Santa and his buffalo

Posted byfotinitheo1Posted inUncategorized
After Ho Chi Minh we took an early flight to Hoi An. Ho Chi Minh was the most southern city on our agenda so we knew that the weather would get cooler from here on out.  Although I think we all have become truly tropical and while it was probably around 50 at the coldest it felt cold! I had to boys in two shirts, sweaters and jackets and kept trying to talk Randy into buying them hats.  It was nice to be somewhere cool for Christmas. It sometimes can be hard to get into the Christmas spirit when it’s 90 degrees and 80% humidity. 
Besides the weather this little town was the perfect place to spend Christmas.  There are lanterns everywhere and they float hundreds of little candles in the river.  There are no cars allowed in the center of the town which is right on the river and when you walked around you could almost imagine what this little town was like a hundred years ago.  This town was is such a fun place to walk around. There are so many nooks and cute little stores, markets and alleys. 

Out of 20 pictures here is the best one.,..We are no engagement couple standing in a boat. You think Malcolm was a little tired?

We placed two candles in the river, one for each of our boys, which Adam loved! 

Two little santas selling candles.

Christmas Eve day was one of those traveling days where everything goes perfectly.  It must have been a Christmas miracle!

We took a boat ride up the river which was the highlight of Adam’s trip I think. He LOVED every minute of it.  It was pretty cold out there but this little guy didn’t care or complain once.  We just bundled him up and  Malcolm was sleeping on me and all cozy.  The minute we got off he asked when our next boat ride would be. 

Then, just to make his Christmas eve even better, the boat captain let Adam drive the boat! This may have been the best Christmas present Adam received this year.

After the boat ride we came across a cute wholesome bakery where we all had some treats and yummy Vietnamese coffee.  Maybe everyone was still in a good mood from our successful boat ride but everyone ate, drank and had smiles on. 

After our stop we headed out for a walk.  The weather was nice for a change.  It was rainy and very cold for most of our time in Ha Noi so we took advantage of the good weather.  

We stopped for a Banh Mi, a Vietnamese sandwich which was delicious!

We headed back to the  hotel and put the boys down for a nap.  We even hired a babysitter and were able to sneak out for a massage and a Christmas Eve toddy.

When the boys woke up we went to the Hotel’s Christmas party and it was definitely memorable. Adam was very excited to see Santa and get a present.

Then Adam got to sit on Santa’s Buffalo.  I was slightly nervous about this but everyone seemed comfortable.  My nanny told me she finds horses scarier than buffalo….not me. I find buffalo way scarier.  But it went off without a hitch and Adam loved it.  He’s braver than me!

Bye Santa! Off to deliver the rest of his presents on his buffalo.

Adam spent the next hour running around the lobby with his new friend Aiden while they set up for the entertainment.  They had hired some dancers and had this really fun lion dance as well as some ladies who danced an interesting sexy Jingle Bells.  It went right over Adam’s head who loves that song and sang along. 

It was very sweet of the hotel to host all this and it was completely free for guests.  There was an amazing buffet dinner too.  Malcolm who was sick with a stuffy nose and cough went to bed with the babysitter and we took Adam.  We didn’t last very long as we were all exhausted but it was a nice end to our day.

Christmas Day was the complete opposite of Christmas Eve.  Both boys were super cranky.  Malcolm was not feeling well and when we headed into town threw up all over me.  We headed back to the hotel and didn’t leave again.  We let both boys sleep as much as they wanted and use the play room there.  We ventured out after a wonderful family nap for a dinner in town.  It was a much needed day of rest.

All in all, we really liked Hoi An.  Even with the rain and Malcolm’s never ending cold it was a really nice place to spend Christmas.  For our last night there we went to a really nice restaurant that was set off from the main street, called Hidden Valley.  The food was great and there was a great guitarist playing.  Randy and I even managed to finish our wine, a miracle when traveling with two little ones!

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