Daily Travels

Reflections - Almost Time

2011-07-30T20:04:00.000-07:00

Four and a half months to the end of my stint in Vietnam.

Must say that I am looking forward to that.

Not because I do not like the place. Hanoi has become a home for me. I made many good friends here. The country has treated me well.

But it is time to go home.

I am now 40 years old and there remain many questions in my mind. Who am I? What do I believe in? Where do I go from here?

I need to think through.

Irresponsible Dog Owners

2011-07-20T01:37:00.001-07:00

Had to cut Pooch's walking time last night after two dogs (unleashed and unaccompanied by their owners) were running around Ciputra last night.

Pooch was going crazy and it took all my strength to hold her back.

I think people who cannot even walk their dogs and simply letting them run free are irresponsible and should not be allowed to keep dogs as pets.

Terrible. What if kids were to get into a situation with these dogs?

Toads in Hanoi

2011-07-19T02:30:00.000-07:00

Why are there so many toads in Hanoi?

Perhaps one reason could be the heavy showers over the past few days but it is rather amazing to see so many toads hopping around. 1 every 2-3 metres.

While walking Pooch, I tend to encounter them everywhere. Even Pooch has to side-step them. I saw one last night that was really huge. Gave me a shock as it was rather dark.

I think I will stop reading horror manga for a while!

Goodbye Hanoi for the Family

2011-06-19T07:50:00.000-07:00

After almost four and a half years, my family left for home.

Mum, I suspect, may be the most affected as she had settled well into life in Vietnam.

She enjoyed the trips to the market and the visits to the countryside.

It was as expected a difficult farewell for Ian as he said goodbye to his friends, some of whom were distraught by the thought that Ian will no longer be around. Ian now has to get himself ready to the hustle and bustle style of schooling in Singapore. I personally think the Singapore system of education sucks because it takes away the joy of discovering the world. But I will leave to another time.

Given her young age, Nat was rather ambivalent to the idea of return but she is also in for a challenging time because of the adjustment back into the kindergarten system. Sigh.

As for Nic, the accident at home caused by a falling piece of glass was a dramatic and disheartening end to her stay in Hanoi. But Nic is like Peter to me, for she was a rock and a colossus of strength at home. She was the glue that held us together.

Now the missing begins...till my turn to leave this place for home.

New Player

2011-06-13T22:11:00.000-07:00

Hmm.

New player at Manchester United. Jones.

Where he is going to play?

An End of a Chapter

2011-06-13T03:48:00.000-07:00

Nicole and the kids are leaving this weekend for Singapore.

They first arrived in Hanoi in Feb 2008.

More than three years now.

I will leave in December.

They will come up again in November after Ian's exams. To say goodbye to everyone.

I will miss them while they are away. Skype will be a daily option but will not make the distance more bearable.

It is the end of a chapter.

And soon, the beginning of a new one.

Off to Ha Tinh

2011-06-06T21:43:00.000-07:00

Will be visiting Ha Tinh tomorrow.

Not sure what to expect.

Let's see.

Retirement of Paul Scholes

2011-05-31T08:50:00.000-07:00

Yup, it is confirmed. Scholes has just announced his retirement.

Thanks for your years of magic.

The club will be very different without you.

Best of luck for your future!

A Happy Day

2011-05-31T08:49:00.001-07:00

Nic returned from UK today.

We were very happy to see her.

The house has been too quiet without her.

Welcome back, baby!

Tam Dao

2011-05-28T02:08:00.000-07:00

Brought the family to Tam Dao today. It is a mountain resort 1.5 hours from Hanoi.

The road up the mountain was narrow and it was a nerve wracking drive up. Lorries were competing to get up. Mind you, it is a 1 lane but vehicles were going both ways.

At one stage, a huge tour bus decided to squeeze through forcing many of the cars coming up to stop. We found ourselves having to go backwards to give the bus space to move. Imagine doing this while on an incline. It was no joke.

I was nervously watching my driver to make he was alert.

Why must driving outside Hanoi be such a terrifying experience? I recall going to Mai Chau and the several near death experiences.

Perhaps lives are too cheap in Vietnam?

The bad experience going up in a way spoilt the mood by the time we got to the top.

Aside from the breath-taking views, there was little else to do.

Wish the locals make more effort building up tourist spots.

One thing for sure is that I will not go up again!

Daily Reflections - Nat and cows

2011-05-27T02:36:00.000-07:00

Had to record this down.

A few days ago, we were rather behind time and was running a bit late for school.

I told Natty that we had to hurry up and not "wait for the cows..."

I deliberately paused for effect and waited for her reply.

She looked at me innocently and asked with an arched eyebrow, "Moo?"

I had a good laugh.

My little girl has a good sense of humour.

Daily Reflections

2011-05-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

More than four years and yet Hanoi's traffic drives me nuts at time.

How should I summarise traffic in Hanoi?

(1) Red lights means go.

(2) Green lights means go.

(3) Amber means go.

(4) Green man means go. Pedestrians? What pedestrians?

(5) When crossing roads, good to have religion since you can meet your maker in a bang.

(6) Never run across roads. Just slide through the traffic. Or find a Hanoian.

(7) Helmets are for display. Protection is for wimps.

(8) Never open your mouth while on the bike as things WILL go in.

(9) Big cars good but some big cars are better than others. Same for all other classes of vehicles.

Reflections

2011-05-26T08:03:00.000-07:00

Six more months and it will be time to return home. Well for more than four years Vietnam had been my home.

I will miss this place. For now I will prepare my family to return home in June.

How fast time has passed.

It is a crazy world

2011-03-30T07:49:00.001-07:00

It is a crazy world.

The Middle East is in turmoil.

