Ever since I've returned from Hanoi (which was a good 2 weeks ago), people have been asking me "Hey, so you really got problem with Spelling Bee ah?" which struck me as a surprise until I reread some of my blog posts, where I was *a bit* mean to her.
Okay, where I was rather mean to her :P
So just let me clarify here that I really don't have anything against Spelling Bee. If anything, having her as my roomie provided for lots of entertainment at night when the gals have our own debriefing session (read: gossip). We would talk about our church friends and CGs, and she regaled me with tales about how the gallant boys in her CG would pedal her around when they went Pulau Ubin for cycling trips, as she doesn't know how to cycle. Stuff like that makes for good bedtime conversation.
There was one day when we met M in school, and he told us that later that day, we're having lunch at his home which is a 5min motorbike ride away from his school. Great, we said. How're we going there? M said,"Oh, I've got a motorbike and a bicycle. One of you will ride the motorbike with me while the other will have to cycle behind."
I looked at SB and SB looked at me. Then she started laughing without remorse. (!!!)
You know, now I remember why I was so mean to her in the blog posts. However, I'll admit this: Traffic in Hanoi really isn't anything like traffic in Sgp, but cycling to M's place was actually rather fun, despite my inital reservations. Don't tell her I said that.
30 September 2007
29 September 2007
It Was A Dark & Stormy Night Part Deux
Spelling Bee and I had a most warm and welcoming dinner at T's place. Based on the two homes we've visited, Vietnamese families keep their houses very clean, neat and homely, and are extremely hospitable.
[Apparently it's part of the Vietnamese culture for women to help in the kitchen and for men to stay in the living room and chat. We were told that if the men tried to help out in the kitchen, they would get chased out (friendlily, of course) back into the living room to sit down and be waited upon, as is rightful for men. Of course, the Singaporean guys in the group took to the idea like fish to water and the ladies were like "Hey! Show them how you guys are different! Do your stuff in the kitchen!"
Intuition cooked black pepper beef for our Vietnamese host during one of our visits; Spelling Bee and I didn't intend to help out much initially, but the thought of being labelled "this one not going to be a good wife" prompted us to at least show face in the small, neat and VERY CLEAN kitchen :P ]
It came to us as a surprise, for when we agreed to meet her for dinner, we thought she would bring us to a cafe near our hotel. Unexpectedly, when we both showed up horribly late for the appointment, she told us that she cooked "green banana soup" for us at her home, 5km from our hotel. That's when we piled onto her motorbike (look ma, 3 of us on 1 bike! no helmets! and no rear-view mirrors!) and she cried "Wah! So heavy!", struggling to balance with us heavyweights behind her. That's also when she approached the motorbike taxi uncle and my adventure began.
So we got to her place eventually and had a warm cozy dinner: T, her cute younger brother, her wonderful mother, Spelling Bee and me. Halfway through, various cousins, aunties and uncles (they all live next to one another) popped by to say "Hi!" to the Singaporean guests =) How very friendly!
The evening was full of surprises, really. We were surprised that T's mother could speak Chinese. We were surprised that green banana soup is savoury and green bananas could taste like potatoes, skin and all. We were surprised that green papayas were edible, and they ate them like pickles during the dinner. (Spelling Bee was surprised that they used green oranges in VN and was even more surprised that inside the green orange, it was orange in colour, and I was surprised she was surprised that the inside of a green orange is orange.) T's cousin had a really squeeky speaking voice and she often squeeled in delight (the register was high enough to almost shatter glass... almost) when playing games with us, but when she sang, it was as though an angel descended upon our midst; her squeeky voice became velvety, mellow and was pitch perfect. *cue dropped jaws and widened eyes*
As we were rounding up our night of food, singing and games, T's mother remarked that it sounded like it was about to rain and we should really be on our way. T and her best friend, P, would send us back on their bikes.
Just as we rode out of the compound into the town, heavy rain started pelting down. split splat Split Splat SPLISH SPLASH SPLISH *ThuUUUuunnDdeerrr....* The rain mercilessly beat down upon the streets and we had to stop by a shop for cover. There was no way our friends could send us back in that heavy rain. Traffic disappeared from the streets; all that could be seen are the occassional folks crossing the soaked streets in slippers and raincoats or the lone taxi inching its way in the rain. No motorbikes ventured out in that weather. We stood by the street and prayed for the rain to cease, but God in His sovereignty decided that it was good to rain. P called for a cab for us, so as we waited for the taxi, we huddled together under a small shelter and tried our best to avoid the rain.
