Getting in the Groove

So it's been two nights in Saigon so far. Dmitriy and I spent the morning planning the next part of the trip, which has us covered up until Thursday of next week. Phew! While planning with someone can be hard because of compromises (although with one person, not too hard), it's really nice to divide up work and decisions. For example, right now I am writing in my blog and Dmitriy is figuring out how to call Vietnam on skype :) Anyway, planning becomes easier after the first few times and you become more chilled out :) Which, by the way, I am definitely feeling.

Saigon has been cool. Mario, Krista, Berman and I went to the War Remnants Museum yesterday (shows the brutalities of the war...for a short period when it opened it was called The House for Displaying War Crimes of American Imperialism and the Puppet Government of South Vietman).







We also walked around and tried to go to the China market but realized later we were in the wrong place. Oops, no wonder we weren't that impressed...but it was still cool. We sat and had beers and vietnamese coffee...which is - relatively strong coffee brewed directly into your cup, with condensed milk added. Really sweet but delicious. The iced version tastes to me like Kalhua and milk sans alcohol.

From Vietnam

Today was the planning session and then Berman and I got pho bo (beef rice noodle soup, my third bowl in 2 days) at a local place and then had beers with Mario and Krista before they left.

From Vietnam

After that, Berman and I walked to see the sunset over the sai gon river...or so we thought until we realized the sun set on the other side of the city and you needed to be at a rooftop bar to see it. But anyway we enjoyed our drinks and they went to the roof but it was too hazy to see anything. However...a great view of the crazy style of crossing the street sans crosswalks that you must learn to get by....see pics:

From Vietnam

From Vietnam

Tomorrow we leave for Vinh Long, one of the towns south of Saigon, in the Mekong Delta. Just a few hours bus away. We are staying in a really cool (hopefully!) homestay, which isn't what it may sound like (not like staying in someone's house) but more like a B&B, where the people also live at the place, but its not a house. I think we each have a private bungalow and its on an island. How romantic! haha :) By the way, my hotel here is so nice (Madame Cuc 64). They helped us plan the whole thing. They serve breakfast and dinner and coffee anytime, included in the room, very family-style and friendly place.

Then on Sunday we will come back to Saigon for the night and celebrate my birthday! and Monday leave by bus for Mui Ne, a beach, as we start up the trek up the coast.

Not much more to say, but all is good and I hope our well-laid plans turn out well!

All Good in Saigon

From Vietnam

Still called Saigon by the people here, Ho Chi Minh City passes muster. Until I landed here, I didnt know what to expect or even if I would like the country enough to stay. I was purely going on recs of trusted travellers. But I could tell from the first taxi ride, and even just from walking out to the driver, that it would be good. Based on just a few hours obervation, it reminds me of India in some ways, a dusty city full of motorbikes passing by old and new buildings. Unlike India, however, I feel less crowding and see less (almost no) major poverty. In Mumbai you pass so many slums and beggers, but not here (at least not in an obvious way). So a plus on that count. Also, you can see the people are friendly, definitely warmer than people in the other asian countries I have been to on this trip...a trait that westerners would be more used to. Lastly, a special vibe, some energy that seems familiar in other hot-climate cultures. That combined with the natural feeling of relaxation you get from warm weather and the presence of palm trees :) These factors successful negate the stress of the busy city - like the fact that I am sitting at an open air internet cafe only a few feet from a busy street full of honking motorbikes. Yes, I must be charmed.

At 7pm, I am meeting Mario, his girlfriend Kristy and Dmitriy for dinner, our first rendez-vous since arriving today - all on separate flights. Who could have imagined just 3 months ago that I would be flying into Saigon to meet my former Lehman co-workers? C'est bizarre.

