Riding a syclo!

While in the big city Maelyn felt it was priority to try out a syclo! It was a lot of fun and a good way to tour without riding a taxi. But warning - negotiate the price before you get in or you could get over charged like we did!!

A visit from a friend!

A few weeks ago a good friend of ours from our home town came to visit us! We took a quick trip to our new town. We had such a good time exploring together. This is a picture of Matt with Maelyn and her new cone hat. We see these hats everywhere we go and Maelyn had been wanting one! Thanks for your visit, Matt! We had a great time together.

The other picture is of the open market in our new town. Since there is no Wal-mart this is where we go for food, diapers, kitchen supplies and almost anything else you could imagine. It is two floors high with mostly food on the bottom and textiles at the top. The fresh fruit you can get here is amazing- ranging from pineapples, to watermelons, to a new favorite - dragon fruit!

Receiving a TET gift

TET is the biggest holiday of the year, a mix of Christmas and New Years and everyone's Birthday all at the same time. Streets were filled with flowers and special TET trees were found in homes and in places of business. Gift giving is also a part of this holiday. We felt so special when we were included in the celebrations and the apartment complex gave us a TET gift!

Our friend in the picture is Thien, the receptionist at the desk of our apartment complex. She was so helpful and even helped to teach us some language.

Videos from the Buddhist Pegoda near our room

Here is video from the inside of the Pegoda which is behind our hotel/apartment. Here is where they are offering a pig and some other dishes to the ancestor pictured.

Toys at the mall

Here's Maelyn riding a toy at the mall. Just like in Jonesboro! But it cost 6 cents!!

Mickey Mouse!

One of the malls in the big city had a dressed up Minnie and Mickey in celebration of the Lunar New Year. Maelyn couldn't believe it!

We have arrived!

We are now in the big city getting adjusted and learning some language and culture. We are staying in a "studio" apartment and taking in all the excitement of a big city. Our new home is on the fifth floor and here is a pic from the roof of our complex. One of the benefits of everything being tall and multi-stories is that Maelyn has mastered pushing the elevator buttons!

You'll notice 2 pics of a Buddhist Pegoda or worship center. This is also taken from the roof of our complex. We took time to tour it yesterday. It was full of fruit and food being offered to idols and ancestors, with the smell of incense everywhere.