BONDI BEACH, AUSTRALIA
January 1, 2002!!!
Last night we had another exquisite dinner at the hotel restaurant before heading down to the Circular Quay and the Sydney Harbour / Opera House courtyard area to watch the fireworks over the Sydney Harbour bridge. I have lots of pictures of the Opera House - too many: Opera house from the ferry, Opera house from the bridge, Opera House from the quay, Opera house with New Year's Eve Crowd, Opera House with Hani in front, Opera house from the east, Opera House from the west, opera house with fireworks, Opera house with full moon, and so on. Kim took her own set. We ended up meeting a bunch of Columbians who were there studying and headed to Hyde Park afterward for some salsa dancing (at least for the Columbians), which they were all born to do and I was not. So Kim and I turned in early, leaving the park close to 2 am so we could get an early start today.
The Sydney bush fires caused a bit of haze and smoke our second and third days here, but by today it's completely cleared up although it's a bit hotter than the last few days. We just got back from Watson's bay, which has a nice eastern seaside small town feel to it, and where there's The Gap (perhaps namesake of the clothing brand?). Kim and I just walked ourselves to the beach, will check out the lay of the land, and set more to report later as we're both ready to get to the sandy front and out of this internet cafe!
Now to the beach - Kim and I are going to be sure we "Stay between the Flags" and I suppose that means "within the shark nets" as neither of us would like to be dinner for Jaws tonight.
Happy Happy New Year!!!
December 31, 2001
December 30, 2001
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
December 31, 2001
Kim and I set foot on Australian soil two days ago and so far managed to get ourselves into a five star hotel only blocks from the Circular Quay and started off with a magnificent dinner that I will describe in detail later! Our days have been full - we've hung with some sharks, seals and man rays and touched an anemone at the Sydney Aquarium. We took a cruise around the bay, had a massage at our excellent japanese restaurant during lunch, and we head to the zoo this afternoon. More to blog later.
Hope you all have a happy happy new year!
Love,
hani
December 27, 2001
Bangkok, Thailand.
December 27, 2001
I've arrived safely and I swear, the hotel must have a cable or DSL line, AT LEAST ! for I am not left waiting for byte by byte to download.
I'm at the Narai hotel, and will rest for an early morning awakening to head to the Grand Palace, a load of Wats, and a walk through Chinatown. Am not feeling up to much right now for wandering the city alone at night as it's my first night and it feels so incredibly foreign. Am not much in the adventuring mood yet. That'll kick in when I go hiking in the rainforests in Australia. Or maybe by daylight over here. I'm right in the heart of downtown on Silom Road, which is great - everything is really in walking distance.
It's strange - how foreign Asia really is to me! Although in Bangkok, the roads are much better - more like in the States and the variety of cars and vehicles is similar - I keep seeing my Honda Civic everywhere, which is a rarity in Saigon (Saigonnese who own Hondas usually get the higher end Accord). Of course, the language is totally new and so is the script. Gratefully, everything is also in English.
Prices are relative to that in Vietnam, and bartering is similar common practice. Hopefully I'll be better at it here than I am in Vietnam. I'll mostly do some sightseeing, and doubt I'll do any shopping since I don't want to lug it all around Australia with me. On the way back, I am only here overnight for about 12 hours so doubt that I'll head back into town.
OK. A shout out to my peeps back in Saigon. Gone one day and already, I miss them. You know who you are.
Love
Hani
December 27, 2001
I've arrived safely and I swear, the hotel must have a cable or DSL line, AT LEAST ! for I am not left waiting for byte by byte to download.
I'm at the Narai hotel, and will rest for an early morning awakening to head to the Grand Palace, a load of Wats, and a walk through Chinatown. Am not feeling up to much right now for wandering the city alone at night as it's my first night and it feels so incredibly foreign. Am not much in the adventuring mood yet. That'll kick in when I go hiking in the rainforests in Australia. Or maybe by daylight over here. I'm right in the heart of downtown on Silom Road, which is great - everything is really in walking distance.
It's strange - how foreign Asia really is to me! Although in Bangkok, the roads are much better - more like in the States and the variety of cars and vehicles is similar - I keep seeing my Honda Civic everywhere, which is a rarity in Saigon (Saigonnese who own Hondas usually get the higher end Accord). Of course, the language is totally new and so is the script. Gratefully, everything is also in English.