The taxi came after 20min; SB and I made a dash for it. As we slowly made our way to the hotel, we noticed how a heavy downpour clears the roads of traffic. We also noticed that the drainage system can't keep up with the volume of water; even the larger roads were getting covered with water.
SB: Wow, it's getting slightly flooded.
Me: Yeah man...
SB: The drains are probably choked with rubbish.
Me: Yah lor, considering how it's the norm to throw things on the streets.
*sat in silence for the rest of the stormy ride back*
As the taxi approached the busy streets surrounding our hotel, it became apparent that the streets are slightly flooded; I could see the water level reaching the doorstep of some shopfronts. As we looked out into the pouring rain, some strange men looked into the cab and leered at us. What was that all about?! Disgusted, we looked away.
Before long...
Taxi driver: ok, hotel here.
Me: Could you drive nearer to the hotel? Move back abit?
Taxi driver: *frowns and points at another taxi blocking his way* No no, cannot.
SB: Aiyoh, so far ah?
Me: Yah, looks like we gotta swim to the hotel *squints at the rising water level in the heavy rain*
Taking a deep breath, we opened the taxi door and stepped right into a wading pool with a heavy shower right over us... the murky, cold water reached to our knees.
We: Aaaahhhhh!!! *tries to wade through the water while holding a bent and broken umbrella over our heads*
We: AaaahhhHh! *tries to avoid a low-hanging tree branch... *
SB: aaaahhhh*bangs into the branch* OUCH! aaahahahahhaha..!!
Me: AAAhhhhhh! *feels something slimy touch my feet and tries not to think about all the rubbish I usually see on the streets*
After blindly stumbling in the rain from the cab to the hotel entrance, we collapsed into the reception area, laughing like madwomen. The receptionist took a while to recognize us, all wretched and drenched; she looked like she briefly considered shooing us loony vagabonds back into the rain.
We climbed up to our room and collapsed onto the chairs, spent and stoned from all that happened in that one evening, as the rain continued relentlessly and the thunder rumbled on. What a night.
[Apparently it's part of the Vietnamese culture for women to help in the kitchen and for men to stay in the living room and chat. We were told that if the men tried to help out in the kitchen, they would get chased out (friendlily, of course) back into the living room to sit down and be waited upon, as is rightful for men. Of course, the Singaporean guys in the group took to the idea like fish to water and the ladies were like "Hey! Show them how you guys are different! Do your stuff in the kitchen!"
Intuition cooked black pepper beef for our Vietnamese host during one of our visits; Spelling Bee and I didn't intend to help out much initially, but the thought of being labelled "this one not going to be a good wife" prompted us to at least show face in the small, neat and VERY CLEAN kitchen :P ]
It came to us as a surprise, for when we agreed to meet her for dinner, we thought she would bring us to a cafe near our hotel. Unexpectedly, when we both showed up horribly late for the appointment, she told us that she cooked "green banana soup" for us at her home, 5km from our hotel. That's when we piled onto her motorbike (look ma, 3 of us on 1 bike! no helmets! and no rear-view mirrors!) and she cried "Wah! So heavy!", struggling to balance with us heavyweights behind her. That's also when she approached the motorbike taxi uncle and my adventure began.
So we got to her place eventually and had a warm cozy dinner: T, her cute younger brother, her wonderful mother, Spelling Bee and me. Halfway through, various cousins, aunties and uncles (they all live next to one another) popped by to say "Hi!" to the Singaporean guests =) How very friendly!
The evening was full of surprises, really. We were surprised that T's mother could speak Chinese. We were surprised that green banana soup is savoury and green bananas could taste like potatoes, skin and all. We were surprised that green papayas were edible, and they ate them like pickles during the dinner. (Spelling Bee was surprised that they used green oranges in VN and was even more surprised that inside the green orange, it was orange in colour, and I was surprised she was surprised that the inside of a green orange is orange.) T's cousin had a really squeeky speaking voice and she often squeeled in delight (the register was high enough to almost shatter glass... almost) when playing games with us, but when she sang, it was as though an angel descended upon our midst; her squeeky voice became velvety, mellow and was pitch perfect. *cue dropped jaws and widened eyes*
As we were rounding up our night of food, singing and games, T's mother remarked that it sounded like it was about to rain and we should really be on our way. T and her best friend, P, would send us back on their bikes.
Just as we rode out of the compound into the town, heavy rain started pelting down. split splat Split Splat SPLISH SPLASH SPLISH *ThuUUUuunnDdeerrr....* The rain mercilessly beat down upon the streets and we had to stop by a shop for cover. There was no way our friends could send us back in that heavy rain. Traffic disappeared from the streets; all that could be seen are the occassional folks crossing the soaked streets in slippers and raincoats or the lone taxi inching its way in the rain. No motorbikes ventured out in that weather. We stood by the street and prayed for the rain to cease, but God in His sovereignty decided that it was good to rain. P called for a cab for us, so as we waited for the taxi, we huddled together under a small shelter and tried our best to avoid the rain.
