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.
Showing posts with label Hello Hanoi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hello Hanoi. Show all posts
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.
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.
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 =(
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