Japan's ongoing nuclear crisis.

Floods in Southern Thailand.

I am at a loss of words.

Visit to Rach Gia, Kien Giang Province

2010-06-11T07:39:00.000-07:00

I visited Rach Gia which is in Kien Giang province. Rach Gia is the provincial capital. Kien Giang is located in the southwestern part of Vietnam, right next to Cambodia. It is noted for its island Phu Quoc.

Kien Giang is one of the poorest provinces in Vietnam. Rach Gia was quiet and relatively under-developed.

There are no 4-5 star hotels. I stayed in a guest-house (nha nghi) called "Linda". What made it hilarious was that the guest-house opposite, which was under construction, was called "Henry".

I wonder who they are named after. The owners? Perhaps.

I was given the top room and was told that I had a view of the sea. Yes, provided I physically lift myself out of the window!

It was a decent room but the lack of water pressure made taking a bath a big challenge.

I spent much of the time in meetings, and only went back to Linda when the day was over.

On the last night, I brought my colleagues to the "best seafood" restaurant in Rach Gia, which was supposedly noted for its seafood.

The food was okay, better than what I was eating in the meetings.

The menu was not for the fainted-hearted as they served all sorts of animals, including snakes, etc.

While walking out of the restaurant, we went to have a look at the concrete tank to see what fishes they had.

To our surprise, we found that they kept their snakes in the same tank!

We left the restaurant fast!

By the end of the second day, I was looking forward to Ha Noi.

Ha Noi may be dusty, polluted and chaotic...but I miss the capital city...

Sick

2010-06-02T19:03:00.000-07:00

Was flattened by a stomach bug yesterday.

Will take me a few days to recover.

Sheez.

No Electricity

2010-05-30T19:04:00.000-07:00

It is a hot Summer day in Hanoi.

And they cut our electricity as part of the plan to "save" electricity because consumption was way too high for the city to maintain.

Of course, they did not alert us in advance.

Imagine stuck in a house without fans or even having the ability to grab a cold drink at the height of Summer.

I am not upset because they have to cut electricity as I understand their predicament but I am upset they did not make the effort to give us advance warning which would allow us to make alternative plans for the children.

Korea

2010-05-28T02:55:00.000-07:00

I am increasingly worried by the situation in the Korean Peninsula.

How it will play out will have bearing on all of us in Southeast Asia.

Not good since we are all recovering well.

Hopefully it will not end up in a conflict but this may not be that easy since many things can go wrong with tension so high between the two sides.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Will the "Top Kill" Procedure Work?

2010-05-27T01:57:00.000-07:00

Watching CNN.

BP has began its operations to "top-kill" the massive leak.

I hope it works.

If not, I cannot imagine the damage to the environment.

The Heat in Hanoi

2010-05-25T21:23:00.000-07:00

It is really hot in Hanoi these days.

Last week we had 40 degrees. It is presently hovering around 35 to 37 degrees which to me is too hot for comfort.

It is so hot that Pooch kept on "asking" to come into the house.

I am told that we can expect the weather to get even hotter as summer gets under way.

Oi troi oi, they said, in Vietnam.

Not good.

I need airconditioned clothes.

Natania Speaks

2010-05-25T00:46:00.000-07:00

My little princess is growing up well.

She can be quite a handful at times but one thing for certain, she is hilarious.

Let me share this story.

It was late in the night and I was trying to put her to bed.

And I began this conversation:

"Nat, go to the toilet and clean up", I said.

"No, I do not speak English. I speak only Chinese", she replied with a smile, feigning ignorance.

I was speechless. It was such a good rejoinder that I sat on my bed and starting laughing.

Priceless.

Will be tough for me in the future when she grows up.

Return to Blogging

2010-05-24T23:33:00.000-07:00

Been too long. More than a year now.

I think I will restart my blog.

Holidays!

2009-03-20T20:33:00.000-07:00

Next week is Spring break!

Will be bringing the kids and Nicole to Hoi An. Our first holiday within Vietnam.

Hope the weather holds!

Nat and Ian

2009-03-18T07:06:00.001-07:00

Both Nat and Ian are down with a flu bug.

Nat has cleared her fever phase but Ian is in the midst of his fever phase. Around 38 plus degrees and no appetite. Hopefully this will clear very soon by tomorrow.

Nat is almost back to her usual self - mischievous and precocious - I can hear her from the second floor shouting at Pooch!

Which is good.

Hope Ian recovers soon. Miss his usual self.

Winter again in Hanoi

2009-03-03T16:26:00.000-08:00

Winter left us almost three weeks ago.

But it has come back again with a vengence. The temperature has fallen back to the teens. It is wet everyday and as you can imagine, mud everywhere.

According to a news report, it is because of a passing storm. Hopefully it will clear up soon.

If not, we got to break out all the winter wear again!

On the flipside, Pooch is happy as she can spend her time in the house since it is too cold outside.

Happy dog.

Felt like Eric Clapton Tonight

2009-02-24T07:26:00.000-08:00

Was out with Nicole, attending a function.

We don't really attend such functions together, mainly because the children normally need her more at home. Moreover, Nat was down with a flu bug.

But we went ahead, partly because we had given in a way a commitment to attend. Partly also because we had managed to bring the fever down.

To me, it was worth it for one simple reason.

Nicole looked gorgeous in her outfit. Flashback to 1997 when we first met. My breath was taken away. Wow.

Gosh. Now I really understand Clapton's Wonderful Tonight!

: )

Thanks, wifey. You were wonderful tonight.

We have a new member in the family!

2009-02-22T08:58:00.000-08:00

We have a new member in the family.

A Bassett Hound.

Nicole found it in a pet shop along Cho Buoi near our place.

