Our North Vietnam holiday

As the children (2 out of 3) are now teens it gets harder to plan or go for any holiday. It's too hot, why are we walking so much.....and the number of complaints grows.

I had wanted to go to Borobudur (the history buff in me) but the idea was immediately canceled by no.1. Too hot! Remember Medan? I was so disappointed, it's June and I am not quite keen to pay for the air tickets to New Zealand or Australia. 

Then I found out that there is a place in South East Asia that has air-conditioner temperature, around 20-25C.......in Sapa, Vietnam. This town is at an altitude of 1500 to 2500m and experiences cool weather throughout the year and may even snow in winter. The high altitude is good for the hubby to load up on Hemoglobin for his upcoming US Western States Race the following week.

Air ticket prices......checked! And here we go to North Vietnam with the main focus on Sapa. I added one night Halong Bay Cruise as I did not want to spend two nights in Hanoi.

And here is our itinery and where I booked the transport, tours and accommodation.

11 Jun (Sun) Depart 3.05 pm Singapore Airlines, Singapore, Changi , Terminal 2 HAN Arrive 5.35pm Hanoi, Noi Bai Intl , Terminal 2

7.10 pm Meet at Column 17 First floor International Lobby to board Sao Viet Overnight Cabin bus. Cabin bus tickets bought through Homestay 1579.

12 Jun (Mon) 1.30 am Arrive Sapa town, free transfer to van for transport to homestay for 3 nights. Check-in and stayed at Homestay 1579 Bungalow 79b Nguyễn Chí Thanh Sapa Hai Yen +84983876289 2,640,000 VND for 3 nights. Booked through booking.com, they are listed on Airbnb too.

Sapa Cat Cat Village (Entrance fee 150,000 VND per adult, 30 minutes walk to entrance / 150,000 vnd per private car for 5 people, one way (did not bargain))

13 Jun (Tue) Sapa Fansipan Mountain (Mung Hoa funicular 145,000 VND/person, cable train 660,000 VND/adult, 420,000 vnd/child, Fansipan Funicular 150,000 VND/person) Purchased from Klook just before boarding as it is cheaper and can pay by credit card. We skipped the Mung Hoa funicular as our accommodation is midway and travelled directly to the cable train station.

14 Jun (Wed) We booked a car with driver for 4 hours via Sapadaytour.com to travel out of Sapa town.

Sapa Silver Waterfall/Love Waterfall - I chose the Love Waterfall as it was said to have good scenery en route and more fun as there are many stream crossings but it rained and was still raining when we visited, the river was too strong to do any crossing)

Cau Kin Rong May - This is where we did the skywalk and there are other adventurous activities as well. I purchased the tickets onsite by cash even thogh it costs 100,000 VND more than Klook as Klook tickets were sold out for the day)

Heaven’s Gate - This is a place to take photographs, locally referred to as check-in, entrance fee payable). 

Dropped off at Mat Ngoc lake for dinner.

For transport around Sapa, we hailed the electric car (9-seater) and have paid 50,000 to 100,000 vnd one way.

15 Jun (Thur) Ta Phin Village and Overnight train. Checked out of Homestay. Booked Car with driver  and guide (4 hours) to travel to Ta Phin Village which is on the way to Lao Cai train station. Walked around Ta Phin village, visited a cave, did not do the originally scheduled herbal bath (Ta Phin’s specialty) as the tour guide brought us to a place that quoted 250,000 per person. FYI Red Dao Authentic Herbal Bath charges 100,000 VND per person.

The two half days’ car with driver and guide costs total 170USD.

Dropped off at Nhà hàng Hải Nhi Số 337 Quảng trường ga Lào Cai Hotline – 0943.256.188. This restaurant is to exchange Sapaly Train ticket voucher bought from Klook for actual train tickets. Prepare for train boarding by 8.30pm.

There are many massage places with cheaper prices than SaPa town. Train departs 9.30pm.

