tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18566564000104234412024-03-18T20:16:52.754-07:00In Search Of Saigon 2011insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-44798189459351263272011-08-02T06:52:00.000-07:002011-08-03T22:52:30.724-07:00Epilogue: In Search of Saigon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>By Dr Yeoh Seng Guan</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This year’s study trip was prefaced by high drama. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Firstly</i>, three of the student travelers had to pull out just a couple of weeks before the trip for various reasons and replacements had to be found. <i>Secondly</i>, the fates of two other student travelers - from Kenya and Sri Lanka – were less assured until the eleventh hour. Seemingly intractable difficulties in getting their visas approved by the Vietnamese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur threatened to do more damage to team morale. It was only through the direct intervention of our host institution in Vietnam that the matter was resolved. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Lastly,</i> as our plane took off from the LCCT tarmac on the early morning of Saturday, 9 July we were also mindful of the much hyped ‘Bersih march’ - led by civil society groups calling for clean, free and fair elections - that was to unfold on the streets of Kuala Lumpur later in the day. With contending groups uttering veiled threats against the march, we prayed for restraint and good sense to prevail as we flew beyond Malaysian skies. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Once in Ho Chi Minh City, and over the course of the following days, however, the angst of Malaysian politics faded temporarily into the background as student travelers were caught up in the intellectual and emotional challenge of apprehending the complexities of things foreign and unfamiliar. Through a variety of sources - formal lectures, dialogues with civil society groups, and snatches of conversations struck up with a range of people whom they encountered - they were given glimpses and insights into some of the challenges of modern Vietnamese urban society. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Some of them stem from the long term consequences of war (like the widespread use of Agent Orange during the “Vietnam/American War”) and the polarized protectionism of Cold War politics. Others are of more recent provenance and flow from the liberalizing push of Doi Moi (“to change and make it better”) state policies launched in the mid-1980s. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In myriad ways meticulously chronicled through the student travelers’ tales, they collectively paint a picture of a country on the move to make its mark in the modern world with Ho Chi Minh City very much at the center of the radical transformation. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Once again, a venture of this nature is impossible if the assistance of our Vietnamese friends was not forthcoming. Firstly, my gratitude goes to Dr Tran Dinh Lam, the Director of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian Center of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, for agreeing to be the host institute for the study trip. Through him, we were able to attract the services of our six local student guides – Mr Pham Tuan Anh, Ms Tran This Hani Nhi, Mr Vo Nhat Thang, Ms Nguyen Thien Vi, Mr Le Kim Thanh, and Ms Ho Thi Uyen Thu. They provided enthusiastic and competent support in logistical matters, were lively and knowledgeable company, and much more. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For so generously sharing their local expertise and their commitment to making Vietnamese society a better place, I thank: Mr Pham Thanh Van of Chuong Trinh AIDS (who also facilitated access to four local communities); Rev Vincent Vu Ngo Dong of Caritas Vietnam; Ms Vo Thi Hoang Yen and Ms Nguyen Thuy Diem Huong of Disability Research & Capacity Development; and Mr Nicolas Lainez of Alliance Anti-Traffic.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Throughout the study trip, Mai Vy Hotel, a compact family-owned business, became a home-away-from-home. Its friendly staff members and strategic location in a non-descript alleyway gave the student travelers a close-up view of how Vietnamese people get on with their everyday lives in addition to the well-known tourist sites of the country. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This year’s cohort of travelers attracted nationalities of five countries – Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, South Korea and Kenya. Although not chalking up any records in terms of the diversity of countries represented – this distinction is currently held by In Search of Chiang Mai 2010 – I am glad to note that this group has broadly sustained a key ethos of the study trip, viz., learning to adapt rather quickly to each other’s quirks, and channeling individual talents and abilities for the sake of a greater project. While heartily enjoying what Saigon has to offer in terms of food, shopping and nightlife, they also worked long and hard to keep the blog regularly updated with texts, photos and videos. I must also make mention of the good cheer and efficiency with which Ms Bats Mohsinali, the chaperone for this year, carried out all her difficult tasks. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For part of the trip, the travelers were joined by Ms Eunice Phang, an alumnus and veteran of previous study trips. She was accompanied by her mother, Ms Susan Chai, who matched the cohort’s energetic quest for knowledge and understanding of Vietnam. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Like the student travelers, Vietnam is comparatively new territory for me in comparison to other countries in Southeast Asia. Nevertheless, the stories of struggle and hope that we were privileged to hear were both unfamiliar and recognizable. At one level, they broadly resonated with the themes heard in previous study trips in the region. But they also have particularities that complicated the stereotypes depicted in most Hollywood movies on Vietnam. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mJIjq1hxYtC1cpfHInj0i7CkSafZMZLnXZHxyFLaRMa66rxApfukQFJw76kNJlfotJhL-6eWOvIm2WWSZG-3O3eTAlJgpK0OtR5pbFSv9JFWU2kIjlg8G3uOeXs6_MWcs-4fWSgoqAs/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mJIjq1hxYtC1cpfHInj0i7CkSafZMZLnXZHxyFLaRMa66rxApfukQFJw76kNJlfotJhL-6eWOvIm2WWSZG-3O3eTAlJgpK0OtR5pbFSv9JFWU2kIjlg8G3uOeXs6_MWcs-4fWSgoqAs/s320/Picture1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Travellers at the host institution, VNU along with our hosts and student guides.</span></td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If this particular study trip has emboldened this cohort of travelers (and others reading this blog) to delve deeper and explore beyond the familiar platitudes usually offered to us in our everyday lives, I believe the key objectives of the annual study trip have once again endured another year. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://searchforsaigonprofiles11.blogspot.com/2011/07/dr-yeoh-seng-guan.html">Dr Yeoh Seng Guan</a>, ageless and eternal, is the sole reason Monash Malaysia annual study trips exist. Loved and adored by each and every student he has ever taught, the Saigon trip will be the last one organized by the Media and Cultural Studies lecturer, before he goes off on a sabbatical.</i></div></div>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-70272917249138482222011-08-02T06:31:00.000-07:002011-08-03T23:00:48.269-07:00The Second Last Word- Editor-in-Chief’s Address<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>By Abeer Yusuf</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Photos by the Photography Team</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Love.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If there was one word to sum the entire trip up, this would be it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This trip began with most of us in our somewhat knitted groups embarking on an expedition that was to bring us to the land with no Facebook access. Through our prep meetings we knew more or less the faces we were expecting on the trip, but none of us knew what the faces would mean by the end of it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Most of us were actually anxious about leaving our native soil, as that fated day on the 9th of July, Malaysia and her people were to be put under a tremendous test- it was the day of the Bersih rally. But by the end of the day, the 19 travellers would have undergone their very own tests - walking endlessly from place to place, tired, sleepy and perhaps already ruing the decision of coming on the trip – a taste of things to come in following days. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Spending 24 hours with 19 strangers was going to be a task- imagine walking, sleeping, eating, shopping and living with them.Everyday was as peculiar and fascinating as could be. The first two days devoted to doing ‘the tourist thing’ – visiting the Chu Chi tunnels, War Remnants museum, water puppetry show among others- allowed travellers to bond with and know each other better. Having been on two previous trips I was wary of the work ethic that was about to be displayed on this trip; while the previous year (Chiang Mai) we operated from the confines of the hotel thanks to WiFi, Indonesia (in 2009) was where I had bonded most with my peers because we had to commune at the cybercafés just a walk away from the hotel. Luckily for me, this year one room became Command Central- Room 501, where everyone would be calling for information, checking up on whereabouts of others to even sending messages to other people and generally hanging out. The itinerary design and setup therefore lead to smooth functioning when the weekdays came with its official trips to various institutions. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcoQNvJRRtkCUKq4GzyFhGkGjJOdI5A3uTAxZkVvlUvwGHBc5QHFuvdbOioQqgzoQBEtx5PGZk4O6Ve4sBo_-9D_vKUhp7i6D_Kibh8e0tt6IjeHW8MjrrUHk4GElDEUJYTPZcYA_3wk/s1600/eic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcoQNvJRRtkCUKq4GzyFhGkGjJOdI5A3uTAxZkVvlUvwGHBc5QHFuvdbOioQqgzoQBEtx5PGZk4O6Ve4sBo_-9D_vKUhp7i6D_Kibh8e0tt6IjeHW8MjrrUHk4GElDEUJYTPZcYA_3wk/s320/eic1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A little guest we encountered during one of our many photocalls.</span></td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">They say that it is only at our worst that we get to know someone the best- and I say this without the slightest hint of exaggeration that conditions indeed became very tough for us. Waters were as testy and murky as the Mekong Delta- through minimal hours of sleep, tough editorial deadlines and tons of activities, it was truly a test for us all to see what could be the resulting end of this. And it gives me immense pride in being able to say that this year’s travellers have gone beyond all sorts of hurdles, even risking their health at times, to bring forth their personal pieces, reflections and love affairs with the city that is Saigon. It is no easy task to come home after a long, endlessly tiring day only to plop yourself in front of the computer to produce words- and words that make legible sense to an unacquainted reader at that. Yet grammatical and logical sense prevailed, and thanks to the likes of Andrea, WuiJia and John (all members of the Blog team) the blog was updated, without fail, every night, making the rest of us look good!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvZXP0JgGrX2dFUqVH3ltDSmCqYFXqLLl-H3Fx2KOvfTIqbmC1-FjIavwi-FCPOuuelOIDGt1e5nGzbBK1Ke6HplBpPPkEAVi18KKzlNAFdB_mtIubcDL36j0Hbq9qEF0z0gT16vRqF4/s1600/eic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvZXP0JgGrX2dFUqVH3ltDSmCqYFXqLLl-H3Fx2KOvfTIqbmC1-FjIavwi-FCPOuuelOIDGt1e5nGzbBK1Ke6HplBpPPkEAVi18KKzlNAFdB_mtIubcDL36j0Hbq9qEF0z0gT16vRqF4/s320/eic2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Despite being rained on, spirits remained high on the trip.</span></td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another very important cog in the wheel that is the ‘In Search of Saigon’ excursion is the role of the student guides. Perhaps the most resounding understanding of what the student guides meant came inadvertently in one of our formal sessions, at Doi Rat Dep, where we, able bodied individuals were shown how even the most easiest of things that we take for granted, like navigating city streets or basic access amenities, are a challenge for those with disabilities. Having come to a country where even communicating in English was a challenge, our student guides were nothing less than God sent. Signage, roads, customs, foodways all so different from a country that we are neighbours to opened our eyes as to how crippled we would be had our guides not been there. To them we owe pretty much our entire trip, which would have otherwise gone down with extreme difficulty and made Saigon all the more foreign, rather than the home it came to be.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the reasons why we fell in love with Saigon was the culture. Our evenings were spent walking around parks, some travellers even bonding with locals over a game ofda cau (the local shuttlecock game), eating street food, packing off to Ben Thanh market for spots of shopping and so on. I in particular won’t forget the ‘Paddle Pop song’ blaring from every alternate motorbike vendor on the roads. Transportation was another thing that caught our fancy. Having thought that we had seen the worst of the rempits and motorcycle stunts in Malaysia, Vietnam served as a reminder that we hadn’t seen anything yet. Francesca, herself a capable biker, enjoyed the many thrills and near-death experiences of the easy-going, vicarious lives motorcyclists in Vietnam live. I find it important too, to remark that the mark Vietnamese roadways left on us was quite literal- within 10 days of our time there, students were beginning to looking left to right while crossing roads- the American road system, rather than the right to left we more commonly favour in Commonwealth countries.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unequivocally we all admired the close-knit community that makes the Vietnamese people – people come out huddling on tiny chairs and tables, sitting and talking as days and tourists go by. We replicated much the same- huddling around our laptops in the hotel’s computer area, talking, giggling and chatting with our work tapping itself away. We formed a little community over time, the Saigonners- each with our little roles in place. Our hotel provided quite a lot in terms of making this possible- from the sweet Uncle who would open the doors to those coming back from late night travails of Saigon (at 2am no less) to Son, the building’s handyman who was ever ready to help provide us with whatever it was we needed. The hospitality offered by Vy and her mother (owners of the hotel) is one that deserves extra mention not only because they bore a young adult racket like ours, but also because they went out of their way in making us feel welcome. Seeing that some of us were staying up late at night to finish work, we were coerced into eating biscuits and bananas to keep us going, and despite having no obligation to do so, Vy’s mother came out to our bus on the day we were leaving for our overnight trip to the Mekong Delta only to see us off (it warmed my heart that she said ‘see you later’ to Dr.Yeoh by touching her palm to his and saying “Goodbye teacher”). On our last night in Saigon, we were given a farewell party in the hotel lobby, replete with lychees, French bread and drinks. If this doesn’t show the love of the people for us, I don’t know what does. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUijXWZYPisKwfCu-1VkvqQX3010cEyEdyC8Og52-JfkPkr8ZA3u5ikLsy0nY_0lt0dsYsZt0gI2jTFg2DeeRN4fzYRSIdiX2lnUdCiQsUCg3DDSuShwB7VD8JZljmEDMGX_B2jp4myME/s1600/eic3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUijXWZYPisKwfCu-1VkvqQX3010cEyEdyC8Og52-JfkPkr8ZA3u5ikLsy0nY_0lt0dsYsZt0gI2jTFg2DeeRN4fzYRSIdiX2lnUdCiQsUCg3DDSuShwB7VD8JZljmEDMGX_B2jp4myME/s320/eic3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The fruits of friendship: Christyna Fong and Sabrina Kamaruddin at the Mekong Delta</span></td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">They say it’s the people that make a journey worthwhile. There is no ‘In Search Of’ trip where this testament has stood true-r. From Jia Wei the bun producing video-man to John (who unleashed his inner Mona) the man that was always there, ready to lend a helping hand whenever one asked for it to WuiJia, the woman who went beyond the call of duty only to help others in every which way possible. Nate (Audrey) the thoughtful and caring one to Joanna the maternal figure, who along with Farah, forms one half of the Medical Mary Poppins team; Farah without whom the trip wouldn’t have been half as interesting and lively (you must have her on EVERY one of the forthcoming In Search Of trips). Fei the eternal nonchalant dude to Cyren the lepidopterist who can churn articles in minutes; Sabrina the most dedicated Video Head and culturally aware personality. Francesca the hopelessly addicted Saigon-lover to Mumbi the bestest ‘bestie’ who made an amazing bus seat buddy, Christyna the lovely dainty friendly soul. Andrea the one with a voice which seems like it has been copy-pasted from a Disney animation to Nadia the child-like Korean doll. Bonnie without whose critical inputs during sessions we’d probably fall asleep, to Lochna the tireless and sweet Bhangra choreographer-cum-editor, this trip contained the most vibrant and personality-diverse melting pot one could ever ask for. From mere acquaintances to fast friends, this trip did what it set out to do- make us stronger, wiser and knowledgeable in the various ways of the world and its people. It ought to be known that this trip also had the largest concentration of LGBT community members, a feat I assume would be hard to replicate in the future study trips.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPFal6d7lSt_cJY_lWwBGCy779jfFD0fMFX8Ph2uzGb5ZyMDnwKaidg2YxTTavUJ9aQwwrLsc837Dd7Y4FeOriDhUzx_lW5Q2ear87UMyMWTaDIwOqccMfCICPxTdPO3wyS_pwJDMvsI/s1600/eic4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPFal6d7lSt_cJY_lWwBGCy779jfFD0fMFX8Ph2uzGb5ZyMDnwKaidg2YxTTavUJ9aQwwrLsc837Dd7Y4FeOriDhUzx_lW5Q2ear87UMyMWTaDIwOqccMfCICPxTdPO3wyS_pwJDMvsI/s320/eic4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Awkwards-R-Us.</span></td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately with love comes heartbreak, and at the end of our remarkable 10 days here, we had to bid Saigon adieu. To say that tears were shed would be an understatement. The trip came to an end with a feeling of morbidity, that this camaraderie, chemistry would never be found again, no matter how hard we attempted to recreate it back home- it wouldn’t be the same. Promises made to meet each other and stay in touch, we said our last goodbyes to the city that became our second home, and will forever more be referred to as the city where we found love. Adele’s lyrics come to mind:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Nothing compares, no worries or cares</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Regrets and mistakes they’re memories made</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Who would have known how bittersweet this would taste?