The taxi came after 20min; SB and I made a dash for it. As we slowly made our way to the hotel, we noticed how a heavy downpour clears the roads of traffic. We also noticed that the drainage system can't keep up with the volume of water; even the larger roads were getting covered with water.
SB: Wow, it's getting slightly flooded.
Me: Yeah man...
SB: The drains are probably choked with rubbish.
Me: Yah lor, considering how it's the norm to throw things on the streets.
*sat in silence for the rest of the stormy ride back*
As the taxi approached the busy streets surrounding our hotel, it became apparent that the streets are slightly flooded; I could see the water level reaching the doorstep of some shopfronts. As we looked out into the pouring rain, some strange men looked into the cab and leered at us. What was that all about?! Disgusted, we looked away.
Before long...
Taxi driver: ok, hotel here.
Me: Could you drive nearer to the hotel? Move back abit?
Taxi driver: *frowns and points at another taxi blocking his way* No no, cannot.
SB: Aiyoh, so far ah?
Me: Yah, looks like we gotta swim to the hotel *squints at the rising water level in the heavy rain*
Taking a deep breath, we opened the taxi door and stepped right into a wading pool with a heavy shower right over us... the murky, cold water reached to our knees.
We: Aaaahhhhh!!! *tries to wade through the water while holding a bent and broken umbrella over our heads*
We: AaaahhhHh! *tries to avoid a low-hanging tree branch... *
SB: aaaahhhh*bangs into the branch* OUCH! aaahahahahhaha..!!
Me: AAAhhhhhh! *feels something slimy touch my feet and tries not to think about all the rubbish I usually see on the streets*
After blindly stumbling in the rain from the cab to the hotel entrance, we collapsed into the reception area, laughing like madwomen. The receptionist took a while to recognize us, all wretched and drenched; she looked like she briefly considered shooing us loony vagabonds back into the rain.
We climbed up to our room and collapsed onto the chairs, spent and stoned from all that happened in that one evening, as the rain continued relentlessly and the thunder rumbled on. What a night.
26 September 2007
Postcards from Sapa
Beautiful weather while we were there =) Thank God, really, especially when Sapa is known for its muddy tracks and rainy weather. We had a wonderful time of retreat, except for poor Spelling Bee who had a bout of stomach flu there =( She spent most of her time in a lovely cafe, Baguettes and Chocolat, dozing and drinking ginger tea.
25 September 2007
A Desk Revisited
If you remember from a previous post, Confessions, there was a poor colleague of mine who had his desk wrapped up while he was away on reservice for 2 weeks.
FYI, he also went for the Hanoi trip, which took 11 days.
Before leaving for the trip, someone asked him, "Hey, aren't you afraid that your desk will get wrapped up again while you are gone?", to which he replied,"No worries! This time Quirkie is on the trip with me, so I'm very sure that my desk will be safe!" Tsk tsk, whatever gave him such awful ideas about me?
When we came back to work today, there was a nice surprise waiting just for him:
Poor guy =P I really didn't do it this time. Seriously!
FYI, he also went for the Hanoi trip, which took 11 days.
Before leaving for the trip, someone asked him, "Hey, aren't you afraid that your desk will get wrapped up again while you are gone?", to which he replied,"No worries! This time Quirkie is on the trip with me, so I'm very sure that my desk will be safe!" Tsk tsk, whatever gave him such awful ideas about me?
When we came back to work today, there was a nice surprise waiting just for him:
Poor guy =P I really didn't do it this time. Seriously!
24 September 2007
It Was A Dark & Stormy Night... Part 1
"Ok?"
"Ok ok..." *nods gruffly and gestures to the seat behind him.*
"Ok, you can take his bike."
Without a second thought, I got off my friend's motorbike onto this heavy set middle aged man's bike. Suddenly, he made a U-turn and went off in the opposite direction from where we were headed. Surprised, I turned to see if my friend was following. The last thing I saw were their surprised expressions and open jaws. Oh dear.
The driver took a deep breath from his cigarette and swung into a dark, deserted alley. Good gosh, where was he going? With mild panic rising in my heart, I constantly turned around to see if my friends were anywhere nearby. They were no where to be seen. The next thing I knew, we were up on a highway, crossing a river. Where was this stranger bringing me to?? Why can't I see my friend if we were really going the same way? Unless it's NOT the same way? Is this an abduction??