16 Jun (Fri) Arrived 5.30 am walk to Mango Hotel 2 mins to wait for transport to Tuan Chai harbour for Halong Bay Cruise. 7.40am Mango Hotel 118 Le Duan to board Genesis Regal Cruise Halong Bay Tours + 84 865 006 003

17 Jun (Sat) Arrived 2pm Hanoi Old Quarter Airbnb. Phố Lương Ngọc Quyến 33, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam • Host: Ms My 👩🏻 +84832091997 Host: Mr Quan 👱🏼‍♂️ +8498 6086687

On Sat night, the roads are closed off and there are activities and performances by the lake.

18 Jun (Sun) 9.30 am Transport to Noi Bai Airport (USD 20, arranged by Airbnb). Singapore Airlines HAN 12:35 Hanoi, Noi Bai Intl , Terminal 2 SIN 17:05 Singapore, Changi

This is our first holiday where I actually have a food itinery! The previous ones I have even forgotten about time for meals altogether, oops. 

I found these recommendations on the web.

Local cuisine in Sapa

Thang Co: A traditional dish made from horse meat and organs, boiled with various herbs and spices. Address to eat delicious Thang Co in Sapa: A Phu Restaurant (15 Fansipan), Thang Co A Quynh Restaurant (15 Thach Son Street), Viet Deli Restaurant (01) Le Van Tam), A Quanh restaurant (Ngu Chi Son st)

Xoi: A sticky rice dish that can be served sweet or savory. 

Banh Cuon: A thin, steamed rice noodle roll filled with pork, mushrooms, and shallots.

Muc Nhoi Thit: Grilled or fried squid stuffed with a mixture of minced pork, egg, and mushrooms.

Thit Lon Cap Nach: Roasted or boiled suckling pig, a specialty of the Black Hmong people.

Salmon salad/ Sturgeon hotpot The hot pot is hot, fragrant, served with fresh vegetables and broth made from fish bones on cold days is more wonderful than ever. Pieces of fresh, red salmon/sturgeon are thinly sliced and served with fresh vegetables.

Recommended Sang Meo Restaurant 029 Fansipan, A Phu Restaurant 15 Fansipan, Mong Sa Pa Cuisine Restaurant 08 Xuan Vien, Ca Hoi Vua Restaurant 015 Le Van Tam. I tried the one at A Phu Restaurant, did not disappoint, cost 600,000 vnd per hot pot.

Free range pigs The most famous must mention grilled pork. Recommended A Phu Restaurant (15 Fansipan), May Quan Restaurant (57 Xuan Vien), Gia Ban Restaurant (4121 Dien Bien Phu), Sang Meo restaurant (029 Fansipan st)

Sa Pa Barbecue There are two types, one where is placed on skewers, you choose the skewer and it is grilled for you, the other type where you barbecue the meat on your own (much like Korean table barbecue).

Address to eat delicious grilled food in Sa Pa: Gia Bao Restaurant (Grilled Tile) 498 Dien Bien Phu, Tra Phuong Quan 026 Ngu Chi Son, My Nuong 442 Dien Bien Phu. We tried the one at Tra Phuong Quan, ordered the 500,000 vnd set and the meat was too much. We were left full and there was no room for supper.

Chestnut cake

Local cuisine in Hanoi

1. Phở

Recommended destination:  Phở Cường, 23 Hang Muoi Str., Hoan Kiem, Hanoi Opening hours: 6.30AM-10PM, Daily

2. Bún chả (Rice noodles with grilled pork)

Grilled pork dipped in a sauce made from fish sauce, sugar, lime juice, garlic, and other ingredients, served with bún (rice noodles) and a wide variety of herbs.

Recommended destination:  74 Hang Quat Str., Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. Opening hours: 10.30AM-2PM, Daily Price: VND30,000-VND50,000 This is closed but there are many Bun Cha restaurants around.