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Personally this marks the end of my official sojourn on board the ‘In Search Of’ series, having now been a part of three. If I can attribute my altered life perspective to anything, it would be this series, which showed me the bounty and difficulty both of teamwork, the beauty one can find in the smallest of places and meekest of people, and the open-mindedness and tolerance which I feel I lacked prior to undertaking these trips. I can now walk incredibly long distances without giving in to fatigue all the while actually taking in sights and sounds and having a whale of time with peers. For the incredible journey this has been, thank you. To the editors aboard this trip, thank you. Had it not been for your dedication and motivation to see the best of the articles featured on the blog, this blog would have been fundamentally lacking. To Bats, the chaperone for this year, thank you for taking such good care (and with such good demeanour) of us despite being ill. You’ve been the coolest chaperone! To Dr Yeoh, thank you for undertaking this trip year after year tirelessly, to educate and enlighten us, put up with us and bear us. If it weren’t for you and your brainchild, we’d literally not be here. And to you, my peers- you ought to applaud yourselves. This year’s blog has beaten all past years’ with a record 44 entries minutely describing everything you have come to learn and love about Saigon. And lastly, to Saigon, thank you. You were happiness- amplified.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://searchforsaigonprofiles11.blogspot.com/2011/07/abeer-yusuf-chief-editor.html">Abeer Yusuf</a> is currently midway through her fourth year in Honours, researching on South Asian Third Culture Kids, and would one day like to be credited with making the term ‘desi’ more commonplace in Malaysia.</i></div></div>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-50642011955045923562011-08-02T06:03:00.000-07:002011-08-02T06:29:16.461-07:00Technology Lent- A Technophile’s Daring Experiment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>By Abeer Yusuf</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Photos by Farah Zulkefly & various sources</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">16 Twitter mentions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">62 Facebook notifications.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">6 friend requests.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">15 event invites.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">8 private messages.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">9 days.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One test.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">To say that I am connected with the times would be an understatement. If someone were to ask me how often I ‘Facebook’ or ‘Twitter’, the answer would follow a snort from some or the other friend of mine - I. Am. Always. Online. It’s not something I ever paid attention to, my virtual attachment to the Internet, but off late I began to realise a disturbing trend that had begun to take shape in both me and my immediate society. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Virtual presence has become so important, taken over such a pertinent aspect of our lives, it seems absolutely blasphemous that one would consider it a luxury, and not a glaring necessity of our times. No one can get away with dismissing the Internet as just a fad; it has become an existence in which our presence is vital. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Whereas once you could keep in touch through email and the phone, if you’re not on Facebook or Twitter 24-7, you pretty much miss out on some or the other ‘major’ news. There is today, a need to be connected with each other all the time. Getting away from the networks is akin to religiously following a television series, disappearing for a few days, and returning only to find that the entire plotline has changed shape. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipohJtoGNHpIDgC0txe6GV2Pbq4Fo0oTkMJR0JutAS5CIRMlMcP-Sa1pGKGkfiB9XTYPzjtMvD1XzDB7jrWcozlOLIukXg5RJfAIUpZAUYI-baYSBb3jJfsdqF861Rc_Y9r8eBG226xk0/s1600/abeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipohJtoGNHpIDgC0txe6GV2Pbq4Fo0oTkMJR0JutAS5CIRMlMcP-Sa1pGKGkfiB9XTYPzjtMvD1XzDB7jrWcozlOLIukXg5RJfAIUpZAUYI-baYSBb3jJfsdqF861Rc_Y9r8eBG226xk0/s320/abeer.jpg" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The same dilemma applies for technology. Photo credit: Mahoneyjoe.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But that is only one of the many grouses that I maintain with the online world. The other involves the quicksilver vortex that is the addiction to this technology. Devices being continually introduced to aid this addiction don’t make life any easier (be it your new Android smartphone or Apple iPad), nor does the knowledge that free WiFi access is adding fuel to the fire. Too many times I have been in conversations with my friends over lunch where I find them periodically distracted by ‘pings’ and ‘whatsapps’ and whatnots. Frustrated beyond imagination is one way of putting what I feel - you are physically with me, talking to me, kindly pay attention to me! The other thing I don’t comprehend is how people need to update their virtual lives about their physical lives. Rather than telling me how awesome it is to see me, I go home to find that I’ve been tagged as the ‘splendid person I always love spending time with HOMG it was so awesome to see you again Abeer!’ This need to be in two worlds at the same time is one that, I feel will lead to plenty of problems in the future.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">While I must address here that my addiction is different from the conventional Twitter/Facebook-user sense, it is an addiction nevertheless. I post endless news links on my Facebook page, update my status with disturbing frequency detailing minutely amusing co-incidences (I have a need to be funny, a need that has left me highly unpopular due to my apparent ‘lameness’) and post senseless updates about how satisfying a hot shower or a Cadbury bar is at the end of the day. While it could be worse- I could be the person who tweets her thoughts out virtually or updates followers constantly about her whereabouts or even be the person who details mundane activities about her life and love on Facebook- I fear the addict that I have become. It is a habit of mine to constantly go over to the Facebook page, only to see if the amber sign has flagged off, if even for one notification that has nothing to do with me. The moment I remove the page, I must put it back on, because it has become such a habit. When something remotely upsets me, I began mentally jotting ways in which I can cryptically address it on either Facebook or Twitter. If I don’t Facebook at least twice a day, I feel an uncontrollable desire to head back home and plop myself in front of my computer screen only to see how everyone else is living their lives on a busy Friday night. I have, scarily enough, begun spending time thinking about what my next Twitter update should be.¬¬</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzx-kbJySxKsypER21pc8P7Y857nGGbH7HNQThgVHNBQNPoehSoRURi5ZKSfwQ0mLBm7a_rlLWzNsYM0G1-BFEizN4Efa4qp3fW4Ez1qvRlVw5msPL5lVeFTakc-OhoX9Kj-J2Eht8pA/s1600/lamebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzx-kbJySxKsypER21pc8P7Y857nGGbH7HNQThgVHNBQNPoehSoRURi5ZKSfwQ0mLBm7a_rlLWzNsYM0G1-BFEizN4Efa4qp3fW4Ez1qvRlVw5msPL5lVeFTakc-OhoX9Kj-J2Eht8pA/s320/lamebook.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lamebook ought to have been the real name of Facebook. Picture credit: Google Images</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was at this juncture that I decided I needed to get away from all sorts of technology. While the ubiquitous mobile phone was necessary to communicate with my parents and friends in Saigon, I decided that it was time that I went on a virtual cleansing trip. The trip to Ho Chi Minh offered me the opportunity to do just that. I decided I would see how long I could last before succumbing to the great tool that is Mark Zuckerbergs’ creation and also, just how others online would take my virtual death (and dearth of activity). I decided for that reason to try to limit as far as possible the number of people whom I told about my impending trip, only so that the lack of Facebook/Twitter activity would make them wonder where I was; I wanted to see how far they would go, or be concerned even, that possibly something was not right with me. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was with this medley of feelings that I plunged to my virtual death, my very own Technology Lent.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This post/experimentalso comes at a time when yet anothersocial networking platformhas launched- set to redefine social networking, many have claimed this will take over Facebook in a swipe with its easy-to-use interface and increased privacy controls. Once again, existing social media platforms are overtaken by vapid discussions raving about THE best technological invasion to preside the Internet, consuming individuals like a child takes to a new toy - all excited and unable to fault a single feature of it. In the time I was ‘dead’, I received countless invitations to Google+, which was “just the coolest thing ever- now we can group video chat!” and of course, the replacement for a leaky Facebook- “it’s got waaay better privacy control options”.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfFYDSC2Rlg3t3xk4JYN8IJ7lIberinL1mz89Yp7J77k54soVBXBtlOEelNYNmmry5rsIUISlYQA-f6YbslXIhePthh46K8yY3R2kJ_HWvY08bzAdCGZfaX_G-FoIwb4GQHPc6BvNz7A/s1600/map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfFYDSC2Rlg3t3xk4JYN8IJ7lIberinL1mz89Yp7J77k54soVBXBtlOEelNYNmmry5rsIUISlYQA-f6YbslXIhePthh46K8yY3R2kJ_HWvY08bzAdCGZfaX_G-FoIwb4GQHPc6BvNz7A/s320/map.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dreams of a more topographical nature. Picture courtesy: Postsecret</span></td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first few days were brilliant. Saigon completely usurped me. No actually, obligations to my position and Saigon completely usurped me. With so much to do, I barely had the time to be concerned about what was going on in the virtual world. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
I got my much needed respite from refreshing my Facebook page every 5 minutes waiting for an amber sign to flag and it was amazing to not be connected or to have to constantly keep up with e-etiquette by replying to posts and commenting endlessly. It was a huge relief to not have to post anything and worry about how many ‘liked’ it, how welcome or critical my statement about something profligate by the amount of comments or retweets it received, or if a photo I posted made anyone’s day. Within days however, as work piled on and hurdles began presenting themselves rather unsightly, I started missing my old venting outlet- the Internet. I began thinking again in 140 keystrokes- that if I were with access to Twitter, I’d have already written about 10-15 status updates cynically ruing my situation. Therein began agony at not being able to vent passive-aggressively. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Going on this Lent also meant a huge sacrifice when it came to friends. One of my best friends lives in a country completely geographically removed from Asia- in the UK. And this is a best friend with whom I must communicate everyday- even if it is to talk about how I squished a snail unintentionally. While the friend did know I was going for a sojourn to Vietnam, he did not know how long for and wasn’t told about my imminent disappearing act. As situations in Vietnam got tedious for me, my one respite- my best friend, wasn’t there for me - all because I rely on technology to connect with him. I found myself unable to communicate with him or any of my other best friends because I’d have to employ the aid of email or Facebook or Twitter to get in touch with them, and having sworn off it, I was in a pickle. I got through my problems somehow (and barely), but I managed to. It was then too I realised just how involved my friends were in my life- I don’t go two days without updating them about what the scene in my life is like (in my defence, dramatic events take place with rapid succession in my life) which made me reflect; just how healthy was this? Rather than being able to update someone conventionally and tell them everything of substance that had taken place over time, I’d become so used to friends deducing conclusions from my blog, Twitter and Facebook page, that it never really gave me a chance to either take a breather, deal with my stuff on my own, nor give me the pleasure of informing/updating my friends on my own, without them having known 4 hours earlier thanks to Facebook. Of course, it also meant not being able to respond to serious incidences as well- during the course of the 10 day trip, one of my other best friends was almost evicted from her flat, causing me much panic about what was happening back home. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Perhaps what helped in making the Lent easier on me was the fact that Facebook is blocked in Vietnam. Yes, fellow technophiles will probably gasp at this, but the communist state maintains a stronghold on its denizens by restricting this portal as a site that would otherwise allow for freedom of expression (proxy servers however have provided the sneaky way out for those who simply can’t do with it). That is perhaps also why the Vietnamese have this sustained feeling of community, though this is merely me venturing a guess. Time and again I noticed how close-knit and community-based the Vietnamese are, no doubt helped by the lack of technology infiltration. Should Facebook have been more readily accessible to the masses, perhaps the people wouldn’t come out to parks and squares in throngs and meet up as sociably as they presently do. I was also thankful for escape from the ‘Blackberry culture’ in Vietnam. The previous two study trip destinations that I’ve been on, namely Thailand and Indonesia, both have a prevailing Blackberry culture where the younger generations use the smartphone to ‘BBM’ (Blackberry Message) each other. This added to the hope that in a region where smartphones, Blackberries and WiFi access is the only way to go, there may be hope for Vietnam in holding off. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Towards the end of the trip, I felt as though I had been happily rehabilitated from the Internet. In fact, I began contemplating going off Facebook permanently, a thought that uptil Vietnam, would have sent me into cold shivers. Not only that; we managed to attain a communication network that, though exclusive to those staying on one side of the hotel, worked like a charm- our bathrooms at the Mai Vy hotel were without ventilators, in place of which were windows with curtains. While this would alarm just about anyone as to how private the bathrooms really were (and indeed a Peeping Tom’s dream), the one positive that came out of it was that all the bathroom windows lead to a little abyss, hole-like tunnel through which sound travelled. Communication became effective two-fold, having discovered that almost anyone was just a bathroom call away (provided they were near or in the bathroom at the time), be it to rush them to get down to the lobby quickly or ask a question. I christened it the Windowbook, and it comes with a unique feature neither Facebook nor Google+ have- synchronised singing. As almost everyone would head to the bathroom the moment we got back home, we realised we could capitalise on the ‘X-factor’ that were our sweet bathroom singing nodes. Thus began an epic tale of singing Disney favourites like Mulan and Aladdin, also enjoying the likes of the Bee Gees, Beatles and ABBA. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhx4p9ljmP7m0DK2G6nSJUnD50nF46RgS6SfngfzmSB_YM_S_ZDtlc_Z5vB7klgGVAwRALbBTnUxQi259k_A3ENXutNQVlNDfSZZDaLrTDEUA75OkZGTnRVI5Ipgr38eryWihDT9KapM/s1600/windowbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhx4p9ljmP7m0DK2G6nSJUnD50nF46RgS6SfngfzmSB_YM_S_ZDtlc_Z5vB7klgGVAwRALbBTnUxQi259k_A3ENXutNQVlNDfSZZDaLrTDEUA75OkZGTnRVI5Ipgr38eryWihDT9KapM/s320/windowbook.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A blurry shot of the Windowbook and its inhabitants. Picture courtesy: Farah Z</span></td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As for me, all my plans of going off Facebook and Twitter were futile. I returned home to find myself inundated by private messages asking me where I had disappeared, what on Earth had happened to me and why I wasn’t responding to any messages. I thought I had been successfully rehabilitated but I wasn’t really- within two days, it was back to the daily grind of answering endless posts, liking every remotely funny update, listlessly staring all day at the LCD computer screen and waiting in vain for that addictive amber flag to glow. Sigh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Author’s Note- I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to one person in particular, Ayesha, who got quite upset with my disappearing act. Never again.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://searchforsaigonprofiles11.blogspot.com/2011/07/abeer-yusuf-chief-editor.html">Abeer Yusuf</a> is currently midway through her fourth year in Honours, researching on South Asian Third Culture Kids, and would one day like to be credited with making the term ‘desi’ more commonplace in Malaysia.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div></div>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-4397106048112799922011-07-21T05:06:00.000-07:002011-07-23T06:18:12.192-07:00Diary Entry Day 10: Miss(ing) Saigon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">By Jia Wei Low</div><div class="MsoNormal">Photos by Audrey Samuel</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">Our evening began much like any other time commitment we’ve had here in Saigon, running on Malaysian time. Picking out the right shirt, trying not to blotch make-up and getting last minute preparations for Cultural Night seemed to be the usual suspects to fault for our tardiness. We managed to pull through however, getting there in time to prepare for the arrival of our guests.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"> On our last night in Saigon, we decided to give back to those who graciously helped us in our journey - the facilitators of our learning sessions, our student guides and even those who put us up and put up with us for the past nine days. To show our appreciation, we invited all those part of ‘In Search of Saigon’ for a Thank You dinner and cultural show. Dinner consisted of delicious Vietnamese fare while the show included songs from four of our student guides; Pham Tuan Anh, Nguyen Thien Vi and the dynamic duo of Vo Nhat Thang and Le Kim Thanh. Following that, the Indian Bhangra dance was put on, with a makeshift singing group following after, belting out tunes such as Kau Ilhamku, Ais Kacang and Stand By Me. Then all the travellers joined to perform the Dikir Barat with a finale comprising a tribute to Dr. Yeoh, our guide and mentor for the trip, sung to the tune of P-p-p-poker Face by Lady GaGa.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/r3zYU.jpg%20" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://i.imgur.com/r3zYU.jpg%20" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of our guests at Cultural Night with our student guide Thang Vo standing</td></tr>
