Sunday

The weather has gone mad. Again.
And the heat is messing with my head.
Yes, it is that time of the year where I have to buckle myself tight in that tiny rollercoaster seat.

Oh well.
Que sera, sera.

I finally finished reading the Eat, Pray, Love book.
Remember when I say, we (the writer and I) have something in common?
Well, we do.

My guardian angels.
That’s what I call them.
Those little voices in my head.
There were many occasions where I was ‘saved’ by those voices.

Like when those voices told me to go home instead of joining my friends for our usual ‘outing’.
One of my friends got thrown out of the car when their car skidded and landed on the opposite side of the road.

True story.

I also met Ketut Liyer while I was in Bali.
Unfortunately no life changing experience for me.
According to him, I will marry when I am 32.5 years of age.
Yeah. Right.

Will blog about that visit one of these days.
Or have I already blog about it?
Hee. Tidak ingat larr.

FROM SAIGON WITH LOVE,

well, not quite. I should have guessed that a city that changes its somewhat romantic name to a more ‘corporate’ one. [in my opinion of course] would mean a concrete jungle with CRAZY traffic and not so friendly community except for those few pleasant faces I met.

I knew it is a city but I imagined a more laid back place, almost like KK.

So, we arrived at the Tan Son Nhat Airport Saturday morning. After a very long walk from where we disembarked, we finally reached the immigration counter only to be greeted by this grumpy immigration officer. “Visa no Visa?” he mumbles while he keeps looking at me and my passport photo.

My smile disappeared and I was convinced he’ll deny me entry. I tried to remember all the forums and blogs about getting a visa. I gave the ‘puss in boots’ sad look’ and shook my head. He continued to look at me one kind but he stamped my passport anyway. He then moved his index finger, motioning me to go.

FYI, if you don’t have a Visa, you get to stay in Vietnam on Visa on Arrival for thirty days. Of course this is only for visitors from most Asean countries, Korea, Japan & Scandinavians. For more information, click vietnamstay.

To get to the city from the airport is pretty easy. There’s the public bus, the public taxi and the private car. After getting instructions from our friendly hotel people through email, we decided to take the taxi. Unfortunately, we freaked out when we saw the throngs of people outside the arrival hall. Under the pressure, we somehow thought we got lost so we opt for the nearest transportation counter we could find.

When I finally adjusted to the new chaotic atmosphere, I realized it was not a very smart thing to do as we paid double for the private car. A taxi would only cost us around VND130,000 which is about RM25.

Another FYI, you do not need to pay for the exit fare at the airport’s exit. Even if you do, it will only cost you VND10,000.00.

The 5 millions motorcycle in the city (a fact I learned during one of the tour) and the lack of respect for the traffic law scares me. To cross the roads takes courage, and the best advice I heard is, NEVER REVERSE WHEN CROSSING THE ROADS AT HCMC.

That is so true my friend. The car stopped across the hotel. I freaked out when I saw the cars/motorcycles coming from each direction. I unconsciously took a half step backward and the motorcycles honked at me. Jatuh juga larr my jantung sekejap. My friend wasn’t as lucky as she got hit by a bicycle. Nasib baik bicycle kan?

There are plenty of places to stay in HCMC but since we were on a very tight budget, we choose to stay at Saigon Mini Hotel. Though it is a little further from the “main” backpacker area, the rooms are huge and what’s important is, the toilet is clean. We only paid USD23 a night for a room for three persons which includes daily breakfast and free internet access. A very good deal if you ask me.

The staffs are friendly and very helpful too.

Though we had those minor inconveniences which involve the electricity and water, I had the best sleep compared to my other travels.

Breakfast was good. The choices are plenty but I love their bread and omelet the most. Sedap. Strangely, I miss their very strong coffee too.

Will continue the rest of the trip later.

Btw, my great advises about HCMC is,

1. Get used to the high-pitched voice, the grabbing, the stares and the unfriendliness. Just remember, this is their culture. Nothing personal.
2. Most of them don’t speak English. When purchasing or asking for anything, make sure you triple check the information. The high-pitched voice will kick in, but better be yelled at than to realize you got ripped off. True story
3. Those famous markets which were supposedly to be the best place to shop, is not that cheap after all. Check out those smaller souvenir shops. You can find interesting items with cheaper prices. For real.
4. Buy a decent raincoat or an umbrella.
5. Go out of HCMC to really enjoy Vietnam.

Malaysia Day

As a Malaysian, I am happy that we, the country, finally recognize the day Malaysia was formed. I even watched the ceremony on television but sadly, I could have use those 2 hours for better things. Why I continue to watch after the first 10 minutes is still a mystery to me too.