 

3. Bún bò Huế (Hue beef noodles)

Whole slice of pig’s leg complemented by beef and meatballs. Recommended destination: 5B Quang Trung Str., Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. Opening hours: 7AM-9.30PM, Daily Price: VND50,000-VND70,000

 

4. Bún bò Nam Bộ (Southern beef noodles)

Beef is briefly fried then served directly with rice noodles, peanut, fried onion, and plenty of herbs. Recommended destination:  67 Hang Dieu Str., Hoan Kiem, Hanoi Opening hours: 7.30AM-10.30PM, Daily Price: VND60,000-VND100,000

 

5. Chả cá (Grilled fish)

Recommended destination: 14 Chả Cá Street Opening hours: 11AM-2PM & 5PM-9PM, Daily Price: From VND175,000VND (~USD7.53) Check out the google reviews before going.

 

6. Gà tần thuốc bắc (Chicken cooked with Chinese herbs)

Recommended destination: 12C Hang Cot Str., Hoan Kiem, Hanoi Opening hours: 9AM-10PM, Daily Price: VND60,000-VND100,000

 

7. Bún riêu cua (Rice noodles with freshwater crabs roe)

Recommended destination: 11 Hang Bac Str., Hoan Kiem, Hanoi Opening hours: 6AM-6PM, Daily Price: VND25,000-VND45,000 (USD1.08-USD1.94) I tried this, the rice noodles with carbs roe is called the special noodle.

When receiving two offers might make someone feel worse than having one

No.2 is entering Secondary School next year. She went through the Direct School Admission (DSA) and applied to 4 schools. She was shortlisted for all four for auditions, tests and interviews. Very hopeful at first until one school did not call her up for the second (final) round for interview. Left with three schools, less hope when she saw that she was unsuccessful for another school. By now, she and we were prepared for zero offers.

Then came a surprise, she was offered a DSA place into a very popular school! Elated, happy, speechless, celebrations! And a few days later, another good news, she was successful for yet another school. But her happiness did not double, or increase? Why, because then she started to look at the ones that she did not get. Such irony.

Let's remind ourselves to celebrate the successes. Those 2 offers lets her gain entry into her desired schools with whatever PSLE scores that turn up. Besides, she could only take up one anyway. 

Well done my child, let's celebrate!

Violin graded music exams –ABRSM vs Trinity

No.1’s violin teacher suggested that she take either Trinity Grade 1 in December 2015 or ABRSM Grade 2 in March 2016. I was told that there are no significant differences between the two examination boards. Anyway, back then, I did not think that no.1 was ready to take any exams so we did not register for the Grade 1 exam in December; my plan was to let her take Grade 1 in March instead.

When the ABRSM registration for exams in March opened, no.1 was hopeful and wanted to attempt Grade 2 so she eventually signed up for Grade 2 ABRSM in March 2016. Shortly after that, no.2 was recommended to take Grade 1 Trinity in June 2016.

After having gone through the two exams with them, I discovered that there is one important difference between the two. Sight reading is not compulsory for Trinity Grades 1 to 5 exams!

In addition to that, listed below are other minor differences:

	ABRSM	Trinity
Examination dates	3 sessions in a year March, July and September	2 sessions in a year June and December
Prerequisites	None for Grades 1 to 5. For Grades 6 to 8, Grade 5 music theory must be completed	For Grade 8, Grade 5 music theory must be completed.
Pieces	3 pieces from 3 sets	3 pieces from 2 sets
Technical work	Scales and arpeggios	Bowing exercise and (i) Scales, arpeggios and technical exercise or (ii) studies
Supporting tests	Candidates must take the two supporting tests – sight reading and aural	For Grades 1 to 5: Candidates choose any two of the four supporting tests (musical knowledge, aural, sight reading, improvisation) For Grades 6 to 8: Candidates must take sight reading and either aural or improvisation.
Exam structure	Maximum 150 marks 3 Pieces – 90 (60%) Scales, arpeggios – 21 (14%) Sight reading – 21 (14%) Aural – 18 (12%)	Maximum 100 marks 3 Pieces – 66 Technical work – 14 Supporting test 1 – 10 Supporting test 2 – 10
Mark scheme	Distinction – 130 to 150 (>86%) Merit – 120 to 129 (80% to 86%) Pass – 100 to 119 (66% to 79%	Distinction – 87 to 100 Merit – 75 to 86 Pass – 60to 74

The Aural format for the two exam boards differs too. 

