On to Thailand

For the last week we have been in Thailand. In so many ways it is the same as Vietnam, yet so different. Thailand is much richer than Vietnam, yet you can still see people living in very poor conditions all over the place. I think it would be easy to hide yourself from the poverty if you stayed in the right parts of cities, but we have chosen to ride trains through the country. The poverty is prevelant along the railroad tracks. Just as it is prevelant along the rivers in Vietnam.

The people of Thailand seem less friendly than Vietnamese even though Thailand is considered the land of smiles. This has surprised us. 

As expected Buddhism is visually obvious here as it was in Vietnam, too. You can find a Buddhist temple in every neighborhood and statues are proudly displayed throughout the country. To be Thai is to be Buddhist just like to be Southern is to be Christian, but just like in America I feel like it is just the thing to say. It means nothing to so many.

We have traveled to three cities here by train. Elijah of course loved that experience. We were even able to visit a zoo in one city, Korat. The boys enjoyed the change of pace and getting to see some fun animals. The animal feeding times were quite entertaining because they make their animals work for their food.

Thailand has also been a time plagued with sickness. Elijah, Isaiah and I have all battled congestion and Elijah has been sick to his stomach. This has caused us to have a few days of just staying in the hotel while Mitchell went exploring. Hopefully we are on the mend.

We are back in Bangkok now for the rest of our stay. We will have a chance to visit a Thai church with a missionary couple here tomorrow and have a few days of rest before heading home.

Elijah is excited about the train ride.

The boys at the zoo.

Back to Ho Chi Minh

Well, we have been back in Ho Chi Minh City for a few days. We will leave out tomorrow for Thailand, but we felt we needed to spend a fewore days here.

Today we were able to travel around and find out housing prices in a few different districts of the city. Of course as foreigners the real estate agent believes we have lots of money. All the places she showed us were beautiful, but out of our price range. Seeing these apartments did give us hope though of what we might be able to find in our range.

We have also had a chance to take Mitchell's family to a nice restaurant here in the city to say thanks for all the help they have provided us during our stay. The food was delicious and cost less than $7 a person. You can't beat that.

We visited a few Western markets here to see what comfort foods we could make. Let's just say there will be no Mexican in our future unless I can make taco shells myself. One box of taco shells=$7.00

The boys have enjoyed the city since there a few playgrounds here and a splash pad. Mitchell and I also had a wonderful visit with a young expecting mother in the park the other day while the boys played.

Tonight we will go get our last fix of Vietnamese food and then it is on to Thailand.

American spices in Vietnam. They are just as expensive here.

A Catholic Church we visited in Saigon.

Elijah loves the outdoor exercise equipment at the park. Hey, you don't have to pay a gym fee!

Aunt's House

When we are not traveling between cities we have been staying a day here and a day there with Mitchell's aunt. This really gives the children a chance to play. She has two granddaughters the boys are able to play with also. Of course neither can understand what the other is saying, but they still enjoy playing together. Elijah especially likes their scooter and bike. Isaiah just likes having plenty of space to crawl around.

This also gives Mitchell an opportunity to get some work done and for me to get laundry washed and to repack for the next leg of our journey. We also get some home cooked Vietnamese food.

We so appreciate everything she has done for us!

Aunt with the boys

Playing at Aunt's house