The lady at the shop told her that it was 8 months old but given the size, Nicole suspected that it was much older, and she was right after she was inspected by the vet, who told us that she was at least 1.5 years old!

Well. Not surprising given that things are always not what they seem in Vietnam.

After a few days of careful thought, Nicole and Ian decided on the name "Pooch".

Pooch is amazing because she understands English commands like sit, down, paw and fetch, which seems to indicate that she was obviously a dog that was once raised by an expatriate family.

I am glad that Nicole found Pooch. The family is now busy with her, which is a good thing.

Will update over the next few days.

Hi

2009-02-01T16:33:00.000-08:00

Hi.

Been a while. Will start writing again soon.

Later!

Witnessing History

2007-09-30T08:09:00.000-07:00

I saw Uncle Ho yesterday.

It was a poignant moment for me.

My Honours thesis was on the prelude to the Vietnam War. I read books about him but I never thought I would be in this country and to have the opportunity see him.

The mood of the visitors in the Mausoleum was solemn. Understandably so. The awe and respect were clearly etched on the faces of the Vietnamese filing past his body.

I went over to the museum, which was rather tastefully done, on his life and achievements. Going through the photos and reading what the great man had said over the years, gave me a better understanding of Vietnam's history, much of which was covered in pain, sacrifices and sorrow. Of course, there will be many sides to the story but here, I have the chance to read this side of their story.

We who lived in countries that have enjoyed years of peace and prosperity should really appreciate what we have.

Ok. Later.

Being Obnoxious

2007-09-28T08:09:00.000-07:00

Played badminton today. Was looking forward to it. Had a good warm-up and then a new chap appeared.

I met many people in my life but this chap takes the cake for being really obnoxious.

He took it upon himself to "train" me during the game. He criticised my every more. He physically manhandled me to position me at the spots he thought I should be. He raised his voice like an adult to a young child.

In short, he was an ass and a real pain in the you know where.

I kept my cool. I told myself that he was not going to spoil my night. But I had enough of him being so full of himself. Indeed, when a friend at the game offered to get me a new racket since my current racket had problems with the strings, the pain could not help it but added a snide remark that it was not a problem with the strings. Enough was enough, I left earlier. He tried then to be friendly but he knew that he crossed the boundaries of being polite. It did not help when he called me "Ah Drain".

Haha. It was funny in a rather painful way. What to do, I asked myself.

Anyway.

Will have a guest in town from tomorrow. Going to be a long and tiring weekend.

The Cool Winds of Autumn are here

2007-09-26T07:16:00.000-07:00

It is getting colder over here in Hanoi.

Time has passed very fast. Almost six months in Hanoi now.

Like a pair of jeans, Hanoi has become comfortable in that I now know the various nooks and crannies. Where to get the best beef noodles (pho bo). Where to go to get the best coffee.

Yeah. Small pleasures eh?

But everything helps in this city called Hanoi. Entertainment facilities are far and few in between, at least for someone with my interests like books. So I normally stock up books each time I return to Singapore. Now my problem is that I have tonnes of books in my room but too many to read! But it is a good problem to have.

My language training is going well. Can speak it rather well now for a foreigner.

3 over months to go and by then, I hope I would be fluent in speaking.

Also been busy looking around. Finding out about houses and schools (for Ian). Hectic but glad that I am here earlier to make such checks and not hitting the ground next year totally lost.

Been trying to play badminton as often as possible. Feels good each time I play. Getting better in the game at last. At least the muscles are killing me as before!

Of course, I miss the family as ever. But was glad to be back in Singapore for the two birthdays.

: )

Ok for now. Do take care.

I am back

2007-09-25T05:04:00.000-07:00

Hi.
Sorry to all for the long delay.
It was a very hectic period for me over the past 1.5 months.

We had Ian's birthday in August. We travelled to Hong Kong to celebrate the birthday. Ian wanted to see Disneyland. We had not intended to bring Natania along but due our (previous) domestic helper's desire to "help" herself to our stuff, we ended up bringing Natania along to Hong Kong.

It went well. She was like a frequent flyer. It was kinda embarrassing given that she kept on trying to get the attention of two men sitting near us!

Yeah.

But it was a good trip even though I spent the entire time sick.

September was Natania's birthday.

The poor girl however, fell sick the day after with a bad case of a viral fever. Had to rush her to the A&E. 40.2 degrees Celsius. Gave us a scare. She has since recovered. Thank God for that.

As you can see, was busy!

Will update the blog soon.

Take care.

The Weekend is Here

2007-08-10T09:30:00.000-07:00

At long last, the most important weekend for English football fans around the world is here.

The EPL is about to begin.

So excited. Of course, I do hope that the cable over here carries the games I want to watch.

I may however, have to watch a lot of them in Vietnamese. But hey, it might improve my language skills!

Anyway, for those who are supporters of Manchester United, the Carlos Tevez saga is at long last completed. Thank goodness.

It lasted the entire summer. It was exhausting.

Tevez's arrival has opened up new dimensions for United. It should be interesting to see how Ferguson plays him given the perception that he is seen as player in the same mould as Rooney.

I doubt there would be a problem. It would be fun at least.

But I will begin the weekend with Newcastle versus Bolton. A local friend has arranged to meet to catch the game over at Hilton. Will root for Newcastle though.

Badminton is fun but I suck in it

2007-08-07T08:48:00.000-07:00

Had a good session again but today was bad for me.

My partner must be depressed by me today.

Guess it has been a long while since I last played badminton. Good reason to play more.

Anyway. Will try harder next time.

The recent storm is making the weather in Ha Noi a bit unpredictable. I was having tea yesterday. Right next to the cafe was a construction site. The workers were moving a huge slab of granite into position. When they put it down, a huge mushroom cloud of dust and sand particles was thrown up into the air.

