:: reader k ::

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

old photo

found my wedding photos.

there were no digital cameras then.

reader k | 12/23/2008 12:29:00 AM | 6 comments

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Vietnam - Beginning

It's a short trip of 6 days so we stayed in HCMC totally.

Met up with Vic and his parents and later also his extended families of aunties, uncles and cousins.... became a family trip, haha.

We settled in happily in the hotel - GRAND HOTEL. A 4-star hotel that spells comfort, well, at least for me, not a very picky hotel person, as long as the bathroom is good :)

nice big bed and very spacious room

we're on the 2nd storey, looking at the swimming pool just below.

reader k | 12/16/2008 04:28:00 PM | 0 comments

Vietnam - The Road Ahead

The Road Ahead
Crossing the road in HCMC is pretty exciting. I guess driving or riding a bike there is more so. The trick to cross the forever busy road is to just walk on confidently. Somehow the motorists will sway by you, behind you, in front of you and since the speed they are going is almost 30km/h, it's pretty safe to cross. At times, I feel it's easier to cross the road in Vietnam than in Spore. However, the constant friendly horning is still something I need time to get used to.

Most of the days we were driven around by Vic's dad. You can ride a motorbike at age 17 here. There are no strict rules on the roads or even if there is any, no one really follows here. Many times we see motorbikes close by the car and we are always surrounded by hundreds of them. Lately they have the law that every motorists need to wear the helmet, so you don't get to see the long flowing hair of the ladies on their bikes anymore. But you can still see the family of 4 riding the bikes in ease. It's amazing how they managed to fit in more than 2 people comfortably on the bikes.

There was one night when Vic and his cousin, Vu, came on their bikes to pur hotel to pick us up. But his dad was worried that we may not be used to taking the bike so he came by in his car too. In the end we took the car as it was raining and have Vic and Vu on their bikes following. And that was the night I forgot to bring my camera! So I didn't take any pictures of Vic on his bike. haha. Good thing his dad came in his car. As we were reaching the area where his house is, the roads were flooded to knee high. I've not seen flooding like this. The car went through fine. So Vic and Vu were asked to park their bikes at the front of this shop (one of the many shops owned by their family) and get into the car. In order not to damage his expensive shoe, our vain Vic walked in plastic bags covering his feet to the car. Safely on board, we proceed to his house for dinner.

The front of his house was flooded.

bikes and bikes

crossing the roads, braving the sight of bikes coming towards you.

it requires skill in packing and controling this.

reader k | 12/16/2008 04:20:00 PM | 0 comments

Vietnam - Family

Family

Generally, people are very friendly and nice in Vietnam. They are also very patient, obvious contrast from my previous trip in HK. Well, with traffic like this everyday, I think it's probably a good way to train one's patience. Not many people speak English and many times I met with the local speaking to me in Vietnamese. I feel bad as sometimes I didn't even know that they were talking to me and so I didn't answer. Even when I do answer, I can only smiled and said in English that I don't speak Vietnamese. They will usually smiled back and apologise. Sometimes if they do speak English, they will tell me that I looked like Vietnamese. Yes, when I go to Bangkok, people speak to me in Thai, in Taiwan, in Chinese, in HK, in Cantonese, in India, in Japanese... blah.

Vic's parents do not speak a word of English, but they are very nice and through Vic's broken english translation, they introduced us to many delicious food and culture practice of Vietnam. We met 2 of his Aunties and some cousins too. They tried to speak English to us and they are also at a practising stage. I appreciate their kindness and considerations.

Somehow, food is the common language between cultures.

Because of the meeting with the families, we had a chance to see how Vietnamese really live in HCMC. We went to Vic's Auntie, Xuyen's house for dinner and she cooked us a dish from her home town. The warmth from the family is felt as we listened to them talk and laugh over a nice steamboat of chicken soup.

The houses in HCMC is in a way, built-what-you-want because you have the money. They are usually narrow and deep-in like the houses in Holland. You can build it as tall as you want to. Usually, they are of 4 to 6 storey high. Each level serves a different purpose. Level 1 is the kitchen, motorbikes and storage places. Level 2 is the living room, dinning room. Level 3 and up will be bedrooms. And depending on how many bedrooms you need, your levels go up.

