Update on Videos

Links to videos in below post are now active. Thanks for your patience!

- Cole's Blog Manager

Videos!!

Sorry these didn't seem to work before. Here are links to the videos on YouTube:

Elephants Dancing

Sword Dance

Thanks!

- Cole's Blog Manager

Wednesday, Feb 10th- Bangkok, Thailand

We went to the King's palace and there was guards. The palace was made of real gold and glass. Then we went to a huge reclining buddha that was solid gold. We are heading home tomorrow! I hope to see you soon. Bye!

- COLE!

Tuesday, Feb 9th- Bangkok, Thailand

TIGER-FEST!!

We went to a tiger camp and a snake camp. We touched a real live tiger and it was fluffy. We saw a really big one with big teeth. Then we went to a snake camp and we saw 2 king cobras with a python climbing up the stairs where we were. We went to a dance show. Here is a picture of me laying on a tiger. See you in six days!

- Cole

Monday, Feb 8th- Chiang Mai, Thailand

We went to an elephant camp. We rode an elephant. They played soccer, harmonica, and painted their own paintings. We saw a 3 day old elephant just learning to walk on its own. We saw them bathing in a river and shooting everyone with water. We went to botanical gardens. We saw all kinds of different types of plants and we saw a waterfall.

Here's a picture of the baby elephant, and one of the elephants painting.

See you soon! Bye!

- Cole

Sunday, Feb 7- Chiang Mai, Thailand

We flew to Chiang Mai. We are staying in the mountains. There are peacocks here. There is even a totally white one. There are waterfalls that go through the hotel. Tomorrow we go on a elephant.

Here's a picture of the white peacock.

Bye!

Cole

Saturday, Feb 6th- Luang Prabang, Laos

We saw some sweet potatoes drying on bamboo racks. We went up the Mekong River to some caves. We went to a pottery making village. We also went to a village where they make paper from local trees. We went to the night market and rode a "jumbo." Here are the pictures I was going to put up. There is one from the pottery village, and one of the sweet potatoes drying on racks.

Tomorrow we fly to Chang Mai, Thailand.

Bye!

- Cole

Friday, Feb 5th- Luang Prabang, Laos

We went to the market. We saw odd types of food. We went to the King's palace. There were monks there and old cars and a bunch of artifacts. My mom and sister, Aly, went to waterfalls and a bear rescue camp. We went to a spray paint art class. Here's a picture. I'll get back to you later. Bye!

- Cole

Thursday, Feb 4- Siem Reap, Cambodia/ Luang Prabang, Laos

We flew to Luang Prabang, Laos. It is a World Heritage site. There are lots of mountains and rice fields. There are two rivers here. They are the Mekong and the Namkhan. It is very nice. Here's a picture of kids playing soccer in the rice fields.

Bye! :)

- Cole

Wednesday, Feb 3- Siem Reap, Cambodia

Banteay Srei and Ta Prohm Temples

We went to see a bunch of temples. It was very hot. There were people playing music at the temples. There were faces on many of the temples. The Ta Prohm temple had a bunch of trees growing through it. They had huge roofs. Here's a picture of me under the tree.

Bye!

- Cole

Tuesday, Feb 2nd- Siem Reap, Cambodia

We went to a lot of temples. We went to Angkor Wat, which is the largest religious monument in the world. We had to cross a moat to get there. The best part of the day was an elephant ride with my sister Aly. We rode on a black elephant. They are black because people apply oil to protect their skin. Talk to you soon. Bye!

- Cole

Monday, February 1st- Siem Reap, Cambodia

We flew to Cambodia. We went to the Rolous Temples that were built in the year 800ad. Then we went to the Aspara dance show. This country is a little scary, it gets up to 104 degees Fahrenheit! And this is the coldest part of the year! It is very, very, very, very hot!!

I will see you soon. Bye!
- Cole

Sunday, Jan 31- Saigon/ Siem Reap, Cambodia

We went incense making at the town of Hue and if you are wearing yellow today you are royalty. Red is happiness and for Mrs Finder, wearing purple means caring for others.

We went on the Mekong Delta and we saw coconut candy making and rode on a horse buggy. We saw a huge water buffalo.

Talk to you soon, bye!
- Cole

Saturday, Jan 30th- Saigon

I went to the Cu Chi tunnels. They are a village underground. There were 12,000 people in them. I went in them too. I saw B52 craters that were big. I saw a lot of traps. We also went to the President's house. It was very exciting. Everyone here is getting ready for their New Year.

Bye!
- Cole

Friday, Jan 29th- Saigon/ Ho Chi Minh City

We flew from Danang to Saigon/ Ho Chi Minh City. We met a new guide named D. We went to a war museum about Vietnam. There were a lot of pictures and Army equipment. We ate at a night market and it was very good too.

