Adam just sent me this from Harper's. For the second election running, I'll be in Vietnam during the inauguration. We'll see where I end up in 2009.
In response, I sent him this:
Hope you guys make it overseas.
Physically, I can’t get any farther or else I’d be coming back.
Ethnically, Vietnam does not recognize my American citizenship because I was born in Saigon to Vietnamese natives.
Politically, Vietnam is as polar opposite as you can get from the Bush Administration.
My absentee vote was (or was not) counted in Virginia. I tried.
Come to Vietnam!
Buddha help us.
November 04, 2004
October 17, 2004
f u cn rd ths...
...then you're on the version that's getting updated. Theoretically.
For your entertainment (while I procrastinate writing my new posts), read the Adventures in Oz or my first days in Vietnam, when I returned to my motherland after 26 years in 2001. As with all blogs, posts are in reverse chronological order so start at the bottom and work your way up!
For your entertainment (while I procrastinate writing my new posts), read the Adventures in Oz or my first days in Vietnam, when I returned to my motherland after 26 years in 2001. As with all blogs, posts are in reverse chronological order so start at the bottom and work your way up!
May 13, 2004
Looking Forward
While I'm blogging over at Red Delicious Living, here's a preview of my aunt's new resort, the Seahorse Resort, built in Mui Ne (check out the post below). It's pretty amazing, and the resort is just stunning. There are 40 villas, with distinct designs using traditional Vietnamese architecture. The landscaping is particularly beautiful, as the resort was built on a coco garden. A LOT of resorts have popped up in the area and I have to say, they are mostly really tacky!
Seahorse Resort is going to be spectacular. They have a rec room with pool tables, table tennis; a spa for massages, facials, and all those goods, tennis courts, beach volleyball court, the pool, whirlpool and kids' pool, and they'll be offering lots of day trips in the nearby towns. The restaurant is large enough for a wedding party (around 400 seats?), featuring international cuisine and specializing in seafood barbecues (prawns are gigantic). They'll have meeting rooms and conference rooms that can accommodate groups of 60-200 with AV equipment. There's even a nearby 72 Par golf course designed by the Masters Champion, Nick Faldo. Let's hope the staff gets trained quickly and service quality meets our standards. They're currently under a soft-opening, and their Grand Opening will happen this summer. I'll be booking and sending friends through a special rate at Lannam.If you're wondering what my plans are, I can tell you I have no idea, but I know that I'm definitely spending my winter here!
May 10, 2004
huh
For some reason, my posts are a bit messed up. Am working out the kinks so bear with.
Heading to Santa Monica on May 26 for several weeks. Will be fun.
Heading to Santa Monica on May 26 for several weeks. Will be fun.
July 08, 2002
From Greenwich Village, NYC.
I see hits for Phan Thiet & Mui Ne, so here's what I have to say:
Phan Thiet is to a Saigonnese as the Hamptons are to a New Yorker.
Just 200km and a few hours from the hot dusty city of Sai Gon is the South China Sea and the Pacific Coast Highway. We're not talking PCH in Santa Monica, either. Sure, it's paved, though there aren't any paint lines and you're sure to see great big trucks alongside flip-flopped six-year-olds on girl friday bicycles sans helmet while double riding another kid on the back all in the same lane. Part of the typical Vietnamese scenery envelops you along your journey to the beautiful cape of Mui Ne Bay and the small coastal fishing town of Phan Thiet. On the drive alone, I got my first photo of a huge ox, saw medusa-like crops of dragon fruit (a brilliant pink pod fruit with green leafy tentacles), was amused by the parks and people of small towns, and was tortured by the tacky Vietnamese architecture.
I returned to Phan Thiet & Mui Ne often for the peace and luxury it offered as well as the kind camaraderie and hospitality I received from the directors of two resorts in particular, as well as their staff. Phan Thiet is my true motherland -- mom was born and raised there where she and her nine siblings would bathe from a well in front of the home -- and I found a great love for the town and its people. A trip to Phan Thiet and Mui Ne's beaches can also include a few excursions, to the red sand dunes where kids offer you a plastic sheet from which to slide down the hilly dunes, or the 13th Century Cham Temples. Every visit to Vietnam should include at least a three day stay (I prefer five) in Phan Thiet for the breathtaking sunsets over the South China Sea.
Vietnam Photos of Halong Bay, Phan Thiet, and other Vietnam highlights.
The South China Sea, Mui Ne, VIETNAM.
I see hits for Phan Thiet & Mui Ne, so here's what I have to say:
Phan Thiet is to a Saigonnese as the Hamptons are to a New Yorker.
Just 200km and a few hours from the hot dusty city of Sai Gon is the South China Sea and the Pacific Coast Highway. We're not talking PCH in Santa Monica, either. Sure, it's paved, though there aren't any paint lines and you're sure to see great big trucks alongside flip-flopped six-year-olds on girl friday bicycles sans helmet while double riding another kid on the back all in the same lane. Part of the typical Vietnamese scenery envelops you along your journey to the beautiful cape of Mui Ne Bay and the small coastal fishing town of Phan Thiet. On the drive alone, I got my first photo of a huge ox, saw medusa-like crops of dragon fruit (a brilliant pink pod fruit with green leafy tentacles), was amused by the parks and people of small towns, and was tortured by the tacky Vietnamese architecture.
I returned to Phan Thiet & Mui Ne often for the peace and luxury it offered as well as the kind camaraderie and hospitality I received from the directors of two resorts in particular, as well as their staff. Phan Thiet is my true motherland -- mom was born and raised there where she and her nine siblings would bathe from a well in front of the home -- and I found a great love for the town and its people. A trip to Phan Thiet and Mui Ne's beaches can also include a few excursions, to the red sand dunes where kids offer you a plastic sheet from which to slide down the hilly dunes, or the 13th Century Cham Temples. Every visit to Vietnam should include at least a three day stay (I prefer five) in Phan Thiet for the breathtaking sunsets over the South China Sea.
Vietnam Photos of Halong Bay, Phan Thiet, and other Vietnam highlights.
The South China Sea, Mui Ne, VIETNAM.
June 25, 2002
Just fixed the links below. If you find a link error, let me know!
Gate detail from the Forbidden Purple City
Read about Hue through the Vietnam archives (links on the sidebar!)
Gate detail from the Forbidden Purple City
Read about Hue through the Vietnam archives (links on the sidebar!)
May 25, 2002
I've changed the blog!
Life in New York is now at 10014 for current events, links, and my life in general. I wanted to keep this to the year in Asia Pacific through the beginning of my return to the U.S. As the blogger keeps posts reverse chronologically, it's best to start at the beginning - February 2001 Archives
or, read the Oz Adventures but remember to read bottom-up.
Australia, New Zealand and Vietnam photos remain on this site.
Life in New York is now at 10014 for current events, links, and my life in general. I wanted to keep this to the year in Asia Pacific through the beginning of my return to the U.S. As the blogger keeps posts reverse chronologically, it's best to start at the beginning - February 2001 Archives
or, read the Oz Adventures but remember to read bottom-up.
Australia, New Zealand and Vietnam photos remain on this site.
February 25, 2002
Not much to blog about till I get back to NYC on March 8th so for the best things to read, click on my Year in Review Letters (the last three years), the Normalcy Debate among the Hong siblings, and my Alaska AIDS Ride newsletter. That is, of course, if you have nothing better in the bathroom (none of them can be described as compendious so you might want to harm a sapling and print them out).
And for my favorite photo collections, try these:
Hanoi
Phan Thiet
NZ South Island Scenic Drive
although I had a tough time leaving out Sydney (on New Year's Eve) and the Glacier Hiking. Actually, I love all the photos, so just go to the links on the right and start clicking down the list - from Australia to New Zealand to Vietnam and even some shots of our crazy and funny family.
There are many many many photos I still haven't posted from Vietnam, and none of those of which I photographed at Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom among the many other temples I visited in Cambodia. Eventually I'll get those up.
Cheers,
Hani
And for my favorite photo collections, try these:
Hanoi
Phan Thiet
NZ South Island Scenic Drive
although I had a tough time leaving out Sydney (on New Year's Eve) and the Glacier Hiking. Actually, I love all the photos, so just go to the links on the right and start clicking down the list - from Australia to New Zealand to Vietnam and even some shots of our crazy and funny family.
There are many many many photos I still haven't posted from Vietnam, and none of those of which I photographed at Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom among the many other temples I visited in Cambodia. Eventually I'll get those up.
Cheers,
Hani
February 20, 2002
ARLINGTON VIRGINIA
The United States of America
It is sooooo good to be back on US soil. I nearly cried when I could see the snow on the ground from the airplane. When I arrived at the airport, I was welcomed by Uncle 7 and dad (who smartly remembered to bring me a coat because he knew I was coming from spending a year in the tropics) and temperatures of oh... -4C! That's 21F for those of you who need conversion. I can't describe how good the brisk air felt. I love sitting on the sunny side of the car on a blustery cold day - it just feels good.
