Category Archives: Fun

custom clothes in hoi an

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Hoi An, Vn.

The beautiful city of Hoi An, Vn.

Wade and I getting measured for our custom clothes. What an awesome experience.

Wade and I getting measured for our custom clothes.

My custom outfit! I took a picture from a magazine, got measured, and it was ready 24 hrs later!

My custom outfit! I took a picture from a magazine, got measured, and it was ready 24 hrs later!

I had this jacket custom made for $35!!

I also had this jacket made for just $35!!

Wade had a tuxedo made for $100!

Wade had a tuxedo made for $100!

The men got suits made at Gia Hung's tailor shop. We all felt like royalty! It was such a fun experience. I would love to go back one day with $5000 and get an entire wardrobe made!

The men got suits made at Gia Hung’s tailor shop. We all felt like royalty! It was such a fun experience. I would love to go back one day with $5000 and get an entire wardrobe made!

The charming streets of Hoi An.

The charming streets of Hoi An.

Hoi An is so picturesque no matter what time of day it is.

Hoi An is so picturesque no matter what time of day it is.

We were lucky to have been there for a full moon lantern festival!

We were lucky to have been there for a full moon lantern festival!

We had a cute little old man row us around the river in his boat during the lantern festival. It was beautiful from the water.

We had a cute little old man row us around the river in his boat during the lantern festival.

There were adorable little women selling lanterns during the festival. You lit the candle, made a wish or said a prayer for someone, then let it float into the river.

There were adorable little women selling lanterns during the festival. You lit the candle, made a wish or said a prayer for someone, then let it float into the river.

I loved the charming little city of Hoi An, VN. Not only did we get custom clothes made, we caught the full moon lantern festival and we had a great hotel, Thanh Binh II, with a balcony that overlooked the main street for only $35 a night. The city was full of tourists but I didn’t mind. We were in plenty of other rural areas on the trip that were off the beaten path. Getting custom clothes made was definitely a high light for all of us. We had so much fun doing it and felt like royalty. Before we left town we found out that they also make custom shoes in 24 hrs! Shoot, that would of really been the icing on the cake. Thats one more reason to go back one day!

hue

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This was at the entrance of an emperor's tomb in Hue, VN.

This was the entrance to the grounds of an emperor’s tomb in Hue, VN.

We were lucky to have such an amazing view as the fog rolled in at the Khai Dinh Tomb in Hue.

We caught this amazing view just as the fog rolled in at the Khai Dinh Tomb in Hue.

This was a spectacular painted ceiling in the Khai Thanh Temple.

This spectacular art covered the ceiling above the emperor’s tomb  in the Khai Thanh Temple.

Wade and I took charge of The Imperial Palace in Hue.

Wade and I took charge of The Imperial Palace!

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Who needs cars or the gym? Wade got his workout for the day!

There were so many beautiful walls, colors and textures around the grounds of the Imperial Palace. It was hard to imagine that it was once a battleground.

There were so many beautiful walls, colors and textures around The Imperial Palace. It was hard to imagine that it was once a battleground.

I spotted this on our way out of the Imperial Palace and it spoke to me.

This spoke to me. I love the colors and textures.

I love these dragon stairs at The Imperial Palace. So beautiful even in shambles. I can't even imagine what they looked like originally.

The dragon stairs at The Imperial Palace were breathtaking. So beautiful even in shambles. I can’t even imagine what they must of looked like originally.

The grounds of The Imperial Palace in Hue, VN.

The grounds of The Imperial Palace in Hue, VN. Yes, I am eating an ice cream cone. They sold them everywhere and it was so refreshing  in the heat. I must of had a dozen of them!

A fun photo from The Imperial Palace!

Hello from The Imperial Palace!

The picturesque estate of the Tu Duc Tomb in Hue, VN.

The picturesque estate of the Tu Duc Tomb in Hue, VN.

spelunking

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This gorgeous spot was somewhere between Da Nang and Ha Long Bay. Our driver insisted on taking us here for a boat ride and cave tour. We were not disappointed!

This gorgeous spot was somewhere in Vietnam between Da Nang and Ha Long Bay. Our driver insisted on taking us here for a boat ride and cave tour. We were not disappointed!

We had quite the spelunking adventure!

We had quite the spelunking adventure!

Everything was so picturesque. I love how peaceful and mysterious it is inside a cave.

Everything was so picturesque. I love how peaceful and mysterious it is inside a cave.

A beautiful morning for a boat ride.

A beautiful morning for a boat ride.

This was the entrance to a cave in Marble Mountain just outside of Da Nang.

This was the entrance to a cave in Marble Mountain just outside of Da Nang.

Inside the cave at Marble Mountain.

Inside the cave at Marble Mountain.

Our captain inside the water cave.

Our captain of the water cave.

I loved this stalactite. It reminded me of a Gaudi building.

I love this stalagmite. It reminds me of a Gaudi building.

This beauty was in a cave at Marble Mountain.