If you don't like being touched, don't go to Vietnam. Because people will believe they will get good luck.

Bye for now!

- Cole

Picture of Marble Mountains

Picture from Hoi An

Thursday Jan 28- Danang

We went to Marble Mountain. We learned about the five elements. They are fire, water, metal, earth and air. There was a great view of China Beach and Danang. Then we went to a marble factory. We saw a bunch of statues. Then we went to the Cham museum. I am getting ready to pack for a new adventure. Bye!

- Cole

Wed Jan 27- Danang, Hoi An

We went to Hoi An to see the Cham sea port. I got handmade shoes and they are green and yellow and they have my name on them. We are staying at the beach. I played tennis with my mom and it was fun. It was our first dinner not going out. I hope everyone is feeling good. Bye!

- Cole

Tues Jan 26- Danang, Furama Hotel

I drove from Hue to Danang. I went to the Citadel in Hue. There were buildings that were bombed and they are getting rebuilt. I saw a giant elephant and it was walking everywhere. We are now in Danang. My dad's first step into Danang was an explosion!

That's it for now. Stay tuned!

- Cole

Pictures...

This is at the base in Khe Sanh, and the entry gate to Mai Loc.

Mon Jan 25- Hue, Saigon Morin Hotel

I went to where my dad was 42 years ago. I went to a military base at Khe Sanh. I went to Mai Loc where my dad did security. Can you imagine driving on mud roads? That is what my dad did. How would you like to dig a fox hole every night and not sleep in it? Imagine eating canned food everyday! It was a long day!

Bye!

Cole

Sun, Jan 24- Hue

I went on a dragon boat ride on the Perfume River. I got off the boat and went to a pagoda that was built in 1601. There were a lot of monks who spent years training. Imagine sleeping on a table, because that is what they do. Imagine being quiet and not talking all day long? I tried five new foods and they were good. Bye!

- Cole

P.S. Here is a picture of the dragon boats, and one of the monks at work.

More Pictures from Halong Bay

Sat Jan 23- Hue

I went under a water cave in a boat. We saw monkeys and a family of them were having fun. Then, we traveled from Halong Bay to Hue by airplane. We are staying at a hotel built in 1901 on the Perfume River. We have been playing lots of cards. I like Kings in the Corner and Oh Hell. I hope you are having a good time.

- Cole

P.S. Here is a picture of the monkeys!

Halong Bay- Friday Jan 22

Hi, it's Cole. I am here to say I went to a cool cave and went squid fishing. All of the rocks here are limestone. We saw sea eagles and a fish farm. We went kayaking in the rain. Right now we are getting ready to leave Halong Bay and fly to Hue (that's pronounced "way"). I am getting ready for a new adventure. Bye!

- Cole

Halong Bay- Thursday Jan 21

Hi, it's Cole! I am here to say right now I am on a really cool boat in Halong Bay. On our way there, we saw a cow on the back of a motorbike! Also some chickens on another one! On the boat, we saw a water village. It is a bunch of boats on water and a school too. Can you imagine going to school on water? Well, it's time to go, bye.

- Cole

P.S. Here's a picture of the floating school.

Me at Ho Chi Minh complex and with the turtle!

A Long Day

Yesterday, I saw the tomb of Ho Chi Minh. Ho Chi Minh was the leader of Vietnam. He had a bullet proof car. I went to the Temple of Literature. There were many stone turtles and legend says that if you rub a turtle's head you will have good and be successful in your studies.

I have a story I want to share. A farmer found a sword handle and then he went fishing and caught the blade. When he put them together, they fit perfectly. While he was celebrating, a giant turtle came up and said "that is my sword, may I have it back?" The farmer gave him the sword.

Last night I saw a very advanced water puppet show.

Today we're leaving Hanoi and going Halong Bay. I'll tell you about it soon.

Bye!

- Cole

Chao!

That means "hello" in Vietnamese. I just wanted to say hi, and I'm having a really great time right now.

Guess how many motorbikes there are in Vietnam? ....... 25 million!

Yesterday, we went on a cyclo-ride. It was very loud and crowded. If you think Mission Street is busy, don't go to Vietnam! There were people driving everywhere, and nobody follows the signs. Here's a video.

Right now we're getting ready for a day of sight-seeing in Hanoi, and we're going to see temples and other things.

I'll get back to you with more soon. Bye!

- Cole

Take Off!

Right now we're getting ready to take off. If you're reading this, we're probably in the air, or we have landed. I'll update you soon. Thanks! Bye!

- Cole