So first stop from the airport, I tell dad "let's go have a steak and cheese." And we went to 2 Chefs at about 10:50 and I realize - it's CLOSED! And it's closed because in America, it was President's Day! So dad and Cau 7 took me to ... um... Little Saigon restaurant. Yeah. I just flew in from a year in Vietnam and we go to a Vietnamese restaurant. So I had a seven dollar bowl of duck noodle soup which in Vietnam costs $1.30.
This morning I got up and had to make my own coffee and toast my own croissant and this afternoon I had to cook my own food and clean my own dishes and IT FEELS GOOD. And this afternoon, Dad and I went to 2 Chefs and had our steak and cheeses and it tasted so GOOD. And they were open at 11 yesterday but we had just missed them. For shame.
I'm so happy to be back. I’ve talked to all my sisters, I hear English everywhere, I get to chill out with dad and not get bitten by mosquitos. I could even drink the tap water if I wanted to. I feel FREE FREE FREE. I am happy appy appy.
The United States of America
It is sooooo good to be back on US soil. I nearly cried when I could see the snow on the ground from the airplane. When I arrived at the airport, I was welcomed by Uncle 7 and dad (who smartly remembered to bring me a coat because he knew I was coming from spending a year in the tropics) and temperatures of oh... -4C! That's 21F for those of you who need conversion. I can't describe how good the brisk air felt. I love sitting on the sunny side of the car on a blustery cold day - it just feels good.
So first stop from the airport, I tell dad "let's go have a steak and cheese." And we went to 2 Chefs at about 10:50 and I realize - it's CLOSED! And it's closed because in America, it was President's Day! So dad and Cau 7 took me to ... um... Little Saigon restaurant. Yeah. I just flew in from a year in Vietnam and we go to a Vietnamese restaurant. So I had a seven dollar bowl of duck noodle soup which in Vietnam costs $1.30.
This morning I got up and had to make my own coffee and toast my own croissant and this afternoon I had to cook my own food and clean my own dishes and IT FEELS GOOD. And this afternoon, Dad and I went to 2 Chefs and had our steak and cheeses and it tasted so GOOD. And they were open at 11 yesterday but we had just missed them. For shame.
I'm so happy to be back. I’ve talked to all my sisters, I hear English everywhere, I get to chill out with dad and not get bitten by mosquitos. I could even drink the tap water if I wanted to. I feel FREE FREE FREE. I am happy appy appy.
February 17, 2002
SINGAPORE
Yup, getting closer and closer to the end... and the beginning. Everyone keeps asking me what I'm going to do and where I'm going to live and the answer is - who knows? I ask that too. Goodbyes were relatively easy, fairly spaced apart, and thankfully not tearful! In about 3 hours I get on a flight to Japan and then spend another 3 hour layover there where I might check in again. I'm really racking up my number of countries visited with this trip, I think Japan will be the eighth country since January 2002.
All right. Logging off. I have a lot of layovering to do.
H
Yup, getting closer and closer to the end... and the beginning. Everyone keeps asking me what I'm going to do and where I'm going to live and the answer is - who knows? I ask that too. Goodbyes were relatively easy, fairly spaced apart, and thankfully not tearful! In about 3 hours I get on a flight to Japan and then spend another 3 hour layover there where I might check in again. I'm really racking up my number of countries visited with this trip, I think Japan will be the eighth country since January 2002.
All right. Logging off. I have a lot of layovering to do.
H
February 16, 2002
Leaving Saigon surprisingly leaves me a bit sad, mostly because of the significant people in my life here. Very very sad. I have lots of fond memories of my experiences and my travels here, mostly spent with wonderful beautiful people. On the flipside, I am truly ecstatic to be returning home, spending time in the museums and streets of New York, getting my corn on the cob at Havana, Cuban style (with cheese, mayonnaise, yogurt and chili pepper), and biking in Central Park. At home I'm looking forward to being a couch potato with dad, eating in greasy diners and fancy Georgetown cafes. Truly, I can’t wait to get around by driving myself somewhere or walking onto a subway train. Oh, joy! I’m really looking forward to finding new and interesting work, and hopefully become published, even if it is only a maze book – I can still draw them after all these years.
Di 10 makes me a grand dinner tonight as it’s her last chance to cook for me for a long time! Should be scrumptious – cua rang muoi and hu tieu nam vang. If you want to know what those are, you need to go to a Vietnamese restaurant with me and I will show you. Then I’ll tell you that at home, my aunt makes it a thousand times better. They’re delicious dishes and even when made badly (like pho) it still tastes good.
This adventure is at long last coming to an end, and with it, other significant experiences will end and people in my life will move in different directions. It's sad. Looking forward, I see more travels, bigger and brighter life, challenging work, and daring explorations open to me. I’m ready to jump in.
Di 10 makes me a grand dinner tonight as it’s her last chance to cook for me for a long time! Should be scrumptious – cua rang muoi and hu tieu nam vang. If you want to know what those are, you need to go to a Vietnamese restaurant with me and I will show you. Then I’ll tell you that at home, my aunt makes it a thousand times better. They’re delicious dishes and even when made badly (like pho) it still tastes good.
This adventure is at long last coming to an end, and with it, other significant experiences will end and people in my life will move in different directions. It's sad. Looking forward, I see more travels, bigger and brighter life, challenging work, and daring explorations open to me. I’m ready to jump in.
February 15, 2002
For the "best of" the blogs, click on the February 2001 archives for first impressions of Vietnam (start at the bottom) as well as January 2002 for adventures down under. Once you read the blog, work your way up as blogs are posted chronologically from most recent down.
Souris emailed us the year's review - looks like I'm gonna be lucky.
Ox (1925, 1937, 1949, 1961. 1973, 1985, 1997)
"The Resourceful Ox finds the treasure chest."
People born in the year of the Ox are in for a treat this year. All their earnest efforts and self-sacrifices of the previous year have finally paid off in positive karma points. Ox persons enjoy unexpected surprises of happiness. They will find that helpful people seek them out and bring beneficial opportunities. Moreover, they are likely to gain positive reputation and acquire recognition beyond their expectations. The Ox persons will be active and on the move. Traveling and attending many social events are two of the many ways Ox persons will be bumping into special people who may have romantic interests all year long. As wonderful meals and beautiful people will be plenty, be selective of the foods you eat and the people you meet. You will find certain things look better than they taste.
Ox (1925, 1937, 1949, 1961. 1973, 1985, 1997)
"The Resourceful Ox finds the treasure chest."
People born in the year of the Ox are in for a treat this year. All their earnest efforts and self-sacrifices of the previous year have finally paid off in positive karma points. Ox persons enjoy unexpected surprises of happiness. They will find that helpful people seek them out and bring beneficial opportunities. Moreover, they are likely to gain positive reputation and acquire recognition beyond their expectations. The Ox persons will be active and on the move. Traveling and attending many social events are two of the many ways Ox persons will be bumping into special people who may have romantic interests all year long. As wonderful meals and beautiful people will be plenty, be selective of the foods you eat and the people you meet. You will find certain things look better than they taste.
February 13, 2002
New Year's went by well and I got lots of lucky money (li xi) which I gambled away ... lost all my lucky money to the last dong. No worries, dongs are worthless in the rest of the world. Tet in Vietnam is a world apart from New Year's in the States and superbly festive and joyful. I'll send a write up when I'm settled in at home. Much to do in my last days - packing, unpacking, flying all over the place, and in general, taking care of a big move after a year. Till then, I wish you a joyous Tet. H.
February 12, 2002
My brilliant sister Kaly wrote a review about The live version by the Sir Colin Davis-led London Symphony Orchestra of Berlioz's The Trojans, starring Ben Heppner and Michelle DeYoung, on CDNow. (It has three GRAMMY Nominations). You have to scroll down past the 4 CD's worth of track listings and the review is at the bottom. Kelly went to London specifically to see this performance.
February 11, 2002
So the job opportunities seem to be rolling in. At least, a bunch of ideas are. Here's a sampling:
From Mitch: "We did go to the National Building Museum which I had never been to. Beautiful building. Our docent that gave us the tour was really annoying. I told Greg that you would make a great docent at a museum. You love art, you are so smart, you are just so darn likeable and so cute that you would be the best docent in the whole wide world. Seriously, if you have some free time, you should consider doing that."
That one made me laugh out loud.
But more seriously, Lisa sent me this:
don't know what you're thinking of regarding your return to new york -- but there is a nyc teaching fellow program, to recruit successful, non-teachers to join the school system. you make a commitment to teach for two years, get paid full salary, and get a master's in education fully paid during the two years you're teaching, and an extra $4,700 stipend each year to take other classes you're interested in (or put toward your student loan.)
deadline to apply is march 1 -- it's pretty easy -- just filling out an application, sending a resume and writing a letter -- then they screen and have a formal interview process. in case this is of any interest to you, here is the website:
nycteachingfellows
And most glam of all, Albert suggested "If you are able to spend time in paris en route back to the states, stop in at the following three bars: Buddha Bar in the st honoré, Barfly on avenue George V, and Barrio Latino on rue Faubourg St Antoine near the Bastille. It's quite doable to hop through all three in one evening, having some sushi or tapas at the bar at each. Buddha Bar would be the most important of the three. [...] The whole thing is premised on exotica, foreign themes, etc., like high-end hard rock cafés. While the whole thing is kind of vapidly glamourous, you have the background they would need." The best part is that I could live in Paris!