Some say Trinity’s pieces and tests are easier, do you agree?

Babybeats at Wolfgang Violin Studio (II)

After almost 2 years since the last trial lesson with no.2, I just attended another Babybeats trial lesson. This time, it's with no.3 on Saturday, 17^th September. He’s been ‘killing chickens’ with his little violin since 2 years old and has been asking to attend violin lessons. Last January, he stormed into no.1’s violin class insisting he be taught how to play and the teacher had no choice but to teach him some stuff. Recently he asked for it again so we gave in and scheduled a trial class.

And so we did these:

1)       Get to know notes and sounds A, B, C, D, E

2)       Identify step notes and skip notes, step and skip on the floor

3)       Played step and skip notes on the colour-coded chime bar

4)       Warm up finger exercise followed by bow hold exercise

5)       Played open string A on the violin

Lots of fun movement, singing and opportunities to play on the violin but I don’t think his maturity is there to get that nice bow hold.

Does learning to play a musical instrument make your child stronger in academics?

“Children who study music from an early age can do better at a range of subjects such as maths, science, arts and language. The earlier a child ... comes to grips with music, the more the brain growth will be influenced. It sets them up for life.” - Dr Richard Letts, Music Council of Australia

We would all have encountered the advice on how we should encourage (*force*) our children to learn a musical instrument (preferably piano or violin) so that they will do well academically. Many research findings support this popular notion. For me, I find it strange because my thoughts are that the hours spent on practising the musical instrument could have been the hours spent on memorising the names of the muscles and bones of the human body! How is it then possible for the child to do well academically?

I have two hypotheses.

Hypothesis 1

Children who are strong in academics are the ones who are able to learn a musical instrument. In the first instance, all children are enrolled in learning a musical instrument, those who have difficulty learning would have dropped out, leaving behind those who study music. And when you assess those who study music, you’ll find that they are also strong in academics. This brings to the question is it because I know how to play the piano (cause) therefore I am good at math (effect) or I am good at math (cause) therefore I can play the piano (effect)?

Hypothesis 2

Children who play music acquire skills that are relevant to be strong in academics. They learn:

• That there are rewards from hard work, practice and discipline;
• To memorize by repetition and recognise patterns;
• Time management.

Some children as young as 5 years old may have already experienced their first graded music exam, hence they have early exposure and experience to exams.

These two arguments put forth demonstrate the linkage and indirect benefits of learning to play a musical instrument. However, I do believe there is a direct benefit that is children who learn music from a young age might have improved auditory senses which might aid in learning languages as well as be attentive in class.

Is it okay to take reconstituted Curam that has been left outside the fridge for 10 hours?

My friend asked me this question the other day.

First of all, a little bit of background on the drug. Curam or Augmentin (both brand names for the antibiotic combination amoxicillin/clavulanate) is commonly handed to the patient in two ways:

1)       In a bottle of powder. The patient brings home the bottle, adds water up to the mark indicated on the bottle to make a suspension – this is known as reconstitution.

2)       In a bottle of reconstituted suspension. The pharmacist or clinic assistant first reconstitutes the drug before giving it to the patient.

In both instances, the reconstituted drug should be refrigerated (stored at 2°C to 8°C) as soon as practicable to maintain the efficacy (usefulness) of the drug (manufacturer’s recommendation) for the entire dosing regimen (5 to 7 days). The powder on the other hand can be stored under room conditions for as long as the expiry date allows.

Thus, it is fairly common to receive calls from a family – who had left the reconstituted suspension out on the kitchen counter overnight – asking if the drug can still be used or do they need to go to the clinic to get a new prescription/bottle. There is also the possibility that you’d be bringing along a reconstituted suspension for your sick child (who had no choice but to travel with you) and may take some time before you have access to a refrigerator. So, how long can it stay outside the fridge?