The driver turned around and gruffly said something to me. There was no way of communicating; I didn't speak a word of Vietnamese, he doesn't understand English. Great, I have just proven myself totally vulnerable to whatever schemes he may have. As we zipped past the river on the highway, headlines blared in my head: "Singaporean Girl Missing in Hanoi", "Tourist Kidnapped", "Stupid Things To Do When On Holiday: Accepting Rides From Strangers". I rummaged through my bag and dug out my handphone, frantic to call someone. I dialed and dialed, all I got were "Active Call Barring" alerts from my hp. Frustrated, I wondered about my chances of escaping by jumping off the bike while on the highway. Looking at the heavy traffic moving quickly around me, it doesn't seem like a good idea; I need to be alive before I can be rescued.
"Dear Father, please keep me safe. Please let my hp miraculously dial out. Please send someone to contact me. Please watch over me. Amen amen amen." That was all I could do while hanging on for dear life.
He got off the highway into another deserted alleyway. As he slowed down, he mentioned something about "Wait here". Wait here for? For my friend or for his funny plans?? I didn't need another prompt, I got off his bike as he slowed down when making a turn, burning my leg on the exhaust pipe in the process. "Ow!" I cried. He looked irritated, saying "Ow, ow!" in return and gesturing for me to move away from the pipe and to get back onto the bike. Did he just show some compassion for me? Maybe he isn't really going to kidnap me?
He finally stopped at... a dark place in the middle of nowhere with a whole group of strange men with sinister smiles walking ominously towards me. "Wait here, wait here!" he said. "20,000 dong." I paid him and he reiterated, "Wait here!" With that, he left. The strange men closed in on me and chorused "Taxi, miss? Take taxi?" Everywhere I turned, there was a leery smile with an offer to take a taxi. I backed away and walked briskly (running will show too obviously that I was afraid. Must look brave.) towards a closing stall.
Finally, my HP rang. It was Spelling Bee.
SB: Quirkie! Where are you? We were so worried for you! I kept praying for your safety!
Me: Spelling Bee! I don't know where I am! Where are you two? How do I find you? Why don't I pass my hp to someone and then you get our friend, T, to speak to him / her?
SB: Ok let me pass the hp to her.
T: Quirkie! I was so worried!
Me: Yah I was also very worried! Hold on, I pass the hp to someone here and you can ask him where is this place.
I approached a lady who looked really shocked and surprised; she mumbled something into the hp and suddenly I hear the screech of a motorbike and a man's hand reached out for the hp. It was my would-be-kidnapper! He took my hp from the lady and spoke gruffly into the hp, then passed it to me and told me again, "Wait here, wait here." I looked around worriedly, but did my best to put on a brave expression. "Your friend!" he cried as he pointed to Spelling Bee and T approaching on a motorbike not too far away from me. They didn't see me but it didn't matter, they soon would.
"Thank you!" I waved to the gruff motorbike taxi uncle as I ran after the bike, shouting "Spelling Beeeeeeee!"
"Ok ok..." *nods gruffly and gestures to the seat behind him.*
"Ok, you can take his bike."
Without a second thought, I got off my friend's motorbike onto this heavy set middle aged man's bike. Suddenly, he made a U-turn and went off in the opposite direction from where we were headed. Surprised, I turned to see if my friend was following. The last thing I saw were their surprised expressions and open jaws. Oh dear.
The driver took a deep breath from his cigarette and swung into a dark, deserted alley. Good gosh, where was he going? With mild panic rising in my heart, I constantly turned around to see if my friends were anywhere nearby. They were no where to be seen. The next thing I knew, we were up on a highway, crossing a river. Where was this stranger bringing me to?? Why can't I see my friend if we were really going the same way? Unless it's NOT the same way? Is this an abduction??
The driver turned around and gruffly said something to me. There was no way of communicating; I didn't speak a word of Vietnamese, he doesn't understand English. Great, I have just proven myself totally vulnerable to whatever schemes he may have. As we zipped past the river on the highway, headlines blared in my head: "Singaporean Girl Missing in Hanoi", "Tourist Kidnapped", "Stupid Things To Do When On Holiday: Accepting Rides From Strangers". I rummaged through my bag and dug out my handphone, frantic to call someone. I dialed and dialed, all I got were "Active Call Barring" alerts from my hp. Frustrated, I wondered about my chances of escaping by jumping off the bike while on the highway. Looking at the heavy traffic moving quickly around me, it doesn't seem like a good idea; I need to be alive before I can be rescued.
"Dear Father, please keep me safe. Please let my hp miraculously dial out. Please send someone to contact me. Please watch over me. Amen amen amen." That was all I could do while hanging on for dear life.