And then to make things worse, a strong wind came by and blew the entire mass towards my direction.

It was horrendous. Like the movie "The Fog", it came at high speed.

I covered my tea but I suspect it was too late. It came at such a speed. Moreover, I had nowwhere to run or hide.

Lost my appetite for a while. Amazingly, the Vietnamese sitting around me were nonchalant.

They were clearly used to such events.

Preparing for an examination on Thursday.

Wish me luck. I need it. Lots of it.

Cheers.

Why One Should Never Gesticulate While Walking in Hanoi

2007-08-04T07:40:00.000-07:00

We all know that the traffic situation in Hanoi borders on insanity.

Motorcycles are everywhere. When I say everywhere, I mean literally everywhere. Pavements act as carparks or in the case of Hanoi, bikeparks. You will even find motorcycles in shops.

With some many motorcycles around, walking around the Old Quarter can be challenging. There are pavements but as explained earlier, they are already filled with bikes. Moreover, the penchant for street food means the remaining space is also taken up by vendors.

So where do one walk? On the roads!

While walking back from dinner today, I made the mistake of gesticulating while talking to a friend. And then it happened. A bike went by dangerously close and decided to "kiss" my wrist.

Well.

My wrist is sore now but thank God it is not broken. I hope.

At least the lady riding the bike was apologetic.

But it is an important lesson.

Never gesticulate while walking along the Old Quarter!

There were some positives today.

Found a nice and cosy coffee house right next to Ho Hoan Kiem. Nice view and a good place to read or revise my work.

Nice.

3 more days to Charity Shield!

2007-08-02T08:10:00.000-07:00

3 more days to the Charity Shield!

Yeah. Manchester United will meet Chelsea.

The Charity Shield by itself is not that important.

What is more important is that the English Premier League is about to start.

So exciting. A new season.

Looking forward to it.

Should be fun. The weekends in Ha Noi should be more interesting now. I guess more ordering in of food too.

Of Love and Family

2007-08-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

I had a good trip back home.

Ian is a big boy now. In less than 20 days time, he will be six years old. Time really flies. We watched video clips of Ian when he was a toddler. It was hilarious but my heart warmed and my eyes teared to see how far along we have come along with Ian.

Thank God for His blessings - big and small.

Nat has also grown. She is now ten months old and from what I can see, becoming a loud and demanding baby. But bringing lots of joy to all at home. Just before I returned to Ha Noi, she started to point at people when asked to locate where they were.

It is always good to be present when the children reached a milestone in their developments.

Coming back to Ha Noi was tough, of course. To leave the children and Nicole behind is never easier.

I always grit my teeth and harden my heavy heart whenever I board the plane to return to Ha Noi.

Although I am kept busy by the language classes, I still spent much of the time thinking of the family. Of how much I love and miss them, how much I long to be with them, to hold them tight and to tell them face to face, how much they mean to me.

They mean everything to me. They keep me going even when the going gets tough, through times of despair and pain.

So Nic, Ian and Nat - when you all look up to the sky tonight and any other nights, always remember that someone in Ha Noi is also looking at the sky and thinking of you all right here, right now.

System Back on Line

2007-07-29T23:19:00.000-07:00

Apologies. Was off-line for a while. Went home to be with the family.

It was good but exhausting.

Will update you all later.

Take care.

Success?

2007-07-18T09:04:00.000-07:00

I had dinner with a friend at a restaurant called "La". It is near to the Cathedral. Nice Western food although a bit pricey for Ha Noi's standards. My friend is an American. Given that both of us had learned the Vietnamese language, we decided that it would be good if we tried to banter with the staff at the restaurant in their language.

At the end of the dinner, my friend asked the staff who had been serving our table whether she could guess which country I was from.

After a while, she said to him (in my presence) that she believed that I was an overseas Vietnamese, who had returned to the country!

Amazing. She thought I was a Viet Kuy (overseas Vietnamese)! My language has clearly improved, which means I actually did concentrate during my class and was not sleeping (well, at least most of the time lah).

On our way back in the taxi, my friend thought it would be fun again to test out our Vietnamese. And again to our surprise, the driver turned around and asked whether I was a Viet Kuy!

Haha. Enough boasting!

Ok. Now I got to work on the appearance per se to pass completely as a Vietnamese.

On a more serious side, I still have a long way to go before I reach some level of fluency (if I can ever do that in the first place) in the language.

Well, I have around six more months to go. Guess I will have to work really hard.

Very hard.

Geez. Not going to be fun.

But no one ever said it was going to be.

On a very happy note, one more day to going home.

To see family and friends again.

To be able to hold the children as well as to hug me wife.

Priceless. Blessed.

And I thank God each day I think of all of you.

See you soon.

Counting Down with Anticipation

2007-07-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

Just got back from badminton.

Only 4 of us today, which meant we had a damned good workout.

1.5 hrs of non-stop badminton.

Really shiok at the end of it all. But may pay the price tomorrow morning. Hopefully I can get up for class in time! Nevertheless, it is worth the blood, sweat and pain. No longer young but enjoy sports all the time.

The guys I play with are good. So had to work very hard to compete with them, at least to return the shots. A lot more areas to improve like how to smash a shuttlecock, which still escapes me.

On another happy note, almost time to visit the family again.

Looking forward to seeing nic and the kids as well as mum and dad (from both sides). Counting down with anticipation.

Happy.

Victory at the Jaws of Defeat

2007-07-17T04:53:00.000-07:00

I had my first taste yesterday of the passion the Vietnamese have for their soccer.

