I'm taking a break from my blog. For two years I have updated about my experiences and personal life. I want to disappear for a little while. I won't abandon this blog. I'm going through a transition; mentally and physically. I need to go back to my old-self, being reserved and exclusive to myself.
Like father like daughter. We like beer. Probably the only thing that brings us together. This is my dad's second visit in Vietnam. He was in Taiwan for 2 weeks and decided to stop by and visit.
yum, beer
I was trying to obtain a work visa for a while, it was supposed to take 2 weeks but it took almost 4. I faxed Jet Star airlines my documents from the visa office claiming they had my passport and that I needed to go to Da Nang, the representatives I spoke to said it was alright and would add a note in the system about my documents and its approval. I got to the airport and bam...no go, no note in the system, and the airport officials had to follow the regulations that no foreigner could travel without a passport or a letter from their own country or Vietnam's embassy. Shit. So I lost my flight and left my dad to go to Da Nang by himself and I was really worried. My dad isn't a traveler, he's a follower, he likes tours and activities, and transport planned for him. But he was brave enough and said that he'd be alright going on his own, however I wanted to spend time with him because he was in Vietnam for 7 days.
I was pissed off, stressed out, and worried for my dad. Oh and what do you know?! I received my passport that day! Ughhhh. I called Jet Star and told them I got my passport back and they were very nice to give me a new flight the next day by only paying $10 because they felt sorry for me. That was nice. So I got to see my dad in Hue for a night.
I didn't like Hue that much but Hoi An was beautiful and charming as usual. I liked it the first time I went and was glad to be back. My dad liked Hoi An as well.
Hoi An
Back to Hanoi, took my dad around to eat at my favorite places and had a sweet small going away dinner at Quan An Ngon with my close friends: Quang, John, Vikki, and Chris. My dad kept feeding us until we died. We ordered 2 grilled Mackerels, 2 grilled beef, 2 rolls, 2 squids, 2 fried rice, 2 sticky rice bowls, and 1 salad, and about 10 bottles of beer. I think my dad thought we were poor and weren't getting enough food, so he was pushing and pushing our indigestion limits. Of course, he paid for the dinner, typical asian dad. Afterwards, we went to Bia Hoi corner. My dad was shocked, he thought we were going to a bar, but he liked it. It was cool to see my dad at Bia Hoi, crackin' jokes about me. I have the coolest asian dad...and mom. (I didn't forget about you mama!)
Had a four day weekend and went to the woods with several friends. It's been awhile since the weather warmed up for more than 2 days. Our whole weekend was sunny and hot, and a great time to get a breath of fresh cool air.
I went to Cuc Phuong, a few hours from Hanoi. It's a national park and was way expensive! If I knew it would cost so much to stay in a room I'd be camping! However, there were too many unusual biting insects. Not to mention, I saw the biggest spider in my life...in real life.
The first evening was a blur of consumed rice wine and karaoke, good times. Second night was 4 hours of Charades. End of the whole weekend...a bundle of inside jokes that will stay funny for a long time.
3 tattoos, 1 nose piercing, 36 used books, 7 countries, 51 provinces, and 2 years ago; I left America, I haven't visited once. In case you ask, I don't know when I will come back. The world is my home now. I was a former L.A. girl that glammed up for Hollywood clubs and go to dive bars 4 times a week. Now, I'm a "hippie-traveler chick" that doesn't wear make up and wears the same t-shirt and jeans for 2 years, but still going to bars 4 times a week. I don't think I changed, I'm still me. I have the same heart and personality since I left America, the only thing different is my style.
Things are going well here in Hanoi. Design at EMW isn't as busy as last year, but it's good for me to work on other projects. I really need to start saving money, so I got to go back to limiting my times going out. Also sticking to beer, no Vodka/Tonics or Rum/Coke. I might actually be able to remember my weekends now.
I'm definitely proud of myself and what I have achieved so far. I had many ups and downs but it's all part of the experience, and I will always appreciate those experiences. Never in my life did I think that I would ever climb the Himalaya's, see the Dalai Lama, swim in the Arabian sea, and live in Vietnam.
Gathered a list of things I haven't done in 2 years:
- worn high-heels
- gotten a professional hair cut, I've been cutting my own hair
- listening to the same songs on my ipod from 2009.
- haven't done any sort of exercise or cardio work out.
- wearing the same converse chucks
- drank a New Castle draft beer
- had a bubble bath
- have seen a Laker game on television
- ate jello
The past week has been intense and tiring. First off: I changed my office schedule into the mornings, meaning I woke up at 7:00 am and finish at 12 pm. (Not a morning person) Just so I can have the rest of the day with my older brother, Brian. He arrived last Tuesday and he leaves tonight.
Last Tuesday, he walked into my office while I was in the bathroom. I could hear him asking where I was. Later I took him to grab a bite to eat because he had a long journey to get to Hanoi, 42 hours from Washington D.C. That day I called up some unemployed friends to meet us at bia hoi in the Old Quarters. A few friends came by and we just chilled, drank beer, ate peanuts, and people-watch. He asked me if this was what I normally do...chilling, yeah pretty much. Afterwards, he attended my Tuesday English teaching class, my class loved him, and it was a lot of fun. I told my students a story about how he used to scare me when I was young, by being the Sandman. Check it out below.
I rode around Hanoi with him on my motorbike and he was a bit nervous, basically HOW I drive, passing fast trucks and crossing roads with a billion other motorbikes. I told him that I get road rage and scream at people, he told me that it isn't good to have road rage and that I should be patient and get over it, I'm like Yeah Yeah Yeah.
He spent most of the days taking my motorbike around the city while I worked in the morning, then I'd meet up with him at my friends house back in Hai Ba Trung. It was difficult finding good street food for him because he's a vegetarian. I warned him before he came that it would be difficult finding vegetarian street food and I asked if he can suffer for a week eating some meat, he agreed. Towards the end of the week he was eating beef and chicken.
Brian wanted to get his wisdom teeth pulled because the operation was cheaper in Vietnam ($100 for 2 taken out) than USA. We were trying to find the dental office on this one particular street that I knew well, but all the address numbers were completely random, it would go...101, 102, 103, 45, 44, 43, 435, 436, 437, 438, 5, 4, 3. What the hell?! I hate streets like that. We went back and forth and finally when I knew where it was, we got a flat tire and had to walk my bike back to the end of the road. Luckily we were near my office and I knew of a garage around it. While he was getting teeth taken out, I got a new tire tube, a bike wash, and oil change.
Brian, Vikki, and I went to Halong Bay for the weekend. It was sooo tiring. The tours were completely unorganized and confusing, I don't understand how the tour guides manage all the tourists. Anyway...when we got to the tour agency to leave, the driver asked if we brought our passports. 2 of us didn't have them because the agent didn't tell me that we needed them when I bought the tickets, and also mine was at the embassy for a visa extension. The driver gave a facial expression that we might not be able to go on the trip, but of course...me being American, I wasn't going to take a NO as an answer. I basically went into the bus and sat down and refused to move unless we were on our way to Halong Bay. The agent said that it was alright and let us go.
Weather sucked, wet, drizzly, and chilly. I liked how the mist made the islands mysterious. But it was uncomfortable because everything felt damp, our clothes, seats, and our feet. Eh, it's Vietnam.
Overall, Brian got to meet my closest friends. He experienced my Hanoi life. It was all about food, coffee, beer, and friends. To finish it off, today he drove around while I was the passenger, after a few seconds he was already getting frustrated by other motorbikes and cars driving slow in front of us, AHA!! Road rage!
