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Outside Hanoi

These are pictures from some of the adventures we experienced outside of Hanoi. They include the well described visit on our blog site to the "silk village." Hopefully, these pictures will paint a better picture of the process than my words did. There are also some great pictures of the temples we toured, including the temple inside the cave - where Ho Chi Mihn also planned war strategies. The countryside was absolutely beautiful, and the people were incredibly interesting and welcoming. Lulu's home country is truly a majestic.

Aug 4, 2007

Photos: 68

Temple of Literature

The Temple of Literature is one of the oldest and most sacred places in all of Vietnam. It is the place where most of the country's scholars and religious leaders were taught. The grounds are amazing, and the history is several centuries old. In Vietnam there are 4 sacred animals, the Pheonix (which looks like a water crane), the turtle, the dragon, and the Unicorn (don't think horse, instead think like a dragon you'd see in a Chinese New Year's Day parade). All of the animals are predominately displayed here, but the turtle is known for wisdom and longevity - and therefore is at the base of all of the tablets that denote the graduates from the temple. Lulu and I are seen standing in the doorway of the temple that houses the names of "doctors and lawyers," just in case she decides to take after her parents. We learned so much this day about the country, and the culture. We would highly recommend this to anyone visiting Vietnam.

Aug 3, 2007

Photos: 66

Ha Long Bay

This was definitely our favorite of our touring adventures while in Vietnam - Ha Long Bay. It was absolutely breath taking, there are so many pictures because everywhere you looked was another beautiful scene. While there we not only took in the Bay, but took in the "amazing cave," and visited a fishing village on the water. Lulu loved the water as well. You may see some of our friends that we made there from our agency - Joshua, Heather & Jaidyn, as well as Craig, Jennifer & Annie - Annie was Lulu's swimming buddy on the beach!

Aug 1, 2007

Photos: 147

Water Puppets

This is one of Hanoi's proudest attractions. These pictures do not do the puppets justice, but you can get the jist of the show. Its an amazing art that has developed over the centuries with almost mythical beginnings of field workers entertaining small children in the flooded rice patties. Whatever the beginnings, the tradition is amazing - you must see this if you are in Hanoi - and for only $4 a person its a bargain that you'll remember for a lifetime.

Jul 31, 2007

Photos: 11

Hao Lo Prison

We really wanted to visit this place, as it was a vital glimpse into how the Vietnamese people still viewed the Americans from the war. The Vietnamese are an amazingly strong and persistent people. Not only have they fought internally, but have managed to fend off the French on more than one occasion. Their take on the American "police action," is documented quite differently at Hao Lo. They show pictures of American prisoners playing badmitten and "happy" posters talking about how prisoners woud adjust to prison life in a "safe and well taken care of" manner by the Vietnamese government. We saw John McCain's flight suit he was captured in, as well as pictures of how the French tortured Vietnamese revolutionaries in the colonial days. Very interesting, and very amazing to be in a place responsible for so much pain, torture and death - but at the same time, patriotism, conviction of spirit - from all of the prisoners were held there.

Jul 30, 2007

Photos: 107

Our First Mass

Saint Joseph's Cathedral was this amazing church in the middle of the Old French Quarter. It was an incredible example of fine European architecture in the middle of a third world country. We took Lulu to mass there the first Sunday we had there, and the mass was delivered in French. It was beautiful and fascinating to hear the mass in a different language. The next week we went to the earlier mass and it was given in Vietnamese. Again, it was an amazing experience to hear the mass in a different language, and to a standing room only church. It was amazing to see our faith practiced so far from home, in the same way - although in an exotic language. It was really a moving experience - and Lulu has now heard mass in 3 languages! I'm sure she is disappointed now that we are home, and everyone always talks the same at church.

Jul 28, 2007

Photos: 18

Museum of Ethnology

WOw - we can't say enough about this trip. We really feel after visiting this museum that we had a brief, but wonderful knowledge of the Vietnamese people and their culture. We learned about the horribly hard days of government "susidies," where everyone was given ration coupons that did not provide enough food or comodities for any family to survive on. We learned about the Black Muong, which is probably the tribe that Lulu is from, as well as the other minority tribes in Vietnam. We loved viewing the native houses, and seeing how the local customs governed ceremonies like weddings and funerals. We walked away with a great feeling about how strong, proud, and wonderfully resilient Lulu's countrymen are.

Jul 27, 2007

Photos: 72

Adoption and Trip From Viet Tri

This was the most exciting day, except for the day we all came home to Gabe. We were delayed 3 days in getting her, which seemed like an eternity. There are also photos of our dear friends, Sam and Becca getting their beautiful daughter, Claire. The whole ceremony was quite bizarre. It was kind of chaotic, and the translations were somewhat jumbled - but at the end poof! They give you your child. The feeling of someone giving you a human being in indescribable, as is the feeling of becoming a parent again. The relief, the excitement, the worry all rushed over us, just as it did when they cut Gabe out of my belly 2 1/2 years earlier. July 25 is definitely a day that will always be dear in our hearts - its the day Lulu came home to the Breitenbachs.

Jul 24, 2007

Photos: 48

First Trip to Orphange

This was the first time we met Lulu, and had the opportunity to see how the first 6 1/2 months of her life were spent. Its was tragic, and beautiful all at the same time. Aaron tried to take as many photos as possible - we wanted her to know where she came from some day.