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</div>Following a tradition established last year, awards were given out to our travellers, who were voted and nominated for individual categories by the rest of the travellers. The winners for this year’s awards included Lochna Menon, for Most Considerable and Helpful Person and John de Silva for Most Culturally Aware and Perceptive Person. Mumbi Munene, an exchange student from Monash South Africa (and Editor on the trip) took the prize for Best Travel Companion while the Most Hardworking Person was well-deservedly Abeer Yusuf (the Chief Editor). In the last of the official categories, Andrea Tee, also the Blog Team Head, went home with the award for the Most Well Written Story for her two part coverage on food in Saigon. One special unofficial category was also included- that of Most Persistent Session Sleeper, for the one person who slept through all 6 official school sessions. In a unanimous decision, Bonnie Teh went home with the infamous moniker.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/edZpL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.imgur.com/edZpL.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry Abeer for using this unflattering picture!</td></tr>
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</a></div> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Once all the awards were given out (with Oscar worthy speeches following some), tokens of appreciation were given out to our guests and guides. The most special moment of the evening for me however was when everyone gathered to watch the slideshow of our adventures in Vietnam thus far. The video brought out streams of emotion from (almost) everyone there. While the trip might have started off on uneasy footing, we eventually formed a sense of camaraderie in the truest sense of the word- our own fellowship. The evening concluded with one final walk through the city to our hotel, to take in every last bit of sight, sound, smell and taste of this wonderful place we’ve come to call home.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/07nHH.jpg%20" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.imgur.com/07nHH.jpg%20" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farewells are never easy- pictured here are traveller Mumbi and student guide Anh</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://vimeo.com/26622420"></a>These past 9 days have been quite the ride. It feels like we’ve been here for an eternity, yet still it is too short a stay. Every single experience here, though not always pleasant, will forever be treasured. I cannot speak for everyone else, but I personally wouldn’t change a thing. Stolen wallets, hangovers, everything. Its these important life lessons that have given me perspective on just how privileged we are and how so often others have to grit their teeth just to achieve a fraction of what we often take for granted. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">Our last morning seemed a bittersweet affair. Though many of us relished the thought of Malaysian food, not waking up to see each other’s faces in the morning and walking down the spiraling stairs seemed like a heavy price to pay. But still, we packed our bags, said our last goodbye to our home/hotel in Saigon and hopped into a taxi to the airport. Our guides and friends awaited us there, to share last farewells and tears of parting. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/zlRQS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.imgur.com/zlRQS.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">Goodbye to the alley we’ve come to know so well</div></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"> At that point, waves of emotions were building as it dawned on many of us that our sojourn in Saigon was ending. The curtains were being drawn and even though we knew that all good things must come to end, the bitter pill remained bitter. But the memories remain with us, immortalized within each and every one who walked the alleyways of Saigon, be it student or teacher, guide or traveller. In the end we will always have this blog; a little piece of our history. Our mark on the world.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">Till we meet again, travellers</div></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/26622420">Check out the Saigon tear jerker here</a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Fit into small holes</div><div class="MsoNormal">Crawl through underground tunnels</div><div class="MsoNormal">Only in Chu Chi</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Riding on a boat</div><div class="MsoNormal">Abundance of sky up high</div><div class="MsoNormal">Only in Mekong</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Dodge motorcycles</div><div class="MsoNormal">Crossing streets like you own it</div><div class="MsoNormal">Only in Saigon</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://searchforsaigonprofiles11.blogspot.com/2011/07/low-jia-wei-videography-team.html">LowJia Wei</a>, 23 is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Writing and suffers from chronic Internet addiction.</span> <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div></div>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-17923244311659836822011-07-21T04:11:00.000-07:002011-08-13T09:12:45.752-07:00Life is Beautiful & Brushing Through Saigon<div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: inherit;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: inherit;"><b>Life is Beautiful</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: inherit;">By Susan Chai</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: inherit;">Photos by Eunice Phang</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: inherit;">This Monash study trip has been one of the most wonderful and meaningful trips I have ever been. Other than visiting the usual tourist spots, I felt it was a unique opportunity to visit the Vietnam National University (VNU) to observe the local students and also to learn about the country from the professors. Through this trip I got to know more about the Vietnamese culture, economy, the history of the Vietnam Resistant War and also discover the unique Cao Dai religion. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EO5hhtLwWACaiFMfwkG-XdstGi08yAea20JG6inaP7m47LmE4DiNQmJpcxNuWH72uQHR-kInenpiIs9F6ENdHbC1fL2gyLCaoeMm5kCfOn0hAktY6GEaHbGbpbi46ca7BdlOrTcbOeM/s1600/IMG_4874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EO5hhtLwWACaiFMfwkG-XdstGi08yAea20JG6inaP7m47LmE4DiNQmJpcxNuWH72uQHR-kInenpiIs9F6ENdHbC1fL2gyLCaoeMm5kCfOn0hAktY6GEaHbGbpbi46ca7BdlOrTcbOeM/s320/IMG_4874.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: inherit;">The trip brought me many smiles</span></td></tr>
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">What remains most close to my heart however, are the visits to the marginalized communities. We got to interact with the urban poor, people living with HIV/AIDS and people with disabilities. Among all, the experience that was the most unforgettable was the team effort and togetherness showed in the ‘Ghost Village’; I felt that the people are very loving and caring towards each other and also towards outsiders, something reminiscent of my childhood living in a small Seremban village. We also had the privilege to join our host for a simple yet authentic and heartwarming home-cooked lunch.</span><span lang="EN-MY" style="color: #2a2a2a;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">On Day Six, we visited </span><span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span lang="EN-MY" style="color: #333333;">Doi Rat Dep, a centre for people with disabilities</span></span><span lang="EN-MY" style="color: #2a2a2a;">. The interior of the centre made me feel very comfortable and it is a beautiful place indeed. At the same time, they also provide a very positive environment with professionals to assist and educate people with disabilities. Through the care of the centre, people with disabilities are accepted and receive positive recognition; they get the chance to live a more confident and beautiful life. </span><span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span lang="EN-MY" style="color: #333333;">Having taken much inspiration from this trip, I will try my best to use this brief introduction and experience to apply onto my future volunteer work. I’m passionate and I believe that I can give people hope, care and love, and also to help the people that are poor and disabled. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIH-LImX5M3vseEX6iQ0jXIFdpHfR9pMtXxiYtqGNWdSZCGMHNwM5nPNGZWJLz7rE-2JuTZ_WtAQW4lz5iQdKp8bEZM0TgJR-5477sOy9r6tYVSdQWtJJdMqMOLyNjgeZICrX87Nl6-s/s1600/IMG_4873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIH-LImX5M3vseEX6iQ0jXIFdpHfR9pMtXxiYtqGNWdSZCGMHNwM5nPNGZWJLz7rE-2JuTZ_WtAQW4lz5iQdKp8bEZM0TgJR-5477sOy9r6tYVSdQWtJJdMqMOLyNjgeZICrX87Nl6-s/s320/IMG_4873.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span lang="EN-MY" style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">Me at Doi Rat Dep with one of the children at the centre.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span lang="EN-MY" style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">Susan Chai <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is a single working parent and part time student. She has taken up psychology in New Era College for her personal development, and she believes that there’s no age too old to learn. In a first for ‘In Search Of’, she was accompanied by veteran alumni traveller Eunice Phang (her daughter), and was the first parent of a former traveller to ever come on such a trip.</i></span></span><br />
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<span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span lang="EN-MY" style="color: #333333;"><b>Brushing Through Saigon</b></span></span><br />
<span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span lang="EN-MY" style="color: #333333;">By Eunice Phang</span></span><br />
<span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span lang="EN-MY" style="color: #333333;">Photos by Eunice Phang</span></span><br />
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<span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span lang="EN-MY" style="color: #333333;">Constantly curious, I like to think of myself as the living epitome of the Monash motto - AncorāImpāro-I’m still learning; I may have graduated years ago (let’s not specify when) but my journey in search of knowledge continues. </span></span><br />
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<span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span lang="EN-MY" style="color: #333333;">These ‘In Search of’ Escapades are almost like a mini sabbatical for me. I joined the In Search of Baguio and Sagada crew in 2007, having undeniably one of the best times with my friend and since then, I’ve been hooked. This year’s trip was equally unforgettable becausemy Mom became my travelling buddy. Joining this study trip would be a taste of the ‘campus life’ that she never had, and I have to thank the fellow travellers who allowed us to blend in and feel comfortable. Due to her gender, she was denied education at a very young age, yet that has never stopped her thirst for knowledge. Juggling work and her studies in Psychology; a brave attempt as she must have worked a gazillion times harder to catch up with the others, she actually finds such joy in doing her assignments and is quite consistently a HD student (I ought to be ashamed of myself). Besides, how many people get to go backpacking with their Mom, right?</span></span><br />
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<span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span lang="EN-MY" style="color: #333333;">After reading the blog, I think all topics seem well covered so I’d like to write about the Vietnamese Art Scene. Following the visit to DRD, I took a quick tour to the Fine Arts Museum located at District 1. Housed in a 3 storey colonial building in the regal “Bersih Yellow”, the museum is home to many masterpieces of local and international talents.What you will see is not the usual Tintin lacquer art or ladies in flowing ao dais, but some good ol’ Vietnamese propaganda art. Some of the artworks are amateurish and raw; some show the poetic agricultural life, some are painted with messages about symbolism and ideology, some are quite disturbingly depressing and others are just out of this world.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9QgKTGIYw24D8UNSf4SfgYtCPtUtDUqSRxYWiyPrWLdHC29zqGaJ1b8gy6ltzIyq7LpDcubMt2qVonWxh2WmTfAFJTQ0AwMAtHcQ8haie71k1Q7o5_y59WftuEBj3flOzkw4amrzUzc/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9QgKTGIYw24D8UNSf4SfgYtCPtUtDUqSRxYWiyPrWLdHC29zqGaJ1b8gy6ltzIyq7LpDcubMt2qVonWxh2WmTfAFJTQ0AwMAtHcQ8haie71k1Q7o5_y59WftuEBj3flOzkw4amrzUzc/s320/01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">The premises</span></td></tr>
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<span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span lang="EN-MY" style="color: #333333;">At the time of my visit, there was an on-going exhibition of self-portraitsthemed “Beyond the Mirror” from the Dogma Collection. The Dogma Collection mainly collects original pieces of propaganda art from the period of 1960 to 1975. The exhibition featured many contemporary pieces; some self-portraits however, looked pretty morbid. It felt like each piece had its own story to tell; a window that shows the war-torn context and the artist’s perception of him/herself and the world surrounding.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhia-KCnrVT1ke7_kgqJbSqPj_7y90KJiPEKb0vjA7jpactapfOMUw51t85bAuLoHD_wDnBeJwjhQE4-rJ5Ry7leFcQ6Y9DL9G7eAa_V_uRWe6JhHK1An32rM-gHBrj3dmZwQkh34VAwD4/s1600/02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhia-KCnrVT1ke7_kgqJbSqPj_7y90KJiPEKb0vjA7jpactapfOMUw51t85bAuLoHD_wDnBeJwjhQE4-rJ5Ry7leFcQ6Y9DL9G7eAa_V_uRWe6JhHK1An32rM-gHBrj3dmZwQkh34VAwD4/s320/02.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">Art exhibits</span></td></tr>
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<span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span lang="EN-MY" style="color: #333333;">The second floor has many ‘propaganda-ish’ artworks that sketch the resistance wars and document the Vietnamese psyche during the era.“One hand on a trigger, the other on a paint brush”, many artists during the Vietnam War were mobilised to join the war effort as an artist-cadre; to produce aesthetic communication that appeals and pull the heartstrings of the people, conveying revolution and resistance messages, promoting reunification and the NLF (National Liberation Front), idolising Uncle Ho and glamorising martyrdom.Propaganda art played an important role ininfluencing the masses by inspiring hope and confidence towards the “cause”.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KLXyJTdWlWzR_Xk9XOWvIbne7VGE32JuKS-a9OEkaEZkuXVLAdveoSZMURe8TL82HA5AZByH6s4GxJ1gsvItuNrjMpCJPpanu3YQrScfW0p5kkl4OwRzcySgnPV9wb2-1lR3S4pRunw/s1600/03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KLXyJTdWlWzR_Xk9XOWvIbne7VGE32JuKS-a9OEkaEZkuXVLAdveoSZMURe8TL82HA5AZByH6s4GxJ1gsvItuNrjMpCJPpanu3YQrScfW0p5kkl4OwRzcySgnPV9wb2-1lR3S4pRunw/s320/03.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">Women are often shown nurturing yetready to fight; the “Long Haired Army”isrepresented as fearless and determined to protect their “motherland”. This is a message to show that everyone is part of the resistance.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY13qe1VNfrsO7e3SCSpUg4MeObUvF8jEtsTbMBMm2R9w7Su06YvhhQ_FNB5q5TC1nAautycgw3N4Zt31M8n69TbJuYchDf-YAKRN0AqQHkGX2CU61vJjTC0PWpB2ZvK9dQnyZZlGX1BU/s1600/04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY13qe1VNfrsO7e3SCSpUg4MeObUvF8jEtsTbMBMm2R9w7Su06YvhhQ_FNB5q5TC1nAautycgw3N4Zt31M8n69TbJuYchDf-YAKRN0AqQHkGX2CU61vJjTC0PWpB2ZvK9dQnyZZlGX1BU/s320/04.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">The “Communal spirit” is another popular theme. Youth and women are often featured to encourage them to identify with the subjects and thus enlist in the Viet Cong forces.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span lang="EN-MY" style="color: #333333;">Many of the Vietnamese artists received their training from the Fine Arts College of Indochine (FACI) that was established by the French colonists and also from the USSR. Art with a softer colour palette was influenced by the French aesthetics, and often used to appeal to the peasants to increase food production and to provide for the guerrilla. In contrast, the Soviet-influenced propaganda art carries political taglines and is bold in colours to evoke emotion and encourage patriotism. Another interesting story behind the artwork, literally, is that during the intensification of the war period, there was a shortage of paper materials. The resourceful artists had to recycle the reverse side of pre-printed papers, from Eastern European to North Korean propaganda posters to maps, charts and anything that could be painted on, including cloth. It’s fascinating to know that the back page of an art piece could be a Polish theatrical poster, a picture of Lenin or a war strategy chart!</span></span><br />
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<span class="ecxapple-style-span"><span lang="EN-MY" style="color: #333333;">The third floor was pretty much of antiques that did not interest me, and besides the whole building was rather stuffy, thereby ending my brief but pictures-speak-a-thousand-words visit. The Vietnamese art scene may not have the Che Guevara kind of pop art fame but the HCMC Fine Arts Museum is definitely a visually stimulating passage through the eyes of the artist-cadres!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAMb_GJBULHI8bwfwFe3y1hti1ldbpv9lxJJqfsDpkyvnRmRYn2LPwBS24l5zyGSiw0vn5hZHVOk8UPSILenTqZBPtNPtJITqNwJzjgQEkDcyNyGDWIa1Asdb2irVtVSyOluLPoH-IDQ/s1600/06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAMb_GJBULHI8bwfwFe3y1hti1ldbpv9lxJJqfsDpkyvnRmRYn2LPwBS24l5zyGSiw0vn5hZHVOk8UPSILenTqZBPtNPtJITqNwJzjgQEkDcyNyGDWIa1Asdb2irVtVSyOluLPoH-IDQ/s320/06.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">After a good dose of Fine Arts, I felt as ‘cultured’ as Vitagen (cultured milk, got it?)</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><i>Eunice Phang is a Monash alumnus who currently holds a mind-numbing Corporate Communications job in the oil & gas industry. A wallflower that may have crossed path in your life yet leaves no significant trail behind. She loves travelling and lives by the moment.</i></span><br />