He got off the highway into another deserted alleyway. As he slowed down, he mentioned something about "Wait here". Wait here for? For my friend or for his funny plans?? I didn't need another prompt, I got off his bike as he slowed down when making a turn, burning my leg on the exhaust pipe in the process. "Ow!" I cried. He looked irritated, saying "Ow, ow!" in return and gesturing for me to move away from the pipe and to get back onto the bike. Did he just show some compassion for me? Maybe he isn't really going to kidnap me?
He finally stopped at... a dark place in the middle of nowhere with a whole group of strange men with sinister smiles walking ominously towards me. "Wait here, wait here!" he said. "20,000 dong." I paid him and he reiterated, "Wait here!" With that, he left. The strange men closed in on me and chorused "Taxi, miss? Take taxi?" Everywhere I turned, there was a leery smile with an offer to take a taxi. I backed away and walked briskly (running will show too obviously that I was afraid. Must look brave.) towards a closing stall.
Finally, my HP rang. It was Spelling Bee.
SB: Quirkie! Where are you? We were so worried for you! I kept praying for your safety!
Me: Spelling Bee! I don't know where I am! Where are you two? How do I find you? Why don't I pass my hp to someone and then you get our friend, T, to speak to him / her?
SB: Ok let me pass the hp to her.
T: Quirkie! I was so worried!
Me: Yah I was also very worried! Hold on, I pass the hp to someone here and you can ask him where is this place.
I approached a lady who looked really shocked and surprised; she mumbled something into the hp and suddenly I hear the screech of a motorbike and a man's hand reached out for the hp. It was my would-be-kidnapper! He took my hp from the lady and spoke gruffly into the hp, then passed it to me and told me again, "Wait here, wait here." I looked around worriedly, but did my best to put on a brave expression. "Your friend!" he cried as he pointed to Spelling Bee and T approaching on a motorbike not too far away from me. They didn't see me but it didn't matter, they soon would.
"Thank you!" I waved to the gruff motorbike taxi uncle as I ran after the bike, shouting "Spelling Beeeeeeee!"
19 September 2007
Seeing Sapa!
The bunch of us are leaving for Sapa by night train tonight =) 5 of us will be sharing a 6person cabin... and one of the guys SNORES.
Good gosh. I hope we get some rest tonight :P
VN has been quite a surprising place so far. The streets are surprisingly crowded and dirty; the toilets are surprisingly clean and well stocked =) There have been other surprises, some good and some bad, and all the traumatising ones have nearly always been catalysed by my room-mate. Do pray for grace, that we don't end up mauling each other :P
If I come back in 1 piece after Sapa, will update more about the interesting room-mate and the troubles she got me into.
If she doesn't kill me first, that is.
Good gosh. I hope we get some rest tonight :P
VN has been quite a surprising place so far. The streets are surprisingly crowded and dirty; the toilets are surprisingly clean and well stocked =) There have been other surprises, some good and some bad, and all the traumatising ones have nearly always been catalysed by my room-mate. Do pray for grace, that we don't end up mauling each other :P
If I come back in 1 piece after Sapa, will update more about the interesting room-mate and the troubles she got me into.
If she doesn't kill me first, that is.
18 September 2007
My Interesting Room-mate
For privacy reasons, CL's name is changed to Spelling Bee (SB for short) for this blogpost.
The Night Before Hanoi:
SB: Are you gonna bring your sleepers and shoes to VN?
Me: *thinking to myself: What on earth..?? Sleeping bags? Sleepers? OH! She means SLIPPERS!*
SB: what other thinks are you bringing there?
Me: ...
At The PCs in The Hotel
SB: How do u spell grateful? Is it "g.r.e.a.t...."
Me: ROFL!!!!!!!!
At a Vietnamese Friend's Place
*SB writing down an address and TH looking over her shoulder*
TH: Urm... how do you spell "Michael"?
SB: M-I-C-H-E-A-L
TH: ...
TH: Oh... I think it's wrong
In the Taxi
Someone: I think we should spend the morning doing this...
SB: I seems to think so too
Intuition: "seems to think so"?
SB: *whacks Intuition*
Last Night
SB: Someone has been making a lot of harsh decisions and shouldn't be so harsh.
Me: Harsh?
SB: Yah lor.
Me: ...
Me: I think you mean "rash"?
SB: HAHAHAHHAHAHAA! *whacks me*
The Night Before Hanoi:
SB: Are you gonna bring your sleepers and shoes to VN?
Me: *thinking to myself: What on earth..?? Sleeping bags? Sleepers? OH! She means SLIPPERS!*
SB: what other thinks are you bringing there?
Me: ...
