VIETNAM-TRANSPORTATION

Our journey to Vietnam and Cambodia was simply life-altering. We felt privileged to have been able to visit these countries. We met beautiful industrious people who have gone through many struggles and wars, but have not only survived, but are thriving in a currently promising environment. In this first photo blog post after our trip, I will try to capture the essence of the people through their modes of transportation. The scooter is king. They transport everything in scooters: a family of four, refrigerators, and all sorts of goods being taken to market. The mayhem caused by thousands of scooters traveling through city streets is an experience never to be forgotten, including the cacophonous sound of many of their horns warning each other and pedestrians to get out of the way. Take a look and enjoy the journey with us through Vietnam   

 Halong Bay, famous Unesco World Heritage Site off the northern coast of Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin

 Ferry hauls people and scooters across the Thu Bon River in Hoi An, another Unesco World Heritage Site, this one near Danang

 Boats adorned with dragon figures carry tourists and visitors on the Perfume River in the city of Hue

 Mekong River scenes in the city of Can Tho

 Boat ride through one of the Mekong River tributaries

 Boat bursting at the seams with rice

 Old US Swift Boat left over from the Vietnam War, now being put to good use

 Fishing boat with nets rolled in

 How about that balancing act?

Ferry transports people and scooters across the Mekong River

More Christmas pictures

A tiny little nest, maybe an old hummingbird nest, a rabbit hole and the sun getting ready to down behind McDonald Pass.

CHRISTMAS DAY 2013

What do  we do on Christmas Day in Montana? We pick a spot and go snowshoeing. This time we drove 20 minutes from home, up to McDonald Pass and the Continental Divide at about 6,900 feet elevation.

The Helena valley viewed from just below McDonald Pass

IT'S NOT OVER 'TILL IT'S OVER

Summer has been persistent this September, and so has our garden. We don't mind. Fall will be short, and winter will take away most of the colors and fragrances from our garden. The roses had a late start, but they are catching up now.  JIR

 Our deck tomato garden was fruitful and delicious

 First abundant lavender crop we've ever had

 Sunflower almost ready to open

 Dahlias were a prolific new addition this year

 Poppies

Honey Suckle

ARRIVEDERCI ITALIA-LAST 2 DAYS IN ROME

Finally, a picture of our 9 passenger party van, as we return it in Rome-on the 7th floor of a parking garage. Such feat required several reverse and forward maneuvers to get a the proper turning angle of very tight turns. The clearance between the roof of the van and the ceiling on the ramp to the 7th floor was about 1/2 inch

 Spanish Steps

 Carabineri, always texting

 Dinner al fresco at Mario's

 Outside the Galleria Borghese

 Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II, huge massive monument  to Vittorio Emanuele II, built in the early 1900's

 Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the entrance of the Monumento

 We really enjoyed visiting this monument, which has a great military museum inside. The views  of the city from one of the higher levels were spectacular. By then the air temperature in Rome had risen to about 90 degrees.

 Right next to the monument we stumbled on an ancient church, which we could not resist but explore

Arrivederci Italy. Even though we have a long travel list of places to visit, we may be back one of these days. JIR