Prices are relative to that in Vietnam, and bartering is similar common practice. Hopefully I'll be better at it here than I am in Vietnam. I'll mostly do some sightseeing, and doubt I'll do any shopping since I don't want to lug it all around Australia with me. On the way back, I am only here overnight for about 12 hours so doubt that I'll head back into town.
OK. A shout out to my peeps back in Saigon. Gone one day and already, I miss them. You know who you are.
Love
Hani
December 25, 2001
Saigon, December 25, 2001
Christmas does NOT feel like Christmas here. I had chicken noodle soup for dinner tonight and I'm exhausted - I'm going to bed soon.
Spent all night playing cards (teaching Gin Rummy & Hearts to my vietnamese friends) and then went straight over to the Mekong Delta and across the new My Thuan bridge which was built in conjunction with (or by) Australia. It was a 3 hour drive that really resulted in a small boat ride to a lychee orchard, and then back 2 hours to Saigon.
In my exhaustion, I fell asleep while grammy was talking to me earlier about past life events, after she told me that my brother (Forrest Gump) got a 100% raise and how that good news has made her aching bones a little bit less achy. So, good night. I'll try to log on from Australia.
h.
by the way, emails are always appreciated.
you've got the address.
knowing what you're all up to gives me incentive to actually keep blogging, even if you're just describing a visit to the grocery store. It makes me less homesick!
Christmas does NOT feel like Christmas here. I had chicken noodle soup for dinner tonight and I'm exhausted - I'm going to bed soon.
Spent all night playing cards (teaching Gin Rummy & Hearts to my vietnamese friends) and then went straight over to the Mekong Delta and across the new My Thuan bridge which was built in conjunction with (or by) Australia. It was a 3 hour drive that really resulted in a small boat ride to a lychee orchard, and then back 2 hours to Saigon.
In my exhaustion, I fell asleep while grammy was talking to me earlier about past life events, after she told me that my brother (Forrest Gump) got a 100% raise and how that good news has made her aching bones a little bit less achy. So, good night. I'll try to log on from Australia.
h.
by the way, emails are always appreciated.
you've got the address.
knowing what you're all up to gives me incentive to actually keep blogging, even if you're just describing a visit to the grocery store. It makes me less homesick!
December 24, 2001
saigon, december 24, 2001
so tonight i'm going to a vietnamese christmas party - who's to know how it'll be, but i'll send a report afterwards.
tomorrow i head to the mekong delta with cousins Hung & Heather only for the day. Reports on that as well. should be fun.
day after i gather things for the trip to australia and then i'm off down under
hope you're all enjoying your holidays
cheers,
h.
so tonight i'm going to a vietnamese christmas party - who's to know how it'll be, but i'll send a report afterwards.
tomorrow i head to the mekong delta with cousins Hung & Heather only for the day. Reports on that as well. should be fun.
day after i gather things for the trip to australia and then i'm off down under
hope you're all enjoying your holidays
cheers,
h.
December 22, 2001
Okay, just got through writing a blog report when the computer crashed. So, in brief – I’m hanging out here with Hung and Heather who’re visiting from Northern Cal (Hung is our first cousin on dad’s side) and I get to speak ENGLISH and it’s GREAT.
Bought my one-way ticket on Thai Airways today to Bangkok – I travel on Thursday and then leave on Friday for Sydney (arriving Saturday morning) and meeting with Kim at the airport. Then we’re off to enjoy some rainforests, hiking, camping, coastal driving, snorkeling, maybe some glacier walking and we’ll pass on the bungee jumping.
Hope you all enjoyed your latkes without me, and the rest of you I’m wishing juicy turkeys for Christmas.
Happy New Year, all! I’ll try to write from Sydney!
Love, Peace, and JOY
HANI
Bought my one-way ticket on Thai Airways today to Bangkok – I travel on Thursday and then leave on Friday for Sydney (arriving Saturday morning) and meeting with Kim at the airport. Then we’re off to enjoy some rainforests, hiking, camping, coastal driving, snorkeling, maybe some glacier walking and we’ll pass on the bungee jumping.
Hope you all enjoyed your latkes without me, and the rest of you I’m wishing juicy turkeys for Christmas.
Happy New Year, all! I’ll try to write from Sydney!
