Wondering Walk during Vacation = Random Pics of Hanoi

I sometimes LOVE spending vacation time 

at home.

WHY?

1) Because I am never at home....only to eat and sleep really.

2) How often do you go to the museums in the city where you live?

3) THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO IN HANOI!!!

However,

when vacation time actually came....I ended up just reading books,

drinking coffee at location coffee joints, 

reading more books and blogs online,

and taking random walks around my neighbourhoods.

No museums.

No art galleries.

No crazy shopping adventures.

(Okay-okay, there was that one time I bought some plants!)

The garage door I've always wanted.

Some weird road paint/stone decoration.

I don't know why but I LOVED this door.

It looked so ancient.

Love the flags.

Worst advertising ever...WHERE IS THE CHOCOLATE GARDEN

YOU PROMISED?!?!

(There was no chocolate, no cupcakes, not even

a hot chocolate.....coconut water?)

Argh.

I pretty much "splurge" and buy myself

flowers every other week.

Sigh*

SOOOOO PRETTY!

The smell is so strong you would choke on it.

And what is YOUR name???

Some of the tallest sunflowers I have ever seen.

My FAMOUS plants shopping day.

Or as I like to say, the day I brought all my children home.

I really wanted to steal this cow and bring it home.

His name was Norman.

He had the cutest, wettest nose you have ever seen.

He died the next day.

I got so excited about PLANTS that I bought some for my classroom.

Yes! Even in Hanoi they have a VERY-FANCY

expensive line of FAUCHON FOODS

and PRODUCTS.....can you believe it?

Why certain, I would LOVE to buy a jar of jam for $34 BUCKS!

My nights of watching men's soccer.

(Just call me your local "peeping-Ms.Wells")

So...yeah.

When are HOLIDAYS AGAIN!?!?!

Last Minute STOPS on the way to School - FRUIT PLEASE!

GOOD MORNING!

Banana anyone?

Bright pink fruit is my favourite.

I'll take the SCOOTER too!

(KIDDING! Can you imagine me on a scooter?)

THANK YOU!!!

When I Am Gonna Grow-UP Already...oh CRAP! I FOUND A GRAY!

It happened.

Even though I don't FEEL old...I am.

It was only a matter of time.

I wish I had been more prepared.

Prepared to see this...

....my first gray hair.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

There is no going back.

I cannot fight this any longer.

What's done is done.

I now have to grow up...

....or at least PRETEND to be a friggin' adult.

SIGH*

But I was doing so well, you know?

I was just gonna do another post about ponies

or cute horsies or stubborn big eared donkeys!

The ones that make you giggle out loud, 

you know?

I was feeling so happy, 

so young,

so free.

Uggggggggghhhhhhhhh!

What is a woman to do?

Or wait!

HOLD THE PHONE!

Could I?

Could I REALLY?

START COLOURING MY HAIR!?!?!

Pfffffft - yeah right!

I would probably turn myself into a rainbow by accident.

This OLD MARE ain't ready for that.

Sounds too dangerous!

Yes, MUCH too dangerous.

Permanent colours are bad with me....I already STRUGGLE with 

permanent markers.

NOPE, TOO DANGEROUS! 

Not that old DONKEY.

Ain't got time for that.

HAH.

How about I just pull'em-out when I see'em? 

OR

Deny that I really have gray hairs and that I am getting old?

I like denial.

Yip-yip-hooray for DENIAL.

Denial train it is....ALL ABROAD!?!?

Boom.

All is right in the world again.

Now back to ponies & horses!

(It's been a looooooooooooooooong week!)

(smiling)

Shine Bright Like A Diamond...You mean Hanoi sunsets?

Sometimes this place REALLY does 

make me smile.

Harrrd.

YES, HANOI DOES HAVE BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS!

(Sometimes when the fog of pollution ain't so bad)

"Am I really living here, Lauren?"

YUP.

Pinch me, will ya?

Okay-okay.

You're right.

There are no mountains in the distance.

And perhaps the lake could be bigger?

Maybe even a few more trees...? 

BUT...

...home is where my work is.

(For now)

And my work flipping ROCKS!

(literally knocking my socks off on a daily both in a good and bad way)

What more could a girl ask for? 

Maybe a little less shine?

(It's starting to hurt my eyes!)

Hah!

So...yeah.

Practicing My Right To VOTE (Spoiled rotten INDEED!)

Yes, this was my initial reaction!

"NO WAY! Look what I GOT in the mail!!!!"

(My spoken words exactly)

I am in shock.

...but clearly SUPER happy!

Time for a change people...kiss the old OUT and bring the 

fresh blood IN!

(Terrible saying Lauren, terrible!)

Can't tell if you are laughing at my hat or just me in general?

REGARDLESS, if I can vote from the Nam then you can vote from home, ya?

Have you voted yet?

Sending this 

(Well, actually I already sent it off)

in the mail as we SPEAK!

Crikey....I hope it gets there in time!

NO idea why this makes me so happy but I really was SHOCKED

to see that they sent a ballot to me!

Bah-hah!

(Easily impressed!)

It's ONLY Wednesday...?

Losing track of the days...tough life when on holiday.

BUT 

the best part of my day???

I found out it was only WEDNESDAY!!!

(Back in DHAKA

that would mean more than half way through the week...argh!)

BUT 

here in the NAM is mean that GOODNESS, I still have 

TWO MORE DAYS

of the week left. 

(Goes Monday to Friday here, not Sunday to Thursday like I am used to in the Desh)

THAT MEANS I ALSO STILL HAVE THE WEEKEND!

(Whoop-whoop!)

This is how excited I am about NOT going back to school....

....(especially not having to see THIS GUY again. Bahahahhahah!)

Je joke.

This is one of my lovely co-workers.

Just lovely.

(And I don't think he knows of this blog so I am safe)

To sum up?

YAY FOR MORE SLEEPING IN 

AND UNKNOWN VACATION TIME.

Coffee anyone?

Yes, please.

So...yeah.

Crazy Cat Lady? Naw...Crazy PLANT lady!

Some people like cats.

I have a thing for GREEEEEEEEEEN!

I love plants.

I love that they all look so different

(Even when the same type of plant).

I love how they look in a home.

How they contrast against a white wall.

And bring COLOUR into nothing.

I love-Love-LOVE plants.

And so, this is how the story started...

On the road, cutting deals, finding best prices....making sure it's the RIGHT plant!

And the PRICE IS RIGHT!

BOOM.

Purchased.

Sold.

(Happy Lauren)

Home sweet home...now where the heck am I gonna put all these guys?

My bedroom is an oasis now..

...or a jungle?

Sigh*

This is my favourite little guy.

YOU CUTE LITTLE PLANT YOU!!!

(As I said, crazy plant lady)

And guess what?!?!

He has little bothers and sisters too!

So cute.

Mini tree. 

Mini Me.

Or just plain mini.

My house now....hahahhaha!

(Pretty much can play hide and go SEEK in all this foliage!)

And yes, this IS the desk that I don't work at...but will start....soon, errrr...maybe?

But at least the GUEST ROOM is clean?

Okay then, bright?

Beautiful?

(Indeed)

Full of little green plants?

(Not as much as my room but I can always add more Hah!)

NOW JUST

WAITING FOR GUEST TO ARRIVE!!!

More, more, MORE plants....tee-hee!

Yes, that is a coffee table with stubby-green toes underneath but

CHECK OUT THAT CUTE LITTLE GUY!

How precious is this little nugget?

And that is my current life status.

OVERLOADED with FRESH-GREEN-PLANT-AIR.

Bahahahh!

So...yeah.

Just a regular day in NAM.