It was the Asian Cup match between Vietnam and Japan. Japan was the favourite. Vietnam had to try for a win and hope that the results between Qatar and UAE would work in its favour. If Qatar loses or draw, Vietnam would go to the quarterfinals, an unprecedented event in its soccer history.

Was not too keen to go because still feeling the heat and humidity but hard to say "no" as my friend had gone out of the way to get a ticket for me. Reluctantly, I agreed.

Of course, I had to first survive the journey on motorcycle to the stadium, which is around 15 km outside of Ha Noi in the suburbs of My Dinh. A journey that took us close to 40 minutes.

Everyone was trying to get to the stadium. An amazing thing about motorcyclists in Ha Noi is the belief that if there is a gap between the cars or buses, he or she should be able to squeeze through. Just. My friend is one of those chaps who believe strongly in this!

Many a times I thought I was about to be squashed between his bike and a bus or a car.

Scary.

I also realised that it was a bad idea to talk while sitting in a bike on a dusty Ha Noi road.

You never know what you are going to get coming into your mouth, which is made worse in my case given the size of my mouth!

Well. Lesson learned and hopefully remembered by yours truly.

The stadium was as expected packed. Outside was a beehive of activity. Hawkers selling their fare as well as touts trying to sell their tickets at exhorbitant prices. There were many flags and hats with the Vietnamese flag on sale. Sales were brisk.

The game began. Before I could count to 100, Vietnam decided to have a fairy-tale beginning by scoring first. There was delirium in the stadium as an estimated 40,000 voices rose in unison. It was loud. Real loud.

Of course, the Japanese decided that it was time to ramp up the pressure.

Notwithstanding the Japanese clear superiority, the crowd was happy and constantly cheering their team on with cries of "Vietnam, do your best" interspersed with chants and songs. It was a fun atmosphere.

In the second half, it was clear that Vietnam was fighting a futile cause against Japan. The Japanese was simply too strong but the slightly deflated mood in the stadium changed as the game went on when news started to filter in over the Qatar and UAE game. Soon cries of "draw, draw" began, soon echoed by the masses in the stadium.

When the final whistle blew, it was 1-4 to Japan but the crowd was jumping up and down as they believed that Qatar drew with UAE. We walked out a bit earlier hoping to beat the crowd. As we left, there was an announcement.

UAE beat Qatar 2-1!

As you can imagine, it was pandemonium all around.

Our journey back to my place was like a nightmare as you can imagine. Thousands of bikes on the road with many delirious by the victory at the jaws of defeat. Some young chaps thought it was good to race on the roads. Not too smart in my opinion given the number of bikes on the roads. Not sure whether there were any accidents. Hope not though.

I breathed a sigh of relief upon reaching home.

It was an experience of a life-time. Not sure whether I would want to go back to another game on a bike!

Welcome to the world of Vietnamese soccer!

A Roller-Coaster Ride

2007-07-15T05:58:00.000-07:00

Had a busy Saturday. Met some of my colleagues over dim-sum at a Singapore-owned hotel. Not bad. It was one of those "Eat-all-you-want" type of menu. A welcome change to my normal fare.

I had a slower Sunday. It was hot in the morning and afternoon but with a heavy thunderstorm in the night. Managed to get back before the rain arrived. Whew. It would have been extremely wet for me if it had arrived while I was still walking back to the hotel.

Back in the room, I sat down and started thinking. I realised that I have been here almost three months. It had not been easy. The three months of language in Singapore was critical in ensuring that I settled down much faster and with less trauma. The teachers over here are nice and have helped in making life a bit easier on me. A couple of friends in Vietnam also helped as well as my colleagues.

Thank goodness for all these blessings.

But being here away from the family is tough. Damned tough.

Hate it.

Happy Anniversary!

2007-07-13T03:29:00.000-07:00

To my dearest wife in Singapore:

Happy 10th Anniversary!

From your hubby in Ha Noi amidst the sweltering heat and the ever present dust particles.

I need a break

2007-07-11T06:51:00.000-07:00

Yup. It is that time of the month again.

I am tired. Learning the language is exhausting. While I have improved my level, it is so difficult to be away from the ones I love. Nat is growing up very fast while Ian is a big boy now. I miss them so much. I miss watching them grow up. I miss everything about them. Sigh.

I miss my wife in particular. Two more days to ten years since we first met that fateful day in the Church of the Holy Spirit. It was a special day. It remains vivid in my mind and in my heart. I was standing at one corner. She was on the other corner. Nope, we were not preparing to wrestle or have a boxing match. We were the "outstanding" Catholics because we were standing outside during Mass! But God decided to intervene by ensuring that a mutual friend was in place to introduce us. It was love at first sight (and second sight and third sight and so forth). I went home in a daze (and still am today). Even my mum realised that when she saw me. Chia should also remember the aftermath the very next day when we met for coffee near our offices.

The rest, as they say, was history.

Thank you, babe, for everything. (By the way, I am calling Nicole "babe" here and not Chia in case anyone of you is confused).

I am counting down the days to my next trip back. To be with those I love.

When Modernisation Hits Tradition

2007-07-08T07:24:00.000-07:00

Had a busy and relatively interesting weekend.

Met my teacher on Saturday. As part of the learning process, we went to the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu). The Temple is around 1000 years old and was built by kings to be a centre for academic and cultural excellence. During the time of the royal dynasties, Vietnamese around the country would go to the Temple to take their examinations, which would determine whether they had a future as mandarins. It also served as a temple to Confucius and his followers like Mencius.

It is a huge place. It was also very crowded with many Vietnamese families bringing their school-going children to the Temple.

