It's All About The Food

Sunday Jan 23, 2011



Pho soup with prawns. 30,000 Dongs =$1.50



Between all the delicious seafood, pho soup and coconut shakes I think I've gained at least five pounds.   Food is so cheap here.  The average bowl of pho is about 30 dongs equivalent to a $1.50.



5 minutes later...all gone!







Sunday morning at the orphanage was quiet.   It was just three of us, Beth, Liza and me. Annette and Colette left for an overnight tour of the Mekong. 



VVN's classroom.
http://www.vietnamvolunteernetwork.com/

Liza and I told Beth that we should trade duties for the day and that she should teach : ).  We found out later that there's no class on Sundays. I'm pretty sure Beth was relieved because Liza and I told her about our Saturday experience. It was nice because we were all able to dedicate our time to the children in the terminal ward. 



The majority of the little ones there cannot move and you can see in their eyes that they appreciate any time you  spend with them. Most of the time is spent massaging and touching them. I'm so grateful that my niece and nephews are healthy. The nurses and helpers do such an amazing job of feeding and keeping them clean. They work so hard and make it seem like a breeze. After spending time at the orphanage I can't help but appreciate the wonderful life I live. I have nothing to complain about. 



In the afternoon we went to browse at the Ben Thanh Market. It was built in 1914  It's like an indoor flea market. You can get anything and everything there....clothing, appliances, food, souvenirs etc. The guide book said the saying "If we don't have it, you don't need it" applies to Ben Thanh Market. 

We went crazy at dinner. We went to Marina Seafood restaurant (can't remember the Vietnamese name). The menu looked looked great! We ordered   drunken prawns, crab/shrimp spring rolls, steamed clams, butterfish (the whole fish), chinese spinach and crab fried rice.   It was just the three of us but we could have fed six easily. Dinner tab was about 1,200,000 dong! Equivalent to $60.  If we averaged what we've been spending per day on meals...that meal cost was equal to at least a weeks worth. But so worth it!!! We came back with a bag full of left overs too. 

Time for bed. Bye for now. 



Saturday's class.  The calm before the storm. 
We lost control of this class shortly after this
photo was taken : )