Xuyen's house is in an old neighbourhood and as we alighted from the car at the main road, we have to walk into this small, winding lane, to get to her house. The narrow lane is only wide enough for a motorbike. On the way in, we can see other people's houses. Some are very very old. The neighbours are mostly at their front doors, enjoying the light breeze of the evening. The roads are uneven, and occasionally you will step into a puddle or two. The street lights are dim and it's mostly lit by the lights from the houses around. A very strange mix of neighbours they have there.

Vic's house is on the main road, so it's a different experience.

We met with Vic's 4 cousins, from his 2 Aunties. The 2 elder ones (17 and 15 yrs old) are able to communicate in English pretty well. The younger ones (8 yrs old) are 2 shy boys who hardly say a word to us. Vu and Linh are friendly teenagers who are lucky to have such a good family. To be able to go to school and maybe a chance to go abroad is not what every Vietnamese child gets. Vu is really into English literature and he learns to read English books on his own using dictionary. We are impressed.

vic's parents brought us to nice Vietnamese dinner on the first night. As usual, his mom stuffed us with food.

Vic's youngest Auntie. She is the same age as me and she has 2 children, Linh (15 yrs old) and Hui (8 yrs old). A very friendly young mother who is determined to learn her english so that she can speak to me. This is at her shop. The family owns a good number of such shops called Viet Tian. They sell Polo Ralph Shirts direct from the factory.

At Xuyen's house with her son, Vu and Vic's other cousin, Linh

And of cos, the funny Vic and his dad and mom. They spent time with us almost everyday during this trip. Without them, we would not have seen or experienced authentic Vietnamese life style and eat to our heart's content :)

reader k | 12/16/2008 04:15:00 PM | 0 comments

Vietnam - Food

Food
Basically, we ate lots. Just see the photos.

we went to Vic's mom's plaze (a 5-storey high shopping area called Zen Plaza) and ate at the food court on our own, so that his mom won't fight to pay for us. I had some vermicelli in soup with pork (Bun Moc) and A had some dried stuffs (Banh Tam Bi)... all came to just about S$5. It's cheaper if you eat at shops along the streets or roadside.

some strawberry blended and mango blended drink. lots of fresh fruits drink here.

See how attractive the displays for the mixed drinks are. They are like our chendol, ice-kachang stall. We had some logan drink, cocktail here, at Ben Thahn Market

At a restaurant that sells goat stemaboat. It starts with BBQ marinated goat meat, then a nice claypot of soup boiled with goat meat. of cos, with lots of interesting vegetables and rice paper to wrap with. also sauces that made the food taste so much better.

and you also BBQ kangkong and ladies fingers. they are really delicious!

The setting is very fun. low tables and low chairs. this is on the 2nd floor, you can sit by the balcony.

This is at the roof top of Prudential Building where you can enjoy the night view of HCMC on the 32nd floor, with a glass of wine, or, erm, ice-cream! Vic ordered a giantic ice-cream with don't-know how many scoops and I only ordered a mint tea cooler but not sure why there is a big scoop of ice-cream on top with lots of whip cream. A ordered coconut drink with ice cream but the coconut water was dish out into another glass and the husk is filled with ice-cream. One of the flavours was pandan and it tasted fantastic! This is also a place Vic used to bring girls to, to impress them... haha.

our once-in-a-while tourist food. we went in search of non-vietnamese food and chance upon this cafe (CAFE 39) and was attracted to it cos of the roof top view. I love eating on roof top. It's also very smoky inside so we decided to sit outside. The menu has the typical SEA tourist food - such as Singapore Fried Noodles that do not exist in Singapore. I ordered this Malaysian style fried rice. Very nice. I love fried rice, and when I don't know what I should eat, I'd ordered fried rice.

and A will order the most expected western food - beef steak chunk with fries. haha

We went to Rex Hotel (one of the old looking 4 or 5 star hotels) and ate at their rooftop garden restaurant. This is expensive as each dish is about S$18. This pomelo and pork and shrimp salad is great and refreshing. It's more of a Thai food taste but it's really worth. I really love this.

A ordered some roast pork with rice.

You cannot come to Vietnam without trying the beef noodle, or better known as Phở. Vic's parents brought us to the famous Pho place the family usually go to. We were there for breakfast. Yes, it's sat morning and the place was packed. The small bowl beside is boiled egg. I didn't eat my share as I was filled with the noodles. Take it with lots of vegetables and mint leaves, helps to digest.

