Nicole's finally here

After so many months, the family is whole again. Nicole finally joined us tonight. We missed her lots!

At Tan Son Nhat arrival hall















The last time we took a pix together was CNY08
















Buying VN mooncakes - it's the Mid-Autumn Festival

Culture Shock

Let me, today, count the culture shocks I've been subjected to in Saigon

MOTHER NATURE'S CALL
Vietnamese men are oblivious to anything when it comes to Mother Nature's call. They shed all inhibitions (I think there isn't any in the first place) when MN comes a calling, park their bikes, cars etc and let it go in the full face of the public.


















TRAFFIC
"Organized chaos" is my favourite description. How then do you describe a situation where traffic comes at you in all directions and disperses without incident (well, most of the time)? I was horrified and terrified at my first encounter...have gotten used to it by now and even gathered my courage (actually it was Hobson's choice) and now I run around on my own scooter. I still perspire (cold sweat and hot ones too) when I'm out on the roads.
















FOOD & DRINK
I've got used to most food in Saigon. I laugh at strange menus like porcupines and some animal's penis - no, have not tried that. Not dog meat either although it's sold here. I've drank weasel droppings' coffee (weasels are fed with coffee beans and coffee made out of their droppings). I've eaten their noodles with coagulated blood (use to do that when I was young). Except for the "egg"... that is one thing I cringe at (they serve the same in the Philippines - a duck hatchling almost fully formed, still encrusted in the shell, steamed and scooped with a teaspoon...feathers and bones and all. Urgh!!!

MANNERS

Let not the pot call the kettle black. Singaporeans' manners are far from cultured. But there are still a lot of getting used to when living here.

Vietnamese have little respect for social distance. They can walk right through you without the slightest thought. They can lean/press on you when they sit; they push and shove without batting an eye. I used to say "sorry" (like a true-blue Singaporean) when I bump into them or they into me, until I realized I was the only idiot doing that.

Next, Vietnamese love their toes. For some strange reason, it's a national pastime that when they sit, they must lift up their legs and play/scratch/rub/dig and do whatever with their toes.

Legs up. Yes, literally. Happens most frequently when seated in a public bus. They like to put their legs up on the next seat - so if you happen to see a toe or a few toes next to your face, or resting on your arm, do not be alarmed.

Picking nose. Another fav of Vietnamese here. Almost as common as "legs up".

I observe a total contrast in their speaking habits, esp with the ladies, which I have no explanation for. On occasions, they can be sharp and loud one moment, then soft and demure the next. I've commented to some that they sound as if they are quarreling but it is not so.

Littering is prevalent here. Maybe because an army of sweepers descend on the streets at night, many Vietnamese think that this gives them the right to throw their rubbish just about anywhere. There are more bins nowadays, and Vietnamese do pack their rubbish in plastic bags generally, but the attitude remains that whatever you throw on the streets will be cleaned away the next day.

Thu Duc Visit

Huu (Peter) and Timothy brought us to Thu Duc to have a look at the place today. Visited a factory site and had an interesting and delicious "bbq baby cow" lunch.

Factory @ Phuong Linh Xuan - Thu Duc District














Another view of the factory














It's hot outside the factory














BBQed "Baby Cow"














It's tender and really good!














Great company at lunch













Huu bought some "nem", a local delicacy.
Learn more about "nem" here.

Branded Balls!!

No, no, no ... it's not what you think, you pervert! These are creative ideas and make very nice gifts for those who appreciate either brands or balls ... basketballs!!! Cost : 150,000VND (S$13). Wanna buy one?

Shopped till I dropped!