Why this was so? Well. The Temple grounds contain many stone steleas, which have names of the scholars, who passed their examinations, engraved on them. These steleas are held up by stone carvings of tortoises. Many Vietnamese believe that if you are going to sit for an examination, you should touch the tortoises for luck. I saw many Vietnamese doing that on Saturday. However, there were also student volunteers present, whose main duty was to ask people to stop touching the stone tortoises! Not surprisingly so given that the multitude of people touching the tortoises on a regular basis would result in the gradual and definite erosion of the carvings! Hope collides with conservation concerns!

That aside, as I walked through the grounds, I cannot but help imagine how it would be like a thousand years ago. For the many Vietnamese who had come to the Temple to take their exams. I wondered how they felt.

And then suddenly it hit me.

There I was thinking of the past and right in front of me was an ATM machine!

Hehe.

The ATM was present to facilitate the buying of merchandise sold by several shops around the grounds.

So we cannot never get away from modernisation. It follows everywhere we go.

Roadside Stories

2007-07-05T04:45:00.000-07:00

The streets of Hanoi are teeming with life. Hard to find a quiet corner.

You can see many Vietnamese sitting around the streets drinking coffee or tea chatting with each other. Sometimes chatting with total strangers. Fascinating street culture.

Indeed it is extremely common to have small makeshift tea "shops" at every street corner. Most of them are run by women. These "shops" would sell sticks of cigarettes. Sometimes you might get fruits and simple fingerfood.

As you can guess, such "shops" are also places to get the local gossip!

Progressing ok in learning the language although I wish I can learn a bit faster. But guess I have to pace myself given that I still have a long time to go. Attended a singing session today on Vietnamese folk songs. Kinda fun. Learned some love songs!

One of the love songs went like this - The lovers met and she gave him her conical hat. When she went home, her parents asked her where's her hat. She replied that while crossing a bridge, the wind blew it over the side. The lovers met again. This time she gave him a ring. Again, her parents asked her about the missing ring. She replied that it slipped off her finger and fell over the bridge!

One of my teachers added that it was up to the singer what else you want the lady to lose!

Ok. Enough for now. Later.

Totally Stretched!

2007-07-03T08:20:00.000-07:00

It was badminton day today.

Boy, it felt really good after 1.5 hours of uninterrupted badminton. Of course, the body will pay the price tomorrow for all the stretching! Indeed, I think I may have pulled my butt! Yeah, too much information for some of you - (Ah May, you can stop your sighing now please). Ok, I will not elaborate but hey, the people of Ha Noi (at least those who stay near my place) should be afraid as they are going to witness a foreigner walking around in a strange way tomorrow.

Haha. That aside, it was again a very wet day today. The calf and toe muscles had their own fair share of exercises too. The good thing was that nothing fell on my head today! Still looking for a metal helmet though.

Prior to the badminton game, went over to a friend's place for dinner prepared by his wife. It tasted really good. Home cooking is always better in my opinion that to constantly go out in search of meals.

Makes me think of my mum-in-law's cooking. Ok, the stomach is actually growling now as I write!

I am also thinking of Nicole's fish and chips!

Obviously, you are all dealing with a hungry man in Ha Noi!

Well. It is almost time to go and sleep now.

Do take care. Catch you all soon.

Today's blog is dedicated to Ian and Nat. Papa misses both of you.

When Things Start Falling - Wear a helmet

2007-07-01T03:48:00.000-07:00

Ha Noi is filled with falling things today.

First there is this pouring rain that makes walking on the streets an experience of a lifetime. I now understand what my teachers meant when they said that they did not like heavy downpours as the streets would become rather dirty.

Yup. They are right on that point! One thing for certain. I am definitely training up my calf and toe muscles trying to tip-toe around things on the ground that I or my feet have absolutely no real interest in finding out what they really are.

The other falling things I encountered today are fruits from trees.

What are the chances of someone being hit on the head by falling fruits?

I guess not too improbable if there are many trees with fruits along the streets.

But what are the chances of being hit on the head twice?

Hmm. Any mathematicians out there who can enlighten us?

Well. I have the luck of the draw to be that statistic today!

The first hit me on the chin on its way down. Yeah. Some of you would say that this is the price to pay for a prominent chin!

The second hit me on the right side of the head.

Both were harmless. No real pain suffered (yeah, the thick skull helped).

But the second fruit was pink and rather ripe. So suddenly yours truly have pink-coloured hair in the middle of Ha Noi.

Hahah. Free dyeing!

It could also explain why people on the streets were giving me strange looks.

What a day.

Lesson - When raining in Ha Noi, either stay indoors or bring a hat (preferably a metal helmet would be the best) along!

By the way, Ah Wong, I saw your comment. Aiyah. I met the guys when I was back at the usual haunt. I was told by Chia then that you were not free that night.

Life goes on

2007-06-29T02:34:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the long silence.

I have been catching up with studies. The break in Singapore was good but it also meant that the language gets left behind on these shores. So got to work hard. The erratic weather in Ha Noi had not been of much help either. Wet and hot almost everyday with some days of extreme heat and humidity. Taking a breath on those days can be torturous.

Went to the Museum of Revolution yesterday (Bao Tang Cach Mang). Fascinating place. After spending almost two hours at the museum, I realised how much of the country's history was filled with resistance to foreigners and their influence. One can almost sense the pride from the myriad of paintings, photographs and artifacts on display. Useful for anyone interested in the country to make a visit to deeper understand this country.

Managed to play badminton on Wednesday. Felt really good but paying the price now with the body aching everywhere that is possible to ache. Also made contact with a group that plays football on Sundays. Hmm. Tempted but will take it slow. The badminton will be a regular affair on Wednesdays from now on. Good to have some exercise under the belt.

Been reading a lot of books. Not surprising given the amount of time I have on my hands in the nights.

