Visa

Got a call from the hotel desk, saying I had to come down right away to pick up a package. Hmmm. We're not expecting Tanje's visa (to travel to Canada) just yet - it's way too soon, as it just arrived in Singapore on Monday. My heart in my throat, I hopped the elevator (sorry, the 'lift', they call it here, Aussie-style), figuring ok, we've missed some 'critical' piece of paperwork and will have to re-send. I paid the shipper, and went back upstairs. It was a long ride to the 22nd floor. On arrival, I ripped open the envelope, and saw: Tanje's Vietnamese passport, WITH her visa inside! Unbelievable!!! This is the first time the Canadian part of this bureaucratic process has proceeded quickly. So! We can come home now!

And will we? You bet! We ran down to the Cathay Pacific office, conveniently in our building, and booked a return flight for November 23rd! We're leaving in the morning, and arriving in Toronto at 1835 November 23rd night. We'll spend a night in Toronto, to return to North Bay on Wednesday November 24th, arriving around 1300. Sorry about the change of plans, guys! We know that means you may not be able to meet us at the airport (although I sure hope we'll see some of you there, as this is a very special moment for Tanje). We're excited to come back, and have y'all meet Tanje in person!

In other exciting news, we're going to Ha Long Bay on Sunday, spending a night on a tour boat, returning on Monday. Check it out: http://vietnam.exotissimo.com/luxury/tours/cruise-halong-bay-by-luxury-junk/ . Go figure, a luxury junk. Kind of an oxymoron, eh? Anyway, pray that there are no waves, and that seasickness stays well at bay (not ON the bay, not IN the bay, but well AT bay, preferably some other bay very far from the one we're visiting!). Can't wait. Should be a very scenic and memorable trip.  

Finally, I must tell you about Vietnamese milk. Guess which one of the two options below Savannah likes best:

The non-pasteurized! The pasteurized is sweetened. Interestingly, so's Tanje's formula. We gave her some we'd bought in Canada, and she despised it. So we had to rush out and buy the same kind she'd had at the orphanage. It smells like a vanilla shake. No wonder she loves it! Don't think we can get it at home though, so we've started mixing in the blander, less exciting stuff. So far, so good.  Guess the Vietnamese like sweet drinks: the iced tea I bought was also sickly sweet, way too much even for me. Hmm!