- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
The start of months holiday
The check list for our camping holiday in Victoria
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
Girls at work
Justine Parsons, Marie Mannion, Jo Davis at PSANZ 2013
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Girls in black
Linda Johnston, Kaye Spence, Shahirose Premji & Jo Kent Biggs
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
PSANZ Conference Sydney 2012
Conference held from 18-21 March 2012
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:Darling Dr,Sydney,Australia
Friday, 17 February 2012
Last breakfast in Vietnam
Our last morning in Vietnam - its raining and it is going to be snowing in the north. Time to head home - mixed emotions - looking forward to being home but sad to think that this maybe my last visit to a wonderful country. A little of me remains - its people are gentle and proud. After 5 visits it's up there as one of my favourite places after Portugal. I have been fortunate to experience it over 20years - you never can say never so who knows.
Breakfast!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Breakfast!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday night
Back in Hanoi - its a cool 15 degrees which is nice change from the humid warmth of all the other places we have been to. We are staying in the old French quarter which has hundreds of tiny lanes full of activity. Tonight we walked slam bang into hundreds of young Hanoins on their bikes riding through these narrow lanes there are little groups huddled on little seats eating street food and sipping on beer. They are everywhere swarming around us in a frency all while we are trying to get our bearings and somewhere to eat. We grab a quick meal and head for the Paris Cafe - both Karen and I remember having coffee there in past visits. It is now run a cute Frenchman and gorgeous Vietnamese girl. Milk froth for the coffee is frothed the old fashioned way - heat milk and then use a metal beater and twist it very quickly between the hand and bingo light fluffy froth. It is a pity we do not have very much time here as we head for the airport in about 12 hrs - thereby bringing to an end our lovely time in Indochine. My 5th visit and I still love it. Come visit this wonderful country before it becomes unreconizeable. It is still magically after 20 years but I am not sure it will be still as beautiful in another 20 years.
Hot meal in Hanoi
It's 15 oC in Hanoi so it's hot noodle soup and lovely spring rolls
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Last morning in Luang Prabang
Friday 17th Feb 2012
Sitting sipping coffee and watching the world float by on the Mekong river. Luang Prabang is a gorgeous spot - but for how long? I spoke with an American woman whose husband works for UNESCO. He is here to help look at how a place like this can maximise the potential of tourism at the same not having it ruined. 5 years ago there were a few guest houses and now there are hundreds. Food is still cheap - top restaurant will only cost $10 but generally spending $3-5 and the food is fresh. The people are gentle and peaceful. When the government came into power they worked with the head monks whereas in other such countries the religion was surpressed. This has been a major benefit as the people could still worship openly. I must admit it is so worth getting up early and just sit and watch the monks walk along the street. This morning I just sat and watched as a group of them walked past and then suddenly 3 little ones took off down a little side street and a 4th one wanted to but got a harsh word of warning from a senior monk behind him - I wonder where the 3 escapees ran off to?
Great marsala dosa
Otherwise known as paper dosa usually rolled but this on a triangle and had divine mix of potato, onion, garlic , chilli and spices inside. A change from Asian food and SO GOOD!!! Can get them at Rajs in Beaumont st.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Early morning in Luang Prabang
It is something special to watch hundreds of monks walk along the street just on sunrise to collect offers of food from people - it is called tak bat ( morning alms) and is a serene ritual. Unfortunately it is a bit of a circus with your groups of Japanese and Germans rushing up close to take photos despite the Loas askingus to be respectful and standing a distance away and not using a flash.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Breakfast at luang Prapang
Mango and banana French toast
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:Khem Khong,Luang Prabang,Laos
In transit
Thursday 14th St Valentines day
We are in transit from Hoi An to Luang Prapang via Hanoi. Flight up to Hanoi was lovely we had a Frenchman and Aussie pilots with deep syrupy voices. Why is it that pilots always sound sexy but when we landed I had a look and the French captain was stocky and bald so the thing is to never look at them- the fantasy is much better than reality. Hanoi was rainy and cold and everyone was running around in thick coats and black clothes and her we were swanning around in bright summer clothes. The people of Hanoi are much more serious than those in the south. Women walk around with stern looks, moustaches & no makeup where as HCMC women are gorgeous looking, sexy and where high heels that give them altitude sickness. Off to Luang Prabang to visit temples, play with elephants and no doubt take hundreds of photos of monks walking the streets in their golden robes and food bowls - it will be a nice change. We have already done a list of places we want to eat at so more food pics.