So I decided that I will try to write a short story to fulfil a childhood dream.

Smart move? Too premature to know but what the heck, I will not know until I try. Will keep you all posted. May even paste it on the blog!

Take care.

Back to Ha Noi

2007-06-24T08:24:00.000-07:00

Hi.

Back in Ha Noi after a week's break.

The break was good in every sense of the word. To see my family and close friends after a long hiatus felt wonderful. To eat local food was also great, especially my mum-in-law's cooking! Gosh, how much I miss eating the green vegetables cooked in the way I like them!

Well, it is going to be quite a while before I head back home but I am already counting down the days till I do so.

As for now till my return, it is back to studies and exploration of the city known as Ha Noi.

Perhaps I should also start examining the sights and sounds near the city.

Perhaps. Will have to do some research first before deciding where to go.

Take care and will keep you all posted.

I am home, at least for a while

2007-06-18T07:53:00.000-07:00

Back in Singapore. A nice change in environment.

To see Mei Mei again was fantastic. Words cannot describe how I felt when she smiled at me with her five small and budding teeth.

Happiness is too mild a word but hard to find the word to suit the occasion.

And when it was clear that the weeks away did not diminish her memory of me, the happiness (or whatever word that will do justice to the situation) doubled immediately.

It is good to be home. To be with the family.

Catch up with you all soon. Perhaps over local coffee?

Time Flies Too Fast

2007-06-16T18:52:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the long silence.

The last few days went by in a whirlwind.

We went around parts of Ha Noi. Nic loves the food. Nic and Ian also met some of my friends in Ha Noi.

It was a good introduction to Ha Noi for both of them.

I am exhausted but happy.

Reunion

2007-06-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

It is a great day.

Nicole and Ian finally arrived in Ha Noi.

Words failed me at the airport. I am so happy to see both of them, although we miss Natania immediately.

On the way to the hotel, Ian asked, "Papa, why are there so many honks?"

Again, words failed me.

Looking forward to bringing them around Ha Noi tomorrow.

Will keep all of you posted.

Friends

2007-06-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

Had some friends in town. It was good to see them. After more than 2 months in Ha Noi by myself, always good to see some familar faces. Went to Quan An Ngon (literally "shop of delicious food") for dinner. Good introduction for them to authentic Vietnamese food. They liked it. Whew.

The last I spoke to them, Nic and Ian were almost ready for their trip. Ian was hilarious this morning. Called and spoke to me about whether he could bring some of his toys over to Ha Noi. It is like his security blanket. Have toys would travel, I guess, for Ian. He was very excited. Am looking forward to seeing Nic and Ian tomorrow. He is apparently keen to swim too.

After dinner, went for a walk and found a Sandman figurine (from Spiderman)! Cool. Ian will like it, I am certain. I like it.

Ha Noi has been raining for the past few evenings. Hope the next few days will see nice and not too warm weather. That would be prefect for walking around the Old Quarter.

Later.

Two More Days

2007-06-12T05:37:00.000-07:00

I am filled with quiet anticipation but it is killing me in slow motion.

Anyway, to explain the anticipation. You see, two more days and I will meet my family again (sans the little one who will remain back home with her grandparents). They will be in town for the weekend. More to get to know Ha Noi. First time in Ha Noi for Nicole and Ian or as what the Vietnamese would say "lan dau tien". Time to eat some pho bo!

Sigh. It has been a long while. Too long in fact. It is never good to be away from one's loved ones.

As you can imagine, I cannot wait to be see them. On a lighter note, I asked Ian a few days ago. He told me that he was looking forward to seeing me in Ha Noi and in the same breath, he added that he was also looking forward to seeing the Playstation Portable (PSP)! Haha. He really likes the game machine. ZZ, Ian is getting really good with gaming. He has gone past the Escondido Village days.

Heading out soon. Some friends in town. Catch you all later.

Coffee is Good

2007-06-11T03:51:00.000-07:00

It rained heavily today. Had to drag myself out of bed. But the rain cooled the heat that had been permeating Ha Noi over the past few days. Temporary relief it may be but relief nevertheless.

The best way to start the day, especially a wet one, is with a cup of black coffee, Vietnamese style.

I have grown to enjoy the taste of the local coffee, in particular when they serve you with the drip filter (ca phe den phim). It is an acquired taste though given that it is strong and mildly bitter sweet. And the locals like it really strong. Once it hits the stomach, it is all systems-go. Rocket fuel!

Fun. Chia and company, Ah May included, I am certain you will like the taste and texture of the local coffee. Another reason to visit me? No, Ah May, I have yet to try the coconut water!

I read recently that a man who had been taking a particular type of medication for a long time was discovered to have dark greenish blood like Dr Spock in Star Trek. Once he stopped the medication, the colour of his blood turned back to normal.

Hmm.

Wonder whether I will face the same challenge. Better not!

Ok. I will drink tea for a day. Just one day. To give the blood a day of rest!

The Wonders of Technology

2007-06-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

I was reading a book in quiet solitude when the phone rang. It was Ian.

"Papa, I need some bedtime stories so that I can go to bed".

In desperation, I searched through the rooms. "Yes", I shouted with glee when I discovered that I did have some children's books with me.

Ian was delighted. I then read two stories to him.

Thank goodness for modern technology!

Ian laughed aloud as I added some drama and actions in my story-telling. I was quite loud. My neighbours must be wondering whether I was mad. Ian rolled in his seat with laughter. When the stories ended, Ian told me that I was a good story-teller. He said his goodnights and went off to bed.

To say that I was pleased would be an understatement. I was in fact humbled. To be able to hear and see him laugh was priceless. To be able to read him his bedtime stories was a gift. I thanked God for this gift, which made my day completed.

