Howdy dudey! doody! dudley!

Anyway, quick recap on work—a fabo gal named Miss Kelly organized this art show for EMW and it was a smashing success!
I was la photographe so if u like the photos, u must like me!

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Saigon in June w/JUNELLA—too much fabulous fun. I’ll let her explain in the posts to come but here’s a glimpse of my reunions w/SGnese buddies b4 she landed….

Highlights–cute clothes n shoes, cheap drinks, fun friends, familiar music, delish food, new aparts n houses to crash at, massage n spa stuff, not driving motorbikes, refreshing rain, French speakers, foreign foods (hummus! antipasti! Thai! Indian!) etc….

On the list–rockclimbing, hip hop nights and lessons, exercise, networking, practising Korean and stealing friends’ clothes

She’s only been here two days, not even 24hrs but has already:
–motorbiked and held on tightly
–been in awe of the modernity (buffet brekkies, cool bars, hip clothes)
–met more than 5 new ppl including interesting and cute boys (I’m a good friend.)
–spend $100 US on bags and clothes (I just showed her ok…no forcing going on!)
–wore beautiful clothes cuz her suitcase was delayed/lost whatever
–made me happy

Just some charming lovely kids who walked into my life via East Meets West….so cute

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I bought:

–metal jello moulds for my muffins…no measure cups/spoons to be found!
–a cloth, air freshener, and disinfectant for my office….there’s a mouse or smthg that only likes my desk…how do I know: the chewed up food bags and droppings that it leaves behind! But no one else seems to have this problem! Oh whatever!
–milk even though I never drink any here

Three staff asked me if I wanted a basket, and they helped me find what I needed. Then at the checkout, this lady cuts right in front of me at the scanner…wow! And all I can do is give her a dirrrrrrrrrty look but the clerk takes her order….argh! IT’s the last thing you see that stays in your head!

Issues:

You are not allowed to bring bags or purses into the store so you gotta check in everything…problem is that today, I had a laptop bag, helmut, purse w/camera, and a bag of mangoes, which I had to leave in my bike’s basket outside (risky). And then the girl, whom I see all the time, wanted to leave my items on the counter….as if they would be safe there when things get taken off ur motorbike all the time (another story for later)….She tells me that they’ll be taken care of, but I refused to go into the store until she put them away…and she actually didn’t want to do this…For one minute, I was thinking that if she didn’t put them away properly, I’d just take them into the store…but then I’d get thrown out and all this just for the taste of mango muffins that aren’t even muffins b/c I don’t have the tools…g’fab I know So there you go, some daily Danang for ya!

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Sometimes I forget that what is now normal for me IS NOT normal for most of the ppl that I know and love.
Anyway, here’s a glimpse of what I do and like in Danang.

Now for those who have asked, you can see my spiderman helmet.

That bike has been a lifesaver for me! $130 to a quick awesome get-away and burst of health. With a real bike, you can go places…I have to take a series of shots of normal DN life later…but as for now, off to SG again….coming back w/Junella! Yeah!!!!

I love Cathy, my motorbike! She’s way better than Vespas ok? Don’t even try to start that argument…I’m sorry but here, the Japanese rule! Go Honda, go Cathy!

Yeah, after a million months of moving (6-7 times in 3 months or so), I finally moved in with Sharon, my lovely Korean roommate (I always call myself her ugly, N.American neighbour) into her tower of peace and solitude. We’re near beach but not near too many shops or other ppl so it’s a teeny bit isolated which isn’t a problem unless it’s 1am and the lights outside don’t work…then it’s just you against the rat-cats and darkness….I don’t really like that so much Anyway, this is the first pic I ever took of our house and you know what, it photographs well. Can’t say I’m suffering any…..

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Hello all and esp. to Ms. Dana Landry:)

So out of a fun-filled girls’ weekend in Hoi An came an opportunity to share some of East Meets West Foundation’s work projects with some travelers. Three buffet breakfasts later, a visit to the orphanage was arranged.

Dana’s from Nova Scotia and is in the midst of her grand voyage right now….probably sipping beers at La Louisiane.
Anyway, for me, any visit to the VOH is something new and exciting. I went once as a guest at Christmas Eve and then again for a visit from the California Naval Academy’s students and staff in early June. This time, it was just me and Dana and our lovely guide, Bich and the other friendly staff and of course, the kids. Everything was a highlight but especially their artwork and having lunch together. They have a couple dogs and heart throb posters on their walls, and the entire place is filled with calm and
a sense of tranquility/security that is encouraging. And the kids are so polite and much cleaner than I am today. It was a good visit.

Oooh how could I forget seeing the HP books in VNese…that was cool! And also I learned smthng new bout plants growing in the front yard. In the pic, I’m standing near an orange bush/tree and its leaves are like spicy citrus. The staff, my colleagues by extension, told me that they boil the leaves and pour over girls’ hair to make it smell good and also that they use the long thorns to open up clam shells. I thought that was very cool….so I took some home to try…Hopefully, I’ll have time one of these days and I’ll let you know the results of my experiment.