From Vietnam

Macau and the Rest of Hong Kong

Yes, Macau did surprise me. Smack in the middle of the main area are these beautiful pastel colored, Portuguese-colonial-style buildings, leading up to a lovely ruin of an old cathedral. It almost felt like Europe. Ahh....! Remembering that continent fondly, we treated ourselves to lunch at Joel Rubochon's restaurant. Indeed we are indulgent :) It was a good value compared to NY (right?), and the food was delicious. On the downside, we were still not feeling 100% and felt rather tired afterwards. But we forged ahead and went to the Venetian. Meh, just like the Venetian anywhere, but apparently the largest in the world? We also went to Taipa village, which was pretty dead on a Monday night.

From Seoul & Hong Kong

From Seoul & Hong Kong church ruins

Today (Tuesday) we had the goal to chill out. Well, first I had to go to the post office and mail home a box of wintry stuff that I dont need anymore. But after that we got to do fun stuff - dim sum with Jina's friend Gordan (yay Jina for having friends in Asia!), then another treat- massages at the spa at Grand Hyatt. It's been fun going around with Jina because we are staunch supporters of each other's indulgences. For example, we both can't walk by a macaroon display without buying one :) The massage was amazing and, again, I had this very chatty masseuse who told me all about what I need to do (and also that I was dehydrated! like the foot massage guy).

We went to an NYU Stern alumni event and Gordan, Jeff and Ji-Song (all people we hung out with here) also came. Then we went to dinner and had a second delicious chinese traditional meal of the day. Roast goose at a famous place (Yung Lee? I need to confirm).

From Seoul & Hong Kong on the streets

As its my last day in Hong Kong, here are a few quirky/interesting things I noticed about Asia so far: (1) people really wear SARS masks when they are sick - lots of people walk around with them, and apparently its a practice that pre-dates SARS (2) they have a different concept of politeness - in that, they bump into you and cut you off as if you arent there. It's not like it happens all the time or its so overt, but you notice it (3) electronic sounds - seems like everything makes a sound. also TVs everywhere - US seems so unadvanced in comparison (4) lots of malls! I thought it was just a Jersey thing, but man, these guys have us beat. At least in Hong Kong, I think part of the explanation is that the streets are so narrow and the city having grown rather sporadically, that the malls are a good way to contain crowded shopping areas. In HK, there is also a HUGE network of covered foot bridges that sometimes it seems you can cover the city (with many mall stops) without over going outside.

Tomorrow I leave for Vietnam. As typical with trips like the one coming up, I have a strange mix of excitement and nervousness. Much like the night before the first day of school. You know by the end of the school year you will be able to look back and think a lot had happened to you that year, so that is exciting, but from day 1, you have no idea what those experiences will be. You just have to wait!

From Seoul & Hong Kong example mall

From Seoul & Hong Kong

A day in Hong Kong

Yesterday we walked around Hong Kong - we took the tram to the Peak and had lunch there (western style - pizza!). Then we took a ferry to Kowloon (north of main HK island) and visited the two areas there, TST and Mong Kok. We ate lots of good street food - egg tarts (OMG), coconut juice (blended with evaporated milk and ice..MMM). Then we went to a street stall formerly visited by DOLAPO! when he visited HK. Dolapo's friend Diana gave us the rec, which was appreciated since we were a bit intimidated by the HK street food - some of it is rather stinky (fishy, bird-y, etc). We had the very same treat that Diana and Dolapo had which is this fried ball with cabbage inside and a sauce. We also had vegetable dumplings.

From Seoul & Hong Kong the egg custard tart!

From Seoul & Hong Kong street food endorsed by dolapo

Afterwards we walked to the southern tip of TST area to see the laser show. Eh, it was good but not amazing. But sky was overcast so probably better on a clear night. The skyline, however, is ridiculous - amazing! So many colors, NY is a candle in comparison. Cant wait to show you my pics! Dolapo has an amazing one he took when he was here, maybe he can post it :)

From Seoul & Hong Kong

Right before the laser light show, we got a foot massage! It was relaxing...and slightly painful. My legs/feet actually feel kinda sore. The guy who did it though, was so nice. He spoke some english and was very smiley. He asked if I was drinking a lot of beer because I was dehydrated. And he said I am eating too much meat - which I have been lately. I am trying to cut down, seems like everything here is meaty. He also randomly asked if I have 3 or 4 siblings and a few sisters and I do - 2 and a brother! He said he saw it in my face. Who knows! I want to get my fortune told here but I dont think we will have time.