Alone

2007-06-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

It was another busy day. I had to wake up early to go for lessons in the morning. Not much success today though. The mind was preoccupied.

A friend came by later for lunch. It was his birthday and his family was out of Ha Noi. He wanted company and thought of me, a kindred soul.

Two lonely gentlemen eating pho and drinking coffee.

A Vietnamese and his foreign friend united in their thoughts for their families. Loneliness knows no boundaries or barriers. It cuts too deep.

Went to a friend's place to play table-tennis. First time for a while since I last played a game.

It felt good. But yet, the thoughts remained.

Of my family back home.

I miss their smiles. I miss their hugs. I miss waking up to find them looking at me or sleeping close by.

I miss them. In the day and in the night. In my waking hours. In my dreams.

Wish they are with me.

Its Friday

2007-06-08T05:27:00.000-07:00

Yeah! It is Friday! What a week! I thought it would never end. The long hours of language practice were simply exhausting and made more challenging by the sudden arrival of summer. Sudden is the word. I think summer literally fell on me. Man, it is really hot. So hot that it gets a bit hard to breathe at times. Perhaps that could be linked to wearing a tight t-shirt? Nah. The level of humidity is the cause of the stifling heat. Today's temperature hit 37-38 degrees centigrade. I never drank so much tea in a day before. I am told that it may hit higher in the coming weeks.

But the heat is made more bearable by the advent of lychees on the streets. Farmers, mostly women, beat the streets in the hope of selling their produce to passers-by. The lychees I tasted were fresh and sweet. I am told that the lychee season only lasts a month and they would be at their best next week. Cool. I am looking forward to them.

Before I arrived in Ha Noi, I was told that Vietnam is a fruit heaven. I am beginning to see why. For example, the premises of the History Museum have longan trees. The fruits are beginning to form. A few more months, I am told, before they are ready for picking. On the streets, you will see watermelons, pineapples, oranges, lychees, peaches and many of types. It is simply amazing.

Will be heading out for a cup of coffee soon. A Vietnamese friend of mine is coming by and we are going to hang out for a while at one of the old coffee houses. Night life along the streets of Ha Noi is fascinating. After's a day work, you will find many Vietnamese sitting in such cafes, having coffee or tea. Others will head to have beers or "bia".

Time for a motorcycle experience again!

Reflections

2007-06-07T03:46:00.000-07:00

It was a fruitful day today. No pun intended given the recent role played by some watermelons in my life. I had the usual lessons in school, although I had to really struggle to get out of bed this morning. My teacher was, as ever, very patient with me. She kept a straight face whenever I mispronounced certain words but I could see the twinkling in her eyes betraying silent laughter. Hehe. Glad I am bringing some joy to others each day I learn the language. On the plus side, I think I am making some progress. At least I think so. I hope so. I better.

What was different and fun today was my first visit to the history museum (Bao Tang Lich Su -lit: Museum of History). Many of us think we "know" Vietnam but this is usually based on what we see from Hollywood movies or from the books we read. But there is much more to know. Walking through the museum gave me a sense of Vietnam's rich and dynamic past. I will have to return to take my time to go through the exhibits. By the way, Ha Noi is big into museums. So if you are big into museums, Ha Noi is right up your alley.

So it was with great satisfaction that I walked to Ho Hoan Kiem (Lake of the Restored Sword) to grab a cup of Vietnamese black coffee (ca phe den) at a little cafe by the lake. That's where I got the shot of the sunlight through the trees. Nothing beats sipping coffee while watching people walking by. I also saw Vietnamese couples, young and old, sitting by the lake. Some of them were simply taking a breather before moving with their journey as well as their lives. Others were holding hands, obviously in love.

A great reflection of the daily lives of the Vietnamese people amidst the cacophony of noise and dust emanating from the chaotic roads.

Satisfied, I got up from my seat and took a slow walk back to my hotel. I did stop and had a bowl of Vietnamese beef noodles (Pho Bo). It tasted good.

It was a beautiful day and I am happy to be present to enjoy it.

I hope you had a good day too.

Till tomorrow.

First days

2007-06-06T08:19:00.001-07:00

Ha Noi. It was really hot today. Getting up in the morning was tough. Walking to the school was worse. Perhaps it was not helped by the stomach bug! Suspect it was the watermelons left open in the restaurant. I should have known but took the risk. Ironic. Well. Life ain't fun if one does not take risks, right? Wrong if you are having stomach cramps every few minutes! But I must say that the melons were really sweet!

Been in Ha Noi for almost 2 months now. What a ride! Fascinating city with lots of character and historical anecdotes. Spent a lot of initial weeks walking around the city. The people are generally warm and friendly. At least those I met since my arrival are. Understanding and speaking the language help tremendously, of course. On the other hand, the noise and pollution are big minuses.

Perhaps things would improve in the near future.

But it would be a tough struggle. For example, it would be a huge challenge simply to manage the number of motorcycles on the streets.

I am not sure whether one should cry or laugh when you discover that crossing the roads in Ha Noi is an act of faith. My Vietnamese friends tell me to trust that the motorcyclists would avoid us when we cross the road. That is what I call blind faith but it helps to be brave. Really brave. Really really brave!

I am quite adept now but still there were several "near-death" experiences.

Taking a motorcycle ride is another Vietnamese speciality!

No helmets and moving at high speeds. Not much respect for traffic regulations. Leave it to you to visualise. On the plus side, taking the motorcycle taxis (or Xe Om in Vietnamese) is cheap and fast. But you should be prepared for the exhausts coming from the other vehicles on the streets as well as the expected close shaves.

Well. Another day. Let's see what tomorrow brings.