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VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE
EAT
Well, we are going to kick off this post by describing a new guilty pleasure that is both delicious and decadent. Hanoi has what I would like to describe as heaven in a glass. Conga and I had a standing appointment with their coconut coffee which is coconut sorbet (I believe) and coffee mixed together. I am seriously considering opening up a stand this summer and earning some extra cash while simultaneously introducing the west to this delight. On a food tour, I was told that I could try a combination of coffee and egg which legend says was a concoction developed out of a need for a milk substitute. So the substitution of one dairy product for another had me thinking that perhaps the person also solved issues for people feeling, let’s say, irregular? Needless to say, I passed.
As for food, Vietnam did not disappoint. On the food tour, I fell in love with Hahn knot which is a ‘dragon egg’ pancake made out of rice flour. Basically, you wrap a mini pancake with fresh mint, basil, and Vietnamese perilla, in rice paper and dip it in soy sauce with chili peppers. The combination of flavors and textures is a delight for any pallet. If ever in Hanoi, do visit Mr. Bay. I of course also had to try the dish liked by President Obama, introduced by the late Anthony Bourdain. Bun Cha Hmong Lien with its low plastic stools or what I consider step stools did not disappoint. The grilled charcoal fire pork dish with rice noodles, herbs and broth made me temporary neglect the gnats that were flying around. If I happened to digest one of them, let’s just say I thought it best to consider it additional protein.
I truly did appreciate authentic Vietnamese food but I also did crave a little of the west and Circles, “Juicy Lucy” burger did not disappoint. I recommend a stop here as well as drinks at Hotel Royal as a winning combination if ever in Hoi An.
EXERCISE
Every day I attempted to at least reach my active calorie goal of 420. I’m not sure if playing the human form of Frogger can count as exercise and who knew 37 years after its introduction to the west I would be playing the human version of the game, but the fear of getting hit should count for some form of caloric burn. I was given this piece of advice, employ a strategy and determination and swiftness and you should be alright.
After the damage done on this trip, I am thinking I am going no carb, well low carb November. You may be thinking, you still have time in October but I think I may have to complete my birthday month with the comforts of carbs. Also if lugging two 28-kilo bags around Vietnam counts for exercise, I achieved that too. But lest I incriminate myself as to the reason why such heavy luggage, I will just leave you this small pearl of wisdom. If ever in Holi An and ever in need (or want) in having items duplicated or created, I recommend the lovely, talented, efficient, and delightful tailors at Bi Tailor.
PRAY
Once again I consider myself blessed to have the opportunity to travel and see this part of God’s world. As this trip came on the eve of my (clearing my throat) birthday, I am once again amazed by God’s immeasurable grace and mercy. The scripture on my heart a few mornings on holiday was Lamentations 3:21-27.
There used to be a song I listened to often 18 years ago by Ed Montgomery which still rings true today.
Can’t you see I am exceeding, abundantly blessed?
Take the time, look around, there are those who survive with much less
God has provided for me every day
And if I need more, He’ll just make a way
I may not have everything, still I’m abundantly blessed
Being young, and being old, we all have to face
And whether fast or slow, we all must finish the race
But in the Word of God He said
We’re never forsaken, nor seen begging bread
You may not have everything, but still You’re abundantly blessed.
I continue to be faith-filled that God is faithful and that He will honor me with my heart’s desires and my soul’s prayer according to His will, purpose, and timing for my life. Until then, I greet each day, and now a new year from my trip around the sun, saying with a grateful heart, “thank you.”
LOVE
Being an international educator means that you have friends that live on almost every continent of the world. On the trip I met some lovely Aussies who were also educators who invited me to visit should I ever make it to Sydney. I am still waiting for an Antarctica connection and let’s be honest, that climate does not exactly say, “Come to visit KB.”
My holiday began with my cruise frolleague from this summer who has now moved to Hanoi and is loving it. This will be the third home I have visited of hers and if they ever come up with an International House Hunters teacher’s edition, her name will most definitely be submitted. Her home was breathtaking beautiful not to mention a bargain when compared to the sticker prices in Hong Kong.
Highlights from this trip included a two-day-one-night excursion in Halong Bay and an indescribable visit to Ba Na Hills. We were supposed to go see an iconic lunar-culture-inspired big top show that mixed bamboo cirque, theatrical visual art, acrobatics, and contemporary dance and when selecting seats for this show, I had the option of:
Ooh
Aah
Wow
Unfortunately, the show was canceled due to unforeseen reasons but their marketing technique was worth a mention. The trip to Ba Na Hills left me pleasantly perplexed. I thought the golden bridge was the main attraction but, “au contraire mon frère!” You definitely take a trip into another dimension when visiting SunWorld and that is not solely based on the 16-mile cable car lift through the mountains, which are marvelous by the way. If ever in Hoi An, it is worth the drive and at least half a day for exploration.
My visit to Vietnam also allowed me to visit with colleagues from AES who are still in the region. After this week of pleasant adventure, I recommend a trip to Vietnam where you too can have a financially responsible yet fun holiday.