And of course, I can always go to Santa Monica, live with Mica and Ari, Mike, and Lori, and perhaps plant myself back in kindergarten with Mica with perhaps some graduate school on the side.
I live on a lucky star or what because I've got good people in my life.
From Mitch: "We did go to the National Building Museum which I had never been to. Beautiful building. Our docent that gave us the tour was really annoying. I told Greg that you would make a great docent at a museum. You love art, you are so smart, you are just so darn likeable and so cute that you would be the best docent in the whole wide world. Seriously, if you have some free time, you should consider doing that."
That one made me laugh out loud.
But more seriously, Lisa sent me this:
don't know what you're thinking of regarding your return to new york -- but there is a nyc teaching fellow program, to recruit successful, non-teachers to join the school system. you make a commitment to teach for two years, get paid full salary, and get a master's in education fully paid during the two years you're teaching, and an extra $4,700 stipend each year to take other classes you're interested in (or put toward your student loan.)
deadline to apply is march 1 -- it's pretty easy -- just filling out an application, sending a resume and writing a letter -- then they screen and have a formal interview process. in case this is of any interest to you, here is the website:
nycteachingfellows
And most glam of all, Albert suggested "If you are able to spend time in paris en route back to the states, stop in at the following three bars: Buddha Bar in the st honoré, Barfly on avenue George V, and Barrio Latino on rue Faubourg St Antoine near the Bastille. It's quite doable to hop through all three in one evening, having some sushi or tapas at the bar at each. Buddha Bar would be the most important of the three. [...] The whole thing is premised on exotica, foreign themes, etc., like high-end hard rock cafés. While the whole thing is kind of vapidly glamourous, you have the background they would need." The best part is that I could live in Paris!
And of course, I can always go to Santa Monica, live with Mica and Ari, Mike, and Lori, and perhaps plant myself back in kindergarten with Mica with perhaps some graduate school on the side.
I live on a lucky star or what because I've got good people in my life.
February 07, 2002
SAIGON.
Last night we had dinner at an Italian restaurant in a backpacker's alley with Linh, Lan, Tri, and Michael who works for cousin Hung who was just here a few weeks ago. Michael's in town training Vietnamese people for work for their company in northern California - logigear and he couldn't get over how many white people were in the area. "There must be more caucasians here than in San Francisco!" he exclaimed. We had indian food run to the table by a restaurant several doors down while we ate at the Italian place. It's just a funny Vietnamese thing - ordering from one place and having stuff run to and fro between eateries.
I also walked through the Tet Flower Market which was really very cool. It's rows and rows of flower vendors who sell kumquat trees in the shape of Christmas Pines, and dragon and horse topiaries, and all kinds of other traditional vietnamese new year's plants. It's open all night for a week prior to Tet. I'll try to get some photos later today. New Years feels much more celebratory to me here than Christmas had, which I suppose makes sense as most people are Buddhist anyway, including our very own family. It's very festive in the city and the streets are somehow even more crowded with motorbikes than they are during rush hour in Saigon.
Will see about getting some pictures of the festivities. H.
Last night we had dinner at an Italian restaurant in a backpacker's alley with Linh, Lan, Tri, and Michael who works for cousin Hung who was just here a few weeks ago. Michael's in town training Vietnamese people for work for their company in northern California - logigear and he couldn't get over how many white people were in the area. "There must be more caucasians here than in San Francisco!" he exclaimed. We had indian food run to the table by a restaurant several doors down while we ate at the Italian place. It's just a funny Vietnamese thing - ordering from one place and having stuff run to and fro between eateries.
I also walked through the Tet Flower Market which was really very cool. It's rows and rows of flower vendors who sell kumquat trees in the shape of Christmas Pines, and dragon and horse topiaries, and all kinds of other traditional vietnamese new year's plants. It's open all night for a week prior to Tet. I'll try to get some photos later today. New Years feels much more celebratory to me here than Christmas had, which I suppose makes sense as most people are Buddhist anyway, including our very own family. It's very festive in the city and the streets are somehow even more crowded with motorbikes than they are during rush hour in Saigon.
Will see about getting some pictures of the festivities. H.
February 06, 2002
SAIGON
I am trying and trying to get more pictures uploaded but there are public computer problems and hence, you're just going to have to live with what's already up. I'm simply busy with lunches and dinners and meetings in between till Sunday which is when I've set aside some time for myself to pack up one year's worth of living overseas. I've got a 70kg weight limit to fit in two packages. Somehow I've got to fit everyone's gifts and everything I own into two boxes. Otherwise, no gifts for you!
Tuesday is a BIG TET dinner at Di 10's house. Big. Family, family, family. Uncle 2, aunt 5, mom (who is #6), aunt 8, 9, 10, and Uncle Tony will all be there with spouses, children and grandchildren. Seven out of the 10 kids in mom's family will be together with their mom for Tet.
It's my parents' first new year's apart from each other since they've been married. Every year, shortly before midnight of the lunar new year, they leave the house to take a short walk around the neighborhood and come back in to "dap doc" together at midnight. It's a Vietnamese tradition where you are the first to enter your home, and with your step, you bring your happiness, prosperity, and fortune into your home. It's very important who your first guest of the year is, and this year, Dad's gonna be by himself, poor guy. Maybe one of my siblings should visit, and of all of us, it should be Lobo who just got a 100% raise and grand holiday cash bonus to pass his prosperous luck on to mom and dad.
As yet, my dear friend Mitch has suggested that I become a museum docent and Albert, equally as dear to me, has suggested I work for a fellow in Paris. Any more ideas? I'm eating 'em up.
All this talk about work. I need a nap.
I am trying and trying to get more pictures uploaded but there are public computer problems and hence, you're just going to have to live with what's already up. I'm simply busy with lunches and dinners and meetings in between till Sunday which is when I've set aside some time for myself to pack up one year's worth of living overseas. I've got a 70kg weight limit to fit in two packages. Somehow I've got to fit everyone's gifts and everything I own into two boxes. Otherwise, no gifts for you!
Tuesday is a BIG TET dinner at Di 10's house. Big. Family, family, family. Uncle 2, aunt 5, mom (who is #6), aunt 8, 9, 10, and Uncle Tony will all be there with spouses, children and grandchildren. Seven out of the 10 kids in mom's family will be together with their mom for Tet.
It's my parents' first new year's apart from each other since they've been married. Every year, shortly before midnight of the lunar new year, they leave the house to take a short walk around the neighborhood and come back in to "dap doc" together at midnight. It's a Vietnamese tradition where you are the first to enter your home, and with your step, you bring your happiness, prosperity, and fortune into your home. It's very important who your first guest of the year is, and this year, Dad's gonna be by himself, poor guy. Maybe one of my siblings should visit, and of all of us, it should be Lobo who just got a 100% raise and grand holiday cash bonus to pass his prosperous luck on to mom and dad.
As yet, my dear friend Mitch has suggested that I become a museum docent and Albert, equally as dear to me, has suggested I work for a fellow in Paris. Any more ideas? I'm eating 'em up.
All this talk about work. I need a nap.
February 05, 2002
Saigon, Vietnam.
I just spent the last three days at Saigon Mui Ne resort hanging out at my hometown beach. Mr. Thuong much appreciated the bottle of Bombay Sapphire I imported for him from Australia (as the bottle we bought in the U.S. decided to soak my luggage), and Mr. Ngoc just appreciates the general love and affection I offer as I told him he is much more difficult to buy gifts for and that I didn't want to just give him a piece of junk. I also stopped over at neighboring CocoBeach and had dinner with Thierry, Daniel, and their friend Simone and was glad to see that the Australian lemon passionfruit butter and raspberry mango jam I gave Thierry, certified chef, was being very seriously enjoyed. Otherwise, spent much of the time sitting around drinking drinks, reading on the beach, and actually was up to see the sunrise this morning. I love going out there - it brings me so much peace of mind. In a few years, aunt 9 and 10 will have their own resort in the area and I might just decide to make it a second home. Of course, must mention that Mr. Ngoc not only had his driver take me the 200km out there and take me back to Saigon, he was also kind enough to take care of my entire bill at the resort. Lucky me!
Have heard complaints from people in the city about my perpetual vacation. I just say, "Hey, somebody's got to go on vacation, it might as well be me!" Oh, and non sequiter, Sunday, February 3rd marked my one year anniversary in Vietnam. Hard to believe.
Have had a look at the application for bike touring in Europe and frankly, I think the job suits me perfectly. I mean PERFECTLY. Everything about it. The problem is, I've got to sit and work on the application and I just don't have the days over the next couple of weeks to do so as I am going on one more vacation before I go back to the U.S.
If not, all New Yorkers who need housesitters, call on me. And if you find a great apartment, let me know. I'm looking. And if you have a great job for a very happy person, let me know. I'm looking.
