And yes, I do which is what i paid for tonight's din-din!!! I didnt know what to eat and wasnt super hungry so after walking all over Hoi An got pulled over by these cute young girls who had a sandwich cart. Not only did I get my first oppertunity to sit on the 9 inch by 9 inch perhaps foot high stool that most Vietnamese are so fond of sitting on but I got to have my first Vietnamese sandwich for 50 cents!!!! What you ask is in one? Well it isnt like what I have tried in SF more like a "scooby snack". It had chicken, more lovely bolognie pate, beef pate, fish, and fried pork with a tiny bit of mint, carrots, onion and spicy sauce. I've also discovered that I dont mind raw onions in a sandwich when it only costs 50 cents.
xoxoxoxoxo
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Choy oy!!!!
Choy oy, for all y'all who dont speak Vietnamese, means OMG! and that is how i feel tonight. (I also learned from a Florida Jew who was teaching me sayings, that you say it with the same tone you'd say "Oy vay" and since both are very amusing to say, I'll probably start using them interchangably. I'm in Hue this evening, a lovely historical town of emperors and buddists. Anyways, I need to backtrek a bit because so much time has passed since last time I got to chat at all of you.
Ha long bay is where we left off and as expectations go; i've been told by many that one shouldnt have them because then they're up for disappointment. Needless to say, this is the one of 2 places where I have expectations because the pics of Ha Long Bay made me fall in love with going to Vietnam and Hoi An, well I'm expecting some fierce seamstresses there.
Ha long bay, and there is a drum roll going on in my head, well it was FABULOUS! It was so incredibly stunning, peaceful and relaxing. The junks, which were basically well outfitted houseboats, didnt sway as they glided through the green water. We stopped in a cave, which was the biggest cave I've ever been in, kayaked around, and then I Jumped off the roof. I will say it was about 5 meters, which translates into like 20 feet give or take;). All of this, while you were on a quick schedule, still was very relaxing and the kayaking and laying on the deck chairs on the roof was very leisurely. Next day, I went to CAt Ba island in Ha Long Bay where they said a trek...and I'm thinking this is a tour and yesterday was easy, today will be the same. Well think, Climbing for example to Upper Yosemite Falls (Dad at least you will remember this and understand) in 105 degree humid weather without any stops and it's all uphill. I did it, and i have a pic of me smiling at the top, but I thought I would pass out....then because I didnt want to fall off the mountain and die without some sort of witness, went down with these adorable danish boys. And yay, I didnt die!!!
After that, I tried my first exotic delicacy, snake infused moonshine! It even comes out in this sophiticated little "schnopsy" glass. Next day, came back to Hanoi and took the overnight bed bus.....a guy told me that it would be strange and that is a VERY apt term for it. I have pics...which will do better then me describing but still think perhaps 30 beds and then think 50 people in the bus. I luckily had a bed, but then there were mainly Vietnamese lying on the floor between all the beds.
Anyways, I made it to Hue and was met at the bus with my first ever sign with only my name on it!!!! and for the first time in Vietnam a chauffered air conditioned luxury car that took me to my hotel...I am livin very large here;) I then had two very "interesting" experiences with hiring a motorbike for a couple of hours, which unfortunately turned into more than i thought as well as one of those seated in the front of a bike hire...i have to remind myself that when someone takes advantage of me, it's not for more then 5-10 dollars, which i dont sweat. I just get annoyed at being taken advantage of...but then i calm down and try again. Fortunatly, like the case of tonight for the motorbike i rented for tomorrow morning...I got a good deal, which I'm happy about and everything that I want to do is written on my ticket, which should take care of any weird additional prices while on the tour. See, I'm a quick learner!
After that, I'll take a short busride to Hoi An and hopefully meet up with the Danish guys again who have computers and headsets; so for those who i owe a call to, mainly mom and dad I will be calling hopefully tomorrow or the next day.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Ha long bay is where we left off and as expectations go; i've been told by many that one shouldnt have them because then they're up for disappointment. Needless to say, this is the one of 2 places where I have expectations because the pics of Ha Long Bay made me fall in love with going to Vietnam and Hoi An, well I'm expecting some fierce seamstresses there.
Ha long bay, and there is a drum roll going on in my head, well it was FABULOUS! It was so incredibly stunning, peaceful and relaxing. The junks, which were basically well outfitted houseboats, didnt sway as they glided through the green water. We stopped in a cave, which was the biggest cave I've ever been in, kayaked around, and then I Jumped off the roof. I will say it was about 5 meters, which translates into like 20 feet give or take;). All of this, while you were on a quick schedule, still was very relaxing and the kayaking and laying on the deck chairs on the roof was very leisurely. Next day, I went to CAt Ba island in Ha Long Bay where they said a trek...and I'm thinking this is a tour and yesterday was easy, today will be the same. Well think, Climbing for example to Upper Yosemite Falls (Dad at least you will remember this and understand) in 105 degree humid weather without any stops and it's all uphill. I did it, and i have a pic of me smiling at the top, but I thought I would pass out....then because I didnt want to fall off the mountain and die without some sort of witness, went down with these adorable danish boys. And yay, I didnt die!!!
