Exploring!

I wish I had a photo of my excursion yesterday afternoon, on the back of Mai's motor bike !;) Mai is Orlo's after school babysitter/nanny. She collected me then we went to school to pick up Orlo, then on, with Andrew, to a party to say farewell to two Japanese school friends. It was meant to be a pool party, but it had rained for much of the day so they had decided to have an indoor party instead. It was held in the reception area of a swish looking apartment complex, which, apparently, is 90% occupied by Japanese families. As usual at kids parties the noise was tremendous, magnified by the high ceiling and marble floor!! Eventually they all went outside to play in the playground. ;) Orlo and I came back with Mai on the scooter, Orlo standing in front of her......this is the standard mode of transport for kids! He was wearing a helmet ;).....so was I. All the bikes, scooters a motorbikes travel very slowly, as do the few cars around here, so it feels quite safe. Think I should learn to drive one ;))

Andrew left for Mongolia last night, so now I am exploring on my own, with the aid of the maps on my Iphone. It is a great facility because you can always see just where you are. This morning I have walked around the 'block' by the main road Au Co. I found the supermarket in the Fraser Suite and also some nice looking clothes shops and a French cafe which sells sacristan like I have when I visit Provence. I think I might take Orlo on an expedition there next week ;). I stopped for a coffee in a nice little cafe on the lakeside and received a 20% discount.....no idea why!!!!

The temperature is quite pleasant today, 29C but with a warmish breeze, I am walking slowly, trying to get into the local tempo.......we had breakfast on the balcony this morning and I think I will sit out there to have my lunch. Living by the lake side is very pleasant ! There are fishermen all along the side and at certain times of the day people are canoeing and swimming.