Love, Peace, and JOY
HANI
December 20, 2001
I added photos to the Hanoi link - check it out again.
I'm moving Chuong's stuff in tomorrow & the day after, holiday party at the ex-office, and running around to the Consulates to get my visas for Thailand and Australia (none needed for New Zealand!).
will be spending only one full day on my own in Bangkok before heading down under. Anyone have any suggestions?
h.
I'm moving Chuong's stuff in tomorrow & the day after, holiday party at the ex-office, and running around to the Consulates to get my visas for Thailand and Australia (none needed for New Zealand!).
will be spending only one full day on my own in Bangkok before heading down under. Anyone have any suggestions?
h.
December 18, 2001
Saigon, December 18, 2001.
Okay, and how cool does THIS sound for Australia:
Rainforest Adventure Hiking
Day 1 (LD):
Travel up the Goldsborough Valley to the Atherton Tablelands. Spend the day trekking along ancient Aboriginal rainforest trails. Swim in crystal clear mountain streams and explore the rainforest before reaching camp for the night, at the top of a 50 metre waterfall. After a hot meal and discussing the days events, snuggle into your sleeping bag and waterproof hammock for a good nights sleep under a canopy of stars and suspended over a luminous mushroom plateau, in the middle of an ancient rainforest wilderness.
Overnight: Hammock Camp
Day 2 (BL):
Experience the joy of waking up to a myriad of bird sounds in the wilderness. After breakfast and a relaxed start to the day set off to explore one of the last unspoilt rainforest areas left on earth. Returning by a different route we cross mountain streams and pass magnificent waterfalls in the shadow of Mt Bartle Frere. At lunch, swim and relax at the Upper Chucka Lunga crossing, leaving in time to walk out and return to Cairns.
Let me answer that. VERY cool.
I will tell you all about it.
Hani
Okay, and how cool does THIS sound for Australia:
Rainforest Adventure Hiking
Day 1 (LD):
Travel up the Goldsborough Valley to the Atherton Tablelands. Spend the day trekking along ancient Aboriginal rainforest trails. Swim in crystal clear mountain streams and explore the rainforest before reaching camp for the night, at the top of a 50 metre waterfall. After a hot meal and discussing the days events, snuggle into your sleeping bag and waterproof hammock for a good nights sleep under a canopy of stars and suspended over a luminous mushroom plateau, in the middle of an ancient rainforest wilderness.
Overnight: Hammock Camp
Day 2 (BL):
Experience the joy of waking up to a myriad of bird sounds in the wilderness. After breakfast and a relaxed start to the day set off to explore one of the last unspoilt rainforest areas left on earth. Returning by a different route we cross mountain streams and pass magnificent waterfalls in the shadow of Mt Bartle Frere. At lunch, swim and relax at the Upper Chucka Lunga crossing, leaving in time to walk out and return to Cairns.
Let me answer that. VERY cool.
I will tell you all about it.
Hani
A forward from my sister, Kaly. It's a Thomas Friedman editorial from the New York Times and worth the read:
December 9, 2001
Ask Not What . . .
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
News anchor Tom Brokaw tells the story of meeting a young New York City fireman a week after Sept. 11. The fireman had just participated in a memorial service for some of his fallen colleagues and the two of them talked about the tragedy. "As I said goodbye," Mr. Brokaw recalled, "he grabbed my arm and his expression took on
a tone of utter determination as he said, `Mr. Brokaw, watch my generation now, just watch us.' " As the author of the acclaimed "The Greatest Generation," the story of the World War II cohort that saved America from Nazism, Mr. Brokaw told me he knew just what the man was saying: " `This is our turn to be a greatest generation.' "
There is a lot of truth to that. I have nothing but respect for the way President Bush has conducted this war. But this moment cannot just be about moving troops and tracking terrorists. There is a deep hunger in America post-Sept. 11 in many people who feel this is their war in their backyard and they would like to be summoned by the president to do something more than go shopping. If you just look at the amount of money spontaneously donated to victims' families, it's clear that there is a deep reservoir of energy out there that could be channeled to become a real force for American renewal and transformation - and it's not being done. One senses that President Bush is intent on stapling his narrow, hard-right Sept. 10 agenda onto the Sept. 12 world, and that is his and our loss.
