My last week in Vietnam was spent traveling to Hanoi, Halong Bay and Sapa. It was both incredible and exhausting. I found that this quote really fits my last week in Vietnam:
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you- it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you… Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” Anthony Bourdain
I will leave it at that. If you want to know stories or description, just ask. My entire trip cannot be summed up in a few paragraphs. It was truly indescribable. I am so lucky for both the opportunity and the companionship through it. It could not have been any better!
I have talked enough about it…so here is the expereience of being on a Motorbike in Saigon. For those who suffer from motion sickness, please take proper medication before watching. Enjoy.
Our last weekend in Ho Chi Minh City was spent doing a little site seeing, getting an ever so famous foot massage, shooting an AK-47, and making new friends.
Happy BIRDday Joe Jackson
I find this event so over the top that it is hard to describe, but I will do my best…First a little background…Happyland is an amusement park and hotel project currently in the works in Vietnam. The lead investor Madame Thou could be described as an extremely interesting woman. Another investor happens to be Joe Jackson (Michael Jackson’s Father). So why wouldn’t Madame Thou throw him an extravagant Birthday party on a nicely manicured portion of the site? As we drive up to the site we are greeted by a fleet of Happyland golf carts and models directing us to them. As we arrive to the location of the party we walk down a wide runway of freshly planted grass with more models and characters greeting us. We were faced with elaborate flower arrangements, a thatched roof hut that served as the bar, rice hats with Happyland logos that double as light fixtures and two huge white and blue striped tents. My meeting of Madame Thou was brief and intense as she grabbed a hold of my arm (with a pretty decent grip) and smiled as cameras snapped a hundred pictures. This woman has celebrity status. Joe Jackson’s arrival was interesting as he was followed by what I could only guess was an Australian boy band. There were so many different types of people at this party…hipsters, business men, kids, models, characters…interns (ie Joel and I). As we were herded to our table for dinner the show began. And we had “VIP” seats in the open air. As the sun lowers and I begin swatting mosquitoes off of me videos of the project being to play. The English words scrolled across the bottom so fast it made my head spin. The Happyland two minute jingle was on repeat. Little girls twirled around with big flowers. Hipsters rapped in Vietnamese. But the show really started when they began to honor Joe Jackson by playing Michael’s “we are the world” while rolling a big globe onto the stage…When him and Madame Thou cracked the globe open doves were supposed to be released. Unfortunately they seemed to like it inside the globe. Because they wanted a certain effect from this big scene they just started grabbing the birds and throwing them (I can’t say confidently that no doves were harmed during this party). As one landed on Madame Thou’s head I could not help but laugh. As the entertainment was…well…entertaining I was ready for some food. First course comes and goes; little did we know that was the last. It begins to downpour. We run to huddle in the tent and figure they will bring up some food…didn’t happen. The wind starts up, even under the tent isn’t dry. The freshly planted grass is getting soggy under my wedges. The storm cut our night the experience of this event short. Despite how much I would have loved to see the rest of the show, I was happy to leave and stay semi dry….On the way home we stopped for noodles…
My trip to Manila was a quick one. I really only got a taste, but it was interesting. I enjoyed being able to see another one of my dad’s jobs under construction. Maybe we can retake this picture when the building is finished. I also encountered the biggest oxymoron I have ever seen. It’s a great idea to grab a pint of Haagen Dazs after a hard workout…Well I wasn’t on my usual photo rampage on this trip…So that’s all I have for ya…
Con Dao
When I was young the ocean was this place of the unknown, it was scary to me. Family vacations to Hawaii would be spent in the pool. Living at the Santa Monica beach encouraged a love for it, but the water is always freezing. The heat in Hoi An kept me in the ocean as a necessity, but the beauty of Con Dao had me in the ocean for the experience. Whether it was looking for sea turtles with a snorkel or just floating around for hours with great company. The water was so blue and clear you could see your feet making prints in the wet sand below. Walking into it felt as though you were stepping into the perfectly tempered bathtub. The waves were calm and just barely rocked you as they passed. The sand was white and soft, you could walk for miles barefoot. The mountains of the 15 small islands surrounded you with vibrant greenery. Most of the islands are national parks, not to be disturbed. It is truly an incredible place. There is a special feeling that takes over you upon traveling to these islands. It is a mix between excitement and peacefulness. Even with a little sea sickness thrown in the mix this has to be one of my favorite places I have visited.
My trip to Hoi An was truly incredible. The old town was quaint and historic, with a lively night scene. And the beach was beautiful! That being said there is never a dull moment in my traveling life. Getting there was a bit stressful seeing as the airline, Jetstar (I refer to them as Deathstar) just decided to move me onto a different flight. When Joel and I made it up to the check-in desk the lady handed Joel his boarding pass and said that I couldn’t check in yet to my 7pm flight (mind you its currently 12pm). After talking to 3 or 4 different Deathstar employees I pay a little extra to get on standby. They don’t let you wait at the gate for standby so we wait until the last possible minute and then have to rush through security (not that they care about liquids or shoes here). So we waited and waited. As we were waiting, a sandwich was shoved on my lap as a large Vietnamese child clearly wanted me to have it. The offer was proceeded by some sever coughing (on me). I am finally able to get on the flight, and Joel and I take off for security (running through the airport is what we do best). As I enter the flight and the AC isn’t working and I notice that the windows and parts of the chairs are taped together I think, “maybe I wasn’t meant to get on this flight.” Well we landed safely but I can’t say the flight was pleasant. So as far as the actual trip, we had a great time on the beach but it was so hot that shade and being in the ocean was necessary. The most entertaining part had to be leaving the beach and rinsing off. You know how the showers you rinse off at are usually secluded from other things…? Well these were in the middle of an outdoor restaurant…So as people enjoyed their meals they were able to be entertained by Joel and I taking our shower of the day (we had already checked out of our hotel). Our nightlife experience there included me arm wrestling with a Vietnamese man (he let me win), Joel and I playing some very bad pool, and our first rides on motorbikes. There were no cabs! It was a bit scary; I had no idea where to put my feet?! I wish I had documentation of this but you will just have to trust me on this one. Well overall a great trip, but I was glad to get back to HCMC where AC is more abundant and the weather is much cooler. Next trip Con Dao. It’s an island…“It’s an island, with lots of people, lots of different people… I hope to maybe meet some guys, some Italian guys, and maybe watch some TV and stuff” (If you know the movie Waiting for Guffman you are laughing, if you don’t I strongly encourage you to watch it).