I just spent the last three days at Saigon Mui Ne resort hanging out at my hometown beach. Mr. Thuong much appreciated the bottle of Bombay Sapphire I imported for him from Australia (as the bottle we bought in the U.S. decided to soak my luggage), and Mr. Ngoc just appreciates the general love and affection I offer as I told him he is much more difficult to buy gifts for and that I didn't want to just give him a piece of junk. I also stopped over at neighboring CocoBeach and had dinner with Thierry, Daniel, and their friend Simone and was glad to see that the Australian lemon passionfruit butter and raspberry mango jam I gave Thierry, certified chef, was being very seriously enjoyed. Otherwise, spent much of the time sitting around drinking drinks, reading on the beach, and actually was up to see the sunrise this morning. I love going out there - it brings me so much peace of mind. In a few years, aunt 9 and 10 will have their own resort in the area and I might just decide to make it a second home. Of course, must mention that Mr. Ngoc not only had his driver take me the 200km out there and take me back to Saigon, he was also kind enough to take care of my entire bill at the resort. Lucky me!
Have heard complaints from people in the city about my perpetual vacation. I just say, "Hey, somebody's got to go on vacation, it might as well be me!" Oh, and non sequiter, Sunday, February 3rd marked my one year anniversary in Vietnam. Hard to believe.
Have had a look at the application for bike touring in Europe and frankly, I think the job suits me perfectly. I mean PERFECTLY. Everything about it. The problem is, I've got to sit and work on the application and I just don't have the days over the next couple of weeks to do so as I am going on one more vacation before I go back to the U.S.
If not, all New Yorkers who need housesitters, call on me. And if you find a great apartment, let me know. I'm looking. And if you have a great job for a very happy person, let me know. I'm looking.
February 01, 2002
1 February 2002
Ba Ngoai's 93rd birthday. Happy Birthday grammy!
Tonight we have a party on the Diamond Plaza rooftop where my birthday party was held, and catered of course, by Aunt 10. Chuong's throwing the party for friends and family (not for grammy though; she's staying home) and mom and all the aunts have headed home to dress themselves up.
We stop by an art gallery opening briefly before the party, and then after that, we will most likely go see Uranium, Tien's (Chuong's old roommate) band play.
Today I put my French to good use as I finally met Xavier and Manu's mom, Michelle for the first time (though I've heard of her for years!). I speak to her husband in Vietnamese, and the boys in English and somehow keep the conversation fairly straight. Not much else going on except that I go to Saigon Mui Ne tomorrow with Mr. Ngoc to spend three lovely days at the beach. The Chung-Minhs (Xavier's family) will also be out there on Sunday.
Have a great weekend.
Happy birthday to Kevin too!
Bye tutti
H
Ba Ngoai's 93rd birthday. Happy Birthday grammy!
Tonight we have a party on the Diamond Plaza rooftop where my birthday party was held, and catered of course, by Aunt 10. Chuong's throwing the party for friends and family (not for grammy though; she's staying home) and mom and all the aunts have headed home to dress themselves up.
We stop by an art gallery opening briefly before the party, and then after that, we will most likely go see Uranium, Tien's (Chuong's old roommate) band play.
Today I put my French to good use as I finally met Xavier and Manu's mom, Michelle for the first time (though I've heard of her for years!). I speak to her husband in Vietnamese, and the boys in English and somehow keep the conversation fairly straight. Not much else going on except that I go to Saigon Mui Ne tomorrow with Mr. Ngoc to spend three lovely days at the beach. The Chung-Minhs (Xavier's family) will also be out there on Sunday.
Have a great weekend.
Happy birthday to Kevin too!
Bye tutti
H
January 30, 2002
Critical acclaim for the funny Hongs:
"About peed myself on the "normal kid" emails from your siblings...your family is too damn funny." (Dave Eckert)
Click on funny hongs
"About peed myself on the "normal kid" emails from your siblings...your family is too damn funny." (Dave Eckert)
Click on funny hongs
January 27, 2002
Saigon, Vietnam
Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and all of the temples of Angkor were incredibly beautiful, large, and moving, and in general, have left me inarticulate and speechless so bear with this blog. A few of the temples were still in the midst of the jungle where you could see how nature's trees have destroyed many of the walls and buildings. Chuong, Linh and I rented mountain bikes on our first day to ride around the outskirts of the temples. We spent two days exploring the temples and their ruins and enjoyed a short tour of one of the temples by a local guide of about 9 years old. In one of the buildings, the boy explained to us how as you walk towards the center of the temple, the doorways gradually decrease in height. The reason for it was to force all entrants to bow to the Buddha upon approach. The kids here learn English from the time they're babies from the tourists, it's amazing. Many of them speak French as well. It's interesting though - most of their goods sold at market actually come from Thailand, and one can see the Thai influence on the design of Cambodian products.
The weather was pretty hot so we cooled off with some cold coconuts by a drink stand where we met an interesting German cultural anthropologist named Mark who spoke Vietnamese and owned an FM2 just like mine. Though two days time was good enough to explore the highlights and major buildings, perhaps an extra day or two is really necessary to absorb all of the information and history of the temples of Angkor.
Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and all of the temples of Angkor were incredibly beautiful, large, and moving, and in general, have left me inarticulate and speechless so bear with this blog. A few of the temples were still in the midst of the jungle where you could see how nature's trees have destroyed many of the walls and buildings. Chuong, Linh and I rented mountain bikes on our first day to ride around the outskirts of the temples. We spent two days exploring the temples and their ruins and enjoyed a short tour of one of the temples by a local guide of about 9 years old. In one of the buildings, the boy explained to us how as you walk towards the center of the temple, the doorways gradually decrease in height. The reason for it was to force all entrants to bow to the Buddha upon approach. The kids here learn English from the time they're babies from the tourists, it's amazing. Many of them speak French as well. It's interesting though - most of their goods sold at market actually come from Thailand, and one can see the Thai influence on the design of Cambodian products.
The weather was pretty hot so we cooled off with some cold coconuts by a drink stand where we met an interesting German cultural anthropologist named Mark who spoke Vietnamese and owned an FM2 just like mine. Though two days time was good enough to explore the highlights and major buildings, perhaps an extra day or two is really necessary to absorb all of the information and history of the temples of Angkor.
January 23, 2002
January 24, 2002
Saigon, VIETNAM
Heading to Cambodia tomorrow for a 3 day weekend to spend some time at Angkor Wat during the last full moon of the lunar year and staying at posh Sofitel for sybaritic comfort.
Last 2 rolls of film have been dropped off and will be scanned when I'm next free, which might be a week from now. Otherwise, enjoy the photos online.
Ciao,
H.
Saigon, VIETNAM
Heading to Cambodia tomorrow for a 3 day weekend to spend some time at Angkor Wat during the last full moon of the lunar year and staying at posh Sofitel for sybaritic comfort.
Last 2 rolls of film have been dropped off and will be scanned when I'm next free, which might be a week from now. Otherwise, enjoy the photos online.
Ciao,
H.
January 21, 2002
Saigon, Vietnam
Okay, Kim has posted the 50 photos from her digicam on this site. Check it out.
Adventure photos
In the second picture, notice how smokey Sydney was that day - from all the bush fires. It cleared up the next day, though.
Yesterday I spent a beautiful day in Vung Tau at the Binh An resort which hasn't even opened yet, but it's a graciously landscaped plot of land on what I consider to be one of Vietnam's most commercially tacky beach towns. It's a beautiful haven to which you are wonderfully excluded from the rest of the peninsula. Unfortunately, my return to Vietnam this time is similar to that of my return in August - I'm grumpy. I'm grumpy because all of the littering and bribery and dishonesty of the country is intolerable after being in such magnificent countries as Australia and New Zealand. No matter, I will only be here for less than four weeks and I'll spend most of it on vacation outside of Saigon. Tomorrow I will go to the beach for 2 days and then head to Cambodia for about 3 or 4 days. Should be fun. Will try to get pictures up before I leave VN if possible. If not, you'll just have to wait till Spring. I'm BUSY for a retired person.
ciao,
h.
Okay, Kim has posted the 50 photos from her digicam on this site. Check it out.
Adventure photos
In the second picture, notice how smokey Sydney was that day - from all the bush fires. It cleared up the next day, though.
Yesterday I spent a beautiful day in Vung Tau at the Binh An resort which hasn't even opened yet, but it's a graciously landscaped plot of land on what I consider to be one of Vietnam's most commercially tacky beach towns. It's a beautiful haven to which you are wonderfully excluded from the rest of the peninsula. Unfortunately, my return to Vietnam this time is similar to that of my return in August - I'm grumpy. I'm grumpy because all of the littering and bribery and dishonesty of the country is intolerable after being in such magnificent countries as Australia and New Zealand. No matter, I will only be here for less than four weeks and I'll spend most of it on vacation outside of Saigon. Tomorrow I will go to the beach for 2 days and then head to Cambodia for about 3 or 4 days. Should be fun. Will try to get pictures up before I leave VN if possible. If not, you'll just have to wait till Spring. I'm BUSY for a retired person.
ciao,
h.
January 18, 2002
By the way, for a funny read, click on this: funny hongs. It's a series of e-mails between my siblings and I from last summer. You may rethink knowing our family after this one. Definitely amusing. And all in good love.
BANGKOK, Thailand
18 January 2002 11:05p.m. Bangkok time / 3:05 a.m Jan 19 Sydney time
I'm beat, and I've run into a snag. I've decided that I don't really like Bangkok. At least I hate their airport. It is riddled with mosquitos. I hate mosquitos.
