Cham Charm and Jackson Charm

Last night, for my 40th birthday, my best friend took me out to a restaurant we see every day as we pass by on the school bus, Cham Charm.  It's a beautiful white building, surrounded by palms, torches, and fairy lights and sometimes Bentleys and Rolls Royces, their drivers polishing the fenders while they wait.  In the 7th to 15th centuries, from central Vietnam to the Mekong Delta and a bit west into Cambodia was called the Champa Kingdom, and the people were the Cham people, hence the name and "ancient" decor.  They greeted us at the top of the steps with glasses of champagne. 

(Get it?  Champa-Champa gne)

 Our dinner was an amazing buffet of Indian, Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese and some western food.  On my plate, I've got a shot glass of Vietnamese salad, some crab, sushi, peking duck, Vietnamese fish with chillies and lemongrass in the boat, and scallops.

 A display of spices and special salts on the left, like French pink and purple salts, and some other salts from Australia and American Pacific Islands. I got to try some with my roast lamb.

 Mike and I both loved the river rocks filling the bathroom sinks and the amazingly textured tiles on walls and floor.  Pattern and texture were everywhere.

 

Ms. Thuy, the boys' wonderful nanny, gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers for my birthday.

 In the morning, we opened family presents.  The boys went together to get me an essential oil burner and a beautiful blue bowl.

The boys each made me a card and the insides were the best part.  Trevor's is on the left with a proclamation by George Washington, and Colin's is on the right.

I was thankful for chats with family and friends calling from the US in the morning, then we all went into District 1 for brunch at a favorite restaurant, The Refinery.  When we walked in, about a dozen friends were waiting. . . surprise!  How wonderful!  I feel very celebrated.