back to the basics; back to the motherland
saigon oi, 2.5 weeks, not enough
[the color of massive posts]
the lack of convenient internet prevented me from compulsive posting--but habbits stuck with me and i was able to keep a ghetto word doc diary for my time in vietnam ;p i wasn't too upset about leaving new zealand, which kind of surprised me since i was super upset leaving south america. i think it was the sense of completeness--i felt like i did all that i really wanted to do over there. i was also surprised at how excited i was to go back to vietnam--it's been 10 years since my last visit. some random shots above/round town
from the plane..i was surprised to see this many lights
a 'must see' according to travel guides...french church. colonialism.
oh..the streets get much busier than this. now add pollution and rain
little restaurants littering the streets. ghettofabulous. i used to go here all the time 10 years ago..best bot chien EVERRR
daddy rockin the honda
view from my aunt's place in thanda
famous for baguette sandwiches. i thought it was ok
sit outside and eat/drink
or sit inside a more 'trendy' coffee shop. hotter chicks.
our adventure dining: crocodile meat. yummm
busy and polluted...but saigon got it's moments
sure enough...many things have changed. but i'm glad a couple of my relationships over here remained unscathed by time. seeing my only aunt left in vietnam on my mom's side made me miss my mom and aunt in the states. seeing all of my family on my dad's side, or rather, not really seeing all of them, made me contemplate on how the meaning of family goes beyond blood lines. i suppose the reality is that people are busier--and of course they have their own lives over here. even so, it angered me that we weren't able to find a day for all of my dad's side to get together. i don't mind so much--it just shows how it doesn't matter that much to them. i'm just angry that they didn't get together for my dad's sake. of course, there were a handful of aunts/uncles who made the effort. needless to say, there's a handful who are nonexistant to me.
there's also those who changed drastically--some for better, some for worse. it breaks my heart to see a cousin who i used to play with battling a fatal illness. it didn't seem too long ago when we were all healthy and full of energy...i don't even know how to describe what it felt like to see her in her condition. again, i'm so thankful for all that i have, and all that i was able to do so far.
on a happier note--i AM SO thankful for the family that i actually talk to and interact with. i feel like i live in saigon...going round the same town all the time and eating at all the good places..having family here and there to visit.
what's left on my mum's side in vietnam
me and my auntie...seeing her made me miss my mom and aunt in the states so much!!
at my cousin's restaurant..fancy for vietnam's standards i feel
another family dinner
crocodile restaurant
#10 & #7 in the family
mas familia
she's family now too
we went to my tho--which is the 'que' or hometown of my dad's parent's side (since vietnamese people make a distinction between your grandparents on your dad's side and mum's side). it's basically the country side..but my grandma's house is newly remodelled and everything! the last time i was here, the floor inside was still dirt and it was built with trees -___-
taking a ferry over
it runs ;D
dirt roads...it's the countryside
old fashioned kitchen
coconut trees galore
just climb it, pick some down, and chop the top off and voila--fresh coconut juice
apparently..we have a lot of family in the countryside.. some i dont know about
my dad bro and i also went to da lat on a vietnamese tour...my first ever. it was pretty interesting..i can see why monica always complains about being dragged onto these. but i was pretty good humoured and happy just to be on a family trip and didn't really mind it at all. it was just ridiculous that i went back to cold and rainy weather after just leaving new zealand...but it was still fun ;D
we also went to some waterpark. it sucked becasue it only had two big slides. and there were a lot of stupid design flaws...like water squirting right into your eyeballs going up these steps. but they had giant statues and lots of pretty ornaments everywhere ;D water park=good for vietnam's summer weater.
i wanted to go up north to hue, ha long bay, and hanoi...but it didn't really happen since we were mostly spending time with family in saigon. i don't really mind though--of course i wanted to go but i know i'll come back so it was just nice to sit in one place with people you love ;D and with food you love!
which brings me to a crapload of pictures. YUM!
FRUITS!!! trai cay
i made a friend on the da lat tour..and we went out a couple of times afterwards. her name is phoung and she's studying hard to go to school in the states. we went BOWLING yayyy
and then i went again with some family
+ my aunt (mom's sis) is the only one that keeps on saying i look like my mom. it's nice to hear that...not beause i think my mom's pretty (though i do think that) but because it's nice feeling to hear that...that you look like your mom ;D
+ i visited a couple of temples so far on this trip...and even though i've been agnostic all these years i can't help but feel the buddhist roots within me. i guess you are easily and strongly influenced in your younger years. i've felt a peace that i don't usually encounter in my hectic/relatively sinful life. i should go to the temple more often
+ my vietnamese has gotten so much better. and i like yelling now and calling my cousin 'ba' and random semi-curses. it's pretty fun...i can see why my aunt does it haha
+ vietnam again next year maybe..if my aunt goes and i haven't used all my vacation time yet. and if i have enough money. i really like it back here, polluted as it is
+ i'll have to go back and finish captioning another day
+ ice cream here sucks
+ thailand, here i come ;D