At The PCs in The Hotel
SB: How do u spell grateful? Is it "g.r.e.a.t...."
Me: ROFL!!!!!!!!
At a Vietnamese Friend's Place
*SB writing down an address and TH looking over her shoulder*
TH: Urm... how do you spell "Michael"?
SB: M-I-C-H-E-A-L
TH: ...
TH: Oh... I think it's wrong
In the Taxi
Someone: I think we should spend the morning doing this...
SB: I seems to think so too
Intuition: "seems to think so"?
SB: *whacks Intuition*
Last Night
SB: Someone has been making a lot of harsh decisions and shouldn't be so harsh.
Me: Harsh?
SB: Yah lor.
Me: ...
Me: I think you mean "rash"?
SB: HAHAHAHHAHAHAA! *whacks me*
17 September 2007
Conversations in Halong Bay
TH: Ok! Let's play 2 truths and 1 lie. Basically you tell the group 3 things about yourself; 2 of which is the truth and one of them is a lie. The group will guess which is the lie.
Tourguide: Ok! Let me start. 1. I have 2 handphones. 2. I have a car. 3. I have 3 girlfriends.
Friend 1: I guess the girlfriend.
Friend 2: Hmmm.... the car.
Friend 3: Yah, I guess the car too.
Tourguide:It's easy and logical! I've got no car. How to have a car?
Me: *Boggle eyed* So you have 3 girlfriends?
Tourguide: Yes *beatific smile*
CL: Do they know about one another?
Tourguide: Yes they know. They say I am good man, so they don't mind, because I am good man.
Me: Oh.
TH: Oh.
CL: Oh.
Me: Well, don't you want to get married one day? Which one will you marry?? All three?
Tourguide: Maybe *smile*
TH: Hmmm. Is it legal in VN?
Tourguide: Hmmm... No, but you can do it. Maybe illegal. Yah.
We: I see. *thoughtful expression*
Tourguide: Ok! Let me start. 1. I have 2 handphones. 2. I have a car. 3. I have 3 girlfriends.
Friend 1: I guess the girlfriend.
Friend 2: Hmmm.... the car.
Friend 3: Yah, I guess the car too.
Tourguide:It's easy and logical! I've got no car. How to have a car?
Me: *Boggle eyed* So you have 3 girlfriends?
Tourguide: Yes *beatific smile*
CL: Do they know about one another?
Tourguide: Yes they know. They say I am good man, so they don't mind, because I am good man.
Me: Oh.
TH: Oh.
CL: Oh.
Me: Well, don't you want to get married one day? Which one will you marry?? All three?
Tourguide: Maybe *smile*
TH: Hmmm. Is it legal in VN?
Tourguide: Hmmm... No, but you can do it. Maybe illegal. Yah.
We: I see. *thoughtful expression*
14 September 2007
Hello Hanoi!
I've been meaning to post earlier than this, but somehow did not manage to find time until today. I am now in Hanoi and not in Singapore!
*Mega Grinzzz*
My friends and I touched down yesterday at 7.30pm VN time (8.30pm SGP time) and was escorted to our nice little hotel. I must recommend it, it's Prince II Hotel. The toilet is clean and everything works. There is no lingering smell of cigarette, nor does the room smell musty. It's within walking distance to a night market that will be opened this weekend *woot!* :D Night market, here I come!
We're going Halong Bay tomorrow ^_^ Please pray for me, as I'm prone to sea-sickness =( I would like to enjoy myself there and not spend the time looking green and about to puke =(
*Mega Grinzzz*
My friends and I touched down yesterday at 7.30pm VN time (8.30pm SGP time) and was escorted to our nice little hotel. I must recommend it, it's Prince II Hotel. The toilet is clean and everything works. There is no lingering smell of cigarette, nor does the room smell musty. It's within walking distance to a night market that will be opened this weekend *woot!* :D Night market, here I come!