From Seoul & Hong Kong jina market hopping

Today we are going to Macau. Its the portugese place with the casinos. I probably wouldnt have planned to go here, but I'm sure it will surprise me. Later!

Blog Facelift

Sorry for the lack of pictures. I guess I am not technologically advanced enough to figure out a clever way to upload photos on the go - I'll have to wait until I get home. Also the blog style/colors really need a change! I'll try to do that sometime.

I am still in Hong Kong. Jina and I both have bad colds and feel pretty drained, but at least I dont feel like I have the flu anymore. We are going to take it easy - hopefully get massages today!

Hong Kong: What planet am I on?

Driving from the airport in Hong Kong to Hong Kong Island is surreal. If someone told me I was on Mars I would believe it. You drive across huge bridges spanning huge bodies of water, on all sides are lush green mountains and hills, with HUGE high-rises sticking up along the coast. (an example: http://www.mosesong.com/blog_images/large/08_03_27_hongkong36.jpg).

From Seoul & Hong Kong

I was so excited driving over the bridge having seen that unfamiliar landscape. I remembered why I love traveling so much - the contrast! Just like in photography - your eye is drawn to the points of contrast - its so amazing to be somewhere so different. Geography, customs, people, archiecture, religion all contrasting the things you grow up to believe are the norms. It's constant mental stimulation. I think that sums up why I am particularly drawn to traveling to developing countries (part 2 of my trip!) - EVERYTHING is so vasly different. In developing countries, its not just the scenery, people and customs - its the simple and often difficult way of life. It's the best way to change your mindset and see life (your own, others) in a different way.

Off to explore HK from the inside...will update soon!

More Seoul

From Seoul & Hong Kong Kyung Bok Gung, old temple in the middle of Seoul

Yesterday we went to this crazy indoor mall called COEX - has an arcade, shops and a theater. We saw a movie - Love in the Clouds - some older movie with Charlize Theron (not good). Everything was sold out so we ended up buying from a guy trying to get rid of his pair.

It is so freezing here! Sub 20 degrees F everday. I have a bit of a flu. I couldnt eat much yesterday and am achy (feels the same today). I feel relatively ok though, so hopefully it will pass. Jina has a cold too. We have been getting a lot of rest though and Jina's mom owns a pharmacy so she stocked us up on vitamins. They drink all these health drinnks here. They come in little brown glass bottles that look like nyquil.

Korea-isms:
- So many people live in high-rise apartments...really high! The horizon is filled with them and its all you see when you are driving on the highways around the city. Jina was joking that is why so many Koreans live in Jersey City - similar set up there.
- Ondal system = heated floors in apartments and restaurants where you sit on the floor. Amazing!
- Confucian philosophy - apparently Korea is the most confucian country in Asia although Jina said its changing. Confucian translates into conservative thinking with emphasis on hierarchy: respect for elders, men. On the subway there are seats you cant sit in unless you are old, even if the whole train is full. From reading about it in Lonely Planet I thought it sounded severe, but I dont get a severe vibe being here. Everyone in Seoul is friendly and modern. Actually, its a first for me: Being somewhere where people dont look like me and everything is modern. India being a developing country, is very different.
- All the signs are flat rectangular boards and are all over buildings. At night they all seem to turn into electric signs. Lots of crowded lighted signs! Also animated characters abound...even at the military base. There were statues of little cartoon character soldiers! and cartoons soldiers on the signs.
- So many Hello-Kitty-esque stores and in people's style - very whimsical.
- Lots of mountains - they cover 70% of the country.
- Lunch for breakfast! It was the same in India and something I dont think I could get used to if I was here for a long period of time. (Renee and I rationed our granola bars in India!)

From Seoul & Hong Kong

From Seoul & Hong Kong

From Seoul & Hong Kong

From Seoul & Hong Kong

From Seoul & Hong Kong