My mother - the great shopper. She has a problem with walking but outshopped and outwalked all of us!! Here's the shopping list of my parents:

Sea cucumber 900,000VND/kg x 3kg
Roasted lotus seeds 230,000VND/kg
A pair of custom-made reading glasses 280,000VND
Coach © bag 300,000VND (here, © is for "copy" without the "right")
Coach © traveller's bag/wheels 450,000VND
Gucci © bag 250,000VND
Burberry © watch 180,000VND
Rolex © watch 630,000VND
Longines © watch 160,000VND
Adidas © Polo-Ts dri-fit @70,000VND
Puma © shoes 250,000VND

Shopkeeper & Mum at Cho An Dong






























I had my teeth 'cleaned' for 100k. Dad did 4 fillings for 300k.



















This is 700k/kg






























The biggest joke was when she bought 200g of bird's nest from Cho An Dong, thinking it's 500,000VND/100g - so cheep, cheep, cheep (ie S$43.50/100g)!!! Turned out to be 5,000,000VND/100g (S$435/100g) - shopkeeper thought Mum made her day!! Unfortunately for her (and fortunately for us), we don't even have that much money on us, let alone buy it.

First Day @ ABC

Here they are, all excited and ready in their new school U. Bryan is wearing the std U but Adel's U is custom-made.

All ready to ride



















Concerned mum on 1st day of school

Dinner @ Ben Thanh

Had dinner at Ben Thanh with Mum & Dad who came to visit. Look at poor froggy! In case you're wondering, it's 50,000VND (S$4.35) per frog.

Froggy before...

Froggy after...

After dinner, we went to make some spectacles - Mum paid about 650,000VND (S$57) for her bi-focals and Dad made a pair of sunglasses with degree for 400,000VND (S$35)!!


Tien My Specs shop at 102 Le Thanh Ton Dist 1

That's Quang, the optician

Animals are v clever in VN. They can read!

Mr Phi

I've bought VN phone cards and top-ups (they call it recharge here) from many shops and vendors. I have yet to find one so helpful and friendly as Mr Phi. If you need to buy or 'recharge' your phone card, you can find Mr Phi at 84B Bui Vien Dist 1 (in Pham Ngu Lau) in the evenings. Mr and Mrs Phi are such a nice couple; I'm gonna make my way to Bui Vien just to 'recharge' my mobile from now on. Oh yes, Mr Phi also owns a handphone shop near the pix below, which also happens to be his home. So you can buy both new or 2nd-hand mobiles from him too.

Adel's finally here

Adel is finally here - the past few months have passed so quickly. Went to receive Joyce, Adel and Bryan at the airport. Got ripped off by the xe-om driver - after so long in VN, still can get ripped off - never learn my lesson. Always confirm price before setting off.

Vung Tau Recce

Headed for Binh Chau Hotspring - took about 3 hours. Then drop by Ho Coc Beach which will soon be developed into a 4* or 5* resort. Reached Vung Tau and climbed up Small Mountain to the Jesus statue. Tried to find a way to trek to the lighthouse on the other peak of Small Mountain. We believed we found a way, little knowing that it's a restricted military zone...lol. Then the sky gave way and we were totally drenched. Great trek!

Deepak & his pot















One of the huts for mud bath at Binh Chau















Ho Coc Beach















Big Jesus Statue on top of Small Mountain



















Panoramic view of Vung Tau from Jesus' shoulder














Looking for a way from here to lighthouse















Army Property - better brush up my Vietnamese before I get shot














Cave on the hillside

Mekong Home-stay Recce (Cai Be)

Went with Deepak to check out Cai My Church and also Mr Phu's homestay. Fr Vinh showed us where the library would be located (CHR is sponsoring a small library). Mr Phu, as usual, was his jolly old self. Gave us a fantastic lunch which he said was the normal lunch served for his tourists. Here lies the diff between cheap, budget tours (like Sinh Cafe - rice, soup, vege and a piece of pork) and normal tours (fish, rice paper, spring rolls, fresh-water prawns, pork, soup and fruits) Compliments to the chef. The rooms and "beds" for homestay were basic but acceptable.

Deepak & me














Jolly Mr Phu and me














The library room














Home-stay















Bed-room & beds