Vietnam in my heart: 28 June 2008
My first day in Vietnam
I have much to be thankful for...but I would like to render special thanks to both Elvis (Ahn Quan) and Giang; my Viet uni mates for faithfully introducing me to the Vietnamese way of life. Thank you, bros! Till we meet, again.
Itinery:
0830 hrs: Arrival at Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
1000 hrs: City Tour
1300 hrs: Lunch
1400 hrs: Attended Elvis's Uncle's Wedding at a Church
1700 hrs: City Tour
1900 hrs: Dinner with Elvis's Viet friends
2100 hrs: City Tour
2300 hrs: Home Sweet Home
Visitng Vietnam was more than a holiday, it was a cultural immersion for me. I had the opportunity to live like a Vietnamese, when I was offered accomdation at my Vietnamese school mate's home. They have been most hospitable and I truly felt like part of the family. Hey..I was even invited to Elvis' uncle's wedding!
I also got to ride on a motorbike (predominant means of transportation) as I visited different places within Saigon. The traffic in Saigon is legendary, and I do not mean that out of sarcasm. In fact, there was order in chaos, as vehicles could come at you in all directions, especially at a round-about, however, the Viet's are very patient and intuitive as they maneuver their way out of seeming chaos. Hence, there was a constant ebb and flow of traffic which does not result in massive jams.
The city is both dynamic and culturally rich. Though the French were driven out by the Vietcong from the North and many French-inspired buildings were torn down during communist rule...one can still spot subtle 'French legacies' within Saigon; such as hawkers selling French loaves with minced meat and pickeled vegetables (fusion food-Viet style) for breakfast, and the more salient french-inspired Roman Catholic cathedrals that dot the city. Many Saigonese are Catholics.
I love Vietnam; the people, its food, its culture, and even its seemingly chaotic traffic condition that somehow seems to have a certain order. I would want to visit her again...
An Ode to Saigon
A charmer, you had me in euphoria
Caught in your embrace
I did not want to let you go
I knew I wanted more of you
I wish I had known you longer
You filled me with great joy
The moment I saw you
I knew I wanted more of you
Your smile melted my heart
My eyes met your intense gaze
Sending a tingling down my spine
I knew I wanted more of you
I hope to see you again
And be able to hold you once more
Its never too late
I will come back for you
Till then, my friend
Indeed, you are the beautiful pearl of the orient, the city that truly never sleeps.
I just love the motorbike rides around Saigon and her beautiful cathedrals! Awesome.
Saigon has a motorbike population that far outnumbers that of cars. In fact, it has one of the highest number of motorbikes per capita in the world, if not the highest.
I have much to be thankful for...but I would like to render special thanks to both Elvis (Ahn Quan) and Giang; my Viet uni mates for faithfully introducing me to the Vietnamese way of life. Thank you, bros! Till we meet, again.
Itinery:
0830 hrs: Arrival at Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
1000 hrs: City Tour
1300 hrs: Lunch
1400 hrs: Attended Elvis's Uncle's Wedding at a Church
1700 hrs: City Tour
1900 hrs: Dinner with Elvis's Viet friends
2100 hrs: City Tour
2300 hrs: Home Sweet Home
Visitng Vietnam was more than a holiday, it was a cultural immersion for me. I had the opportunity to live like a Vietnamese, when I was offered accomdation at my Vietnamese school mate's home. They have been most hospitable and I truly felt like part of the family. Hey..I was even invited to Elvis' uncle's wedding!
I also got to ride on a motorbike (predominant means of transportation) as I visited different places within Saigon. The traffic in Saigon is legendary, and I do not mean that out of sarcasm. In fact, there was order in chaos, as vehicles could come at you in all directions, especially at a round-about, however, the Viet's are very patient and intuitive as they maneuver their way out of seeming chaos. Hence, there was a constant ebb and flow of traffic which does not result in massive jams.
The city is both dynamic and culturally rich. Though the French were driven out by the Vietcong from the North and many French-inspired buildings were torn down during communist rule...one can still spot subtle 'French legacies' within Saigon; such as hawkers selling French loaves with minced meat and pickeled vegetables (fusion food-Viet style) for breakfast, and the more salient french-inspired Roman Catholic cathedrals that dot the city. Many Saigonese are Catholics.
I love Vietnam; the people, its food, its culture, and even its seemingly chaotic traffic condition that somehow seems to have a certain order. I would want to visit her again...
An Ode to Saigon
A charmer, you had me in euphoria
Caught in your embrace
I did not want to let you go
I knew I wanted more of you
I wish I had known you longer
You filled me with great joy
The moment I saw you
I knew I wanted more of you
Your smile melted my heart
My eyes met your intense gaze
Sending a tingling down my spine
I knew I wanted more of you
I hope to see you again
And be able to hold you once more
Its never too late
I will come back for you
Till then, my friend
Indeed, you are the beautiful pearl of the orient, the city that truly never sleeps.
I just love the motorbike rides around Saigon and her beautiful cathedrals! Awesome.
Saigon has a motorbike population that far outnumbers that of cars. In fact, it has one of the highest number of motorbikes per capita in the world, if not the highest.
posted by VERNON at
11:13 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home