TEACH
It has been over forty years since the Vietnam War which locals call the American War. Although I did not have a chance to visit the American War Museum, I did read these facts: 1) Four million Vietnamese were killed or injured; 2) 15 million tones of US ammunition was expended and 3) It was a conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. Britannica states, “The costs and casualties of the growing war proved too much for the United States to bear, and U.S. combat units were withdrawn by 1973.” Additionally, the number of US soldiers who perished or who were reported as missing exceeded 58,000 when the memorial was erected in Washington, DC in 1982. My personal ties to this time in history are that I had an uncle who served in the military along with a cousin and that is where the sharing of their time in Vietnam ceased.
Hanoi, the second largest city and capital of Vietnam is where my tour began. When navigating through the city one can easily see the influences of the west Southeast Asia and France. When visiting the Old Quarter in Hanoi, it felt like I was in the French Quarters of NOLA with the twist being people were congregating as part of their everyday lives not there to party for a vacation. Another distinct difference was darting in and out of traffic as described above as “exercise.” I did learn that two beeps meant “Get ready I’m coming;” whereas one beep meant, “Ready or not, here I come!”
Hanoi has a population well over 7 million people with estimates of 15 million people by the year 2020. Interestingly enough by 2025, 7 million people are estimated to have a motorcycle. But when the country currently has 45 million registered motorcycles (emphasis added), that is a drop in the bucket.
Hanoi which means, “city inside rivers” is located on the banks of the Red River and has the architect that reflects ancient pagodas and colonial buildings. There is said to be at least twenty lakes and rivers that circle the city. Another fact about Hanoi is that it celebrated its 1000th year anniversary as the capital 8 years ago. That is astonishing!
One interesting fact I learned about Hanoi is the reasoning around the narrow homes. Seemingly property tax is based on the width of the dwelling. Although I have yet to travel to the city of love to view the Eiffel Tower, I was able to see some of the work of the French architect, Alexandre-Gustave’s on the Long Bien Bridge, which connects Hoan Kiem and Long Bien of Hanoi. I guess I am now two for three for seeing some of his favorite pieces of work with Lady Liberty being number two.
Halong Bay as described by Lonely Planet is majestic and mysterious, inspiring and imperious with more than 3,000 islands rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Additionally, it is said to be a beautiful natural wonder in northern Vietnam near the Chinese border. The Bay is dotted with 1,600 limestone islands and islets and covers an area of over 1,500 sq km. This extraordinary area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. For many tourists, this place is like something right out of a movie. The fact is that Halong Bay features a wide range of biodiversity, while the surrealistic scenery has indeed featured in endless movies.
The name Hạ Long means “where the dragon descends into the sea.” The bay is home to thousands of various shapes and sizes of limestone each with a touch of thick vegetation emerging from emerald waters. What I found interesting was that there were no fishermen in site during my two-day tour of these waters. Also, the only water activities offered were kayaking and a dip in a tight perimeter off a beach. I was surprised not to see snorkeling offered which means I will save that excursion until my next beach holiday. The bay is full of cruise line companies. I happened upon Pelican Bay cruise which I recommend if ever in the area.
Hoi An is described as being Vietnam’s cosmopolitan city absent of traffic and pollution. This could be attributed to the many bikes you see around town. The question is, was I brave enough to get a helmet and embrace this culture? For 10-minutes, yes and oh how I felt sorry for the driver! Other interesting facts I found out about this import town once welcoming the Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese, Indian, Filipino, Indonesian, Thai, Spanish, French, British and American was that this is where Christianity was first introduced during the 17th century. UNESCO declared this town as a world heritage site in 1999 and it is home to more than 800 historic buildings dating back the 2nd through 10th centuries. The town itself hosts agricultural influences from Japan, China, and the west. One highlight for me was seeing the Japanese covered bridge which was built in 1590 and restored in 1986.
While in Hoi An, I ventured to Ba Na hills which is about an hour and a half away. It is home to the Golden Bridge which stands over 1,400m above sea level. The Ba Na hills resort was a gift from the French and a trip there definitely does not disappoint. Less I ruin it for anyone headed that way, I will just say this, “Prepare to be amazed.”
My last day of adventure in Vietnam included a basket boat tour that was packed with adventure. Now when I asked my friend about this possibility, I should have remembered that she is a magnet for lively excursions so it should not have surprised me that the tour guide came to pick us up on motorcycles. Could you picture the facial expression she received when exclaiming that the tour included an hour ride through the country on a motorcycle?! My facial expressions must be an international language because 50 minutes was instantly shaved off that part of the excursion.
If ever in Hoi An you must book a tour through Hoi An Eco Green Tour. The guide and her colleagues were absolutely lovely to include our boat guide who was full of personality and perseverance to make sure we caught crabs, received beautiful handmade crafts, twirled around in our basket boat like we were ballerinas and gave us a history lesson of this particular bombing site during the American War (Vietnam War).
The history behind the basket boat, or the thung chai, or “basket boat”, traces back to the French colonial era. The Vietnamese fishermen were ingenious in finding a way around the French who were levying taxes everywhere so that they could have a livelihood for their families. It is said that the argument to those wishing to tax the fishermen that they were baskets, not boats, therefore they could not be taxed.
Well, if you have lasted this long in this post, thank you for your indulgence. I packed a lot in ten days and tried to keep my summary brief. If you want further recommendations please do not hesitate to inquire.