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</span></span></div></div>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-40440282347200328132011-07-21T03:18:00.000-07:002011-07-21T07:47:19.104-07:00A Glimpse of Cuu Long, or Nine Dragons<span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;">By Lochna Menon</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;">Photos by Audrey Samuel</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;">The Mekong River is a source of life and income to those who strive for a living along its fertile banks, all the way from its source, through Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and South Vietnam where it flows into the South China Sea. The Mekong Delta has nine river ‘mouths’ that suggests the reason for its Vietnamese name: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cuu Long</i>, or Nine Dragons, hinting at the vastness of the river and its delta. Following a bustling four-hour bus ride from Ho Chi Minh City to the outskirts of the Mekong Delta, the sight of a deep, wide and murky river greeted us, green trees lining its banks on the other side.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;">The Delta is made up mostly of streams, marshland, and islets as we came to see through a boat tour, where we saw many houses built on stilts, bushes, trees and thick undergrowth, wooden boats and aquatic plants crowding the surface of the water. On the way to one of the islets, we saw a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cao Dai</i> temple, its outer walls painted in bright colours with the signature left Eye; and many Cathedrals with tall spires, most of them with a statue of the Jesus Christ beckoning the onlooker to come toward the building. Bridges made of bamboo - some of wooden planks and others made of tar and bitumen for movement of vehicles - connected the many islets together. Nevertheless, boats are still a popular mode of transport in these parts, a tradition passed down through the family line no doubt.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/RShvAh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://i.imgur.com/RShvAh.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;">‘In Search Of’ Travelers being rowed in small boats.</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;">The tour guide took us in small boats to an island where we were to have lunch in a restaurant. Opposite it was a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mata kucing </i>(as we call it in Malay) orchard; we picked a few fruits, its sweet and juicy flesh soothing our empty stomachs and for a moment, the warm and sticky sheen of sweat on our arms cooled somewhat. On the way, I noticed that there were lots of trees bearing fruits such as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rambutan</i>, custard apple and many others. Lunch was a simple affair: spring rolls, steamed rice, boiled vegetables, a portion of pork (to the horror of our Muslim travelers who had no choice but to pile on the veggies instead) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mata kucing</i> for dessert.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;">The tour guide also led us to a bee farm where we were served tea with some honey and royal jelly, another substance manufactured by hardworking bees, a by-product which boasts amazing healing powers. The tea and the honey was nothing great but the royal jelly was rich in flavour and texture – excessively sweet and milky. Led out of the bee farm, we made our way to a souvenir area where we witnessed the procedure of coconut candy and rice paper production. Rows of bottles stood proudly, their transparent bellies full of wine and snakes, sometimes scorpions. A brave traveler named Farah dared to taste this snake wine and remarked on its potent taste: “It tastes a lot like Bak Kut Teh – just stronger”. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;">Squeezing lime to add a sour tang to tea already sweetened with honey and royal jelly.</span></td></tr>
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;">That night, after we had comfortably settled ourselves in our respective rooms, we set about combing the streets – searching for a place to eat, our bodies weary from the days travelling. We found a place called Cappuccino that ironically served pasta, pizzas and risotto, and I have to admit that the pasta I had there was one of the best I have ever tasted (and reasonably priced too!). Across the road, some women were selling Vietnamese straw hats, sugarcane juice which they combined with lime and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">asam, </i>and fruits such as<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>mangosteen, durian and rambutan. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;">Behind them stood a tourist shopping centre where scarves, t-shirts, jewellery and other decorative products and basic amenities were sold, overlooking the Mekong River. As expected the view was pure magic; majestic and overwhelming especially under the moonlight.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;">The next day began early, waking up at six thirty in the morning to vacate the hotel at seven. This time round we headed to a small community where houses were made of wood and brick and huddled close, reminiscent of the urban <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kampungs</i> in Kuala Lumpur. As we walked on, the tour guide brought us to a house and the very first thing we saw was a civet cat in a cage, followed by pigeons. As we ventured a little further, we saw heavy machinery and the familiar sight of rice paper. Our tour guide explained that this was a rice noodle-making facility, and told us that rice noodle was basically shredded rice paper. Roaming around the premises, we found a pig sty, facing the open area where the rice paper was being sun-dried. Rice is a key ingredient - used in the making of rice paper, its husk used as fuel and later recycled as fertilizer in paddy fields. Most of the Delta people survive on farming the land and producing local goods that are steeped in the culture and customs of the Delta people, but it does little to improve their living standards.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;">Traveler Mumbi picking up the rice paper and laying it out on a rattan mat to be dried out in the sun.</span></div></td></tr>
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;">The rice barn was last on the agenda: we walked a little distance away to a huge barn, the air musty with the smell of rice-dirt. Vietnam, we were told, is the second largest exporter of rice - the Mekong Delta is fertile with plenty of water (making perfect conditions for rice production). Rice was separated into six different categories: rice for consumption, brown rice which is also unpolished rice, husk, broken rice, yellow rice dirt, and white rice dirt – each with its own unique uses. The barn had some heavy equipment which was used to separate the rice grain from its husk and also to segregate the different kinds and types of rice products.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;">The best, I believe is saved for the last. The highlight of the trip was our visit to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cai Rang</i> floating market, the biggest in the Mekong Delta. Our boat drove to the middle of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cai Rang</i> market and as the smaller boats were too small to accommodate us all, many had to stay behind. Nevertheless, we entertained ourselves by climbing onto a bigger boat to eat some very tasty and juicy pineapple and drink delicious Vietnamese iced-coffee (my favourite and a definite must-try). Once our comrades returned, we took their places in the smaller boats.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/x31Kgh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://i.imgur.com/x31Kgh.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cai Rang</i> at first sight.</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;">As soon as we entered the area where the boats congregated, I immediately understood why we needed the smaller boats – to navigate through the maze of boats. It was obvious to us that most of these boats functioned as houses as some had hung out their laundry to dry, while others had shrines and pets on their boats. Little kids who ought to be in school assisted their parents with their daily chores. Most of these boat-families serve as middlemen between the farmers from the islets and bulk buyers from the more developed townships. Most of the sellers have produce hanging from a pole, an indication of what they are selling. For example, a person selling watermelons would hang a watermelon from a pole, as in the picture below.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/ojPESh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://i.imgur.com/ojPESh.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;">A boat selling watermelon along the floating market.</span></td></tr>
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</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;">A two-day tour of the Mekong Delta is hardly sufficient to see all that it had to offer in terms of culture, knowledge and experience. When we left the Delta, I was happy in the knowledge that we were now heading back to Ho Chi Minh City which I came to regard as home. However, the Mekong Delta represents to me the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kampung</i> I never had. Since I first learnt of the Delta in my geography class, I had always viewed it as a pulsing source of life, like the dragons it was named after; and I was satisfied to be part of the culture and community that has blossomed from it, if only for such a short while.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Blogger Profile</u></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://searchforsaigonprofiles11.blogspot.com/2011/07/lochna-menon-editorial-team.html">Lochna Menon</a> is majoring International Studies and Writing. An independent woman who loves the idea of a birds’ view of the world, she is very curious - with a mission to inspire and be inspired.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;"> </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-30996829041574667582011-07-20T01:02:00.000-07:002011-07-20T01:03:22.987-07:00Mai Vy: A Place To Call Home<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">By Bats Mohsinali</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Photos by Fei </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“In reality, we just died five times,” said Fei, as we dodged masses of motorcyclists en route to the hotel from the airport. Greeted by the rain that was to plague the rest of our stay in Saigon, we were dropped off at the street that would soon be our home for the next 10 days. Taking in the sights and sounds, we made our way down the alley that led to our hotel. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Alley leading in and out of the hotel.</div></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">First impressions always count. And Hotel Mai Vy did not fall short in that department. Having officially opened on January 21<sup>st</sup> 2010, Hotel Mai Vy is located in District 1, owned and managed by Hang Thi Minh Vy and her mother. Introducing herself as Vy, it became more apparent why the hotel was named Mai Vy. Although compact, Mai Vy is equipped with all amenities one would need in order to have a pleasant stay in Ho Chi Minh City. The rooms and toilets are sanitary and cleaned daily, pristine white towels neatly laid out on the bed waiting to be used. Each room has its own television and a mini fridge, and the hotel even has free wireless internet available 24/7. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">According to Vy, all the hotels around this small alleyway were once just homes. Most of them were bought out and made into hotels by the owners, and today hardly any houses remain. Almost all of them have been converted to restaurants and or hotels, all made to accommodate backpackers and travelers here in Saigon. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Before embarking on the hotel business, Vy’s mother worked at Ben Thanh, the local market, selling ‘everything and anything’, from spices to drinks to snacks and shirts at wholesale rates. If there was anything you needed, she was the go-to person. She worked at the market for seven years, until she made the plan to change their house into a hotel. They then moved to another house within the area, and began construction on the hotel in February 2009 aided by their neighbor- an architect who also helped them design their hotel. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Saigon, as anyone would know, is filled with tourists from all over the world. Mai Vy has seen its share of people, but Vy had to advertise the hotel so that it did not just hide between the rest. She created a website for the hotel and linked that to a website called Hotel World that advertises hotels from all over to all around the world, which eventually led to more business.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">But there had to be something more to this story- I would always find Vy sitting at the dining table that adorned the lobby of the hotel entrance at the end of the day. I often wondered what she was doing with tons of books, simultaneously typing away on her laptop. When I enquired one day as to what she was doing she replied that she was studying English and chatting with her husband. I was surprised to find that she was married, at the tender age of 23. She is also studying English to better communicate with her husband. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our lobby of awesome. Free coffee tea and fruits = bliss! </td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Vy first met her husband in Saigon when he was a guest at the hotel and “he kept saying that he wanted to marry me. I thought he was crazy,” she laughed. Traveling alone in Saigon, Vy decided to accompany him in his travels around Vietnam. “We got to know each other better and I asked him then, do you still want to marry me and his reply was always yes”. So in March 2011, they were married. “He is patient with me as I learn to speak English,” she gushed. “He is always patient and makes me laugh, that is what I liked about him, he is also kind hearted”. She smiled as she lovingly told me about her husband Danny Kim, a Korean born American living in Colorado, United States. “I love his face,” she said, adding, “it reminds me of my father.” </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As for the future, Vy and her mother hope to expand their hotel business. They want to buy out the restaurant next door and expand into a chain of sister hotels around Saigon. Presently however, she looks forward to starting her life in Colorado (United States) with her husband whom she misses. “My mother does not want me to leave,” she sighed, but her heart belongs with her husband. And so she has made up her mind to be with him. She is however, making the most of the time that she has left with her family, while simultaneously preparing the documents she needs, to hand over the hotel from her to her mother. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHP3brKHZHGER-wkn-8b3YoN8u5aM_hm_dCrzf_XEBKit_JLk1CpS_ZeNXrMIPzDNrZ4nKHsLVD73FJaIlDtb3TKI8n6C3evO5OJZP1zGVfLthi8XQAJXSJadeP0c9kzGNfFARtjLJL5w/s1600/bats3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHP3brKHZHGER-wkn-8b3YoN8u5aM_hm_dCrzf_XEBKit_JLk1CpS_ZeNXrMIPzDNrZ4nKHsLVD73FJaIlDtb3TKI8n6C3evO5OJZP1zGVfLthi8XQAJXSJadeP0c9kzGNfFARtjLJL5w/s320/bats3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vy and I at the hotel lobby.</td></tr>
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</div>Something to look forward to at the end of each day, we were especially excited to return to Mai Vy after our overnight trip to the Mekong Delta. We even began calling Mai Vy ‘home’. Not only is the staff welcoming but they are courteous and accommodating, allowing us to occupy the lobby for one of our sessions. Every morning we would be greeted as though we are a part of their family. Vy, her family and the rest of the staff at Mai Vy have made an impression on us. And a come back to Mai Vy is a definite “YES” if we ever return to Saigon. <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Editor-in-Chief’s Note: One of our students plans to head back to Saigon in the coming two weeks, and in a testament to Mai Vy, will be staying there. For more information on Mai Vy, head over to <a href="http://maivyhotel.com/Default.aspx">http://maivyhotel.com/Default.aspx</a>. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><u> Blogger Profile</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://searchforsaigonprofiles11.blogspot.com/2011/07/hello-im-bats-and-like-creature-of.html">Bats Mohsinali</a>, apart from being a kick ass Honors student at Monash Malaysia,</span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">is beyond awesome. She loves traveling and experiencing new vibrant cultures and indulging in the good things in life. Booyah.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-29770216862085729112011-07-20T00:53:00.000-07:002011-07-20T01:06:54.220-07:00The Night is Always Young in Saigon<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By: Bonnie Teh, Joanna Maria and Lim Feixiang</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photos by Audrey Samuel and Lim Feixiang </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Let us just put it out blatantly for everyone to see- Saigon’s nightlife is very much alive and thriving. For all the hustle and bustle of the city during the day, Saigon can easily join Kuala Lumpur as the city that never sleeps in South East Asia. With the many tourists and locals who make the vibrant city streets come alive at night, Saigon cannot be painted in words. At night, Saigon must be experienced through the many senses - sight, sound and smell. Like many other cities, the local hotspots at night are flooded with tourists out for different kinds of ‘fun’. Crossing the streets can be just as hazardous during the night as in the day, with motorcycles and taxis weaving past and surrounding you like flies- not to mention the amount of honking going down during the night that can drive you a little insane. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Perhaps the question on everyone’s mind, where nightlife is concerned, is whether alcohol is cheap. Regular cocktails are a little cheaper than back home, going for approx. RM18-22. As far as beer goes though, the answer is a resounding yes. One of our easy-going nights out took us down the alley of our hotel to a small corner shop where we enjoyed some beer with our new Vietnamese friends. Their local <i>Saigon brew</i> cost only RM1 for a mug and roughly RM2 for your standard bottle of beer. Heaven indeed!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The seating culture in Vietnam public places is a very strange and interesting feature to point out. On our first night out, we saw stools and seats half their usual size, with which we made ourselves comfortable, on a freshly set table in the alley. It was packed tight with tourists and locals making merry over beers, with the occasional ‘Yoh!’ (CHEERS!) shouted out every once in a while. We joined in of course, how could we refuse good Vietnamese hospitality? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After only a couple of rounds, we began sharing laughs and stories with our Vietnamese counterparts, and before long, it was as if we’ve known each other for the longest time ever. After a simple outing like this, we’ve come to realise how many similarities we share despite our cultural differences. It is indeed interesting to see how friendships can be formed and strengthened over a couple of beers. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> It is important to note however, that the fun stuff does not always happen in the bars. Take a walk around the park at the backpacker’s street at night and you will find a flurry of activity to partake in. We ‘patronized’ the public park on some nights and mingled with local Vietnamese people who were just as eager to get to know us as we, them. The sight of both the young and old kicking about a shuttlecock-looking object, called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sutecock</i>, attracted our attention. A popular sport among the locals, they kick around the contraption with their legs, shoulders, head and even their belly. The amount of skill they possess is phenomenal. They can tackle, juggle and handle the shuttlecock without even looking – it is as if they have memorized the shuttlecock trajectory through years of practice.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Vietnamese notion of public parks is also rather different from ours in Malaysia. We discovered something most fascinating- the Vietnamese have a culture of getting together casually to not only learn, but also practice English at night. Not to say that anyone amongst them was qualified professionally to teach the language, but they exchanged what they knew. It was a touching sight as most of us take English for granted back home. The fact that some of us were fortunate enough to grow up speaking English at home made us blind to the value of so precious a language.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhOWWNIIInvmIcLfoUYdxiOp-V79PobY-U77NiVrq8ZZO0ZjUwi9t3p2xbahUasjbmpfZEsl09Y9NL6Jq5H0Hv_x1qj9Ajpvzb2nEp39PQA6Z83kwgFVv51bMvyXVx8Ezrx5tN9Z4VYE/s1600/7Uex7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhOWWNIIInvmIcLfoUYdxiOp-V79PobY-U77NiVrq8ZZO0ZjUwi9t3p2xbahUasjbmpfZEsl09Y9NL6Jq5H0Hv_x1qj9Ajpvzb2nEp39PQA6Z83kwgFVv51bMvyXVx8Ezrx5tN9Z4VYE/s320/7Uex7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Public parks: the place to be</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://imgur.com/7Uex7"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></a><a href="http://imgur.com/7Uex7"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></a><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Perhaps its the night sky that makes everyone friendlier- because once we became acquainted with one local, the rest followed suit and asked question after question about where we were from and what we do. We were like mini celebrities. There was even a man in his 40s who rapped for us in English. Not too bad, we’d say! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It also warmed our hearts to see parents take their kids out to the park. They let the kids run, play and mingle with other kids. To make the most of the situation were vendors who selling street food and toys. There were also people who doing their routine jogs and exercises. The park really is a one stop area for everything, making us think of the symbolism public places hold.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Following relentless days and nights of visiting historic places, learning the culture of and mingling with the natives, the Saigon explorers set out to experience and understand the nightlife in Saigon city. Being typical young adults, we headed to not one, but two nightlife locations in Saigon city. Upon entering the clubs, one can’t help but be captured by its liveliness, the steady beat of music and the roaring of the crowd. People were comfortably dancing and mingling with each other as the DJ worked hard to keep the “people in the house” alive. The foremost thought to cross my mind was the lack of stuffiness and smoke hanging in the air unlike the clubs back home. The main patrons of the club were of course, Vietnamese people dressed to the nines.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We soon realized at our first stop that it is a Vietnamese tradition to serve a big ‘fruit bowl’ in a club. This encompasses a variety of fruits such as watermelon, grapes, rambutan and other assortment of fruits arranged beautifully in a clear bowl of ice. However due to miscommunication, the bowl of fruits which we thought was complimentary, ended up costing us each 50, 000 VND (approximately RM 8) but we went along with the flow as we did not want to let such a small matter damper our spirits. At our next stop however, we declined their offer of serving us another fruit bowl. Soon enough, we settled in and started swaying to the sound of music. As the night progressed, we realized that there are certain differences worth pointing out about partying in Saigon. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_AsLO0jxEg7adYH_7tGoDLFWhQjtLKNGol8-KPfDm7Pc1yN0S56mkas3zWFG2HAe9oNGclSeED8kv8adARNXkrqZNjgOA_kn3cJJ6_eyDrVwMxgdopxOZxrKAUFRwdlEESN_5leOd8I/s1600/e0nga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_AsLO0jxEg7adYH_7tGoDLFWhQjtLKNGol8-KPfDm7Pc1yN0S56mkas3zWFG2HAe9oNGclSeED8kv8adARNXkrqZNjgOA_kn3cJJ6_eyDrVwMxgdopxOZxrKAUFRwdlEESN_5leOd8I/s320/e0nga.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The fruits from hell</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The first thing that stands out when entering a club in Saigon is the number of security personnel present. While it is common to have security or bouncers by the door, it was the first time many of us experienced tight security within the club. Through observation it appeared that the main duty of the security personnel was to ensure that there were no misfortunate incidents occurring within the club. Due to the jam-packed nature of clubs, these security guards also double as human barricades to allow people to pass through, making navigation through the night club a tad bit easier. Nonetheless some of us had the misfortune to experience the rudeness and unfriendliness of the security personnel, accidently shoving us and pulling our hands to get us walking faster. However, annoyance aside, we recognize that they were trying to do their jobs in order to ensure the safety and smooth operation of the club. Another interesting factoid about clubbing in Vietnam is that there are no identity card checks at clubs, as our student guides informed us that there is no lawful legal age for alcohol consumption in Vietnam.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pMe49qNvyFxpMu6N5QJfBTyk5-gr0NFqsA3OxDyxbMMUm1Uo2ShJF7e94dwnoRNazhN6JdxjXzWAj73-Vi8XbcWkJTuxC0U1nJj-OKTogXOQUShzsjfKJclQxdVctkZad8aDYKwlbFI/s1600/1WMLj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pMe49qNvyFxpMu6N5QJfBTyk5-gr0NFqsA3OxDyxbMMUm1Uo2ShJF7e94dwnoRNazhN6JdxjXzWAj73-Vi8XbcWkJTuxC0U1nJj-OKTogXOQUShzsjfKJclQxdVctkZad8aDYKwlbFI/s320/1WMLj.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Party rocking in Saigon</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Interestingly enough, the music that was being played in both the locations visited was modern English music. In fact, the main attraction of the second club was an international DJ who was visiting Saigon for a short time. Featuring songs ranging from Lady Gaga to Tina Turner, the crowds were going crazy, dancing and singing along. One of our student guides informed us that partying goes on till 2am, as that is the standard closing time for nightlife spots in Saigon, an hour earlier than Malaysian hot spots but ample time to soak in the music and environment. A few Vietnamese from the adjacent table even offered ‘cheers’ to us a couple of times. Perhaps it was their way of welcoming us, as we evidently stood out amongst the locals. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As in many countries including Malaysia, due to entrance fees as well as the prices of food and beverages, only those who are financially privileged are able to enjoy such luxuries. Nevertheless, if only for once, every traveller visiting Saigon ought to pay nightclubs a visit one time to party rock- Vietnam style.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><u>Bloggers' Profiles </u></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://searchforsaigonprofiles11.blogspot.com/2011/07/bonnie-teh-photography-team.html">Bonnie Teh</a>, 22 years young, currently pursuing Journalism and International Studies at Monash Malaysia. Believes that opportunities are not made, but seen. Tries to maintain a healthy balance between academics, an active lifestyle and a meaningful existence.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://searchforsaigonprofiles11.blogspot.com/2011/07/lim-feixiang-photography-head.html">Lim Feixiang</a>, is a Marketing and Communications double degree student. Alongside headlining this year’s Photography team, he can be found breaking hearts in the cafeteria, flexing biceps and on occasion, triceps.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:RelyOnVML/> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://searchforsaigonprofiles11.blogspot.com/2011/07/joanna-maria-photography-team.html">JoannaMaria</a>, 25, is an Honours student doing a thesis on female gamers and identity negotiation.</span> </div>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-68385118056865755372011-07-20T00:22:00.000-07:002011-07-20T01:10:18.677-07:00Saigon’s Deviating Sexualities: Behind Closed Doors<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY">By Audrey Samuel & Francesca Peris<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY">Under the quiet moonlit night hovering protectively over the rich and bustling city that is Ho Chi Minh, the heart of Vietnam, the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transsexual (LGBT) scene in Vietnam continues to flourish, unnoticed. In comparison, Malaysia’s own LGBT awareness movement is tenfold the movement in Vietnam as we came to discover after spending a few days in Ho Chi Minh City. Like its neighbours – developing and Third World countries - the idea of homosexuality is seen as taboo in Vietnam. Religion can be said to be the root cause of homophobia today, but in reality it serves as justification against the emergence of diverse sexualities. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY">One such person who falls under the LGBT banner is country-side man Bates, who recently moved to <span style="color: black;">Ho </span>Chi Minh. He lives a harsh life cleaning hotel rooms, earning him a minimum wage of 100 USD per month and a space on the floor in front of the altar where he sleeps. One might assume that Bates possesses little education but after dinner and a few cups of tea, Bates revealed that he graduated with a Diploma in Food Technology. A couple of foolish decisions landed him in some financial difficulties, which in turn forced him to look for a job where food and lodging was provided, hence his current job. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY">A perfectly healthy and able man, he finds himself in the midst of “finding” himself. To him, the idea of being gay is completely unacceptable. “I don’t know who I am, I am scared of being gay because gays are discriminated (against) and are shown disrespect in society,” explains Bates, adding his reluctance to take sides by telling us how his family would be troubled by such a revelation. He seems confused, fluctuating within the grey area between sexualities, asking himself if he prefers women to men, or vice versa. Though Bates was once scruffy and uneasy, he now seems to be completely calm and confident, lounging in the chair opposite us, flashing a most generous smile, suggesting he has been reconciled with his gender and sexuality. With the help of new-found companions, he can now proudly be who he really is – someone with WWS, slang for “weak wrist syndrome”.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY">As for Jacky, a hillside lady who currently works as receptionist in a company in the city of Ho Chi Minh, she finds herself not ready to ‘come out of the closet’. The shy and petite lady, whose beautiful face is sometimes contorted with confusion, also claims to be uncertain of her sexuality. Hailing from a family who think homosexuals are mankind’s destruction to the social construction, she is now slowly opening up to find herself in love with another girl. However, like Bates, she claims to be unsure on how to approach another person of the same sex for a relationship, citing certain doubts and a recent heartbreak. Having had no experience on this front, she faces a tough challenge in confronting her sexuality. Her inexperience in the pursuit of love has proven to be a hindrance, especially in approaching the object of her romantic interest. Owing to the lack of education and exposure to all things LGBT, Jacky continues to pursue her crush in a blunt and forward manner, her repressed sexuality resulting in her inability to express her desires.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY">Ho Chi Minh, despite its fast developing city, is very much regulated by its communist beliefs, an ideology that is not tolerant of voices speaking from the margins. Delving into the LGBT circle has been as demanding as it has been thought-provoking – compelling us to question our own sexualities as we pose the questions to the interviewees. As in other countries, the ‘unnaturalness’ and ‘ungodliness’ of homosexuality continues to perpetuate misunderstandings and misrepresentations of minority sexualities. We visited a club that is supposedly the LGBT scene of Ho Chi Minh City, the Lucky Lady 61. Upon entering the club, we noticed the lack of raunchy dancing, the teasing and grinding of hips – scenes absolutely typical in Malaysian LGBT clubs - on the very sparsely populated dance floor. Curious, we asked Bates and Jacky the reason for the absence of ‘action’ on the dance floor, who explained that the social paradigm of LGBT is not visible, as they tend to keep their confusion and curiosity private and hope to draw no attention to themselves and their families. In one instance, Bates referred to himself as “the black sheep of the family” as he was made to feel so little of himself, the mere notion of being with another man simply unacceptable, shaking his head furiously in both rejection and denial to emphasize the complete and utter inflexibility. Bates offered a glimpse of his inner turmoil when he said that he was not sure if he was one percent or fifty percent or even one hundred percent sure if he was gay, while Jacky listened quietly, reluctant to share her own dilemma.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY">The word ‘homosexuality’ is a mouthful to pronounce and yet even more difficult to come to terms with. In Vietnam, where people are still conservative, other Bates and Jackys still stay tightly locked up in their closets, smothering their sexuality in the dark and small claustrophobic space. In time, we hope increased exposure and education will empower young adults to find out about themselves, their sexualities, and be proud of what they are, rather than hide from prying eyes and choke down their emotions with a bottle of Saigon’s best 6000 VND beer, somewhere around the corner.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-MY"><u>Bloggers' Profiles </u></span><br />
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://searchforsaigonprofiles11.blogspot.com/2011/07/audrey-samuel-photography-team.html">Audrey</a> aka Godrey, a 27 year-old, transgendered heterosexual studying International Studies and Writing at Monash Malaysia with Bipolar-Disorder Type II from Penang. Caught saying: "Judge me, I dare you!"</span></div><br />
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://searchforsaigonprofiles11.blogspot.com/2011/07/francesca-peris-photography-team.html">Francesca Anna Peris</a>, 22, currently an undergraduate at Monash Malaysia, pursuing a Communications major. Her favorite quote: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Beauty itself is but the sensible image of the Infinite’ - Francis Bacon. </span></div><span lang="EN-MY"></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-MY"><o:p></o:p></span></div>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-60988677392338989112011-07-20T00:08:00.000-07:002011-07-24T03:46:07.730-07:00The God Giong: An Epic of Vietnam<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u><br />
</u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">By Jia Wei Low<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Photos courtesy Google and Vietnam Tourism<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Writer’s Disclaimer: This story was told to me by one of our student guides, so advance apologies for any discrepancies that might occur in this recounting of the tale.</i><br />
<br />