Imagine if tomorrow President Bush asked all Americans to turn down their home thermostats to 65 degrees so America would not be so much of a hostage to Middle East oil? Trust me, every American would turn down the thermostat to 65 degrees. Liberating us from the grip of OPEC would be our Victory Garden.
Imagine if the president announced a Manhattan Project to make us energy independent in a decade, on the basis of domestic oil, improved mileage standards and renewable resources, so we Americans, who are 5 percent of the world's population, don't continue hogging 25 percent of the world's energy? Imagine if the president called on every young person to consider enlisting in some form of service - the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, Peace Corps, Teach For America, AmeriCorps, the F.B.I., the C.I.A.? People would enlist in droves. Imagine if the president called on every corporate chieftain to take a 10 percent pay cut, starting with himself, so fewer employees would have to be laid off? Plenty would do it.
I don't toss these ideas out for some patriotic high. There is a critical strategic point here: If we are going to be stomping around the world wiping out terrorist cells from Kabul to Manila, we'd better make sure that we are the best country, and the best global citizens, we can be. Otherwise, we are going to lose the rest of the world.
That means not just putting a fist in the face of the world's bad guys, but also offering a hand up for the good guys. That means doubling our foreign aid, intensifying our democracy promotion programs, increasing our contributions to world development banks (which do microlending to poor women) and lowering our trade barriers for textile and farm imports from the poorest countries. Imagine if the president called on every U.S. school to raise money to buy solar-powered light bulbs for every village in Africa that didn't have electricity so African kids could read at night? And let every one of those light bulbs carry an America flag decal on it, so when those kids grew up they would remember who lit up their nights?
The world's perception of us and our values matters even more now, and it is not going to be changed by an ad campaign, or by just winning in Afghanistan, as important as that is. It will be changed only by what we do - at home and abroad. This war can't end with only downtown Kabul on the mend, and not downtown Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles. Remember: the victims on Sept. 11 were a cross section of America - black, white, Hispanic, rich, poor and middle class - and that same cross section has to share in the healing. If we've learned anything from Sept. 11, it is that if you don't visit a bad neighborhood, it will visit you.
The first Greatest Generation won its stripes by defending America and its allies. This Greatest Generation has to win its stripes by making sure that the America that was passed onto us, and that now claims for itself the leadership of a global war against evil terrorists, is worthy of that task.
Mr. President, where do we enlist?
-Thomas Friedman, New York Times, December 9, 2001
December 9, 2001
Ask Not What . . .
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
News anchor Tom Brokaw tells the story of meeting a young New York City fireman a week after Sept. 11. The fireman had just participated in a memorial service for some of his fallen colleagues and the two of them talked about the tragedy. "As I said goodbye," Mr. Brokaw recalled, "he grabbed my arm and his expression took on
a tone of utter determination as he said, `Mr. Brokaw, watch my generation now, just watch us.' " As the author of the acclaimed "The Greatest Generation," the story of the World War II cohort that saved America from Nazism, Mr. Brokaw told me he knew just what the man was saying: " `This is our turn to be a greatest generation.' "
There is a lot of truth to that. I have nothing but respect for the way President Bush has conducted this war. But this moment cannot just be about moving troops and tracking terrorists. There is a deep hunger in America post-Sept. 11 in many people who feel this is their war in their backyard and they would like to be summoned by the president to do something more than go shopping. If you just look at the amount of money spontaneously donated to victims' families, it's clear that there is a deep reservoir of energy out there that could be channeled to become a real force for American renewal and transformation - and it's not being done. One senses that President Bush is intent on stapling his narrow, hard-right Sept. 10 agenda onto the Sept. 12 world, and that is his and our loss.
Imagine if tomorrow President Bush asked all Americans to turn down their home thermostats to 65 degrees so America would not be so much of a hostage to Middle East oil? Trust me, every American would turn down the thermostat to 65 degrees. Liberating us from the grip of OPEC would be our Victory Garden.
Imagine if the president announced a Manhattan Project to make us energy independent in a decade, on the basis of domestic oil, improved mileage standards and renewable resources, so we Americans, who are 5 percent of the world's population, don't continue hogging 25 percent of the world's energy? Imagine if the president called on every young person to consider enlisting in some form of service - the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, Peace Corps, Teach For America, AmeriCorps, the F.B.I., the C.I.A.? People would enlist in droves. Imagine if the president called on every corporate chieftain to take a 10 percent pay cut, starting with himself, so fewer employees would have to be laid off? Plenty would do it.
