Groundhog Day

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Well, we're going to have to do the past 6 weeks all over again.

I stupidly left our camera on the boat back from Macau. by the time we got back on the boat about 10 minutes later, the boat had been cleaned and it was gone. Of course, one of the cleaners took it. Who can blame them? That camera was probably about a month of their wages. I offered a reward just for the memory stick but no one bit.

We were planning on uploading the pictures on to my shutterfly account that day too! Urgh! I'm really upset about it because they were the only things that couldn't be replaced.

Like Peter's perfect shot of a dolphin arcing out of the water in Doubtful Sound. He was so close, you could see one eye winking at us with a little dolphin-grin as if to say, "Nice day, eh?" Or the one of me in my super-flattering plastic green poncho when we were hiking the Routeburn trail. Or of Peter in his rain hat and gators, getting soaked because he said he didn't need his poncho. Or the ones along the Abel Tasman Track, where each beach was like a little jewel--crystal clear turquoise water, a strip golden sand and a canopy of rainforest green.

So I've been drowning my sorrow in food in Singapore. Which is way too easy to do as you can imagine. The Singaporeans' national pastimes are movies, food and shopping, not necessarily in that order. There is a mall by our hotel with a phenomenal food court. Not some dinky food court with an Orange Julius, McD's and Sbarro's, but one that features at least 8 different cuisines, 14 stalls, 4 drink/dessert kiosks, a sushi bar and a guy who handmakes noodles in front of you. And that doesn't count the "sit down" restaurants in the mall. And everything is $3. 2 oyster fritters with a coke? $3. 3 mini apple strudels with a black coffee? $3. rice plate with pork chops? $3. bowl of prawn noodles in soup? $2.50. And it's in this super clean, air conditioned place. I just wander around with eyes bigger than my stomach. Peter and I eat about 5 times a day.

You can see my dilemma.

I need to get out of this city before I explode.

So more on Australia, as much for our own memories as to keep everyone up to date on what we're doing.

Imagine a German John Cleese from Fawlty Towers, tall and lanky, admonishing you for being late for the tour pick up in a high-pitched voice. The high pitched voice is explained by the too-tight hot pants-shorts he has on that are pulled way too high. Not that I was looking. His name is Henning and he was our tour guide through Fraser Island, a World Heritage site off of the East Coast of Australia. Henning whistled, talked and uttered okeey, no problem, stuipd ranger, sometimes to us, more often to himself. His stories were classic, the stupid people swimming in shark infested waters and donating arms and legs to the poor fishies; the kids getting bitten by poisonous jellyfish, the Frog (French guy) hitting his head off his bus and pretty much giving himself a haemmorage, the beckpeckas turning over thier 4WD and becoming statistics. Are you ready for Australia yet! The delivery of all this in a German/ Fawlty Towers combo accent had us in stitches for days. Our favorite was as he hummed along after a slow driver and seeming to be a paragon of patience, he utters out "you little bitch", not quite under his breath.

And then there were the hatching of the turtles, all 52 of them, scampering from the sand to the beach, deserted by their mothers, left to fend for themselves in the evil waters, only 1 in a 1,000 to make it to adulthood; and that is with turtle soup now being illegal.. Dinh is wondering if we can desert any (distant..) future children like those turtle mommies!!

And finally for Australia, it was a little Nirvana called Noosa. This is the La Jolla/ Carmel squared of Oz with glorious beaches, cliffs, designer stores, 5 star restaurants, et al.. Done even finer than the US, just a few less Ferraris. A must do if you are ever in OZ, start saving now..

So it's off to Vietnam now for 2 weeks with the parents. Can we get a loud aaaaaghhh 😉

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Comments

[COLETTE]

Just have to let you know Dinh that you are really part of the Harrrington family, more than ever now - the tradition of leaving personal affairs during their various trips is being kept alive. Passports and various articles (planned presents for example) left on planes, mobile phone mislaid (Martina's a real expert !) and the list could continue. We like being charitable, so many people have benefited from our moments of absence!!!! Vincent and I will be off to Ireland next Thursday for a little weekend - we'll see if we lose or forget somthing. Greeting to all the Ha family joing you in Vietnam and good luck Peter for the future efforts of not disappointing your family-in-law in their home country. Be on your best behaviour and enjoy yourself. Take care. Big sister !

[Hui and David]

Electronics
First the Treo, now the camera?! We can't believe it! We were looking forward to the camper pictures, and of course the beauties of the AU and NZ. AIYA!! I'm sure Peter was giddy shopping for a new camera.