It tastes really good with the fried doughnut, just like with the chinese porridge.

Drinking herbal tea by the road side on a hot hot day.

At the supermarket with Vic's mom. We said we like home-cooked food so she invited us to her place and she cooked :)

Vic bought his favourite - worms - yucks! It looks very horrible and scary.

Appetizer such as veal and onion slices, lots of vegetables to be wrapped with (dried banana, star fruit included)

Pickled pig's ears with lots of vegetables and peanuts

Here's the worms after frying! It actually doesn't taste bad at all. It tastes like some nuts, softer, like steam nuts fried with soy sauce. Goes well with beer. Vic's mom fried another jar-full for us to bring back. To be kept in the fridge (for about 1 week), and to reheat in the microwave whenever you want to eat it. It's very high in protein. Took me some time to finally try it. Just forget about how it looks, it actually is quite tasty. :)

Fried flowers with beef

The morning when we were leaving, Vic's parents brought us to breakfast/lunch. we had some rice cakes before eating this bowl of noodles and sampling the pancake below. This is a little eatery that sells food from another city in Vietnam - Huế - the taste is different.

Anything can be wrapped in rice paper, pancake too!

And of course, the Vietnamese coffee. Vic brought us to a few different coffee places. You can find more of the middle class locals in the rather hip-looking coffee places, just being there to be seen and to watch people. The only thing that is not so pleasant is that smoking is allowed in the air-con area, making the couch sticks and the air indoor terrible. The music is also very loud, almost like going to a pub or disco. So mostly we sit outside. They don't serve ice-water in the coffee places. Instead, the cool lotus tea (the short class in the foreground of this pic) is refreshing and delightfully thirst quenching.

I love this - Ice blended Taro (Yam) Ice-cream. Cannot find this in spore!

reader k | 12/16/2008 04:10:00 PM | 0 comments

Vietnam - Misc

Miscelleneous

Other things that is there, we did, we saw and etc.

Lots of shops such as this sells coffee powder, freshly ground. Vic's mom bought us a packet of the famous Weasel Coffee (which is made from coffee berries which have been regurgitated by local weasels. In actuality the "weasel" is just the local version of the Asian Palm Civet)

And the interesting little vietnam coffee dripper

Buying cloth at Ben Thanh Market. Vic's mom wanted me to choose 2 materials to have the Ao Dai (Vietnamese Long Dress) made. Here, the girls who sell the cloth will stand on a high chair and display the cloth in the way the finished dress will look like for your considerations. You can look through as many fabrics as you want and if you don't like it, you may just walk away.

Vic's mom brought us to this seamstress whom she knows of good workmanship. She took my measurement and apparently, the 2 ao dai can be done in 2 days, just paying a bit more.

In 2 days' time, my 2 Ao Dai are done! It's really light and nice :)

This is how most of the houses look like in HCMC. You can have your own designs, no rules on anyone.

Wedding Cakes for sale

Whether it's a small shop or in the bigger shopping complex, trying on shoes make you feel like Cinderella. Even at the market, low stools are everywhere near the shoe stall. You just need to sit down, point at the shoes you'd like to try and they serve you like what good service should be.

Spotted this at the supermarket - Preserved Prawns in Papaya - in a jar. Looks interesting.

This is Vic's house, the white and peach building. You can put advertisement outside residential areas.

Driving among the motorbikes on a friday night

See the little boy at the front of the bike. A whole family can fit onto a bike.

Hotel Continental, another hotel choice of ours. The lady with the baskets on her shoulders, you see many of them carrying such load on their shoulders and walked around the town under the hot sun. She is selling fruits.

We saw the donut and banana on the street. Think they are promoting some shops. Pretty funny.

School students outside the school for PE lesson. According to Vic, most schools in HCMC has no field or basketball courts like Spore schools. Their PE lesson is merely swinging of arms, stretching.

The cooked food section in Ben Thanh Market.

Walking along the street shops. Look at those wirings! Usually, the more popular shops will have many motorbikes parked just outside. That is how poeple shop. They ride their bikes and stopped at the front of the shop (it's small enough to fit in many bikes), do their shopping and ride the bike to another. Even cinemas too. Sometimes by the time we came out of a shop, it's packed with motorbikes and you can't get out.

Ladies eating noodles and having manicure done, while watching the traffic. What a life!

reader k | 12/16/2008 04:00:00 PM | 1 comments