Just as most, if not all Malaysians are familiar with fantastical tales of the mouse deer outsmarting all manner of beasts in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sang Kancil</i>, or a Sultan trying to win the heart of the beautiful princess of Ledang Mountain in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Puteri Gunung Ledang</i>, or how the blood of a woman proved her purity in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mahsuri</i>, the Vietnamese too have their own story of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God Giong</i>.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As every other story begins, once upon a time in Vietnam, a woman was walking in her <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">padi</i> field tending to her crops when she chanced upon a giant footprint. Surprised by the enormity of the footprint, she stepped closer eventually stepping into the giant footprint. As she did, she felt a strange sensation overcome her body, and some sort of an immaculate conception take place. Nine months later, she gave birth to a boy whom she named ‘Giong’.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">For the first three years of his life, Giong could not walk, talk or even move. This was at a time when invaders from China begun attacking the kingdom. So the King sent out a herald to every village in his kingdom in search of a hero to defeat the army of invaders and save his kingdom.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">When a messenger arrive in Giong’s village, much to his mother’s amazement, Giong sat up and told his mother to bring the messenger to him (keep in mind that Giong was three years old at the time). So his mother, though confused and amazed, did so.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">When the messenger saw Giong, he too was amazed at how a child of three years could talk. Giong commanded the messenger to tell the King to craft him an armor of iron, a helmet of iron, a staff of iron and a horse of iron. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The messenger, feeling the command in Giong’s voice rode off to do so. The King ordered that Giong’s command be fulfilled. And so a staff, a suit of armour and a helmet- all made of iron were crafted and borne by the horse made out of iron, which breathed fire. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/UCWMY.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/UCWMY.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Giong upon his fire breathing iron horse</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Giong was however, still a small child, but he asked his mother for food and as Giong ate, he grew bigger. Giong could not be satiated and asked for more and as he ate, he grew until there was no more food left in his mother’s home. So the villagers brought him more food until he was roughly the size of a small giant.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Then Giong donned the helm and armor, bore the staff of iron and rode the iron horse to fight off the invaders. Giong fought fiercely with his iron staff and ferocious iron horse, but in the midst of fighting his staff broke. So Giong pulled out bamboo from the ground to continue the fight and eventually emerged victorious, thus saving the kingdom.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In the epilogue of this story, Giong returned to his village to wish his mother farewell and then guided his horse to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Soc Son</i> mountain where he ascended to the sky (or as my Vietnamese friend put it, “flew to the sky”) and was immortalized as a god.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In every culture there are tales of great heroes. In <st1:place w:st="on">Scandinavia</st1:place> there is Beowulf. In Malaysia we have the story of Hang Tuah- in Vietnam it is the tale of the God Giong. I have always had a soft spot for epic tales of heroes and Vietnam certainly does not disappoint in this department. Still, Vietnam’s folklore is unique in itself, reflective of its own culture and history. Also, a fun little tidbit- the <a href="http://en.hanoi.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Giong-Festival/20099/65.vnplus">Giong Festival</a> is celebrated annually to commemorate the defeat of the An invaders in Hanoi. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/Rkpvn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://i.imgur.com/Rkpvn.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> The Giong Festival in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hanoi</st1:place></st1:city> (picture courtesy of Vietnam Tourism)</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Being an enthusiast of folklore as I am, I one day hope to be able to visit the Giong Festival. If nothing else, I hope to come back to Vietnam to learn so much more about the many legends which I know for a fact I haven’t been able to cover within such a short period of time.<br />
<br />
<u>Blogger Profile </u><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://searchforsaigonprofiles11.blogspot.com/2011/07/low-jia-wei-videography-team.html">LowJia Wei</a>, 23 is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Writing and suffers from chronic Internet addiction.</span><br />
<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-82587460592753458322011-07-19T23:51:00.000-07:002011-07-19T23:51:27.040-07:00Day 8 in pictures: Mekong delta 2 - The floating market<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/DSSLah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://i.imgur.com/DSSLah.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/21P8Ah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i.imgur.com/21P8Ah.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/DSSLah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For more pictures, click<a href="http://insearchofsaigon.imgur.com/day_8_mekong_delta_2__the_floating_market#DSSLa"> HERE</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Photographs by Lim Fei Xiang</div>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-63513186468164504752011-07-19T23:47:00.000-07:002011-07-19T23:47:49.382-07:00Day 7 in pictures: Mekong Delta 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/On7q4h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://i.imgur.com/On7q4h.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/tdHpjh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i.imgur.com/tdHpjh.jpg" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> For more pictures, click <a href="http://insearchofsaigon.imgur.com/day_7_mekong_delta_1#tdHpj">HERE</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Photographs by Audrey Samuel</i></div>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-64919342468480518612011-07-19T22:36:00.000-07:002011-07-19T22:36:09.183-07:00Day 6 in Pictures: Our hearts touched, and the rain on our heads.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/Gmlqfh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i.imgur.com/Gmlqfh.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/BtNwlh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://i.imgur.com/BtNwlh.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>For more photos, click <a href="http://insearchofsaigon.imgur.com/day_6_our_hearts_touched_and_the_rain_on_our_heads">HERE</a><br />
Photographs by Lim Fei Xianginsearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-24396994029134953682011-07-19T22:33:00.000-07:002011-07-19T22:33:15.371-07:00Day 5 in pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Church and Coffee</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/rWKQih.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.imgur.com/rWKQih.jpg" width="213" />\</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/HPzozh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://i.imgur.com/HPzozh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For more pictures, click <a href="http://insearchofsaigon.imgur.com/day_5_church_and_coffee">HERE</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Photographs by Audrey Samuel</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Out and About</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b> </b> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/4z9E7h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://i.imgur.com/4z9E7h.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/4J2EJh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://i.imgur.com/4J2EJh.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>For more pictures, click<a href="http://insearchofsaigon.imgur.com/day_5_out__about#4J2EJ"> HERE</a><br />
<i>Photographs by Lim Fei Xiang</i>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-21363629362821761442011-07-19T22:07:00.000-07:002011-07-19T22:07:09.952-07:00Day 4 in pictures<b>Center for Women and Children</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/JUf1h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://i.imgur.com/JUf1h.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/5hihW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://i.imgur.com/5hihW.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
For more pictures, click <a href="http://insearchofsaigon.imgur.com/day_4_center_for_women_and_children#JUf1h">HERE</a> and<a href="http://insearchofsaigon.imgur.com/day_4_women_and_children_with_hiv#UM4yH"> HERE</a><br />
<i>Pictures by Christyna Fong and Joanna Maria</i><br />
<br />
<i> </i><b>HIV in the Slums of Saigon</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/h0DNAh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://i.imgur.com/h0DNAh.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/Hqanrh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i.imgur.com/Hqanrh.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
For more pictures, click <a href="http://insearchofsaigon.imgur.com/day_4_hiv_in_the_slums_of_saigon#O5A5x">HERE</a><br />
Photographs by Audrey Samuel<br />
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<b>Pagoda</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/gUpJkh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i.imgur.com/gUpJkh.jpg" width="267" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/89hT0h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://i.imgur.com/89hT0h.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
For more photos, click <a href="http://insearchofsaigon.imgur.com/day_4_pagoda#89hT0">HERE</a><br />
<i>Photographs by Lim Fei Xiang</i>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-88231312676079179292011-07-19T21:58:00.000-07:002011-07-19T21:58:38.293-07:00Day 3 in Pictures: Work Begins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/HnmbBh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://i.imgur.com/HnmbBh.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/wUC8dh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://i.imgur.com/wUC8dh.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
For more photos, click <a href="http://insearchofsaigon.imgur.com/day_3_work_begins">HERE</a><br />
<br />
<i>Photographs by Lim Fei Xiang</i>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-80373137495951967102011-07-19T21:56:00.000-07:002011-07-19T21:56:28.844-07:00Day 2 in pictures: Temple and Chu Chi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/LgFjWh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://i.imgur.com/LgFjWh.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/F36z6h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://i.imgur.com/F36z6h.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
For more photos, click<a href="http://insearchofsaigon.imgur.com/8F69Y"> HERE</a><br />
<br />
<i>Photographs by Lim Fei Xiang</i>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-29090535141223181872011-07-19T21:53:00.000-07:002011-07-19T21:53:33.759-07:00Day 1 in pictures: Stepping into Saigon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/hMUxXh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://i.imgur.com/hMUxXh.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/PtnPOh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://i.imgur.com/PtnPOh.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>For more photos, click <a href="http://insearchofsaigon.imgur.com/day_1_stepping_into_saigon">HERE</a><br />
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<i>Photographs by Lim Fei Xiang</i>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-50062348299247364402011-07-17T13:35:00.000-07:002011-07-19T05:51:01.349-07:00Lurking in the Murky Waters of Mekong<div style="text-align: justify;">By Sabrina Kamaruddin</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pictures of courtesy Google</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Academy Award-winning movie Spirited Away introduces to the international plane a crucial mythological element of many Asian cultures; the character of Haku, short for Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi (literally “god of the swift amber river”), is not an estranged image of Southern and Eastern Asian native beliefs. The basic narrative of Haku, a river god trapped in the form of a human boy, would not usually appear abnormal to people from the surrounding regions of Southeast Asia for a number of reasons: firstly, the supernatural transformation of a being into another organic form is commonplace in much Asian folklore, seen in many Hindu and Buddhist stories and the basic concept of karma; secondly, the dragon and its scaly skin such as the serpent are common mythological creatures and play a significant part of folklore in this part of the world.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifX5Voc3Ut2vBGNUEDQKB2eCNHa7z5QCN4slYrg87MRmBB-jTMU8lSWcgy52TkXA-H2tTBOpTLKlLckx4jA7Ghw8dCNG29H-DAZKuQVQ1GvRPP7f8_10xaMzxgSruXBOlstDFTjBEnMSM/s1600/Pic+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifX5Voc3Ut2vBGNUEDQKB2eCNHa7z5QCN4slYrg87MRmBB-jTMU8lSWcgy52TkXA-H2tTBOpTLKlLckx4jA7Ghw8dCNG29H-DAZKuQVQ1GvRPP7f8_10xaMzxgSruXBOlstDFTjBEnMSM/s320/Pic+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The depiction of Haku typifies the Asian dragon who is unlike the larger, winged dragon of Western folklore</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">No visit to the Mekong River should go without a mention of its native myths. Each culture manifests myths by different names, and carries with them different lores, all versions of the creature star in significant otherworldly phenomenons revolving around, in essence, similar fundamental beliefs. The strong Hindu and Buddhist influence over China, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia resurface in their folklore in the form similar to Haku – native people of the Mekong from each of these countries believe in the existence of a snakelike, dragon creature that resides in the river warding off venerators.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The origin of the word naga is possibly from the Hindi naag which literally translates to ‘snake’. Stories involving the nagas are still very much a part of contemporary cultural traditions in regions where Hindu and Buddhist beliefs are still integral in the modern culture (both directly and not), an area stretching from India to Japan. For example in India, nagas are considered nature spirits and the protectors of springs, wells and rivers. They bring rain, and thus fertility, but are also thought to bring disasters such as floods and drought, and are strongly associated with the aquatic—rivers, lakes, seas, and wells—and are generally regarded as guardians of treasure.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQpa-O9TBFajMbg-3_ollQQkdoSXF0cZynDckqNphB-FTpWeHYnnCe5ADYtEnL6IfYnM4aqdWULrCpHErWZvqZgiLy2OKbBETLVzpEbCAHC64B9VYkC7C2SpGcB_-HdI8sUafIyJE-VE/s1600/Pic+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQpa-O9TBFajMbg-3_ollQQkdoSXF0cZynDckqNphB-FTpWeHYnnCe5ADYtEnL6IfYnM4aqdWULrCpHErWZvqZgiLy2OKbBETLVzpEbCAHC64B9VYkC7C2SpGcB_-HdI8sUafIyJE-VE/s320/Pic+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Alongside the unicorn, turtle and phoenix, the dragon is an elemental creature in Buddhist mythos</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The legend of the naga is a strong and sacred belief held by people living along the Mekong River. Many pay their respects to the river because they believe the naga still rules it, and locals hold an annual sacrifice for the naga. Each ceremony depends on how each village earns its living from the Mekong River — for instance, through fishing or transport. Local residents believe that the naga can protect them from danger, so they are likely to pay respects to the naga before taking a boat trip along the Mekong River.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A cobra-like deity in Hindu mythology, the dragon-like naga gets a Buddhist spin in Thailand. Legend has it that phaya nak (river dragon) raised Lord Buddha over a flood during his last pre-enlightenment meditation. The creature then welcomed his final incarnation on Earth by spitting fire skywards, at what became the end of Buddhist Lent. Alleged displays of the phaya nak’s combustible breath have re-emerged beneath October full moons in the form of fireballs ever since, as a sort of tribute to Buddha. This paranormal activity, known as bung fai paya nak (naga fireballs) has been attracting attention from many tourists and scientists alike, although there are theories that they are not natural and are in fact man-made. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjIIzdg3b801henm6EKhtOdsf1WSPFk46I5Q1WWIEAurOF_CZ9SIXH_X_9V4ZyDbyHXhP43-U14sXkgp3E4zssgNJqwWd9T48WNrOcVL1erTVt_mxvdn_2DphkmhWq6olEZF4g43OEmY/s1600/Pic+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjIIzdg3b801henm6EKhtOdsf1WSPFk46I5Q1WWIEAurOF_CZ9SIXH_X_9V4ZyDbyHXhP43-U14sXkgp3E4zssgNJqwWd9T48WNrOcVL1erTVt_mxvdn_2DphkmhWq6olEZF4g43OEmY/s320/Pic+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Remarkable fireballs emerging from Mekong river near the Nong Khai province of Thailand</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">These naga stories vary little from one culture to the next, especially in regions around Southeast Asia whose cultural origins overlap, and grand narratives as well as minor ones like those of the naga being a shared belief. Like the message I pushed across in my previous article of the Hindu faith in Vietnam, the story of the naga reiterates the idea that Vietnam and the home country of most of us travellers, Malaysia, is essentially not too different. Although years of toil, political erosion of culture and the causal determinist effects of religious discourse has led to what may appear as superficial fissure between our cultures, we are historically and culturally very similar indeed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://searchforsaigonprofiles11.blogspot.com/2011/07/sabrina-kamaruddin-videography-head.html">Sabrina Kamaruddin</a> aka Sabariah/Sabsab/Sabby/Sabby K/Sabo/Sab/Sabs/S'bina/Sabun/Sbrnk(read:sabrenka)/Bina/Been/Na/Bimbom/Nyet/Nyak/Flabby is trying to survive her Communications major. Rod Steward is her deity</span></div>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-77458000836670960682011-07-17T13:33:00.000-07:002011-07-19T05:51:23.352-07:00Food off the Streets<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-MY</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">By Joanna Mary </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Photos by Joanna Mary </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">One of the first thoughts that entered my head as we drove along the streets of Saigon upon our arrival was “O my God, I am so NOT going to have a problem finding food even at 3am!” I was captivated by the multitude of street vendors lined up along the sidewalk selling a variety of food and drinks. Street vendors can often be found in parks, and in any available spaces in front of buildings. Visiting these stalls, one can often select from a choice of baguettes, <i>Pho</i> (pronounced fur)<i>, </i>crab noodle soup, a variety of fresh fruit as well as fruit juices and much much more. Prices are also affordable, starting from 15, 000 VND (approximately RM 3) to a maximum of 45, 000 VND (approximately RM7).</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/RHn3N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://i.imgur.com/RHn3N.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US">The variety of fresh fruits available in Saigon (our favourite munchie).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Generally there are two types of street vendors, those that have permanent stalls and the wandering sellers. A wandering seller refers to someone who balances a bamboo stick on their shoulder and goes around selling edibles, on foot. For most of us, street food became part of our daily diet, as its value-for-money and we were able to experience authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Ordering is often a hilarious experience due to communication barriers, thus relying mainly on hand gestures and a constant “no no no”. Just this afternoon when I was trying to buy a sugarcane drink from this very friendly Vietnamese lady, my failed attempt of asking the price of my drink, ended up with my drink ice-less. Nonetheless it is all part and parcel of exploring Vietnam. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Another interesting aspect of street vending in Vietnam is the small, child-like tables and chairs used to accommodate customers. The best way to understand what this looks like is to try and imagine the tables and chairs used for preschool children; that would give an idea of the size of the meal tables here. Although at first it was difficult to sit comfortably on chairs and tables meant for someone who is shorter and way smaller, I grew to cherish the moments that we had to huddle together shoulder to shoulder having a steaming bowl of Pho. I realized that the small physical space helped us bridge and embrace the cultural and individual differences as conversations flowed easier and sharing (both food and personal stories) became more open. Perhaps this would help explain the sense of community and friendliness of the Vietnamese people. There are no adequate words that I can use to describe the friendliness of the Vietnamese street vendors. Most vendors are welcoming and amazingly patient while we take hours to order and even longer to settle the bills, take relentless photos of their stall and being the inconsiderate tourists that we sometimes are, make a lot of noise. Calculations are another distressing segment of our mealtimes, but help is always at hand in the form of the vendors who patiently explain<span> </span>the dongs from the dollars and thousands from the millions (never once cheating us).<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">However being a street vendor is not the pathway to an easy life. I had the opportunity to briefly interview two street vendors who were kind enough to share their experiences with me. I realised after talking to them that they lead a difficult life, often making just enough money to survive, with barely enough left to save. Such is the story of Nhi, 27, a fruit juice seller located two minutes from the hotel who we frequent everyday. Nhi fell from grace when her husband was diagnosed with terminal illness and passed away two years ago, driving her to bankruptcy. She then opened up a fruit juice stall to support herself and her then 22-month old baby. She shared the difficulties that she faces in saving some extra money due to high rent and competition from other vendors. She is required to pay rental to the hotel adjacent to her stall, as the sidewalk where her stall stands is the hotel’s property. Public spaces in Vietnam interestingly enough are managed privately. In addition, competition is very high at any given time, as there are about 6 – 7 vendors selling the exact same thing as Nhi, within the same street. Most times they are usually a few feet away from each other. As Nhi shared, “the only way to survive is to keep your prices low and ignore the competitors”. However what is interesting is that although competition is widespread and the stakes are high, there still exists a strong sense of community and belonging, where everyone looks out for each other. In instances where a stall is left unattended, a neighbour will gamely stand in; a common sight is to see vendors happily chatting with each other. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/IRAmH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.imgur.com/IRAmH.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US">Our favorite fruit juice lady, Nhi.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span lang="EN-US">Life is even harder for Thuy, a 53 year old street wanderer who is still working at an old age to support a family of five. Her shift starts from noon till 2.00am daily, walking approximately 20 km, selling fresh vegetables and eggs to earn a living. She has a husband who works as a builder and three children who are unemployed. A sweet and accommodating lady, she explained during the interview how life is difficult as at times there is barely enough money for food, let alone other expenses. Thuy has been a wandering seller for so long that when we asked her how long has she been in business, she smiled at us saying, “I have been doing this for so long that I have lost count of the years”. It was a bittersweet moment, knowing that for most of these wandering sellers, chances for a brighter future remains desolately slim. </span> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/qD6Hx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://i.imgur.com/qD6Hx.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US">Thuy, 53, the wandering seller. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">In addition, another interesting observation about Vietnamese street vendors is their mobility.<span> </span>This is due to the political and economic standpoint of Vietnam, as street vendors are illegal and therefore comes under scrutiny by the police. Hence in order to avoid harassment, most vendors relocate from time to time.<span> </span>Although some food stalls have some sort of permanent fixture along the sidewalks, more often than not, we have observed new vendors, in the place of old ones. This is most common especially when observing the street vendor in front of our hotel. Almost every morning, we come down to the sight and sounds of the ever changing street vendors selling all kinds of food for breakfast. Sometimes it is like a hide and seek game, where one minute you see a stall you want to try and the next day it is no longer there. This shows just how fragile the street vendors set up is- here today, gone tomorrow.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">In about less than 48 hours we will be boarding the flight back to Malaysia, leaving behind good food, the familiar faces of those whose stalls we have frequented over the last eight days and the hospitality of our Vietnamese friends. I am sure I speak on behalf of all of us when I say that these street vendors have been an integral part of our experience here and it has been an eye opening experience to us, the crazy Monashians, to gain a small but nonetheless deeper understanding of the lives of Vietnamese street vendors. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><i><a href="http://searchforsaigonprofiles11.blogspot.com/2011/07/joanna-maria-photography-team.html">Joanna Maria</a>, 25, is an Honours student doing a thesis on female gamers and identity negotiation.</i></span></div>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-57290568721480804222011-07-17T13:25:00.000-07:002011-07-19T22:12:08.563-07:00Red, Yellow, Selling Bed Fellows<div style="text-align: justify;">by Audrey Samuel</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Photos by Christyna Fong</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One day before visiting the Mekong Delta and having five days behind us, the sixth day was a different kind of serious. Following a visit to DRD, the whole lot of us ran under heavy torrents of rain to find ourselves back at Mai Vy Hotel, drenched and hurriedly preparing for the sixth and last session with Mr. Nicolas Lainez, a Ph.D. candidate in social anthropology from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, and a research manager at the leading Non-Government Organization (NGO) Alliance Anti-Trafic (also known as AAT), with branches in Vietnam and Thailand. Given the lack of a venue to house the entire group of us, we all sat on the floor in the hotel lobby and completed a round of introductions before delving further into the reality of human trafficking and how Vietnamese sex workers tend to steer towards wealthy destinations like Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mr. Lainez started the discussion by explaining the circumstances that led him from cinema and film studies to become a professional photographer taking pictures of prostitution and human trafficking, and finally ending up in an anti-trafficking NGO while completing his doctorate in social anthropology. Mr. Lainez explained to us how Vietnam is one country, among others, in which women and children are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation and other forms of labor exploitation. While he was a photographer, he realized that there was a problem with the the production of victimizing discourses by anti-trafficking actors from the aid sector. Because Mr. Lainez was mostly dealing with the communications and marketing departments of these organizations, he soon came to realize that he was just fabricating and repeating the picture that he and his clients – aid organizations, media, donors in Western countries, had in mind to instrically appeal and pull at generous heartstrings. He came to realize this by working with NGOs who invited him to construct predictable and emotional images about the situation of the women, children and sex workers as simply victims of exploitation rather than presenting the reality of the situation and the real lived experiences of these people. That was when he decided to resume academic studies and undertake field research to bridge the gap between the perceived assumptions and the reality of the mobility and labor conditions that women, children and in some cases men from Vietnam came into contact with as migrant workers in Southeast Asia.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The difficulty of managing fieldwork for his doctoral dissertation has been an experience and adventure when he spent fifteen months in Chau Doc; the border between Vietnam and Cambodia in the province of An Giang at the Mekong Delta. He also spent seven months in the Vietnamese shanty towns and red-light districts in Phnom Penh, and he finally spent 5 months living in the boarding house of Vietnamese sex workers in a red light district of Singapore. In his findings, he observed that Vietnamese women do not go to poorer countries like Cambodia, as this used to be the case in the 1990s, and rather prefer to go to Ho Chi Minh City, and from there they would proceed to richer countries like Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia or Singapore as the compensation is much higher than that from underprivileged countries. Mr. Lainez also mentioned that he will be moving to Singapore to finish his dissertation writing. He then went on to brief us about the NGO AAT he works with.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The NGO Mr. Lainez is affiliated with was the first to establish in Vietnam (2001) to address issues of women and children sexual exploitation, as well as human trafficking. Compared to other organizations like Caritas, this NGO is a rather small group. However, it is the leading project in Vietnam on human trafficking, as they have been there since the early development of the issue of human trafficking in Vietnam and in Southeast Asia. AAT also works closely with other organizations in the region, as well as with partners from the Vietnamese government (Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs; Vietnam Women’s Union, Ministry of Public Security). In the early and mid 2000, several anti-trafficking projects began to mushroom in Vietnam because funding for this type of initiative was available, and thus it attracted international aid organizations like Care Vietnam, Oxfam-Québec and Save the Children. However when the funding had decreased partly due to the global financial crisis and the redirection of funding to other priorities like environment, many of these projects have ceased. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">AAT runs different projects to assist sexually abused women and trafficked women who are looking to rehabilitate their lives. AAT sponsors two shelters managed by the Ho Chi Minh City Women’s Union in HCMC and by Vietnam Women’s Union in the Mekong delta. They welcome sexually abused women and children and offer rehabilitation and reintegration services. By doing so, AAT also shows to the Vietnamese government that the sex-workers and drug-users can be victims and not only “social evils,” as stated by the Government. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Therefore, instead of taking these sexually abused women and children to moral and reeducation centers sponsored by the Government, like it used to be the case in the 1990s and early 2000a, these victims have nowadays the chance to be sent to specialized shelters. This is presented as a long advocacy project where the centre is dedicated to solely to helping these women recover and reintegrate themselves into society as fully-participating members through psychological support. The NGO also coordinates projects with Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia to repatriate trafficking victims. In Malaysia, for instance, AAT works with the NGO Tenaganita based in Kuala Lumpur.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mr. Lainez went on to explain his methods of conducting research and the obstacles he faced when trying to get research subjects to open up about their experiences. Some women, a minority in his field investigation,,were caught in limbo- cases where they were duped into accepting job opportunities in Singapore only to later be cheated. One such case he encountered was Tuyêt from the Long An province, who took up a similar kind of opportunity. She was lured with a promise of well-paid job that could bring her 2,000. The middlewoman who brought her to Singapore delivered her to a pimp who claimed the payment of 2000 USD. Tuyêt found herself in debt and , and she was forced by the procurer who kept her to work in the Singapore sex industry until the full repayment of her debt.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In his research report, Mr. Lainez also mentions that the aim of his research in Singapore was to follow the transnational movements of Vietnamese low-skilled women across the Southeast Asian region. As such there is an evident grey area in social sciences research concerning first, sex migration to prosperous countries by women from Southern Vietnam, and second, the legally vague area surrounding selective immigration policy and unlicensed sex work in Singapore. Although the men and women in Vietnam migrate voluntarily to work in construction, fishing or manufacturing sectors in Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and the Middle East, some of them end up in exploitative professional situations (forced labour, debt bondage).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/H0scz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://i.imgur.com/H0scz.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">‘In Search of” travellers signing off with a picture of the last formal session.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The session ended with us feeling grateful for the knowledge that had been passed to us, the group of 20 now aware of the many issues that face both sex workers and anthropologists. This session also concluded the last in the series of formal sessions for the Saigon trip, evoking bittersweet feelings of an impending end to our trip.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://searchforsaigonprofiles11.blogspot.com/2011/07/audrey-samuel-photography-team.html">Audrey aka Godrey</a>, a 27 year-old, transgendered heterosexual studying International Studies and Writing at Monash Malaysia with Bipolar-Disorder Type II from Penang. Caught saying: "Judge me, I dare you!"</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-76032432940722319642011-07-17T13:09:00.000-07:002011-07-19T07:31:22.271-07:00Architecture: The Cosmopolitan Chapter (Pt 2)<div style="text-align: justify;">Can you spell interesting, individual and inspired? Hello again me hearties and welcome to architecture part deux. This entry is a little more personal, as I ventured out and especially because after a series of failed excursions and being cheated by a taxi the size of a Kancil, Fei and I managed to get a few decent pictures to show you how Vietnamese architecture really is like no other. It’s just so cool, the farther out of town you wander!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/vhAecXjaeY3wijdRrFH5T_76_UqJP9TIJOqvcZJ1Nzwl9gWQ7U9OBCKAdDI-lyGQCtKuFzaMPLT5fFPSU7O6LDhjCen-wvvU_hiIeUzb1Zg5OHyE_cQ" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/vhAecXjaeY3wijdRrFH5T_76_UqJP9TIJOqvcZJ1Nzwl9gWQ7U9OBCKAdDI-lyGQCtKuFzaMPLT5fFPSU7O6LDhjCen-wvvU_hiIeUzb1Zg5OHyE_cQ" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">An apparent style of architectural design that is unique yet maintaining some distinctively similar traits</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Vietnamese houses have long been associated with business. Most people run businesses and live above their workplace, such that a shop house culture has emerged in relation to the way buildings are designed. Therefore, most houses within the city are tall and narrow. This trend has also made its way beyond the skirts of the city into the suburbs. When a house is built, it is tall and narrow such that subsequent houses are also designed in the same fashion.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Day 5 after our session at Caritas and some super kow (which means “thick” in the Hokkien dialect) Vietnamese drip coffee, Fei and I went walking around the city on the lookout for interesting-looking buildings. We noticed that French architectural styles were prominent almost everywhere, particularly with contemporary architecture, in particular the shophouses. Each floor typically has a balcony with double doors that have two adjacent independent panels hinged on each side of the doorway.– a characteristic that is distinctively French. Most windows still have louvered shutters, some even incorporated with a window box. Furthermore, designers are expressedly creative, with houses painted a multitude of colours. For instance, the Bitexco Financial Towers demonstrates beyond what the eye can see amidst a dense and busy rainbow. Houses are beautiful to look at because they display designs that are incredibly intricate. Some are taller, some are shorter, but neither one is any wider.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/9uZa2qd7ZI1f6oj1i0Eqzp619uMEWx9F_lpYsUpCYAtvLr1A2VJ4xHeNhbZDjrv3yvGXr6mvVuD7fFOMgiArIjGvAtPkOkpbtEq885UPBZYRBxfgUPc" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/9uZa2qd7ZI1f6oj1i0Eqzp619uMEWx9F_lpYsUpCYAtvLr1A2VJ4xHeNhbZDjrv3yvGXr6mvVuD7fFOMgiArIjGvAtPkOkpbtEq885UPBZYRBxfgUPc" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A typical modern example of a Vietnamese home</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But back to the matter at hand, I’d also like to express how skillful Vietnamese contractors are. They are able to remove an entire shop house in the middle of a compact row and, in its place, erect a new one, linking it together seamlessly with the rest. Their imagination and creativity are showcased by the complexity of their designs. The hotel we are staying in is a good example. The Mai Vy hotel is not the prettiest building in the alley, but I must describe how ingenious the arrangements of the rooms are made in a building that is about 6 metres wide and 6 storeys high.<span id="goog_1233824472"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">First off, the staircase is a square spiral that leads to three rooms on each floor. Each room has its own bathroom, a wardrobe, a dressing table and one or two double beds with simple but functional frames. There are compartments on the headboard which look like they are merely part of the design, but they can be used to stow relatively flat items such as laptops. And I know this has not got much to do with the article but I must express my gratitude and enjoyment during our stay at Mai Vy Hotel. The staff are extremely friendly, helpful and accommodating, demonstrating a fine example of true Vietnamese hospitality.