catching up...Sunday, July 13 HCMC to Hanoi

We woke up and I had much packing to do.  I knew I couldn't watch Sadie while I packed so I left her in her crib with some toys and she was fine.  She didn't cry at all.  Around 9am we went to the yummy breakfast buffet one last time.  After breakfast I went back to my room to finish packing while my parents took Sadie to do some last minute shopping for gifts. 

At noon we met my agency rep in the lobby and he escorted us to the airport.  When we got there, another agency rep showed up to help.  These are the nicest men.  I can't tell you how much they helped us during our stay in HCMC.  I brought them UCLA tee shirts as thank you gifts and they were so appreciative. 

We checked in and checked ALL of our luggage with no problem and then went to the business class lounge for a short time until our flight boarded. 

Sadie was amazing on the 1 hour and 45 minute flight.  The only time she cried was when I changed her diaper (still not a fan of that!).  Business class was worth every penny.  There were only a few other people in BC with us.  The leg room was AMAZING.  I could stretch my legs out in front of me and not touch the seat.  Sadie took a bottle as we took off and then we just passed her back and forth.  She ate some banana puffs and some of our lunch.  I hope the flight home goes as well, although I know 16 hours is quite a bit longer than 1 hour and 45 minutes. 

We arrived in Hanoi on time and were met by our agency staff!  Yippee - no stress at the airport!  She rode with us to the hotel and took all of Sadie's paperwork and her passport to take to the embassy the next day.  She told me to expect my embassy appointment Wednesday afternoon and then Sadie's visa should be ready later that day.  She left and we settled in to our rooms.  A short while later we had dinner downstairs then we walked around the hotel a bit.  The grounds are amazing.  We are right on a lake and there are all these amazing houses all around us. 

Hanoi is so different than HCMC.  The ride from the airport was spectacular.  I wish we had thought to video tape it.  We passed tons of rice paddies.  People were working with large animals and then there would be cows or oxen just along the side of the road.  Everything is so green and lush.  It's really beautiful here.