I don't toss these ideas out for some patriotic high. There is a critical strategic point here: If we are going to be stomping around the world wiping out terrorist cells from Kabul to Manila, we'd better make sure that we are the best country, and the best global citizens, we can be. Otherwise, we are going to lose the rest of the world.
That means not just putting a fist in the face of the world's bad guys, but also offering a hand up for the good guys. That means doubling our foreign aid, intensifying our democracy promotion programs, increasing our contributions to world development banks (which do microlending to poor women) and lowering our trade barriers for textile and farm imports from the poorest countries. Imagine if the president called on every U.S. school to raise money to buy solar-powered light bulbs for every village in Africa that didn't have electricity so African kids could read at night? And let every one of those light bulbs carry an America flag decal on it, so when those kids grew up they would remember who lit up their nights?
The world's perception of us and our values matters even more now, and it is not going to be changed by an ad campaign, or by just winning in Afghanistan, as important as that is. It will be changed only by what we do - at home and abroad. This war can't end with only downtown Kabul on the mend, and not downtown Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles. Remember: the victims on Sept. 11 were a cross section of America - black, white, Hispanic, rich, poor and middle class - and that same cross section has to share in the healing. If we've learned anything from Sept. 11, it is that if you don't visit a bad neighborhood, it will visit you.
The first Greatest Generation won its stripes by defending America and its allies. This Greatest Generation has to win its stripes by making sure that the America that was passed onto us, and that now claims for itself the leadership of a global war against evil terrorists, is worthy of that task.
Mr. President, where do we enlist?
-Thomas Friedman, New York Times, December 9, 2001
December 17, 2001
Spent most of today running more errands for the apartment.
In between, I invited my entire office to Dong Du Cafe for lunch, 11 of us, and ice cream for dessert.
Yum.
Saigon is a small world. Today I met a french man who knows my aunt and he recognized me from a restaurant wherein I had dinner the other night. "Tres forte, sa presence," he exclaimed. Then I met a couple who has been to my parents' home in Arlington and the guy is a first cousin of my now former boss from my job here in Saigon.
Life is generally good. I'm planning a few more trips over the next weeks. I'm getting things done in Chuong's apartment. Soon it will be livable!
Oh, and I saw Hung and Heather a couple of days ago. Hung is our first cousin (his mom is dad's sister) who lives in northern California and they're in town for a visit. Hopefully we'll head to Mui Ne together before the holidays. More to write, but I'm feeling lazy.
h.
In between, I invited my entire office to Dong Du Cafe for lunch, 11 of us, and ice cream for dessert.
Yum.
Saigon is a small world. Today I met a french man who knows my aunt and he recognized me from a restaurant wherein I had dinner the other night. "Tres forte, sa presence," he exclaimed. Then I met a couple who has been to my parents' home in Arlington and the guy is a first cousin of my now former boss from my job here in Saigon.
Life is generally good. I'm planning a few more trips over the next weeks. I'm getting things done in Chuong's apartment. Soon it will be livable!
Oh, and I saw Hung and Heather a couple of days ago. Hung is our first cousin (his mom is dad's sister) who lives in northern California and they're in town for a visit. Hopefully we'll head to Mui Ne together before the holidays. More to write, but I'm feeling lazy.
h.
December 16, 2001
Sai Gon. December 16, 2001
Have just spent lots of time over the weekend eating good French food with dear French friends and working on improving Chuong’s (my) new apartment. I carried a chair up to the third (Asian third is like European third which is American Fourth) floor even though the cab driver didn’t think I could do it. Hell, I used to lug the mountain bike all over New York up and down the subway stairs (why does one take subway when one has a bike? Ask a NYC biker in training). I can carry a chair up a few flights of stairs.
The ugliness in the apartment is slowly subsiding with small improvements. Hopefully by week’s end, I’ll be able to move in, although I still have much to do before I go to Australia.
Vietnam is funny right now because there are Christmas decorations everywhere. Although there are quite a lot of Catholics here, almost all Vietnamese celebrate Christmas for fun and they are sooo un-P.C. about it all – they don’t know about dreidels and Hanukkah here. But it’s odd to see Christmas trees and garlands while it’s still in the upper 80’s and we’re all in shorts.