The award presentation was… chaotic. Whether it was caused from lack of rehearsal or a miscommunication, it was definitely unnecessary especially when it is live on TV. Walaupun TV1. One thing I have learned throughout the years is that the show must go on, regardless. They should have just got on with the show instead of making those ‘old uncle’ and everyone wait. Judging from what I see, they got the names mixed up. Sudah larr macam tu, the award recipients were ushered all over the stage. Kesian them.

And I heard they had four days of rehearsals.

The performance was mind blowing and not in a good way. I was cringing throughout the entire performance especially the one by the “popular” artist. Why oh why? The whole performance doesn’t really say anything about Malaysia as a nation or anything about the very much debated 1Malaysia.

Well, no point criticizing the spilled milk.

But I must ask why we, a nation that brags about development, innovation and everything else, we always performs so-so if not badly during our special celebrations?

I remember a performance for an event I don’t remember at the newly built stadium. The badly choreographed performance was terrible but the flower, a lotus maybe, was the worst. I thought a princess or something will come out but to my amusement, the national car was revealed.

Seriously?

I am sure a lot of money is used to organize a big celebration such as this.
Do the expenses justify the school-like performances?

Instead of wasting the tax-payer money, use it for something better like fixing the roads to Simpang Mengayau. Seriously, gravel roads to one of our best tourist attractions is such an embarrassment. Even the roads to my kampung is better! Or something more basic like street lights! I was shocked to see how badly lit are our roads even the one with high traffics! Gila eh.

That’s our problem kan?
We are so busy trying to prove ourselves that we forget about the smaller things that helped us to be great in the first place.

Vietnam entry is in hibernation mode.
As expected kan? I am busy trying not lose my head.
*winks*

waiting waiting and waiting...

I am pretty sure I have wasted 1/3 if not half of my by waiting.

I had to wait for the bus. I had to wait at the counter. I had to wait to use the bathroom. I had to wait for a promotion. I had to wait for salary. I had to wait to load the FB website. I had to wait to see the doctor. I had to wait for [ex] BFs. I had to wait for the SMS/call. I had to wait for the nurse to finally believe me that I am about to give birth. I had to wait for the traffic light. I have to wait for Ekiel to sleep before I can finish up my assignment. I have to wait when the sales person go looking for my size 10 shoes. Go toilet to ‘do business’ pun have to wait.

Semua larr I have to wait.

So, what’s the moral of my story?

Ntah. You wait larr until I figure it out..

I used to read like crazy but the past couple of years, I was distracted by many other things. Plus the price of a book in KK is crazy! But in KL, I begin to pick up that habit again. I went to this bookstore that sells excess books for half price and sakit my hati because I cannot afford to buy many books. I did bought one and I promise myself to buy at least one book every two months. Surely I can cut down my other unnecessary spending, like junk food and what not.

I haven’t read the book read, but it’s about a boy who made a different in a small town. I need the motivation to make positive changes in my life too. It’s tough but surely it will happen.

Now, I am reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, borrowed from a dear friend. For those who think I am a drama queen, read the book. I have so much to comment, but I only read the book half way. Since I am taking forever to finish it, it does mean it is not in my top 100 favourite books. However, I do relate to her in some level.

More on that some other day.

Raya is in two days. *woohoo*

Selamat Hari Raya everyone.

Maaf zahir dan batin.

Be safe.

I am so craving for ketupat and kuah kacang.

a quick one

It’s like I’ve disembarked the express train of reality for the twelve day break and now, after three days, I am still struggling to catch up and hope back onboard because if I don’t, there’ll be trouble.

For the trip, my brother borrowed me his DSLR camera which I had a blast using.

I don’t know how the other photographers do it but at one point, the camera sling got tangled underneath my raincoat and I was choking for air.

So very the jakun kan?

*LOL*


notice my face when I take a photo? *Hee*

Well, the photos are up in my FB already.

I took about 800 photos but only about 500 of them turned out acceptable.
I need more practise.

So, anybody wants to donate me one (dslr camera)?

*whistles*

in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City, District 1

Will blog about the trip one of these days.

I am still structuring my sentences but don’t expect a detailed entry because, the Vietnamese language is a hard one for me. I can’t pronounce nor remember the names of the streets. We didn’t even learn how to say ‘thank you’ in Vietnamese. *head hangs in shame* Most Vietnamese don’t speak English either which makes it a little awkward

Overall, it was a great trip but I would not say I will return anytime soon.

I can’t wait for the 2^nd Holiday for The Lims in February and of course, the 1^st Road Trip for The Lims is happening in December. *woohoo* *keeping fingers crossed*