After that, I tried my first exotic delicacy, snake infused moonshine! It even comes out in this sophiticated little "schnopsy" glass. Next day, came back to Hanoi and took the overnight bed bus.....a guy told me that it would be strange and that is a VERY apt term for it. I have pics...which will do better then me describing but still think perhaps 30 beds and then think 50 people in the bus. I luckily had a bed, but then there were mainly Vietnamese lying on the floor between all the beds.
Anyways, I made it to Hue and was met at the bus with my first ever sign with only my name on it!!!! and for the first time in Vietnam a chauffered air conditioned luxury car that took me to my hotel...I am livin very large here;) I then had two very "interesting" experiences with hiring a motorbike for a couple of hours, which unfortunately turned into more than i thought as well as one of those seated in the front of a bike hire...i have to remind myself that when someone takes advantage of me, it's not for more then 5-10 dollars, which i dont sweat. I just get annoyed at being taken advantage of...but then i calm down and try again. Fortunatly, like the case of tonight for the motorbike i rented for tomorrow morning...I got a good deal, which I'm happy about and everything that I want to do is written on my ticket, which should take care of any weird additional prices while on the tour. See, I'm a quick learner!
After that, I'll take a short busride to Hoi An and hopefully meet up with the Danish guys again who have computers and headsets; so for those who i owe a call to, mainly mom and dad I will be calling hopefully tomorrow or the next day.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Friday, June 25, 2010
Off to Ha Long bay
I leave this morning so the next time I will be contact with a computer is in a couple days I think. However, I could be surprised. In the marble moutains yesterday on the side of cliffs, there were working tvs in tiny shantys...so if they can get electricity and cable there, why not on a boat?:)
I had an ostrich steak, which cooked so nicely, very tender and nice flaverful...one of my goals when i return is to learn how to really properly grill everything, so that it's moist and tender.(No I dont want barbqs for my b-day when i get back! I will cook with Matt and Rosana, and for people like Mick and then I will be a proper meat cook.)
xoxoxoxoxoxox
I had an ostrich steak, which cooked so nicely, very tender and nice flaverful...one of my goals when i return is to learn how to really properly grill everything, so that it's moist and tender.(No I dont want barbqs for my b-day when i get back! I will cook with Matt and Rosana, and for people like Mick and then I will be a proper meat cook.)
xoxoxoxoxoxox
bee-utiful!
Oh my gawd, did I have an exquisite day today. took a tour to the Perfume Pagoda, the buddhist temples in the marble mountains of Vietnam. these temples rival the best cathedrals in Europe, in that they are just as awe-inspiring. Next time I come, I'm not going to wear my little shorts outfit:) We took a row boat, which was rown by a woman, down a river and then walked up to the first temple. Then a beautiful cable car ride up the moutain to a temple in a cave, with real bats!!!!, and then walked down the mountain to the first temple for lunch. If I get to do Vietnam again, I think I'll stick to the country side because it's so beautiful and so peaceful. Anyways, not I'm off to get a dark beer with my *new* irish and scottish friends I met on the tour and they're taking me to where I can get dark beer!!!!!! I'm so excited....so maybe I wont spend all my time in the coutryside on a future visit because I wont be able to get dark beer.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
I'm in love...
Well on my first full day on land, I had a very producive day. For the most part, the heat isnt that bad...until I get angry and then it's intolerable and i did get angry today.
I got up with the roosters and was out walking around Hoem Lake and falling in love....with vietnamese coffee w/out condensed milk. It doesnt need it. it's so dark and rich without being bitter. It's delish. Then I decided to familiarize myself with walking through the hords of scooters and cars...there are no rules and it seems to me more congested than the nazi bicyclists in amsterdam who would run you down if you dared step in their path. I got the hang of it though and so then decided to see how hopping on the back of scooters was. Fabulous except for some gross, dirty old men that try and take advantage of you and then proposition you with nasty stuff. (That's when I got angry today and proceeded to swear for a couple of blocks before I calmed down)
Anyways, went to some temples and then ate fabulous assortment of spring rolls at a chic restaurant that is a work study program for troubled youth. They accept over 200 kids a year to learn english, hospitality, and life skills. Then it was off to a 4 handed massage and that was quite interesting. While some parts were good; I'm not sure if i got the female version of the "happy ending" since for the first time in my life my chest was massaged. It was two woman, but still a bit odd. I ended the day with a trip to a cathedral, including a smiling pic of the pope, and a water puppet show, where there were naked dirty old men puppets that chased around girls w/out tops. It is supposedly for kids...very dark and truthful telling of female/male relations.
Both were better than my first Viet. beer, Bien ba, as it's called, was so light....dunh dunh dunh, there is no dark beer from what i can tell. Good god, my lord, what am i going to do? and there is no Kombucha!!!!
xoxoxoxo
I'm now going to try and figure out how to post some pics. So far I dont see anything on this page, which would allow me to upload.
