September/October 2006/Vietnam-Cambodia

September started off with Sareet and his friend Clark went from Shanghai to Shannon on a 4 day (ROKPOG- Ring of Kerry, Pint of Guinness) golf trip.  We were blessed with fantastic weather and got to play Lahinch, Ballybunion and Old Head,  three of the most amazing courses on the Emerald Isle.   We hope to be able to make this an annual tradition.   Back in Shanghai, Rowan began his ice hockey career.  For someone who never stepped foot on the ice until late Summer, he is plugging along trying to adjust to this fast-paced physical game that no one in the family understands very well.  He has slyly made his parents into Saturday early morning rink rats.

We also took advantage of the October holidays by going to Cambodia and Vietnam. Grandma and Lata Tatee were able to join us on this trip.  Siem Reap was truly amazing with its 800 year old Hindu and later Buddhist temples that were left undiscovered by the West for centuries.  At one point in time, the Cambodians were one of the most civilized societies on Earth, and the phenomenal structures, art work, carvings are an attest to their technological advancement at that time.  We met our friends the Fishmanns at Siem Reap and spent two days walking through many beautiful temples (wats).   Many of you may recognize some of the sights from seeing “Raiders of the Lost Ark” or “Tomb Raiders,” which lead Angelie Jolie to her fascination with Cambodia.  We also ventured onto Tonle Sap (a lake that feeds into the Mekong Delta).  It is a lake that is 5-6 times larger in size in Spring than in Fall and has many local boat people whose boat houses, schools and churches move along with the shorelines of the lake.

We spent the second half of our October week in northern Vietnam, which was particularly interesting for those of us who grew up in the Vietnam era (albeit the late Vietnam era).  Seeing Ho Chi Minh’s old house, the military museums and the Hanoi Hilton, where John McCain was imprisoned, was particularly noteworthy.   The absolute highlight of the trip for the kids was our overnight cruise in Halong Bay, which has very beautiful limestone formations jutting out of the calm waters of the South China Sea. We were able to swim, kayak and hang out with our friends the Kinlins.   It was truly a memorable week.

Keep in touch,

The Majumdars