cats off us. All secure. Love to all. 'knew i should have given you my taretare boots for a makeover ;-)'
culinary delights Wow elephant ear fish looks amazing - what next Otis - perhaps you'll eventually try mushrooms!! Keep up with all the experiementing mate and the vibrant descriptive witty korero! Remember to spare a thought for all those kids that start back at school tomorrow! Ha! We're very jealous! Love to all!! Aroha Anna xx
I'm loving the blog! I've just been through and read all the comments, this is such a good thing to do. Gives a great insight into your trip. Otis your writing is excellent, really vivid and exciting. Hope you've got a really comfortable hotel to stay at in Hoi An, sounds like you deserve a rest after all that! Is Hoi An where they make shoes? Some friends got some good ones made there as well as lots of clothes. Nico's soccer team have made it into the semi-finals of the Kanga Cup after a very nerve wracking quarter final yesterday, down 1-0 at half time and playing like crap but came back like the team they really are, played a great second half and won 2-1. Semi starts in 30 mins, Andrew's there but I am at work, bummer! Keep up the blogging, love Tracey
agree with teiti comment Me also more photos of people we know. Starting to think this is a bogus trip, you've actually just gone to Auckland with the odd sorty into an Asian market for veges for the night, the rest of the fots downloaded from the web. Pah! That canoe shot is suspiciously like the Hatea just past the basin, you've all just gone and put silly hats on. Is this going to be like that man on the moon thing, did it really happen, is that really you squinting, the sun in your eyes?
Serves you right if you didnt go we are freezing here, this must be the worst school holidays ever, Otis you must have appeased the karma headmaster if you are actually in the tropics. And if you are...go well you Lien Xo!
Tim
i wanna lovely coconut well well what a trip you's fullas r havin!! just how hot is it then...what do u mean no mattrases...da mekong river looks so cool i mean hot i mean cool anyways is there much evidence of the vietnam war?? r there any Apocolypse Now like war freaks running around....mayb not. look forward to the next installment Otis...well done on the writing - kisses all round
Thanks for a new Experience! Well done Otis. I wasn't even sure what a blog ---- have just heard the term a couple of times----was. What a great way to bring the home stayers up to date with the traveller happenings. And you did it well.
Not sure whether at my age a bed without a mattress and heat that won't go away is what I would look for, but for you I can see that it was a great choice. Love Poppabrian
Hey Otis, the journal and photos are fantastic!! I'm jealous!!! I have printed everything and am going in to school today to set up a board with what you have sent so far and a map so everyone can see where you have been when they get back to school Monday. Keep having fun!
looked like pork- could o been who knows- we are still a bit sissy- no snake, no cat no dog yet!! plenty o time- we are in the world heritage site of hoi an now- stunning- ganna get lots of silk outfits yay-and do some cooking. you play too- send us the link to your blog- remember to take the camera cord to download photos- i wana see you in the gi\ugginheim
xxk
the storm stressing out a bit- sounds like our whare took the brunt of the storm, a window in our house blew out and theres a bit of damasge- poor meliors our house sitter had to manage on her own- i think its all sorted- wish we were there- kind of- not xxk
evedyone thinks pa is a local- him and ma are amazing- we did the very intrepid trip to mekoong and man, they were troopers!!! the people here are amazing- calm, gracious, happy- we can learn a lot from them- will send more photos xxk
we stayed at the majestic- incredible- 1925 ornate grand french with all the frills-i've never been anywhere like it- we did lots of markets- did the incredible very none touristy intrepid mekong homestay tour- otis's next blog-in hoian now- gana stay awhile- very cool and more chilled out- worried about our house tho- major storm.xxxxx
Kai pai you fullas!!!! All is good back in Aotearoa. I/we are fine. Love the photos. Bags not drinking the snake wine... Cool carved breakfast. You's look like you are having a fab time. Hugs to the lad. Mauri ora koutou!
Looks fantastic... What hotel are you staying at? Don't forget the markets in Saigon, they're pretty good. We did a Mekong Delta tour while we were there and it was worthwhile, the Cu Chi tunnels were good too. Canberra is cold and verging on rain, kids are on school holidays, Jack is having a pyjama day. Nico would like to but he is playing soccer in the Kanga Cup so has to leave the house for that.
yo more pictures of ya all can i please see more pictures of you's please...altho i do like the ones u sent. how's ma n pa bell holding up and are you's gonna do a cookery course. far out the food does look amazing!! do the bell clan stand out as poly's? are they happy people? im so envy right now! luv ya
Otis your a great writer hi whanau - just wanted to say otis that your a great writer and i laughed out loud many times reading yo first blog. please give my love to everyone. look forward to more travel stories xxxteiti
FLOODS IN TE TAITOKERAU Hey Y'all!!!
Man, those photo's look tino pai nga hoa ma!!!
As for us 'ow - We starting to flood up again man!!! Te Taitokerau all over. I will keep you informed via the reports from the Far North District Council.
Apparently our streets' power is out (Again)...Have you heard from your house sitters to see how Parua Bay is doing? I'll have a nohi tonight and get back to you in the morning....Civil Defence is a little more on to it this time around. The remote areas have emergency relief centres set up all over Taitokerau, so we in for another one by the looks!!!!
Miss you fullaz.....Wish we were there!!!....
Aroha-tino-nui kia whanau whanui,
Mwah!!!
The Pompeysxxx
billy
non-member comment
kia ora dodson bell whanau
lov the phots guys. disappointed you are not eating cats dogs insects and dodgy looking testicles, but you still have another week to go! Otis you should take over the banking for the whanau I can't believe they all paid so much for the bike ride - you are way more sensible. Its boring over here. Rain Rain Rain. Have a great time love Billy