The last day in Vietnam was a fun day! We went to Ba'Nai Hills to the "Hand Bridge". This was a French retreat when the French were occupying Vietnam. The "Hand Bridge" is constructed high in the hills. As usual, it was a million degrees in Vietnam, but after the "world's largest cable car ride" up to the top of the mountain, the temperature dropped about 20 degrees!
The ride to Ba'Nai Hills was as usual, very educational!
Tony told us that the Vietnamese had not been driving long enough to know the rules of the road, so everyone made them up as they go. This was a traffic jam at a round about. I was sitting in the front seat of the van and this was my view outside of my window. The traffic is horrendous whenever you go! People just push and shove (with cars and motorcycles) their way through. There are no ambulances, so if someone is hurt in a wreck, someone has to take them to the Dr., or more likely, home.
One of the many restaurants. The red chairs are a staple throughout.
Maybe this is dinner, grazing outside?
The crowds were, as usual, gigantic.
in the cable car
Views from the cable cars looking down at the mountains.
The first view of the bridge from the cable car
We took a tram up to the bridge
This is the distant view of the Disney-like world they have created based on the French retreat buildings. We went up from the bridge to go here.
Once we got here, John and I had a big scare....we got separated from our kids. They went with another part of our group to get something to eat separate from us. It was panic-city for a bit. One of the much older kids in the other group texted and told us they had our kids and would keep them safe. Whew!
After eating, we noticed this sign... I could have sworn, I heard the chimes of heavenly chorus! A taste of home!!
The kids had their first Starbucks Frappacino.
There were entertainers....
The ride back took us by the beach where the Americans landed when they came for the Vietnam War, which the Vietnamese call the "American War".
Back at our hotel, I spied the restaurant workers cleaning the dishes from dinner...outside, with a hose!
Back at our hotel, all that was left to do was pack and go to the airport.
Before we left, the hotel manager came to our room and told us that, inadvertently, the desk person had charged our credit card too many times. $1300 too much!! She said they didn't have the capability to refund our credit card, so she sent someone out and he returned with $1300 in US dollars. I'm so grateful she caught the error before we left.
Our first stop on the way home...Seoul, Korea.
A very long 24+ hours and we landed home, sweet home!
The next day, I found Abbey like this...
I told her to go to bed, and she sat up and said, "I can't, I have to get my shoezez!" She repeated it twice before she was cognizant enough to go to bed. We all were wiped, but the trip had been an adventure. I pray we did some good for the Lord. Our eyes were opened to the difference of cultures. It was a really hard trip in some ways. Emotionally, we all were stretched. I pray that Abbey and Elijah will listen to the Lord and look for ways to serve "the least of these"!