Second, I am tired. Really tired. I just had a 9 hour flight from Sydney. And my checked luggage is inaccessible to me. They were checked to Bangkok and arrive on the belt beyond Immigration which means if I went to get my bag, I'd have to leave the airport, and come back in the a.m. and pay the airport fee to come back. So I checked with a Thai Airways rep who told me that my bags would be left in storage if I don't pick them up (and if somebody else doesn't pick them up, I guess they won't be left anywhere at all). Now I just have to hope that the Buddhas are on my side and that I am in an honourable country and that my bags will be taken care of. If they're not, there goes everybodys' gifts. So then I went to check in to the airport transit hotel and they charge rates double what the 5 star hotels in town charge. It's highway robbery! Or maybe I should call it runway robbery.
So I'm left to fend for myself in the lounges till morning. Hopefully I can stand the 14 hours of transit sitting in airport seats. Luckily, dear Chuong will pick me up at the airport in Saigon, and he'll probably feed me too, and then I will get a nice day's sleep.
Otherwise, everything in Sydney and NZ were great. I spent the morning at the Powerhouse museum where they had three really cool exhibits. The first exhibit was 50 years of Festival Records, then marc newson design works (he is the designer for many objects I'm sure you've seen before, including works for Alessi, Idee, and Ikepod., and the third exhibit was 'ecologic: creating a sustainable future' which was an exhibit "about the way we use the world.... new ideas and technologies that can reduce our individual and collective impact on the planet." Very cool museum and especially cool for kids.
It's sad to have parted with Kim - "who am I going to speak English with?" I complained, but it 's okay. Only a few weeks more till I'm back in the States. Maybe return to the real world - maybe. And that would mean working and living back in New York again... Anyone have a job I can't refuse? By the way - minimum four weeks vacation a year. I've learned my life lesson. Never take a job with less than 4 weeks of vacation.
Time to get offline. Everything in Thailand for foreigners is so expensive.
Ciao tutti.
H
18 January 2002 11:05p.m. Bangkok time / 3:05 a.m Jan 19 Sydney time
I'm beat, and I've run into a snag. I've decided that I don't really like Bangkok. At least I hate their airport. It is riddled with mosquitos. I hate mosquitos.
Second, I am tired. Really tired. I just had a 9 hour flight from Sydney. And my checked luggage is inaccessible to me. They were checked to Bangkok and arrive on the belt beyond Immigration which means if I went to get my bag, I'd have to leave the airport, and come back in the a.m. and pay the airport fee to come back. So I checked with a Thai Airways rep who told me that my bags would be left in storage if I don't pick them up (and if somebody else doesn't pick them up, I guess they won't be left anywhere at all). Now I just have to hope that the Buddhas are on my side and that I am in an honourable country and that my bags will be taken care of. If they're not, there goes everybodys' gifts. So then I went to check in to the airport transit hotel and they charge rates double what the 5 star hotels in town charge. It's highway robbery! Or maybe I should call it runway robbery.
So I'm left to fend for myself in the lounges till morning. Hopefully I can stand the 14 hours of transit sitting in airport seats. Luckily, dear Chuong will pick me up at the airport in Saigon, and he'll probably feed me too, and then I will get a nice day's sleep.
Otherwise, everything in Sydney and NZ were great. I spent the morning at the Powerhouse museum where they had three really cool exhibits. The first exhibit was 50 years of Festival Records, then marc newson design works (he is the designer for many objects I'm sure you've seen before, including works for Alessi, Idee, and Ikepod., and the third exhibit was 'ecologic: creating a sustainable future' which was an exhibit "about the way we use the world.... new ideas and technologies that can reduce our individual and collective impact on the planet." Very cool museum and especially cool for kids.
It's sad to have parted with Kim - "who am I going to speak English with?" I complained, but it 's okay. Only a few weeks more till I'm back in the States. Maybe return to the real world - maybe. And that would mean working and living back in New York again... Anyone have a job I can't refuse? By the way - minimum four weeks vacation a year. I've learned my life lesson. Never take a job with less than 4 weeks of vacation.
Time to get offline. Everything in Thailand for foreigners is so expensive.
Ciao tutti.
H
January 16, 2002
17 January 2002
1:00 a.m. CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand
Kim and I drove up today and unfortunately, my flight plans changed and I fly out of Christchurch in about six hours - which means I leave here in about four hours and somehow I've got to get some sleep. Kim and I had to scrap the whale watching in Kaikoura (about a three hour drive up north). It's okay, because we've decided that we both have to return to Australia and New Zealand to really do all that we want to do. These two countries have so much to offer - I'd consider moving to Sydney even (such a great city). Plus then, Kim would have a free place to stay.
I arrive in Sydney around 8 a.m. tomorrow which will be great because I wanted to get to the Powerhouse museum and also the Museum of Contemporary Art as there is a great neo-Tokyo exhibit of emerging Japanese artists. Hey Sor, does Tokion need an article? Kim arrives about 8 p.m. and then we spend the following day at the Botanical Gardens and go to the airport to part at about 1 p.m. Kim heads back to the real world and I head back to my life as a professional freeloader - oh! I mean life in the unreal-but-fabulous-live-and-eat-and-travel-like-a-queen world.
H.
1:00 a.m. CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand
Kim and I drove up today and unfortunately, my flight plans changed and I fly out of Christchurch in about six hours - which means I leave here in about four hours and somehow I've got to get some sleep. Kim and I had to scrap the whale watching in Kaikoura (about a three hour drive up north). It's okay, because we've decided that we both have to return to Australia and New Zealand to really do all that we want to do. These two countries have so much to offer - I'd consider moving to Sydney even (such a great city). Plus then, Kim would have a free place to stay.
I arrive in Sydney around 8 a.m. tomorrow which will be great because I wanted to get to the Powerhouse museum and also the Museum of Contemporary Art as there is a great neo-Tokyo exhibit of emerging Japanese artists. Hey Sor, does Tokion need an article? Kim arrives about 8 p.m. and then we spend the following day at the Botanical Gardens and go to the airport to part at about 1 p.m. Kim heads back to the real world and I head back to my life as a professional freeloader - oh! I mean life in the unreal-but-fabulous-live-and-eat-and-travel-like-a-queen world.
H.
January 15, 2002
16 January 2002
Queenstown, New Zealand
Kim and I head out for a long day's drive today to Christchurch. We take the kind McErlain's out for a nice dinner, and weather permitting, we'll drive onward to Kaikoura to get on a whale watch tour at 6:15 a.m. the next morning. Tour over, we drive the 3 hours back to Christchurch directly to the airport and fly on out to Sydney.
Our whirlwind vacation is - sniff sniff - coming to an end.
I am going to have to find ways to continue to fund my retirement and Kim is going to have to find ways to extend her vacations - we have a lot planned for the future!
Will check back in before heading out of Australia (Jan 18)
Kim & Hani
Queenstown, New Zealand
Kim and I head out for a long day's drive today to Christchurch. We take the kind McErlain's out for a nice dinner, and weather permitting, we'll drive onward to Kaikoura to get on a whale watch tour at 6:15 a.m. the next morning. Tour over, we drive the 3 hours back to Christchurch directly to the airport and fly on out to Sydney.
Our whirlwind vacation is - sniff sniff - coming to an end.
I am going to have to find ways to continue to fund my retirement and Kim is going to have to find ways to extend her vacations - we have a lot planned for the future!
Will check back in before heading out of Australia (Jan 18)
Kim & Hani
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND
January 15, 2002
Good morning.
Let me tell you about our day.
8:00 a.m. head over to NZONE to check in for our morning adventure.
8:30 - watch the promo video
9:00 - get in a van to drive out to the open fields.
9:30 - put jumpsuits on.
10:00 - get on a small airplane with 8 others - 2 crazy people like me (one of them is Kim), 3 cameramen, 3 instructors - and climb 12,000 feet.
10:30 - jump out of airplane.
What? Did I say that?
repeat.
10:30 jump out of airplane.
10:30:00 - 10:30:50 Free fall at 200kph (124 miles per hour)
10:30:51 - chute opens
10:31 - enjoy beautiful view of New Zealand, Lake Wakapitu, Queenstown, and the Remarkables Mountain Range while steering my chute. Kim a few thousand feet above me.
About 10:35 - Mac (my instructor) lands us.
About 10:37 - Luis (Kim's instructor) lands them.
It fucking rocked. Oh, did I say that?
Let me say it again. It fucking ROCKED.
Kim and I were left with PERMA-Grins on our faces throughout the whole dive and for hours afterwards. Wow.
Okay, so after skydiving today, Kim and I went jet boating which is this crazy New Zealand invention of going in a turbo powered 400 horsepower jet boat at 70km an hour on water as low as 10cm through a canyon. This included a few 360's at high speed, and missing canyon rocks by inches. After skydiving, it felt like a Disney ride. If that wasn't enough, we took a helicopter ride thru the canyon to get to the start of our white water rafting - level 3 and 4 rapids and no one fell out of the boat. All this before dinner time.
Not a bad day's work, eh?
What did YOU do today?
January 15, 2002
Good morning.
Let me tell you about our day.