Please check out the photos cuz they are awwwwwwwwsome!

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Hey hey!

Briefly, just went to an EMW orphanage today and it was great…the visit, the kids, the buildings. I learned a lot and must elaborate later….But it all went down the wrong way at the end cuz I got a xe om back to the city and it was a piece of junk that just fell apart once we hit the beach road and my cell had no credits and I was stranded on the beach so I took pics til my batteries ran out and finally this girl on a motorbike saved the day and took me back to the office.

Lessons learned:
–things can go from great to crap easily here
–take a look at the motorbike and driver b4 u hop on and agreed to a price
–VN ppl can be really friendly and generous
–patience will save u in many circumstances
–whatever happens, i still live near the beach
–breathe, Cathy, breathe!

To make up for the stress, had to release with a quick jot to Hoi An for some clothes making….this is what we saw on the way:

And then all was rite in the world once again

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Man, when I like something, I like it a lot! So who and what do I like? All the stuff on the Kudos page and then some….

Here are the hits of the moment:
1. PK the blogmaster — He rocks!

2. Tailor-made clothes — I can’t stop making things even though w/in the last 2 months, I’ve definitely made over 35 items and I still feel like more…yup, smthg to do w/cheap prices and lack of hobbies but it’s getting out of hand. But this is what’s next on my list: PJs, Vogue-inspired tops n dresses, presents for friends, and silk! Some ppl, u no who u r, keep saying that I have a problem and should stop but others like my shopping buddies (Marie-France n Katarina) are inspiring me and leading me into new wondrous piles of cloth!

3. Baby powder — As it gets hotter here, the whiter my skin gets but just grace a ce poudre! Normally, I’m just the most tannedest person! Why, I think my arms are 10 shades darker than the rest of me!

4. Facebook is bringing closer to my elementary friends…and I hope that soon includes my elementary crushes! Yipee!

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Just realized that in a one year period, my entire immediate family of seven very varied personalities all made it to our “homeland” VIETNAM.

And me being the fortunate one,
a) am still here
b) spent time with all my family members in different Vietnamese cities
c) get to see grams on a semi-regular basic

not being so lucky,
d) the most tan of the bunch
e) probably the most poor
f) the most removed

All in all, not a bad thing for a large family. Too bad we couldn’t all be here together, but step by step, we’re discovering our roots and becoming more Vietnamese.

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Good day folks

As a family obligation, I spent my weekend in Nha Trang. I had to drag my bro down to visit Grams for the first time. So while he stays there and gets acquainted (in Cam Duc Hamlet by the airport actually), I had to scramble back to NT to catch my train back home.

But waiting for the train has never been so fun….I’m working by day poolside with a fast wifi connection and wondering why my regular office couldn’t be so pleasant.

Nha Trang, where my parents grew up, is, well, magical! It’s a hip n happening beach town with fabulous views, pools, beaches, people, seafood, and internet….all in all, definitely worth a stop while you’re in VN. And I am lucky that my parents are from here so I always have reason to come back.

I usually visit Grams then stay in my fave hotel in the city, the Sun Hotel, in the street perpendicular to the Sailing Club, and spend my mornings blowing bubbles in the clear, blue sea with the early rising fishies and my days eating raw oysters and doing facials or going to the mud baths. Night time is for cruising around on a motorbike or walking along the boardwalk….I don’t know why NT has it all, but it does

However, this time, I have to work so I’m online editing reports on compassion homes and water towers and writing speeches and cannot go to all my favourite haunts….I’m waiting for Junella:) But it’s still an amazingly pleasant, if somewhat short, escape.

Coincidently, it’s also the time for Festival Bien 2007 and so that means big outdoor concerts and ppl milling around cheering on Vietnamese celebrities…and they’re big! I only know two VNese singers and I’ve seen them both in Nha Trang, par hasard! Yesterday, I attended the nightly affair on until June 15th or so and My Tam, this young and quite beautiful VNese girl who’s also incredibly famous, from Danang of all places, was the final act. It was cool and the dances and music that I can’t understand were great fun. Wait til I post my photos. And the best part of it all is that I just stumbled across this beach party….I came to visit Grams and ended up seeing a swimsuit fashion show and some big time celebs. And this festival only takes place every 2 years so I AM LUCKY!

The other celeb, Quang Dung, and I first laid eyes on each other in December while I was singing BSB on the lovely beaches to my sisters. Quang Dung is quite good-looking and has a good, solid, soothing voice and well, he was sitting on the beach chairs just about a meter away from me and I didn’t recognize him cuz I only have seen him on CD covers….anyway, I did notice a well-dressed guy kinda staring at me and well, that was him. Can you imagine, a real singer having to listen to my hysterical renditions of BSB….I mean I don’t suck but still, kinda embarrassing. How did I find out he was there, my friend, Mimi, texted me to get my attention….I am truly in love with the BSB and don’t stop singing unless I have to…..at least next time I see QD, he may remember me from the beaches of Nha Trang.

YES I AM BLESSED (as we all are). AND I want to share with you….so come here anytime and I guarantee there’s a VN beach hot and waiting for you

take care

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