I got up with the roosters and was out walking around Hoem Lake and falling in love....with vietnamese coffee w/out condensed milk. It doesnt need it. it's so dark and rich without being bitter. It's delish. Then I decided to familiarize myself with walking through the hords of scooters and cars...there are no rules and it seems to me more congested than the nazi bicyclists in amsterdam who would run you down if you dared step in their path. I got the hang of it though and so then decided to see how hopping on the back of scooters was. Fabulous except for some gross, dirty old men that try and take advantage of you and then proposition you with nasty stuff. (That's when I got angry today and proceeded to swear for a couple of blocks before I calmed down)
Anyways, went to some temples and then ate fabulous assortment of spring rolls at a chic restaurant that is a work study program for troubled youth. They accept over 200 kids a year to learn english, hospitality, and life skills. Then it was off to a 4 handed massage and that was quite interesting. While some parts were good; I'm not sure if i got the female version of the "happy ending" since for the first time in my life my chest was massaged. It was two woman, but still a bit odd. I ended the day with a trip to a cathedral, including a smiling pic of the pope, and a water puppet show, where there were naked dirty old men puppets that chased around girls w/out tops. It is supposedly for kids...very dark and truthful telling of female/male relations.
Both were better than my first Viet. beer, Bien ba, as it's called, was so light....dunh dunh dunh, there is no dark beer from what i can tell. Good god, my lord, what am i going to do? and there is no Kombucha!!!!
xoxoxoxo
I'm now going to try and figure out how to post some pics. So far I dont see anything on this page, which would allow me to upload.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Proper Word or Two
My nap turned into 6 hours, so it's 11:30 pm here and I figured instead of getting dinner; I would write y'all. First off, I have not taken a pic yet. So tomorrow on my first day of foot travel, I will take many and finally try my hand at uploading them.
Second, I'm actually not a huge fan of congee. My shrimp spring rolls I had today for lunch were so much better (there was even a bit of bolognie pate inside, so French!)
Thirdly, I have gotten lots of questions centered on my ethnicity. When I say I'm american, then think I'm lying. "But Americans dont have curly hair", so I will start making up a new ethnicity for myself. Since Rosana doesn't have curly hair, I cant be brazillian. So I might have to go with Irish, a la Riverdancians because they all have curly hair.
Finally, I hear I missed out on the Guiness Book of REcords for the longest flight time or time in transit...and that is a shame. Because freaking christ, i dont think you would find someone who complained less due to the delays, couldnt have been happier to sleep on the floor of an airport in Taiwan, and was generally just out of it towards the end....but that state of spacy euphoria will probably never happen again. Next time, I will be a hot mess demanding where is my dark coffee, why are there so many screaming babies on this flight am I on a little country bumpkin bus, and who drank all the bad light beer on board?
xoxoxox
Second, I'm actually not a huge fan of congee. My shrimp spring rolls I had today for lunch were so much better (there was even a bit of bolognie pate inside, so French!)
Thirdly, I have gotten lots of questions centered on my ethnicity. When I say I'm american, then think I'm lying. "But Americans dont have curly hair", so I will start making up a new ethnicity for myself. Since Rosana doesn't have curly hair, I cant be brazillian. So I might have to go with Irish, a la Riverdancians because they all have curly hair.
Finally, I hear I missed out on the Guiness Book of REcords for the longest flight time or time in transit...and that is a shame. Because freaking christ, i dont think you would find someone who complained less due to the delays, couldnt have been happier to sleep on the floor of an airport in Taiwan, and was generally just out of it towards the end....but that state of spacy euphoria will probably never happen again. Next time, I will be a hot mess demanding where is my dark coffee, why are there so many screaming babies on this flight am I on a little country bumpkin bus, and who drank all the bad light beer on board?
xoxoxox
Good God, My Lord
After nearly 40 hours in either airplanes of airports, I'm finally in a hotel in Hanoi and am ready to take a nap again but in a bed!!!!!!!!! And yes, when we touched down in Saigon earlier today and even knowing I still had one more plane ahead of me, I was so excited; couldn't wipe a silly grin off my face.Ok, nap then dinner, then a proper word or two.
xoxoxox
xoxoxox
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Pay Close Attention to Children and the Elderly!
I tried congee!!!! So my flight to Ho Chi Minh was cancelled and I have had the grand pleasure of hanging out in the Hong Kong Airport! My flight for Taipei, I'm living Gaga's dream by going to Taiwan, leaves at midnight and then will take a plane from there to Saigon, just making my flight to Hanoi....if no more cancellations.
Surprise surprise, no one has curly hair here. Oh and congee is a savory soup that is in between malt o'meal and cream of what with chicken on the bone dropped in. So I got to try more of my ever so delicate chop sticking slimy meat, chewing off the meat in my mouth and then spitting the bone back into my bowl; I think I do it extrememly well for someone with curly hair.
xoxoxoxoxo
Surprise surprise, no one has curly hair here. Oh and congee is a savory soup that is in between malt o'meal and cream of what with chicken on the bone dropped in. So I got to try more of my ever so delicate chop sticking slimy meat, chewing off the meat in my mouth and then spitting the bone back into my bowl; I think I do it extrememly well for someone with curly hair.
xoxoxoxoxo
Sunday, June 20, 2010
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