This year I was given the incredible opportunity to venture to the other side of the world, to Vietnam, with my good friends, the Bakkers. Anneka and I flew alone from Ottawa to Ho-Chi Minh City where we were met by Peggy and Dick. Although I had never traveled that far without a parent, I felt safe because I knew I was traveling with an expert.

The first day in Ho Chi Minh City, we treated ourselves to a body massage, Vietnamese style: hot rocks were applied, our backs were walked on, and we found ourselves being thrust into the air. We also visited the Chu-Chi Tunnels, a historic landmark of the Vietnamese war, which was a really fascinating experience. We learned about the significance of the tunnels as we explored them firsthand. What I also learned was that Peggy, a woman usually filled with confidence, is a very different person underground!

We then headed to the Sapa Mountains in the Northern region of Vietnam. To get there, we traveled on an overnight train which was surprisingly very comfortable. Sapa was a real highlight for me. The gorgeous mountains and terraced rice fields made the hikes something that you never wanted to end. The people in Sapa were also quite memorable. Let?s just say I learned to never promise or even say something that could be interpreted as a promise to a little girl with a cute smile on her face, a jewelry box in hand and anxious to make a sale. I will never forget the sounds of villagers singing and children playing in this stunning mountainous setting. I plan to make a return trip to this special place.

Hoi An, an ancient coastal city, was also an amazing stop along our travels. We explored Hoi An by bicycle which is how most people navigated its congested roads. It is a city known for its alleys of tailor shops. We all had fun, moving from shop to shop, getting measured for various outfits. In fact, I wore my Vietnamese dress for my high school prom in June. I was confident that my dress would not be seen on another girl that night and I was right!

It was very interesting meeting a lot of other travelers on our trip. They were eager to get to know Anneka and I; thinking that we were well beyond our Grade 11 years. Their interest in us seemed to fade, however, when they discovered we were not yet graduates from university, let alone high school! Meeting these travelers definitely made me excited about opportunities for travel in the future.

Overall, this first trip to Asia was incredible. Having been born in Hong Kong, it was exciting to have had my first taste of Asian culture. Vietnam was a great destination. The people in Vietnam were welcoming, eager to share and very friendly. They were anxious for us to learn about their country and wanted to express their gratitude to us for deciding to travel there. It seemed important to them that we wouldn?t forget them. They certainly have my word on that!

The experience with the Bakker family was exceptional. Dick was always there to explain the history of all we saw and experienced. Peggy was always there with her smile, her contagious laugh and the very critical ?Refreshing Times? (Vietnamese version of cleaning wipes). My traveling sister, Anneka, was, of course, the great friend she always is. Her smile and positive attitude always makes for a good time.

Thanks for inviting me along to be part of this great adventure!

Cuba is one of our many highlights post Third World Bazaar (TWB). It is a week of needed rest after a busy two months and what better place to put your feet up with a Mohito than on the spectacular beaches of Varadero. This year we were the Three TWB Amigos – Brenda Cavacuitti, Cindy Derzai and Peggy Bakker.

Culturally Cuba is so rich and alive. You can’t help but get drawn in by the rhythms of the music that seems to serenade you wherever you go. The people are proud, well educated and hard working often putting in very long days. The Cubans have a great sense of humour and its fun to observe their ways and surprising when you find yourself apart of it.

We have traveled to Cuba for the past 3 years because of the spirit of its people and its close proximity to home. We also love their crafts and this was confirmed by the positive affirmations from you, our customers after our first year of buying there.

We buy directly from the producers in a few markets in Havana and Varadero always trying to support reliable suppliers. Over the years we have developed a very good relationship with several craftspeople and they truely appreciate our loyalty.

Once again the papier mache products are so cleverly crafted, painted in brilliant colours and suitable for the young and old. I particularily love the old Havanna street scene that they do in this technique, and have one hanging up in our bathroom at home.

The wood carvings are of the finest quality. We have a good supply of women with attitude, clad in their favourite beach apparel, and some figures have been decorated with sand. They look awesome.

Once again we were able to source the amazing copper work of our artist friend there – Pablo Martinez. We hope you like what we have chosen for this years bazaar and hope that we can return once more to this wonderful country.

Brenda Cavacuitti- has worked at the bazaar in Manotick since the beginning and is responsible for the amazing displays that she magically puts together.

Cindi Derazai- hardly missed a year visiting the bazaar in Seeleys Bay, was thrilled when she heard it was moving close to her home in Osgoode and came on staff as our head cashier, among other things.