We're going Halong Bay tomorrow ^_^ Please pray for me, as I'm prone to sea-sickness =( I would like to enjoy myself there and not spend the time looking green and about to puke =(
08 September 2007
It's A Dog's Life
Right now, my house is a ruckus of noise, saliva and fur. Two dogs who can't get along are drooling, sniffing and shedding around my flat and I am absolutely enjoying every minute of it =)My family's having a little gathering now that my dad's back in town, so the aunties and uncles are here, together with Benji the Mini Shnauzer and Junior, the Shetland Sheepdog. Junior is named as such because he's Marshall's "replacement" of sort. These two dogs are about the same size and have similar markings. Even their doleful expressions are so similar. However, their personalities are world's apart. Marshall is the smarter, more dignified, more sissified of the two. Junior is just an adorable rascal (he bit through my cousin's desktop's power cable and lamp) and honestly, a little IQ challenged ; ) As Jac puts it, he's like a dog with special needs :P
Benji is a bright spark of a mini shnauzer. He knows instinctively who he can afford to offend and who to obey. He knows how to steer clear from people who are angry with him and how to beg for food effectively. A greedy dog, this one is =) And he hates Junior's guts but Junior loves him. It's a love-hate relationship :D When the two are together, there is no lack of drool and entertainment as we watch their antics. Junior would nip at Benji's eyebrows, legs, butt, tail etc while Benji growls, barks and snaps at him. Frankly, these intimidation tactics look quite cute on a chubby mini shnauzer and Junior seems to enjoy being barked at. He's got really thick skin for a dog.Right now, Benji is scampering up and down the stairs while Junior is chomping down on a squeeky toy, making incessant squeeky noises that brings such delight to his doggie soul =) We all hate the noise but only Junior can get away with it. He's like the youngest child in the family, the one whom everyone indulges and pampers. My uncle is notoriously strict and fierce when it comes to his dogs' upbringing, but when it comes to Junior, there is no limits to how much he can pamper and spoil the mutt. For instance, he bought a Honda Jazz, presumably to bring my grandmother to the beaches, but we all know that it's really to drive Junior around. Like I said, no limits.
06 September 2007
The Sweetest Thing
While discussing family finances, I expressed concern over the rising costs of living and my parents' possibly shrinking retirement funds. Essentially, "Got enough to live comfortably on anot?"
Dad: *distractedly while fiddling with his laptop* Your mummy har... anyway, if she lives to 100, I will take care of her til then hor.
Mum: *distractedly and somewhat petulantly while playing Solitaire on the desktop* Your dad's sweet talking me again.
Dad's home =) My breakfasts will be taken care of for the next few weeks. Yay! No more nutella + peanut butter sandwiches + instant coffee for breakfasts for a while ;) Life is good.
Dad: *distractedly while fiddling with his laptop* Your mummy har... anyway, if she lives to 100, I will take care of her til then hor.
Mum: *distractedly and somewhat petulantly while playing Solitaire on the desktop* Your dad's sweet talking me again.
Dad's home =) My breakfasts will be taken care of for the next few weeks. Yay! No more nutella + peanut butter sandwiches + instant coffee for breakfasts for a while ;) Life is good.
02 September 2007
A Humbled Food Snob
In case you can't tell yet, I'm a bit of a food snob. I scorn the food that the masses scarf down undiscerningly. Food trends are a result of masses of blind being led by masses of blind. If it's so massed produced, it can't be good. Down with Cafe Cartel / KFC / McDs / Burger King / Pasta Mania and the icky like. And on and on I go.
During the bubble tea craze, I avoided the sugared coloured health-damaging-agents fastidiously. And, by the way, you really shouldn't drink too much of it. My colleagues learnt how to make it recently and the amount of sugar that goes in to make it taste halfway decent is enough to give a whole ant colony a sugar buzzzzzzzzz.
When roti boy took the island by storm, I took a bite of it and ho-hummed through the rest of the craze. It's just coffee flavoured buttered buns! What's the big deal? Ditto when the Bread-talk pork floss bun came out. Anyone remember the long Qs waiting for those buns? Hands up those of you guilty ones, Q-ing for something as pedestrian as porkfloss + mayo on bread. I will always remember my Princess friend who said this of the bun, "When it comes out of the oven, you don't have to ask any questions! Just GRAB!" She's a dear friend and to each his / her own. If she likes it, good for her! But it's just mehhh for me.
And now, it's the donut craze! People Q-ing up in ridiculously loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong Qs for boxes and boxes of multicoloured donuts. What's the big deal, really? I've had donuts before, they're nothing to scream about, much less Q so very long for. Have you seen those Qs at Raffles City? Good gosh. And now there's one at Suntec City, which is quickly gathering a long snaking Q too.
One fine afternoon, my colleague dropped me off at Suntec. I had about 15min to spare and lo, I decided to find out Why There's A Perpetual Q: A Case For Donuts. And so I Q-ed for the take-away line, whereby you can only take 2 donuts away, max. "Fine!" I thought, while mentally rolling my eyes. 2's plenty anyways. I'll just find out what's the biggie with these things.
As I Q-ed and waited, I noticed svelt office girls digging into these donuts on premise, 2 per person! They look like really dainty eaters... no Atkins for them? And the elderly couple further up! Also 2 per pax?? No dietary constraints?? What's going on here? I surveyed the flavours before me and my eyes popped when I saw this: Double Chocolate. (Dark chocolate filling.) Oh dear me, please please please let there be double chocolate when I get there, please pretty pretty please.
