VIETNAM-PLACES

HANOI

 Ho Chi Mihn Mausoleum

 Temple of Literature

 Hao Lo Prison, established during the French occupation to imprison Vietnamese insurgents. Later became the "Hanoi Hilton", prison for American pilots who were shot down over Hanoi during the Vietnam War

 Beautiful architecture in Hanoi

 White Lotus restaurant, Hanoi

 Halong Bay

 Hoi An, near Danang

 Rice field near Danang

 Vietnam War American airplane hangars in Danang

 Mountain range between Danang and Hue

 Fishing village on the way to Hue

 Lunch on arrival in Hue

 The Citadel, built in 1804 by the Vietnamese emperor

 Cyclo ride through Hue, unforgettable experience

 Boat ride on the Perfume River in Hue

 Hilltop Pagoda, Hue

 Buddhist nun orphanage, Hue

 Lunch at historian's home, Hue

 Best bus stop we have ever been to, on the way to the Mekong Delta

 Suspension bridge over the Mekong River

 Catholic school and church on the banks of the Mekong

 City market in Can Tho on the banks of the Mekong

Boat ride down a tributary of the Mekong

 Snake rice wine = aphrodisiac

 Rice paper wrappers being dried

 Saigon (Ho Chi Mihn City) Notre Dame Cathedral

 Old Presidential Palace, Saigon

 Museum of Art, Saigon

 Cu Chi, well known tunnels built by the Vietnamese insurgency during the French occupation, expanded and made more sophisticated by the Vietcong during the Vietnam War. They became a huge headache and mortal grounds for US forces.

Saigon City Hall

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