Sunday, 12 February 2012
Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site It has UNESCO World Heritage status and the centre of the town is closed off in the evenings so you can wonder around without taking your life into your hands. It is set up for the tourists but there are still great examples of Vietnamese life popping up. You do have constant calling of "Come and see in my shop" but a smile will be enough to tell them "No". It is famous for its lanterns which make it a magical place to visit at night. The food is great and fresh.
Wallking the streets
Deep Fried Wontons with Tofu and Vegetables
Lights on the Bridge
lights across the Thu Bon River
Lunch at the Brother's Cafe Hoi An
Lunch overlooking the river
Table decoration
Bridge to lunch
The famous Hoi An Vietnamese Pancakes (savoury)
White Lily Dumplings 
Inside the Hoi An Pancake before you roll itHoi An Vietnam
Hoi An street scene
bride and groom having their photo taken
A cute Hoi An doggie
Street scene in Hoi An
New meets old - woman on a mobile phone
Moving furniture
Karen and Jane trying to pick material for clothes
The Brothers Cafe
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Hoi An
Hoi An has a coloured lantern festival and the streets are just full of these lanterns it's truly magically!!!!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday, 10 February 2012
Last meal in HCMC
Had a wonderful meal at Xu restaurant here in HCMC For our last night. It is a very upmarket place which serves Asian tapas. We just ordered from the entree menu so had about ten between 4 of us. The servings were just bite size but exquisite flavours and textures. Vietnamese food is about the balance of sour, hot, sweet, and salty and when you have something that allows you to experience all 4 in a mouthful you are truly in heaven. One dish was made from slices of lotus root chicken cucumber spring onion and herbs of basil and mint - it truly exploded with taste in your mouth. It was very costly at $30 per person but really worth it. Now sitting the business lounge at the airport about to fly to Hoi An another favourite place in Vietnam .
Thursday, 9 February 2012
2nd last day in HCMC
Thursday pm
It seems strange to be on our second last day here in HCMC. I came here in November 1992 and now it is my 6th time and probably my last. I am so familiar with the inner part of the city - despite the massive traffic, streets going in all directions and people everywhere its all very familiar to me and I will be sad to leave it for the last time. I have come to love the city and in some ways regret how fast it has grown and how big it has become but that is progress for you. We helped with the resus lecture given at the children's hospital 1 today and there were about 80 nurses there - everyone of them had a mobile phone and was busily reading sms's etc rather than listening to the lecture - it seems it is not just an issue in Australia - its world wide. I have a new iphone and Jane and I were doing something on our phones and Karen said that she had had enough and was banning phones from meal times - its true we are hooked on techniology. Today we went into a cafe that had just opened last year - it was full of young vietnamese business people having lunch and 95% of them were either doing something on their phones or computers - are we going to lose the art of conversation? We can not stop progress can we!!!! Talking of progress we are taking out our interpreters for a special dinner and taking them up the tallest building in HCMC - it will be interesting to see whats up there.
It seems strange to be on our second last day here in HCMC. I came here in November 1992 and now it is my 6th time and probably my last. I am so familiar with the inner part of the city - despite the massive traffic, streets going in all directions and people everywhere its all very familiar to me and I will be sad to leave it for the last time. I have come to love the city and in some ways regret how fast it has grown and how big it has become but that is progress for you. We helped with the resus lecture given at the children's hospital 1 today and there were about 80 nurses there - everyone of them had a mobile phone and was busily reading sms's etc rather than listening to the lecture - it seems it is not just an issue in Australia - its world wide. I have a new iphone and Jane and I were doing something on our phones and Karen said that she had had enough and was banning phones from meal times - its true we are hooked on techniology. Today we went into a cafe that had just opened last year - it was full of young vietnamese business people having lunch and 95% of them were either doing something on their phones or computers - are we going to lose the art of conversation? We can not stop progress can we!!!! Talking of progress we are taking out our interpreters for a special dinner and taking them up the tallest building in HCMC - it will be interesting to see whats up there.
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)