God was kind, He allowed me to have both the flavours I was begging for (apple & cinnamon; double choc). I was going to meet Intuition, and now the question is, do I want to share my loot? I mean, he's my boyfriend and all, but these are donuts I've Q-ed long and hard for. Surely he doesn't need the extra calories. Perhaps he won't enjoy them. Don't I want to eat them by myself? If I don't tell him, he won't know! What he doesn't know won't hurt him! As I question myself, my eyes strayed to the handbag in my arms, a bag he bought for me not too long ago in a bid to give me a pleasant surprise.
Sigh. I suppose I must share.
The donuts were wolfed down in a matter of seconds. I didn't want to share the double chocolate, but Intuition had a crazy gleam in his eye and snatched the remaining half away from me while pushing his half-eaten apple-cinnamon donut towards me. "I don't wanna share mine! I dun wanna!" I cried, to no avail. Sadly, I started munching on the apple and cinnamon, and was duly comforted.
These donuts. They bring out the worst in people.
And I need some now.
During the bubble tea craze, I avoided the sugared coloured health-damaging-agents fastidiously. And, by the way, you really shouldn't drink too much of it. My colleagues learnt how to make it recently and the amount of sugar that goes in to make it taste halfway decent is enough to give a whole ant colony a sugar buzzzzzzzzz.
When roti boy took the island by storm, I took a bite of it and ho-hummed through the rest of the craze. It's just coffee flavoured buttered buns! What's the big deal? Ditto when the Bread-talk pork floss bun came out. Anyone remember the long Qs waiting for those buns? Hands up those of you guilty ones, Q-ing for something as pedestrian as porkfloss + mayo on bread. I will always remember my Princess friend who said this of the bun, "When it comes out of the oven, you don't have to ask any questions! Just GRAB!" She's a dear friend and to each his / her own. If she likes it, good for her! But it's just mehhh for me.
And now, it's the donut craze! People Q-ing up in ridiculously loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong Qs for boxes and boxes of multicoloured donuts. What's the big deal, really? I've had donuts before, they're nothing to scream about, much less Q so very long for. Have you seen those Qs at Raffles City? Good gosh. And now there's one at Suntec City, which is quickly gathering a long snaking Q too.
One fine afternoon, my colleague dropped me off at Suntec. I had about 15min to spare and lo, I decided to find out Why There's A Perpetual Q: A Case For Donuts. And so I Q-ed for the take-away line, whereby you can only take 2 donuts away, max. "Fine!" I thought, while mentally rolling my eyes. 2's plenty anyways. I'll just find out what's the biggie with these things.
As I Q-ed and waited, I noticed svelt office girls digging into these donuts on premise, 2 per person! They look like really dainty eaters... no Atkins for them? And the elderly couple further up! Also 2 per pax?? No dietary constraints?? What's going on here? I surveyed the flavours before me and my eyes popped when I saw this: Double Chocolate. (Dark chocolate filling.) Oh dear me, please please please let there be double chocolate when I get there, please pretty pretty please.
God was kind, He allowed me to have both the flavours I was begging for (apple & cinnamon; double choc). I was going to meet Intuition, and now the question is, do I want to share my loot? I mean, he's my boyfriend and all, but these are donuts I've Q-ed long and hard for. Surely he doesn't need the extra calories. Perhaps he won't enjoy them. Don't I want to eat them by myself? If I don't tell him, he won't know! What he doesn't know won't hurt him! As I question myself, my eyes strayed to the handbag in my arms, a bag he bought for me not too long ago in a bid to give me a pleasant surprise.
Sigh. I suppose I must share.
The donuts were wolfed down in a matter of seconds. I didn't want to share the double chocolate, but Intuition had a crazy gleam in his eye and snatched the remaining half away from me while pushing his half-eaten apple-cinnamon donut towards me. "I don't wanna share mine! I dun wanna!" I cried, to no avail. Sadly, I started munching on the apple and cinnamon, and was duly comforted.
These donuts. They bring out the worst in people.
And I need some now.
Code
I'b down wib a code. By nose id thuck and air-con id by biggeth edeby.
Thigh.
Cand dju underthand what i'b thaying?
I'b got a CODE! A CODE!
*AHCHOOOOOO...*
*sniffle... Hooooonk*
Ethcuth be while I go brow by dothe.
Thigh.
Cand dju underthand what i'b thaying?
I'b got a CODE! A CODE!
*AHCHOOOOOO...*
*sniffle... Hooooonk*
Ethcuth be while I go brow by dothe.
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