Kim and I are getting the details ironed out for our trip to Australia. We’re going to try to drive up the coast, go to a rain forest, do anything cool that we encounter and head to New Zealand. I’m also going to squeeze in a trip to Bangkok in the beginning of my trip, and spend two days there. So cool. I can’t wait.
Have just spent lots of time over the weekend eating good French food with dear French friends and working on improving Chuong’s (my) new apartment. I carried a chair up to the third (Asian third is like European third which is American Fourth) floor even though the cab driver didn’t think I could do it. Hell, I used to lug the mountain bike all over New York up and down the subway stairs (why does one take subway when one has a bike? Ask a NYC biker in training). I can carry a chair up a few flights of stairs.
The ugliness in the apartment is slowly subsiding with small improvements. Hopefully by week’s end, I’ll be able to move in, although I still have much to do before I go to Australia.
Vietnam is funny right now because there are Christmas decorations everywhere. Although there are quite a lot of Catholics here, almost all Vietnamese celebrate Christmas for fun and they are sooo un-P.C. about it all – they don’t know about dreidels and Hanukkah here. But it’s odd to see Christmas trees and garlands while it’s still in the upper 80’s and we’re all in shorts.
Kim and I are getting the details ironed out for our trip to Australia. We’re going to try to drive up the coast, go to a rain forest, do anything cool that we encounter and head to New Zealand. I’m also going to squeeze in a trip to Bangkok in the beginning of my trip, and spend two days there. So cool. I can’t wait.
December 12, 2001
It's nearly 3 am. I'm still online 'cause Kim - who is going to Australia & NZ with me - and I have just decided to skip Melbourne so we can go scuba diving in the GREAT BARRIER REEF in Cairns. HA! We're spending New Year's in Sydney. It's summer in Australia! (Not that it isn't tropical here, but hey...)
cheers
h.
cheers
h.
December 12, 2001.
A day and a half off and besides sleeping in, i've been pretty busy.
Last night, Chuong and I went to the remembrance ceremony commemorating the 3 month anniversary of the attacks in America, held at the US Consulate here in Saigon. It was brief, though moving, and I'm glad I went. I then dropped in on a friend's holiday party where we had an authentic turkey & homemade stuffing dinner. I was THRILLED. For an evening, I felt like I was back home.
I spent all day today running around town with my friend Tina (my former boss's wife) to buy lighting, shelving, furniture, linens, and everything else I’ll need to be comfortable in my new apartment. New apartment? Oh, it’s Chuong’s, really, but he’s out of town about three weeks a month and his place is yards away from Dong Du Cafe, smack in the middle of the city center (about 100 meters from the Opera House). So, as his lucky auntie, I get to be the official housesitter and interior decorator. [sigh of relief!] Finally, my own space!
Once I’m finished dealing with the construction and cleaning, I’ll be ready to move Chuong in at 10 am on Saturday morning (mid-lunar month) which we’re told is a “prosperous” day for us to move him in according to the laws of geomancy. His friend Phung is bringing the fruit and incense to offer to the Buddhas and then I can let the movers bring his stuff up. I told my friend Lan to get me a bag of rice – it’s what mom and dad give us when we move into a new place – symbolic for always having food on the table.
I’m trying to upload as many photos as I can for the albums, but I don’t have much time. I’ll try to get the rest up by Monday.
I am still being eaten by mosquitos.
xo,
H.
A day and a half off and besides sleeping in, i've been pretty busy.
Last night, Chuong and I went to the remembrance ceremony commemorating the 3 month anniversary of the attacks in America, held at the US Consulate here in Saigon. It was brief, though moving, and I'm glad I went. I then dropped in on a friend's holiday party where we had an authentic turkey & homemade stuffing dinner. I was THRILLED. For an evening, I felt like I was back home.
I spent all day today running around town with my friend Tina (my former boss's wife) to buy lighting, shelving, furniture, linens, and everything else I’ll need to be comfortable in my new apartment. New apartment? Oh, it’s Chuong’s, really, but he’s out of town about three weeks a month and his place is yards away from Dong Du Cafe, smack in the middle of the city center (about 100 meters from the Opera House). So, as his lucky auntie, I get to be the official housesitter and interior decorator. [sigh of relief!] Finally, my own space!
