Well, once again, we have had another holiday :) It was dragon boat festival. My friend invited us to go with her to see some of the dragon boat races. We had not planned on going, but she had tickets to be able to see the races from a good spot. We thought it sounded like fun. She took a family picture for us and it makes me laugh...it shows all the personalities...Benjamin looks like he can't hold the smile any longer, Katherine is pouting because she doesn't want to be in the family picture, Regan is happy to be wearing the fun hat, and Lauren is smiling with her "wa wa's"
So, when we got to the races, we were actually taken to a house boat for breakfast. They served us breakfast (we had already eaten, but that's ok) and it was really good. It was the food that the participants in the race will eat and it is supposed to be very special. It tasted just like shrimp fried rice in the States. It is the first time I have actually had food here that taste like what they serve in the little restaurants in the States. Anyways, these two girls found the tv and the owners hats quickly.
Lauren loved all the boats and the paragliders. She had a lot of fun.
Just as the races were about to start (and we were about to leave the house boat) it started to pour down rain. It was the hardest rain we have had in a while. So, we camped out for a few minutes to see if it would ease up a little but. Lauren and our friend watched the rain. It finally eased up and we all left the house boat and headed closer to the race sight.
There were many races. Each village had it's own team. My friend told me that they have to save up a lot of money to buy one of these boats and then, after the races/festival, they will bury the boat in their village. Then the following year, they will dig it up and get it ready for the races again.
It was a lot of fun to see and hear the activities. Even though it rained, it did not deter them from having fun. Each boat had a guy that stands at the front (reminde me of a conductor of sorts), then there are two men in the middle (spread out) one with a drum and one with a gong. They are the ones that let the rowers know when to row.
As you can see, it was wet and muddy and you stood wearever you could to watch. I was surprised at how many people were actually standing in the water watching. This was one of the teams watching their competition. As each race started, the people watching woul dlight firecrackers and throw them in the air out over the water. So,, it was very noisey. I liked it, but I had one that was afraid. So, between that and the heat we left.
So, of coarse, as is the custom here. Our friends took us our to eat. Katherine claimed the chicken's head. She was fascinated by it. Our friend's daughter showed her wherer to bite to eat the brain. She tried to bite, but didn't bite hard enough. She really just played with it most of the time.
As we were leaving the restaurant, it was still raining. The guy at the door of the restautant had a great idea...he was using a "picnic table umbrella" to walk people to their cars. What a great idea. None of us got wet.
The other news for the week is that they are building a new apartment complex right next door. This is when they just started and it looks much different even today. It has been very sad to watch all the farm land plowed over. The workers have been working so hard to try and save what they can, but I feel that they are unable to save much. They plowed down all the banana trees first. I don't think you can tell here because the picture is so small, but you can see the workers trying to harvest what they can and the tractors are right there in front of them. We will keep you updated on the progress of the new buildings going up. It's been pretty noisey so far, but has provided hours of entertainment for Lauren. She just sits and watches them all day long (and they work all night long, too).
Well, once again, we have had another holiday :) It was dragon boat festival. My friend invited us to go with her to see some of the dragon boat races. We had not planned on going, but she had tickets to be able to see the races from a good spot. We thought it sounded like fun. She took a family picture for us and it makes me laugh...it shows all the personalities...Benjamin looks like he can't hold the smile any longer, Katherine is pouting because she doesn't want to be in the family picture, Regan is happy to be wearing the fun hat, and Lauren is smiling with her "wa wa's"
So, when we got to the races, we were actually taken to a house boat for breakfast. They served us breakfast (we had already eaten, but that's ok) and it was really good. It was the food that the participants in the race will eat and it is supposed to be very special. It tasted just like shrimp fried rice in the States. It is the first time I have actually had food here that taste like what they serve in the little restaurants in the States. Anyways, these two girls found the tv and the owners hats quickly.
Lauren loved all the boats and the paragliders. She had a lot of fun. 
Just as the races were about to start (and we were about to leave the house boat) it started to pour down rain. It was the hardest rain we have had in a while. So, we camped out for a few minutes to see if it would ease up a little but. Lauren and our friend watched the rain. It finally eased up and we all left the house boat and headed closer to the race sight.
There were many races. Each village had it's own team. My friend told me that they have to save up a lot of money to buy one of these boats and then, after the races/festival, they will bury the boat in their village. Then the following year, they will dig it up and get it ready for the races again. 
It was a lot of fun to see and hear the activities. Even though it rained, it did not deter them from having fun. Each boat had a guy that stands at the front (reminde me of a conductor of sorts), then there are two men in the middle (spread out) one with a drum and one with a gong. They are the ones that let the rowers know when to row.
As you can see, it was wet and muddy and you stood wearever you could to watch. I was surprised at how many people were actually standing in the water watching. This was one of the teams watching their competition. As each race started, the people watching woul dlight firecrackers and throw them in the air out over the water. So,, it was very noisey. I liked it, but I had one that was afraid. So, between that and the heat we left.
So, of coarse, as is the custom here. Our friends took us our to eat. Katherine claimed the chicken's head. She was fascinated by it. Our friend's daughter showed her wherer to bite to eat the brain. She tried to bite, but didn't bite hard enough. She really just played with it most of the time.
As we were leaving the restaurant, it was still raining. The guy at the door of the restautant had a great idea...he was using a "picnic table umbrella" to walk people to their cars. What a great idea. None of us got wet.
The other news for the week is that they are building a new apartment complex right next door. This is when they just started and it looks much different even today. It has been very sad to watch all the farm land plowed over. The workers have been working so hard to try and save what they can, but I feel that they are unable to save much. They plowed down all the banana trees first. I don't think you can tell here because the picture is so small, but you can see the workers trying to harvest what they can and the tractors are right there in front of them. We will keep you updated on the progress of the new buildings going up. It's been pretty noisey so far, but has provided hours of entertainment for Lauren. She just sits and watches them all day long (and they work all night long, too).