This beauty was in a cave at Marble Mountain.

Being on the river was so serene. I didn't want to leave!

Being on the river was so serene. I didn’t want to leave!

There is still more to come from Vietnam!

saigon

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As soon as we arrived in Saigon I couldn't help but notice the crazy power lines and all the scooters. The traffic was insane.

The crazy power lines and scooters were the first things I noticed when we got to Saigon.

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Look at all the stuff she is carrying on that scooter!!! Amazing!

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A typical afternoon near our hotel in District 1 in Saigon. Note the child on the scooter without a helmet. That is just the norm.

(My apologies for the “vertical videoing”! I know Carrie is cringing! What can I say? I was caught up in the moment!)

Saigon-

Wade, at the rooftop bar of our hotel, The Duc Vuong. It was very scenic, a great place to have a cold beer, and the staff was super friendly!

Good Morning Vietnam!

Good Morning Vietnam!

Our first Pho of the trip at the morning market. It was relish! This noodle dish is served morning, noon and night there!

Our first Pho of the trip at the morning market. It was delish! This noodle dish is served morning, noon and night there!

It was very common to see people preparing food along the sides of the streets.

It was very common to see people preparing food along the sides of the streets. They don’t have the health department “A, B, C” ratings we have in LA. “When in Rome” was a theme on this trip!

Ice delivery!

Ice delivery!

The little kids were the cutest!

The little kids were the cutest!

Saigon also had a lot of modern, high end boutiques. I loved this ad from a shop window.

Saigon also had a lot of modern, high end boutiques. I loved this ad from a shop window.

I got these fun sunnies from a shop in Saigon!

I got these fun sunnies from a shop in Saigon!

This temple is at the top of a hill in Van's hometown of Tay Ninh. We took a sky tram up to it but when Van was little he had to climb the mountain to get there.

This temple is at the top of a hill in Van’s hometown of Tay Ninh, about 3 hours outside of Saigon. Now you can take a sky tram up to the temple, but when Van was little he had to climb the mountain to get there.

This was another beautiful, ornate temple we visited in Tay Ninh.

This was another beautiful, ornate temple in Tay Ninh.

We spent a day with Van's family for the End of Mourning Ceremony for his father who passed 3 years ago. White is the color they traditionally wear for funerals. Here, the family was praying with Buddhist Monks. There were at least 19 of them present.

We spent a day with Van’s family for the End of Mourning Ceremony for his father who passed away 3 years ago. White is the color they traditionally wear for funerals. Here, the family was praying with Buddhist Monks. There were 19 of them present.

All of the white gowns worn for the ceremonies are then burned for The End of Mourning. It was so special to be there for this with Van and his family. A day I will forever cherish.

All of the white gowns worn for the ceremonies were burned for The End of Mourning. It was so special to experience this with Van and his family. A day I will forever cherish.

Stephanie and I even got to participate in a prayer and offering to the monks. We were given these blue robes. It was so special.

Stephanie and I got to participate in a prayer and offering to the monks.

These boxes were made up for the monks and included toiletries, a new robe, and cash. There were 19 of us who held the boxes on our heads and walked around the monks in a line 3 times before placing the boxes in front of them.

These boxes were made up for the monks and included toiletries, a new robe, and cash. There were 19 of us who held the boxes on our heads and walked around the monks in a line 3 times before placing the boxes in front of them.

After the ceremony Van's family had a delicious, catered, vegetarian meal for everyone. It was a beautiful day!

After the ceremony Van’s family had a delicious, catered, vegetarian meal for everyone. It was a very emotional and beautiful day.

Saturday night in Saigon. Look at how cute the girls are on the scooters in their date night dresses.

Saturday night in Saigon. Look at how cute the girls are on the scooters in their date night dresses.

Party scene in the streets of Saigon where the tourists and locals intermix.

Party scene in the streets of Saigon where the tourists and locals intermix.

I loved this couple. They were a little apprehensive to have their picture taken as they didn't understand English very well.

I loved this couple. They were a little apprehensive to have their picture taken as they didn’t understand English very well.

Van, Wade and I taking it all in. Saturday night in Saigon.

Van, Wade and I taking it all in. Saturday night in Saigon.

We have so many photos and I had such an amazing trip that it is hard to narrow it down. In this case, I feel the pictures speak louder then words. I couldn’t even begin to describe some of the things we saw, experienced, and ate. So, I will continue to share my trip through photos city by city. Stay tuned for more from Vietnam!

Vietnam…here I come!

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This weekend, my husband and I will be taking off on a whirlwind tour through Vietnam and Cambodia and I couldn’t be more excited! I can’t wait to see the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, meet my friend Van’s family and visit his hometown Tay Ninh, have custom clothes made and shop in Hoi An, relax on the beaches of Ha Long Bay, EAT all the delicious street food I can stuff in my face and see everything else in between!!! So, needless to say, I won’t be updating the blog until I return in April but you can follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to keep up with my adventures along the way!