8:00 a.m. head over to NZONE to check in for our morning adventure.
8:30 - watch the promo video
9:00 - get in a van to drive out to the open fields.
9:30 - put jumpsuits on.
10:00 - get on a small airplane with 8 others - 2 crazy people like me (one of them is Kim), 3 cameramen, 3 instructors - and climb 12,000 feet.
10:30 - jump out of airplane.
What? Did I say that?
repeat.
10:30 jump out of airplane.
10:30:00 - 10:30:50 Free fall at 200kph (124 miles per hour)
10:30:51 - chute opens
10:31 - enjoy beautiful view of New Zealand, Lake Wakapitu, Queenstown, and the Remarkables Mountain Range while steering my chute. Kim a few thousand feet above me.
About 10:35 - Mac (my instructor) lands us.
About 10:37 - Luis (Kim's instructor) lands them.
It fucking rocked. Oh, did I say that?
Let me say it again. It fucking ROCKED.
Kim and I were left with PERMA-Grins on our faces throughout the whole dive and for hours afterwards. Wow.
Okay, so after skydiving today, Kim and I went jet boating which is this crazy New Zealand invention of going in a turbo powered 400 horsepower jet boat at 70km an hour on water as low as 10cm through a canyon. This included a few 360's at high speed, and missing canyon rocks by inches. After skydiving, it felt like a Disney ride. If that wasn't enough, we took a helicopter ride thru the canyon to get to the start of our white water rafting - level 3 and 4 rapids and no one fell out of the boat. All this before dinner time.
Not a bad day's work, eh?
What did YOU do today?
In brief, let me tell you what the New Zealand culture is like. I will quote the ten dollar bill:
On the front: " the dawn of a new era lights the way for New zealand's perpetual voyage of innovation and discovery."
On the back: "Celebrating New Zealand's free spirit and quest for adventure in the new millennium."
Somehow, it moves me a bit more than "In God we trust," but that's me.
These New Zealander's definitely know how to embrace life. No question.
On the front: " the dawn of a new era lights the way for New zealand's perpetual voyage of innovation and discovery."
On the back: "Celebrating New Zealand's free spirit and quest for adventure in the new millennium."
Somehow, it moves me a bit more than "In God we trust," but that's me.
These New Zealander's definitely know how to embrace life. No question.
January 14, 2002
January 14, 2002
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND
Adventure capital of the world.
Hey, so since we last wrote, we spent a day driving westward to chase the sun down and went to Franz Josef. It was raining in Queenstown so Kim and I detoured towards the West Coast where it had been raining the week before (this prepared us for lots of outrageous waterfalls). We took our time driving through Arthur's Pass National Park which lies across the Southern Alps, Greymouth (a coastal town), past Shantytown, through Hokitika to get to Franz Josef by evening with a gorgeous view of the Franz Josef Glacier.
Next morning, we woke up early to head to the office where we put our boots, ice gear & extra layers on to get on a chopper that took us 3 km (about 2 miles) up the glacier ridge. There, we landed atop the blue ice and began our little trek around the glacier, through the ice sculptures, a little ice hole, and between some slick blue ice walls. Kim and I went camera crazy and took lots of photos that you will soon get to see. Hike over, back on the chopper, back to town, and then back in the car for the most amazingly spectacular drive we've ever (or at least me) been on.
click photo to go to album
The drive was dramatic with lots of waterfalls, lake views with mountainous backdrops, and beautiful panoramas. We stopped at Thunder Creek Falls and Fantail Falls before passing the Haast Pass which is the main divide between the western and eastern sides of the Southern Alps. We took a slight detour to Lake Wanaka to stop for food at the very charming small town, and onward past the most beautiful Lake Hawea as the sun set across the mountains across the lake and causing the like to shine. Kim and I made it to Queenstown by nightfall and spent our first day here on a tour to Milford Sound which is actually a fiord - the 14th of 14 along the coast. It even has a Mt. Kimberly with a waterfall whose name starts with S but we can't remember and it's height is 3 times that of Niagara falls, which appears unbelievable in sight because of the sheer size of the rocky mountains around it.
Queenstown is gorgeous with Lake Wakatipu as its center (our hotel window faces on the water), and the Remarkables - an incredible mountain range that runs directly on a north-south line on earth. Tomorrow Kim and I have a full day of adventures which we shall remark upon if we're not beat, and the following day we attempt to get to Kaikoura for some whale watching.
New Zealand is incredibly beautiful - I've never seen a country like it. I could die here.
Life rocks.
We are both really happy here down under.
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND
Adventure capital of the world.
Hey, so since we last wrote, we spent a day driving westward to chase the sun down and went to Franz Josef. It was raining in Queenstown so Kim and I detoured towards the West Coast where it had been raining the week before (this prepared us for lots of outrageous waterfalls). We took our time driving through Arthur's Pass National Park which lies across the Southern Alps, Greymouth (a coastal town), past Shantytown, through Hokitika to get to Franz Josef by evening with a gorgeous view of the Franz Josef Glacier.
Next morning, we woke up early to head to the office where we put our boots, ice gear & extra layers on to get on a chopper that took us 3 km (about 2 miles) up the glacier ridge. There, we landed atop the blue ice and began our little trek around the glacier, through the ice sculptures, a little ice hole, and between some slick blue ice walls. Kim and I went camera crazy and took lots of photos that you will soon get to see. Hike over, back on the chopper, back to town, and then back in the car for the most amazingly spectacular drive we've ever (or at least me) been on.
click photo to go to album
The drive was dramatic with lots of waterfalls, lake views with mountainous backdrops, and beautiful panoramas. We stopped at Thunder Creek Falls and Fantail Falls before passing the Haast Pass which is the main divide between the western and eastern sides of the Southern Alps. We took a slight detour to Lake Wanaka to stop for food at the very charming small town, and onward past the most beautiful Lake Hawea as the sun set across the mountains across the lake and causing the like to shine. Kim and I made it to Queenstown by nightfall and spent our first day here on a tour to Milford Sound which is actually a fiord - the 14th of 14 along the coast. It even has a Mt. Kimberly with a waterfall whose name starts with S but we can't remember and it's height is 3 times that of Niagara falls, which appears unbelievable in sight because of the sheer size of the rocky mountains around it.
Queenstown is gorgeous with Lake Wakatipu as its center (our hotel window faces on the water), and the Remarkables - an incredible mountain range that runs directly on a north-south line on earth. Tomorrow Kim and I have a full day of adventures which we shall remark upon if we're not beat, and the following day we attempt to get to Kaikoura for some whale watching.
New Zealand is incredibly beautiful - I've never seen a country like it. I could die here.
Life rocks.
We are both really happy here down under.
January 11, 2002
January 11, 2002
CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND
We've arrived in New Zealand and it's COLD! In the low to mid 50's and I'm not used to it. Plus, I've only got one long-sleeved shirt with me so I'm borrowing some clothes from Justin's mom - we're staying at the McErlains' nice home in Christchurch (Justin's parents).
Turns out we're on a pretty tight schedule here, but if all goes well, Kim and I will be on a Glacier heli-hike tomorrow - that is, a helicopter ride over the Franz Josef Glacier and then a two hour hike over the ice and crevasses.
Since we last wrote, Kim and I spent the 8th and 9th in the Wooroonooran National Park south of Cairns hiking in virgin rainforest. Our first day was about 14 km through rugged terrain climbing over fallen trees, through prickly branches, and over boulders to get to camp nearby a small waterfall. The most common form of wildlife we saw was a gigantic spider in her huge web across our path (many times). We refilled our water at the fresh water rivers and after doing that, jumped in to cool off from the incredible heat we felt from the strenuous hiking. Kim and I decided that "We're fit!"
About seven hours after we began our journey into the forest, we made it to camp where we hung our hammocks and discovered what it feels like to be leeched. YUCK. Kim and I both got several leech bites (as did others) and it was a pretty nasty experience, especially the part where you have to grab and yank 'em off your skin. Gross. Norm, one of our tour guides, told us that if you want to be bitten by anything, it's a leech, because they're so clean. No thanks.
In the morning we woke up to a nice hour hike to the Muchupa (sp.?) waterfall, the best one we'd seen since we were in Australia. We got into our swimmers (that's what they call suits here) and had a nice cold blast of water to wake us up. Swimming underneath the waterfall was one of the highlights of our trip in Australia, as we were surrounded by the rainforest and its unique sounds. We asked Peter (our funny guide) what Muchupa means in Aborigine. He said "Mom eats dad." After another thought, he said "cow eats dad" and we decided we were better off trusting Norm with our questions. Back on track with camp packed up, we made it out of the rainforest after about 12 km of climbing uphill to the finish. We made it - even with our injuries. Injuries? Well, minor, but they hurt like hell. Kim's feet slipped out from under her on one of the boulders by the waterfall and she landed on her tailbone - who knew that it hurts your butt to sneeze? Now we know. I on the other hand, slipped on a rock and nearly face planted into another but managed to keep my nose off the rock and instead hit a shin. My next injury came when we had to climb onto a log to cross the river. My knee went up and - oops - discovered a log. So, bruised and battered (and there are a lot of spiky ferns in the rainforest, mind you), we made it out alive and well and returned safely to Cairns.