Several studies have been performed to compare the stability of the reconstituted suspension when stored out at room temperature. The findings of these studies were:

1)       For the brand Augmentin, when stored at room temperature (25°C), Amoxycillin maintained its efficacy (defined as at least 90% of its initial concentration) throughout the 7 days dosing regimen, while clavulate drops to 90% of its value by day 2.

2)       Different brands have different stability profiles (see figures 1 and 2).

3)       In general, amoxicillin maintained its efficacy even if it has been stored out at room temperature and at 40°C for as long as 24 hours. Clavulanate is less stable and there could be a 30% drop in potency within the first 24 hours when stored at 40°C.

Figure 1. Concentration of Amoxicillin of various brands when stored at room temperature 25 °C

Figure 2. Concentration of Clavulanate of various brands when stored at room temperature 25 °C

Would I give my child Curam/Augmentin after it has been left outside the fridge for 24 hours? It is probably okay to give because:

1)       The efficacy of Amoxicillin is still maintained for all brands

2)       Clavulanate’s effectiveness may have dropped 30% but clavulanate’s inclusion is to counter infections that resistant to amoxicillin and I view this as secondary

3)       I’d consider getting a new bottle / prescription the next practicable time depending on the severity of the illness.

Oh and one last thing, do reconstitute the amoxicillin/clavulanate combination drug with boiled-and-cooled tap water or distilled water to improve its stability. The drug is most stable when dissolved with soft water (no mineral water) at neutral pH (no alkaline water).

REFERENCES

1. J Clin Pharm Ther. 1994;19(5):313-5.
2. Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, 2013, 5(5):293-296
3. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Practice, 2014,03(01): 1-12
4. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science , 2012, 02(01): 28-31
5. Acta Vet Hung. 2009;57(4):485-93

Is this a case of White Coat Myopia?

A 6-year-old girl was referred to the ophthalmology clinic by the School Health Service of the Health Promotion Board. She had been referred for a re-assessment at the Board after she was identified as myopic in a mass vision test performed at her primary school. The results of her vision test during the mass screening was 6/18 and 6/9, for the right and left eye, respectively. As her right eye vision test result was greater than 6/9, she was then referred to do a re-assessment at the Board. The results of her vision re-assessment were 6/18 correctable to 6/9 and 6/12 correctable to 6/6, for the right and left eye, respectively. The attending optometrist was contemplating on giving her a prescription for glasses or to refer her to the ophthalmology clinic. The point of concern was that the girl’s vision could not be corrected to 6/6 with the appropriate lenses. To err on the side of caution, she was referred to the National University Hospital Medical Centre.

She was born following a normal full-term pregnancy by vacuum-assisted delivery. There were no neonatal problems and her development was normal. She was often described as a very lively child but timid and fearful of doctors, teachers and other seemingly authoritative figures.

Both her parents do not have myopia though her grandmother had amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye.

At the ophthalmology clinic, though her visual acuity test indicated that one of her eyes has poorer vision than the other, her 3-D vision test was ‘normal’. Her vision test was found to be 6/6 for both her eyes and her dilated eye examination did not reveal any significant findings. She was discharged as having normal vision and does not need any glasses.

The question now is that how was she assessed as having myopia on two earlier occasions? Wouldn’t the prescribed glasses have worsened her vision since it was not needed in the first instance? The ophthalmologist clarified that vision tests for children could sometimes be inaccurate as they rely heavily on the child’s responses and the subjective interpretation of the optometrist. A child that is uncooperative because she/he is shy might end up with a poor test vision result. Upon further discussion with the girl’s mother, it was found the mother was absent on the two earlier ‘failed’ vision assessments and was only present at the last eye-examination session. Could the girl had been so anxious that she could not read aloud the letters flashed before her, only to be calm enough to do so when her mother is present?  Is this a case of anxiety-induced myopia or what I like to call it White Coat Myopia?