While Everything was Popping Around

As every year now, for Chinese New Year we took off to avoid the major party that takes over Beijing. Yeah, we love the sparkling, noisy, crowded experience of the city under the New Year frenzy - but after a bit of rest somewhere else. So while everything was popping around Beijing, we took off to warmer destination.
This year we courageously decided to get out of the usual beach holiday, and went on a small tour of South-East Asia in 12 days. Hanoi (Vietnam), Siem Reap (Cambodia) and Luang Prabang (Laos) with a few more days in Hanoi to complete our tour. We went with our great Israeli friends and their kids, which made the trip an even more memorable one.
Hanoi was a wonderful reconnection to an Asia I was looking for (and never found) when we were first landing in Beijing a few years ago : scooter and bicycle herds, pointy hats, street vendors, mess. With its little narrow houses that rise side by side along busy streets, development that seems to be going unplanned, it was surprising and lovely.  At the end of our tour we stayed with a couple of our friends, who introduced us to some of the best restaurants in town.








Siem Reap was wonderful for all the temples it has to offer. In the middle of the jungle, the city is there only because of them, and of the millions of tourists that come visit it. And still, there is a cool vibe to the markets and streets of the city. There is real magic, elegance and wealth of craftsmanship to these temples. Their splendor granted them a title as World Heritage Site by Unesco. Angkor Wat, the largest and richest of all, Angkor Thom, amazing with its massive smiling faces, Bayon, where the trees overtook the stone; were the major temples we visited, but we could have spent a week to visit the hundred other sites around the city. Noam and Noay loved playing Indiana Jones among the ruins. On our first night, I got my feet tickled by those little fish. One night we found a great French restaurant with hanging orchids all over the terrace, and great steak tartare (obviously not a local dish). We visited a floating village, toured a craftsman factory, the local museum and a museum to the war.







Luang Prabang was as wonderful, in a different way. An old colonial town set along the Mekong, it as beautiful as quaint. Listed as a Unesco Heritage city, it existence is mainly for tourist, but despite that it is vibrant and lovely. We took a tour on the river, hiked to a waterfall, and visited some local villages. We would have needed more time to enjoy all the little secrets of this city - and I hope to return.








For the curious ones, more photos can be found here...

The Queen Fairy is making crepes

In the morning, we got the kids excited with crepes. Actually I am the one loving crepes, but I rarely make them as Paul is not a crepe lover. But today I was pretty sure that I would have a enthusiastic reception for them. I made a large bunch, and Ehal, as a sous-chef, learned how to spread the dough in the pan. Even Noam enjoyed his first bits of crepes. From his high chair, he also enjoyed the show of the other three talking, laughing and eating their breakfast. They are cool kids, with lots to say, with their little British accent! The breakfast dissolved into a dress-up game where I transformed into the Queen of Fairies. Leo wanted to make sure I was a real one, and I convinced him my popsicle stick was a magic wand in disguise, to fool Super Boys like him or Bad Knights like his brother.

As the sun was bright again, everybody got ready to go to the beach. We toyed with the idea of joining but decided against, as it would add an extra hour to our return trip to Upstate New York. The kids were really bummed out that Noam was not going to join them. In their really cute way, they just wanted us to stay... After some hugs and kisses we hit the road, right in time for Noam's morning nap. 

A day amist nature and modern achitecture

We were awoken up in the middle of the woods, not by the warbling of
the birds, but by the chirping of Noam. 8 AM... What a nice treat!
(usually he wakes up a bit before 7!) Our room's window gives onto a
wall of rock and ferns, the light is sublime.
We slowly discover the house and the landscape it integrates so
nicely... We feel at peace, relaxed, in vacation.
Later we go in Hudson, the hopping hub (less than 6000 souls). We wolfed
down escargots, nutella crepes and massive salads in a french bakery,
and stroll around antique stores. Looks like anybody wanting to do
business has the requisite antique store integrated in - wether it is
a restaurant, a barber shop or a real estate agent. A parade past by
us, a big band, a boat float and a few loosely arranged majorettes/
walkers. Noam enjoys the music of the fire truck.
We slit into girls and boys cars, drive up to Taghkanic lake where
the girls have a blast. The sun is good, but the water is fresh, and
me and Stacey prefer the sandy towels to the water. Can't help
feeling like some waves would make the water cleaner...
We return to the house and slowly prepare dinner - Eden and Boaz roll
up some pizzas. Noam eats like a pig and it takes again more than an
hour to put him in bed. The rest of the evening is spent discussing
the history of the house's construction. 

New York New York

New York is always impressive... Noam was for the first time in the
big apple, and he spent the day looking around like if everything was
going to jump in his face. Noises, lights, cars, people... An intense
dose or urbanity! 

We paused in the New Art Museum. Passing by the stack of silver cubes that is the building, I initially thought it was a museum about gay art, because of a rainbow colored sign reading "Hell, Yes". But I guess this is art. The whole museum was a bit disappointing, the spaces a bit small and the pieces not that inspiring. But I guess I got most annoyed when I was told not to let Noam roam on the empty floor because it might be "dangerous". The concern was not about the art, but about "dust" that could harm him. ! Ah! I won't get started here about the ordinary American Paranoïa. 

It was hard to put Noam in bed, he was just wired and tired 
from the day, unable to settle himself. Once he was asleep, an hour later, we left for the countryside.  By departing in the evening, we tried maximizing the quietness or 

smoothness of the 2 hours car ride to the summer house Upstate New
York. We arrived almost at midnight, transferred the kids (Noam and
our friends' 2 kids) in their respective beds, and had a quick tour
of the magnificent house that was just completed a few months ago.

In the mist of all that it did not even occurred to us that we were missing the opening of the Olympics. Oh! Well!

on the road - day one

So we left in the morning. Slowly making our way northbound.
The car is packed except for a little space beside Noam's car seat,
so I can squeeze in in case he needs something. The ride was smoother
than expected. We discovered the little miracle of baby CD when Noam
started to whine a bit. As soon as he heard the songs he knows, he
started to giggle and laugh. Wow!
We stoped in New Jersey to visit an old aunt and uncle of Pauli. The
uncle is quite affected with Parkinson and it was a little sad to see
him, unable to walk, talk or see. Lydia, the aunt, was really happy
to see us, and took us for dinner to a great steak house. Noam had a
good time picking at the food there!
We reached New York around 9 at night, and happily crashed for a well
deserved night!