About 10 hours after returning to Cairns, we left for the airport at 4 a.m. to get to the airport for Sydney for our layover to Christchurch. Once at the airport, we discovered to our great dismay that my connection was unconfirmed (even though we were told it was earlier) and the flight was overbooked by 14 passengers. Not happy with my travel agents, Kim and I rushed to the Qantas counter at the airport to get myself onto the Christchurch flight. Gary, the supervisor on hand who looks a lot like Anthony Hopkins, was kind enough get me onto that plane. Phew! With all of that over, Kim and I headed to town to do BridgeClimb - climbing to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, about 438 feet above the water. Very cool experience and great views. As soon as we finished with that, our nonstop selves returned to the airport and got on our flight to Christchurch, arriving at my friend Justin's parents' house at about 1 in the morning.
It feels so good to be in a home and not in a hotel - the McErlain's are taking great care of us, feeding us, warming up the beds with the electric blankets, and warming up our bath towels on the great towel rack warmer. We spent the day in town browsing around and taking the historic little tram.
We're in a bit of conflict with the weather, but we've decided to change our itinerary so we can chase after the sun and avoid the rains where we can. After the glaciers, Kim and I will head to Queenstown - the Adventure Capital of the World. Don't worry moms and dads - we're not stupid enough to go bungee jumping.
All right - good night to all - we've got a long drive ahead of us.
CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND
We've arrived in New Zealand and it's COLD! In the low to mid 50's and I'm not used to it. Plus, I've only got one long-sleeved shirt with me so I'm borrowing some clothes from Justin's mom - we're staying at the McErlains' nice home in Christchurch (Justin's parents).
Turns out we're on a pretty tight schedule here, but if all goes well, Kim and I will be on a Glacier heli-hike tomorrow - that is, a helicopter ride over the Franz Josef Glacier and then a two hour hike over the ice and crevasses.
Since we last wrote, Kim and I spent the 8th and 9th in the Wooroonooran National Park south of Cairns hiking in virgin rainforest. Our first day was about 14 km through rugged terrain climbing over fallen trees, through prickly branches, and over boulders to get to camp nearby a small waterfall. The most common form of wildlife we saw was a gigantic spider in her huge web across our path (many times). We refilled our water at the fresh water rivers and after doing that, jumped in to cool off from the incredible heat we felt from the strenuous hiking. Kim and I decided that "We're fit!"
About seven hours after we began our journey into the forest, we made it to camp where we hung our hammocks and discovered what it feels like to be leeched. YUCK. Kim and I both got several leech bites (as did others) and it was a pretty nasty experience, especially the part where you have to grab and yank 'em off your skin. Gross. Norm, one of our tour guides, told us that if you want to be bitten by anything, it's a leech, because they're so clean. No thanks.
In the morning we woke up to a nice hour hike to the Muchupa (sp.?) waterfall, the best one we'd seen since we were in Australia. We got into our swimmers (that's what they call suits here) and had a nice cold blast of water to wake us up. Swimming underneath the waterfall was one of the highlights of our trip in Australia, as we were surrounded by the rainforest and its unique sounds. We asked Peter (our funny guide) what Muchupa means in Aborigine. He said "Mom eats dad." After another thought, he said "cow eats dad" and we decided we were better off trusting Norm with our questions. Back on track with camp packed up, we made it out of the rainforest after about 12 km of climbing uphill to the finish. We made it - even with our injuries. Injuries? Well, minor, but they hurt like hell. Kim's feet slipped out from under her on one of the boulders by the waterfall and she landed on her tailbone - who knew that it hurts your butt to sneeze? Now we know. I on the other hand, slipped on a rock and nearly face planted into another but managed to keep my nose off the rock and instead hit a shin. My next injury came when we had to climb onto a log to cross the river. My knee went up and - oops - discovered a log. So, bruised and battered (and there are a lot of spiky ferns in the rainforest, mind you), we made it out alive and well and returned safely to Cairns.
About 10 hours after returning to Cairns, we left for the airport at 4 a.m. to get to the airport for Sydney for our layover to Christchurch. Once at the airport, we discovered to our great dismay that my connection was unconfirmed (even though we were told it was earlier) and the flight was overbooked by 14 passengers. Not happy with my travel agents, Kim and I rushed to the Qantas counter at the airport to get myself onto the Christchurch flight. Gary, the supervisor on hand who looks a lot like Anthony Hopkins, was kind enough get me onto that plane. Phew! With all of that over, Kim and I headed to town to do BridgeClimb - climbing to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, about 438 feet above the water. Very cool experience and great views. As soon as we finished with that, our nonstop selves returned to the airport and got on our flight to Christchurch, arriving at my friend Justin's parents' house at about 1 in the morning.
It feels so good to be in a home and not in a hotel - the McErlain's are taking great care of us, feeding us, warming up the beds with the electric blankets, and warming up our bath towels on the great towel rack warmer. We spent the day in town browsing around and taking the historic little tram.
We're in a bit of conflict with the weather, but we've decided to change our itinerary so we can chase after the sun and avoid the rains where we can. After the glaciers, Kim and I will head to Queenstown - the Adventure Capital of the World. Don't worry moms and dads - we're not stupid enough to go bungee jumping.
All right - good night to all - we've got a long drive ahead of us.
January 07, 2002
CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA
January 7, 2002
Cairns is soooo HOT. The further north you go, the hotter it gets - that's what happens on this side of the equator! In just two days, Kim and I have an unbelievable lot to tell you. This morning we headed up to the Kuranda Scenic Railway built a hundred years ago through the Atherton Tablelands from Cairns to Kuranda, a small village that is inhabited by many aborigines. The railway went by Creek, and Barron Falls, but unfortunately the waterfalls were not falling because of the drought in recent months - 60mm of rain instead of their usual 600 at this time of year! We spent time at the Heritage market and the Butterfly Sanctuary and wandered through town before taking the SkyRail back to town where we went to the Tjapukai Aboriginal Park. There, Kim and I both tried playing the didgeridus and practiced throwing boomerangs, and Kim even practiced throwing spears. Interestingly, the targets are kangaroo silhouettes in lieu of America's typical human target. We got back to the hotel where we had to prepare our bags for our big rainforest hike tomorrow where we'll be camping at the top of another waterfall.
Yesterday, we flew in over the Great Barrier Reef (magnificent from the airplane) and into Cairns. We dumped our things at our hotel and headed out for our half day tour on the reef. We started in the "yellow submarine" - a really touristy sub type thing with glass below and to the sides. We got some great views of the reef at Green Island and Kim even got a cool video with her new digital camera (go mom! we said). Looking like funny frogs, we got our snorkeling gear on and went snorkeling in the reef - Kim saw a shark and we high-tailed it back to the shore. After mustering up a bit more courage (and getting used to breathing through our mouths and not our noses), Kim and I headed back out in the water and managed to finally get the hang of snorkeling (saw a parafish and others) by the time we had to leave.
Back on the hydrofoil, Kim had a canned rum and cola - recommended by Todd, one of our skippers - and I had the lemon lime with vodka premixed in a can as well. Good ideas, we thought and not bad, either!
So it's time to stop as we're running out of time. There was much more to blog about but we'll get to it later as we're both being eaten by bugs. (p.s. I had a Morton Bay Bug last night. You will have to wait till we get back from the rainforest to find out what that is).
Hani & Kim.
January 7, 2002
Cairns is soooo HOT. The further north you go, the hotter it gets - that's what happens on this side of the equator! In just two days, Kim and I have an unbelievable lot to tell you. This morning we headed up to the Kuranda Scenic Railway built a hundred years ago through the Atherton Tablelands from Cairns to Kuranda, a small village that is inhabited by many aborigines. The railway went by Creek, and Barron Falls, but unfortunately the waterfalls were not falling because of the drought in recent months - 60mm of rain instead of their usual 600 at this time of year! We spent time at the Heritage market and the Butterfly Sanctuary and wandered through town before taking the SkyRail back to town where we went to the Tjapukai Aboriginal Park. There, Kim and I both tried playing the didgeridus and practiced throwing boomerangs, and Kim even practiced throwing spears. Interestingly, the targets are kangaroo silhouettes in lieu of America's typical human target. We got back to the hotel where we had to prepare our bags for our big rainforest hike tomorrow where we'll be camping at the top of another waterfall.
Yesterday, we flew in over the Great Barrier Reef (magnificent from the airplane) and into Cairns. We dumped our things at our hotel and headed out for our half day tour on the reef. We started in the "yellow submarine" - a really touristy sub type thing with glass below and to the sides. We got some great views of the reef at Green Island and Kim even got a cool video with her new digital camera (go mom! we said). Looking like funny frogs, we got our snorkeling gear on and went snorkeling in the reef - Kim saw a shark and we high-tailed it back to the shore. After mustering up a bit more courage (and getting used to breathing through our mouths and not our noses), Kim and I headed back out in the water and managed to finally get the hang of snorkeling (saw a parafish and others) by the time we had to leave.
Back on the hydrofoil, Kim had a canned rum and cola - recommended by Todd, one of our skippers - and I had the lemon lime with vodka premixed in a can as well. Good ideas, we thought and not bad, either!