Once I’m finished dealing with the construction and cleaning, I’ll be ready to move Chuong in at 10 am on Saturday morning (mid-lunar month) which we’re told is a “prosperous” day for us to move him in according to the laws of geomancy. His friend Phung is bringing the fruit and incense to offer to the Buddhas and then I can let the movers bring his stuff up. I told my friend Lan to get me a bag of rice – it’s what mom and dad give us when we move into a new place – symbolic for always having food on the table.
I’m trying to upload as many photos as I can for the albums, but I don’t have much time. I’ll try to get the rest up by Monday.
I am still being eaten by mosquitos.
xo,
H.
December 11, 2001
December 11, 2001.
I've been damn busy so sorry to the last 10 hits... I've only had time to change a bit of the blog look, but none to update.
In brief:
I stopped working.
I am on vacation until March or April.
I am going to Bangkok, Australia, and New Zealand from December 27 to January 18.
I am going to eat like a queen for the Tet holidays in Vietnam.
I am going to Angkor Wat in January.
I am returning to the USA on February 18.
I am going to Dalat, Danang, Hoi An, Phu Quoc, and the Mekong Delta sometime in between now and my return.
Life rocks.
H
I've been damn busy so sorry to the last 10 hits... I've only had time to change a bit of the blog look, but none to update.
In brief:
I stopped working.
I am on vacation until March or April.
I am going to Bangkok, Australia, and New Zealand from December 27 to January 18.
I am going to eat like a queen for the Tet holidays in Vietnam.
I am going to Angkor Wat in January.
I am returning to the USA on February 18.
I am going to Dalat, Danang, Hoi An, Phu Quoc, and the Mekong Delta sometime in between now and my return.
Life rocks.
H
December 06, 2001
December 04, 2001
Saigon, December 4, 2001
I’m at the office – on another deadline as we send films out day after tomorrow. I plan on working till around the 21st and then, if all goes as planned, head down under. If I can help it, I’ll spend Hanukkah in Vietnam, Christmas in Australia, and New Years in… New Zealand? Flights from VN through Bangkok are only about $600 to get to Australia. That’s as cheap as NY-CA!
Last week I went to see the London Festival Orchestra at the City Opera Hall. It’s a beautiful building, built in 1900 most likely by the French. It’s very western and made me feel (a tiny bit) like I was back in NY listening to live orchestral music (and I wasn’t in a loud horns/soft strings dead spot like in Avery Fisher Hall). There was a bird fluttering around the dome near the upper tier of the hall – I actually wondered if it was a Vietnamese stunt or a poor trapped bird. By the time we were through with Tchaikovsky, the bird disappeared just at intermission.
Life goes on in Vietnam. It’s still hot, though it’s winter. That means bearable heat, opposed to unbearable heat. Much construction continues in Vietnam, including the main road along the Saigon river where we live. They’re working on expanding the road and gentrifying the area over the next two years. It also means that a lot of people will lose their businesses and their homes (on property that actually belongs to the government anyway, but then again – the government owns all the property in Vietnam).
Oops. Mike just popped up on messenger. I’ll finish up later!
I’m at the office – on another deadline as we send films out day after tomorrow. I plan on working till around the 21st and then, if all goes as planned, head down under. If I can help it, I’ll spend Hanukkah in Vietnam, Christmas in Australia, and New Years in… New Zealand? Flights from VN through Bangkok are only about $600 to get to Australia. That’s as cheap as NY-CA!
Last week I went to see the London Festival Orchestra at the City Opera Hall. It’s a beautiful building, built in 1900 most likely by the French. It’s very western and made me feel (a tiny bit) like I was back in NY listening to live orchestral music (and I wasn’t in a loud horns/soft strings dead spot like in Avery Fisher Hall). There was a bird fluttering around the dome near the upper tier of the hall – I actually wondered if it was a Vietnamese stunt or a poor trapped bird. By the time we were through with Tchaikovsky, the bird disappeared just at intermission.
Life goes on in Vietnam. It’s still hot, though it’s winter. That means bearable heat, opposed to unbearable heat. Much construction continues in Vietnam, including the main road along the Saigon river where we live. They’re working on expanding the road and gentrifying the area over the next two years. It also means that a lot of people will lose their businesses and their homes (on property that actually belongs to the government anyway, but then again – the government owns all the property in Vietnam).
Oops. Mike just popped up on messenger. I’ll finish up later!
