Tuesday 22 December 2009

Xin Chao!

...which means hello in Vietnamese!
(You pronounce it sin jow.)
I came back from South East Asia three weeks ago
(it's taken me a little while to settle back in)
and I'm happy to report that I enjoyed Malaysia,
and would really like to spend more time there,
and that I looooooved Vietnam!!!
Vietnam has beautiful, welcoming people,
a picturesque countryside,
divine food and a fascinating history.
Here are some of my many, many, many photographs:
(...and I'll load more onto Flickr as I edit them.)



Batik, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia



Mosaic detail, Islamic Arts Museum, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia




National Monument, Lake Gardens, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia





Exquisite needlework, Dalat, Vietnam

There was lovely embroidery for sale throughout the country. I saw a lot of women crocheting in their market stalls too.



Figurine of Quan Yin, Nguyen Nga Centre for Children with Special Needs
, Quy Nhon City, Vietnam
The Nguyen Nga Center is also a sheltered workshop for adults. I met some of the young men and women who live there and they were absolutely charming! They produced really beautiful weaving and jewellery too.



Small boy from the Koho Minority, Chicken Village, Central Highlands, Vietnam
This dear, playful little fellow followed us all through the village, alternately showing us karate moves and growling like a tiger.



Bride and groom, Dalat, Vietnam
They were so happy!




Dog, on the road to Quy Nhon, Vietnam
Did someone say lunch?




Chinese temple, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
(This shot was taken by my fabulous guide Ling)




Mosquito nets and early morning light, Mekong Delta, Vietnam



Early morning, Mekong Delta
I loved the Delta and its soft light, quietness and tranquility...




Mountain waterfall, outside of Dalat, Vietnam




Sunset, Quy Nhon City, Vietnam



Lamp light, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam




Lunch, Saigon Cooking Class, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
This was first course ~ Mustard Leaf Rolls with Crunchy Vegetables and Shrimps.
Mmmmmmmmmm



I know that I've been really fortunate to have had this experience.
I am really glad that I chose to travel, for part of the way at least, with
Intrepid Travel and I feel so lucky to have met the people who took the tour with me. Caroline, Sonia, Anne, Donald, Sue, Sharon, Hong, Loy...thank you!!!!!!!

Of course,
I took some crafty work with me.
I finished off my
Sweet Lorraine scarf just before I joined the Intrepid tour:




Such a good pattern ~ Sweet Lorraine was easy to memorise, quick to make and had a border that worked up as I crocheted. It kept me lovely and warm too.

In case you're wondering, I've started to watermark my photos to try and stop people from using my pictures (and profiting from them) without my permission. Sadly, I've come across a few sites who've helped themselves to my images and haven't removed them even though I've written to them and asked them to. If anyone would like a tutorial on how to put watermarks into your shots (I have a PC and use Photoshop Elements) just let me know.

And now I am off to catch up on some
long overdue blog reading and commenting.

For those of you who celebrate Christmas, I hope yours is a merry one!
Blessings.
x








10 comments:

Fruitful Fusion said...

I always love your crochet but these pics of your travels are just AMAZING!!! That sunset!!! And the waterfall!!! Beautiful! I'm sure you had a wonderful time!

2paw said...

So glad you are back on your blog and such beautiful pictures. The embroideries are fabulous!! As is your scarf.
Not very nice that people are stealing your photos.
Merry Christmas to you too!!

magnusmog said...

Good to have you back and with beautiful pictures.

How did you find out that others had been using your images? This is something that I worry about too.

Happy Festivities - whatever you do!

inkberryblue said...

Fruitful Fusion, Cindy2paw, magnusmog, I really appreciate your comments. I haven't posted for such a long time ~ I thought people might have forgotten about me. Thank you!

magnusmog,
I've found out that people have been misusing my images by googling (simply typing in inkberryblue and seeing what comes up) and by using a web tracker. I've installed a (free) web tracking service called Statcounter.com on inkberryblue which records details of any visits to my blog. The details include referring links ~ so I can click onto the pages that visitors have come from. I check my Statcounter account most days ~ besides helping me work out if there has been any misuse of my material it gives me lots of interesting, positive information about who's reading my blog, which pages are popular, that sort of thing...
If you don't already have a webtracker and you want some assistance installing one give me a shout and I'll try to help.

Happy Festivities to you too!

Red Hen (dette) said...

WOW! Those photos a lovely, Looking at them has made me excited about traveling myself in March- not too far away!
Hope you have had a lovely christmas. And yes I will email re- the bag which I have saved for you.

Judy Merrill-Smith said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous photos! I have loved Vietnamese cuisine for years, and am glad to hear you had such a wonderful trip. Happy holidays to you!

Indigo Blue said...

Hi,
I have not forgotten you!! All I can say is WOW the embroidery is fantastic and so much skill they look like paintings. you have had a fantastic time and your photo album must be stunning.
I too have statcounter and i stumbled on the fact that a blog used some of my work, and others, to fuel their own blog. I left a comment and said that I would accept it that once as free advertising just to let them know I had found it. I think I have their blog address somewhere, it is unfair and not really in the spirit of blog writing. Glad you are back safe and sound, so what is next then?
x

Anonymous said...

What beautiful photos! Vietnam looks like such a vibrant and sunny, inspiring and beautiful place, considering it's history.
Sorry to hear about your photo theives.
Hope you had a great Christmas and a happy new year xx

Lindsay said...

Gorgeous pictures! Such a shame people don't realize that stealing pictures is so heartbreaking and thoughtless.

Laura M said...

Found you on Ravelry group! I am amazed by your pictures! I hope you had an amazing trip. I would like to visit sometime; would also love to visit Korea and Philippines (my parents lived there for a few years). The needlepoint they were doing looked almost impossible! wow.