So it's time to stop as we're running out of time. There was much more to blog about but we'll get to it later as we're both being eaten by bugs. (p.s. I had a Morton Bay Bug last night. You will have to wait till we get back from the rainforest to find out what that is).
Hani & Kim.
January 05, 2002
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
January 5, 2002
Finally, Kim and I have our Celsius menu in front of us so you can read on and be envious of our first meal in Australia. For starters, I was given a shrimp bisque and Kim had the Roma Tomato & Saffron Tea Consomme in a tea cup. Very yummy complimentary gift of the chef. For our primi piatta (first course for those of you who can't translate), Kim had the Roasted Tomato, Pepper & Egglplant Roulade, Marinated Goat Cheese, Tapenade, & Olive Bread. Sounds good, eh? I was served the Roma Tomato & Saffron Tea Consomme with Basil & Zucchini Tortellini. Kim and I are getting hungry just repeating our menu to you. Oi vey. Okay, secondi piatti (second courses, if you haven't caught on) - for Kim the Pan Roasted Ocean Trout Fillet (without the Grilled Scampi because she has been cursed with a shellfish allergy), Dill & Fennel Vinaigrette. Me, I had the Grilled Swordfish on Kipfler Potato, Asparagus & Black Fungi, Cabernet Vinegar. AND there's more! Our third course (I forgot how to translate "third") was Grilled Aged Grain Fed Fillet of Beef on Asparagus, Roasted Shallots & Trompettes de Mort for Kim and for myself Pan Roasted Rib Eye of Lamb on Spiced Egglplant, Roasted Garlic & Grape Tomatoes, Basil Oil.
We haven't even gotten to dessert yet and it's a good thing we skipped the Cheese course!
We were graced with another complimentary dessert starter which was so amazing, we were talking about it for days - panna cotta with fresh raspberries and a strawberry sauce. Next, our cappuccinos came out with the truffles and petit fours. We finished off with passionfruit souffle served with mango ice cream and fresh whipped cream!!!
It's time for Kim and I to go have another dinner now. We're starving!
We've had at least four or five meals of comparable grandeur for a fraction of U.S. prices! Someone recommended to us yesterday to just become fruit pickers to stay in this country and travel and eat. I think I could do that...
Okay, now that you've got all that in mind, here's how we've been burning off the calories:
Today Kim and I walked all around Brisbane, beginning at the Queen Street Mall where we each purchased additional luggage to carry home all the damn gifts we bought for you. Then we crossed the Victoria Bridge over the Brisbane River where we walked along a beautiful bricklined path at the Brisbane Arbour area with purple bougainvilla vines overhead. We browsed through the Saturday Market (buying your gifts to fill our luggage) and went by a really funny artificial beach along the riverside called Brekka Beach (something like that) where the locals seemed to thrill in the chlorinated pool-beach.
We walked onward across the brand-new Goodwill pedestrian bridge (back across the Brisbane River) to the Botanical Gardens which we're sure would've been gorgeous in Spring. That's a lot of walking - enough to burn off one of those dinners. Now it's time for us to refuel with another dinner in Brisbane.
Cheers to good food, good wine, and the good life.
Kim & Hani
January 5, 2002
Finally, Kim and I have our Celsius menu in front of us so you can read on and be envious of our first meal in Australia. For starters, I was given a shrimp bisque and Kim had the Roma Tomato & Saffron Tea Consomme in a tea cup. Very yummy complimentary gift of the chef. For our primi piatta (first course for those of you who can't translate), Kim had the Roasted Tomato, Pepper & Egglplant Roulade, Marinated Goat Cheese, Tapenade, & Olive Bread. Sounds good, eh? I was served the Roma Tomato & Saffron Tea Consomme with Basil & Zucchini Tortellini. Kim and I are getting hungry just repeating our menu to you. Oi vey. Okay, secondi piatti (second courses, if you haven't caught on) - for Kim the Pan Roasted Ocean Trout Fillet (without the Grilled Scampi because she has been cursed with a shellfish allergy), Dill & Fennel Vinaigrette. Me, I had the Grilled Swordfish on Kipfler Potato, Asparagus & Black Fungi, Cabernet Vinegar. AND there's more! Our third course (I forgot how to translate "third") was Grilled Aged Grain Fed Fillet of Beef on Asparagus, Roasted Shallots & Trompettes de Mort for Kim and for myself Pan Roasted Rib Eye of Lamb on Spiced Egglplant, Roasted Garlic & Grape Tomatoes, Basil Oil.
We haven't even gotten to dessert yet and it's a good thing we skipped the Cheese course!
We were graced with another complimentary dessert starter which was so amazing, we were talking about it for days - panna cotta with fresh raspberries and a strawberry sauce. Next, our cappuccinos came out with the truffles and petit fours. We finished off with passionfruit souffle served with mango ice cream and fresh whipped cream!!!
It's time for Kim and I to go have another dinner now. We're starving!
We've had at least four or five meals of comparable grandeur for a fraction of U.S. prices! Someone recommended to us yesterday to just become fruit pickers to stay in this country and travel and eat. I think I could do that...
Okay, now that you've got all that in mind, here's how we've been burning off the calories:
Today Kim and I walked all around Brisbane, beginning at the Queen Street Mall where we each purchased additional luggage to carry home all the damn gifts we bought for you. Then we crossed the Victoria Bridge over the Brisbane River where we walked along a beautiful bricklined path at the Brisbane Arbour area with purple bougainvilla vines overhead. We browsed through the Saturday Market (buying your gifts to fill our luggage) and went by a really funny artificial beach along the riverside called Brekka Beach (something like that) where the locals seemed to thrill in the chlorinated pool-beach.
We walked onward across the brand-new Goodwill pedestrian bridge (back across the Brisbane River) to the Botanical Gardens which we're sure would've been gorgeous in Spring. That's a lot of walking - enough to burn off one of those dinners. Now it's time for us to refuel with another dinner in Brisbane.
Cheers to good food, good wine, and the good life.
Kim & Hani
January 04, 2002
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
January 5, 2002
On the road yesterday, Kim and I went to Mt. Warning yesterday and wanted to trek up to the top of the mountain to be in the spot where the sun first hits the eastern coast of Australia. Unfortunately, by the time we got there, we realized it would be a 4-5 hour hike and we would've been caught in the rainforest at nightfall so we settled for a short hike (for "training"), caught a glimpse of the rainforest, came across a few wild turkeys (no wombats), and heard an array of cool bird calls.
Kim and I did, however, manage to go to the lighthouse while at Byron Bay where walked to the easternmost point of the Australian continent.
This morning Kim and I had a taste of toast with VEGEMITE, quoted in the song by Men at Work. It's a Kraft brand product and is basically the leftover yeast from beer. Gross. We both give it a thumbs down. We did manage to get a free hashbrown for smiling at the waiters, and will do a nice little walk around Brisbane and the Brisbane River this afternoon that the waiters recommended. So far, all the food we've eaten has been amazing and CHEAP compared to the States. Kim and I have had Italian, Thai, Indian, Australia (which is like fusion cuisine), and Japanese food. The Australians are great cooks and they have wonderful presentation - we haven't been disappointed by a single meal.
Oh, I forgot to tell you guys - Kim got to feed a giraffe at the zoo in Sydney. That was cool. We also saw a Tasmanian devil who gallops around (he doesn't look anything like the cartoon), an echidna who waddles, a dingo (looks just like a domestic dog), a platypus (funny creatures they are), and wallabies and kangaroos.
Okay, that's all we can remember for now.
More to come (you can bet on it).
Kim & Hani
January 5, 2002
On the road yesterday, Kim and I went to Mt. Warning yesterday and wanted to trek up to the top of the mountain to be in the spot where the sun first hits the eastern coast of Australia. Unfortunately, by the time we got there, we realized it would be a 4-5 hour hike and we would've been caught in the rainforest at nightfall so we settled for a short hike (for "training"), caught a glimpse of the rainforest, came across a few wild turkeys (no wombats), and heard an array of cool bird calls.
Kim and I did, however, manage to go to the lighthouse while at Byron Bay where walked to the easternmost point of the Australian continent.
This morning Kim and I had a taste of toast with VEGEMITE, quoted in the song by Men at Work. It's a Kraft brand product and is basically the leftover yeast from beer. Gross. We both give it a thumbs down. We did manage to get a free hashbrown for smiling at the waiters, and will do a nice little walk around Brisbane and the Brisbane River this afternoon that the waiters recommended. So far, all the food we've eaten has been amazing and CHEAP compared to the States. Kim and I have had Italian, Thai, Indian, Australia (which is like fusion cuisine), and Japanese food. The Australians are great cooks and they have wonderful presentation - we haven't been disappointed by a single meal.
Oh, I forgot to tell you guys - Kim got to feed a giraffe at the zoo in Sydney. That was cool. We also saw a Tasmanian devil who gallops around (he doesn't look anything like the cartoon), an echidna who waddles, a dingo (looks just like a domestic dog), a platypus (funny creatures they are), and wallabies and kangaroos.
Okay, that's all we can remember for now.
More to come (you can bet on it).
Kim & Hani