December 03, 2001
All right – word just in on what a blast Lisa's brunch was. For the New Yorkers that missed Lisa Kirt’s fabulous Sunday Brunch and Holiday Studio Sale in Brooklyn today, YOU STILL HAVE ONE MORE CHANCE! And if you have good taste in design, and a stomach for authentic Italian pastries, then you MUST present yourself at Lisa’s on Sunday, December 16 for your chance to get gorgeous KleinReid Ceramics and a first hand visit of their studio.
Here’s the excerpt of Lisa’s invitation (extended to all of you), and you ought to RSVP (to lkirt@yahoo.com) to make sure you get your share of the pastries!
you are warmly invited to my annual december brunch and holiday studio sale
for those of you receiving this email for the first time, this is your chance to buy near perfect seconds and discounted firsts at KleinReid, designers and producers of hand-cast porcelain. dansk has produced several lines of KleinReid dinnerware, they've been profiled in the nytimes, their work has been featured in every major design magazine, and their vases are sold at fine stores around the world. all objects are useful, beautiful, and affordable (prices start at $10). and the boys are from OHIO! go figure!
italian pastries, coffee, juice, holiday salsa & jazz at my house, then visits to the studio, which is just one block away. you can drop in any time either day. you can also
just come over to hang out or mambo in my kitchen with me -- shopping is optional. and i can point you toward bedford avenue, if you want to check out the hip shops and cafes.
i'm doing two brunch/sales this year, to offer people more options -- and to try in some way to make up for the fact that KleinReid is not opening its own store (read here:
economy). it's been a hard fall for everyone, and artists are no exception.
here's the scoop:
sunday december 2
AND
sunday, december 16
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
RSVP by responding to this email with the date you'd like to attend. feel free to forward this email along, and to bring friends. the more, the merrier. ALWAYS.
566 metropolitan avenue, #4 / williamsburg, brooklyn / 718-963-0879
lorimer stop of the L train / metropolitan ave stop of the G train
detailed directions upon request - my house is just 10 minutes from union square.
and you can also check things out on www.lisakirt.blogspot.com (I’m clickable)
So, on my recommendation, GO! And you will NOT be disappointed!
I will write more about Vietnam when I can find more time, as I seem to have left some of it in Hanoi. Just back from a 2 week vacation and we're preparing for films for the new magazine so I'm off to get more work done (I have to remind myself sometimes that I'm retired, and this is really just for fun...)
Here’s the excerpt of Lisa’s invitation (extended to all of you), and you ought to RSVP (to lkirt@yahoo.com) to make sure you get your share of the pastries!
you are warmly invited to my annual december brunch and holiday studio sale
for those of you receiving this email for the first time, this is your chance to buy near perfect seconds and discounted firsts at KleinReid, designers and producers of hand-cast porcelain. dansk has produced several lines of KleinReid dinnerware, they've been profiled in the nytimes, their work has been featured in every major design magazine, and their vases are sold at fine stores around the world. all objects are useful, beautiful, and affordable (prices start at $10). and the boys are from OHIO! go figure!
italian pastries, coffee, juice, holiday salsa & jazz at my house, then visits to the studio, which is just one block away. you can drop in any time either day. you can also
just come over to hang out or mambo in my kitchen with me -- shopping is optional. and i can point you toward bedford avenue, if you want to check out the hip shops and cafes.
i'm doing two brunch/sales this year, to offer people more options -- and to try in some way to make up for the fact that KleinReid is not opening its own store (read here:
economy). it's been a hard fall for everyone, and artists are no exception.
here's the scoop:
sunday december 2
AND
sunday, december 16
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
RSVP by responding to this email with the date you'd like to attend. feel free to forward this email along, and to bring friends. the more, the merrier. ALWAYS.
566 metropolitan avenue, #4 / williamsburg, brooklyn / 718-963-0879
lorimer stop of the L train / metropolitan ave stop of the G train
detailed directions upon request - my house is just 10 minutes from union square.
and you can also check things out on www.lisakirt.blogspot.com (I’m clickable)
So, on my recommendation, GO! And you will NOT be disappointed!
I will write more about Vietnam when I can find more time, as I seem to have left some of it in Hanoi. Just back from a 2 week vacation and we're preparing for films for the new magazine so I'm off to get more work done (I have to remind myself sometimes that I'm retired, and this is really just for fun...)