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the highlights of our exploration of architecture was the trip to the Bitexco Financial Tower, the tallest building in Saigon. It dwarfs the city’s other structures, standing at 262 metres and 68 storeys high. The shape of the building was inspired by that of a lotus bud, symbolizing the gradual blooming and integration of Vietnamese traditional culture with aspirations after progress. At night, the Bitexco Financial Tower is almost invisible, save for the lights at the top that glitter like diamonds.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This monumental modern structure is the brainchild of property developer Vu Quang Hoi, who invested about 300 million US dollars into his project. According to the information we have gleaned, it was his way of showing that Vietnam is no longer a war-torn country but an integrated player in the arena of the global economy. His idea became a reality with the help of world-renowned architect Carlos Zapata.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">6000 plates of glass were used to clothe the structure, the glass plates imported from Belgium and fashioned in South Korea. This special glass was chosen for its superior qualities of displaying resistance to wind forces and reducing external noise. I noticed how the glass was double layered, the two layers of glass separated by space while walking around the observation deck.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/V4rtrjJJihHqQYC3v1dQA0FwirJ42FHeBYK6AxtOK53Yesd4Gbs39VvbMggSFaq-_TL_EAfrtH2FIgoO8PaF83hLJo3AhWzipCrC2CiQG2zEFPc9gkw" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/V4rtrjJJihHqQYC3v1dQA0FwirJ42FHeBYK6AxtOK53Yesd4Gbs39VvbMggSFaq-_TL_EAfrtH2FIgoO8PaF83hLJo3AhWzipCrC2CiQG2zEFPc9gkw" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Bitexco Financial Tower</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">From the observation deck, the whole of Saigon stretches into the distance, beyond what the eye can fully see. It was really cloudy because it had just started to rain heavily as we entered the Bitexco Financial Tower. Regardless, the view was simply amazing. The wide curves of the Saigon River snaking its way through the city, past the cargo docks and ferry jetties provided a contrast between the developed city and the neighbouring countryside. While the observation deck is on the 49th floor, other buildings in Saigon are only a few stories high; this huge disparity in height makes the bird’s eye view of other buildings a majestic one from the observation deck. Countless blocks of thickly concentrated shophouses make up the cityscape like blocks of multicoloured Legos. In comparison, our own Petronas Twin Towers of 88 storeys, surrounded by other really tall buildings, is only open for viewing from the 41st floor. In other words, you have a better view of Saigon than of Kuala Lumpur.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/O0tyGrVP_oaiK0hKl5rDBUtd7DJ2dvvr9mI0xKz87A8FPxp9l2hRBhnkeHPRDnJsAs15aL_Z2Hqk-EQ1OMScvWs3JZw8l7AxK_2rvb7MjGG9hMTHzpY" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/O0tyGrVP_oaiK0hKl5rDBUtd7DJ2dvvr9mI0xKz87A8FPxp9l2hRBhnkeHPRDnJsAs15aL_Z2Hqk-EQ1OMScvWs3JZw8l7AxK_2rvb7MjGG9hMTHzpY" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All rainbows and no unicorns. Amazing view.<br />
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">To sum it up, Saigon is heading towards a fabulous future of progress whilst maintaining its wonderful jumble of East-meets-West and modern-meets-traditional. In this city where no two buildings are alike - where architectural designs are brilliant - and the people are wonderful and warm, I’ve fallen head over heels in love with Saigon. I HEART YOU SAIGON!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Read Part 1 <a href="http://insearchofsaigon.blogspot.com/2011/07/architecture-historical-perspective.html">here.</a><br />
<br />
<u>Blogger Profile:</u></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://searchforsaigonprofiles11.blogspot.com/2011/07/farah-zulkefly-videography-team.html">Farah Zulkefly</a>, <i>majoring in Journalism and Communications, is an omnivorous being who loves spending time in the depths of the ocean where humans can't talk with turtles and other reef inhabitants. She has a closet love for architecture and interiors but cannot draw to save her life.</i></span></div>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-82397517418161843712011-07-17T12:31:00.000-07:002011-07-19T07:29:55.537-07:00Reflections of a Student Guide<div style="font-family: inherit;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">By Ho Thi Uyen Thu</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">This story is about my reflections as a student guide for the Monash Malaysia study trip while on the Mekong Delta trip. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCPMCuDie4OlTGuvJWf-jX5jX910lcLU1ILZL502oTMI6GXQlh7gOiH3dQ0QrJAtoLxIicY2lWQcIUS90HEY1Z-m954Zq7SHcf0D4uEn73Of5PjXC6UIdVp03lCIfvsYeBfy93A7kfXU/s1600/Picture1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCPMCuDie4OlTGuvJWf-jX5jX910lcLU1ILZL502oTMI6GXQlh7gOiH3dQ0QrJAtoLxIicY2lWQcIUS90HEY1Z-m954Zq7SHcf0D4uEn73Of5PjXC6UIdVp03lCIfvsYeBfy93A7kfXU/s320/Picture1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">Me at the </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">Cao</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> Dai Temple</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">, one of the places I visited as a student guide.</span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">My day beg</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">a</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">n at 5</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">.</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">00</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> am, starting out from the hotel my Monash friends are staying at.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">I took a bus from my home to the hotel, a journey which takes me one hour daily. Not that I mind really, because I look forward to meeting my friends. I hoped that this day too, like the others, would be a great day so I could do everything, enjoying the trip.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">After the l</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">ast session</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> concluded, it </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">was time we </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">for our</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> two- day trip to </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">the </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">Mekong Delta. It was wonderful to escape the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">congestion, </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">air and noise of Ho Chi Minh </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">C</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">ity. We took a bus </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">from near</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> Mai Vi Hotel in the morning</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">.</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> We were gently lulled to sleep on the bus. We arrived in</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> the</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> Vinh Long province mid- afternoon. We really ha</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">d</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> a fun trip. The trip provide</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">d</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> us </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">with </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">a look at a wide variety of the life and scene</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">r</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">y o</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">f the</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> Vietnam River from the peaceful Delta. On the way we saw daily activitives of local people along the river. We visited </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">a </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> honey bee keeping farm, tasted some honey wine, rice wine</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> and kept moving</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> W</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">alking </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">to a </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">village</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> lodged next to the Delta</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> and taking </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">a </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">rowing boat </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">with nature by our side were among our other activities.</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> We also visited a rice husking mill and a rice noodle making shop. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">Special mention to the </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">Cai Rang floating market </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">we saw, </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">the biggest floating market in Vietnam. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">It was </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">wonderful</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9u3vpQuRv88ctyJwF67JhMszk-LRSlegnvGYO_LVpu5v6FUQVxZjLQ_rUATblT1mRFqeSfBG2_GZ_zFEYyfhkcc1srv88Rbg_h_fm-i9H-zi-TXxiaHQTScbRYsn88C-F3BMDy296ww/s1600/Picture2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9u3vpQuRv88ctyJwF67JhMszk-LRSlegnvGYO_LVpu5v6FUQVxZjLQ_rUATblT1mRFqeSfBG2_GZ_zFEYyfhkcc1srv88Rbg_h_fm-i9H-zi-TXxiaHQTScbRYsn88C-F3BMDy296ww/s320/Picture2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">Row, row, row your boat </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">down the Mekong stream.</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">Being on t</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">his trip b</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">rought</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">to </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">me alot of amazing things.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> I’ve never had such a fascinating experience before</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">Not only was </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">this is the first time I saw amazingly the peaceful canals of Mekong Delta</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">; being o</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">n the tour broaden</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">ed</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> my knowledge and </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">I was able to </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">explore a lot of different places in my </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">own </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">country. Apart from that, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">I was </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">able to practice English a little bit each day and learn from you</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">, my friends,</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">various</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> thing</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">s</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> a</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">bout</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> your culture, know more </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">the </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">lifestyle of young people </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">in</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> Malaysia, and </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">what</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> you think of your current education. From that I also re</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">a</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">lize</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">d</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> both of us (Vietnamese and Malaysian students) </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">mirror</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> each other</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> in terms</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">of </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">good a</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">t</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">titude</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">s</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> to the society</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">, even </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">though we have different lifestyles. Mor</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">e</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">over, I see </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">that</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> you are much </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">more </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">active than Vietnamese students through the way you organize the trip, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">the way</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> you discuss about </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">various</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> topics,</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> and</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> your attitude</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">s</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">This trip also gave me a better chance to make new friends like you and know more about you, and lets</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> me love </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">you even</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> more. Thanks to you, I feel so friendly, dynamic, and active.</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">Thank</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> you to</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> Abeer </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">for</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> help</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">ing</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> me alot, mak</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">ing</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> me more confident </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">about</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> myself. Mumbi whom I love so much</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> for being so</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> humorous</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> so</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> kind </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">a</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> girl </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">like no other before- I </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">want to say that</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> it was</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">n</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">ice </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">being your roommate</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">, dear Mumb</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">i</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">. Wui Jia, Lo, Nadia, Joanna, John, Sabrina, Christina, Farah</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">- </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">you are </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">all </span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">so friendly, funny and warm. Thank you all </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">f</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">o</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">r</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> giv</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">ing</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> me a chance to</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> be</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> friend</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">s</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"> with you. I hope I will have chance to meet you again in Malaysia. Sincerely, thank you for visiting my country.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xRdlhgANgdp5ME8kCAiRJ8ihgqaisUR_FATbAadJ8kXP5SPoSqJdCEbHcrV7wqF6nuv4Nor8jzh29p6TsN-DNkMmm4hfNIFE6wK5Fvut4dzLTYMVHCYoVJ7J-3YDXaxAf2R1MO8M0PA/s1600/Picture3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xRdlhgANgdp5ME8kCAiRJ8ihgqaisUR_FATbAadJ8kXP5SPoSqJdCEbHcrV7wqF6nuv4Nor8jzh29p6TsN-DNkMmm4hfNIFE6wK5Fvut4dzLTYMVHCYoVJ7J-3YDXaxAf2R1MO8M0PA/s320/Picture3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">Fun, fu</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">n</span><span lang="VI" style="line-height: 115%;">, fun (at Cai Rang floating market)</span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-73735179640826925472011-07-17T12:04:00.000-07:002011-07-24T03:46:40.987-07:00Diary Day 9: It’s Too Soon<span lang="EN-GB">By Christyna Fong</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Photographs by Christyna Fong</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">It’s unbelievable how nine days zoom past you. In a blink of an eye, we’re packing up and leaving Saigon tomorrow! I woke up with a rather heavy heart, but decided that I can’t spend my last day in Saigon moping and pulling a long face. So I dragged myself out of bed and went out for a nice English breakfast in the shop next door. Yes, English breakfast in post-French colonial Vietnam. The delicious irony!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">After that I followed Thanh and Thang together with Andrea, Mumbi and John for lunch at a quaint little restaurant that sells authentic French food cooked by a French chef! But as luck would have it the restaurant was closed on Sundays.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/7tLJg.jpg%20" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.imgur.com/7tLJg.jpg%20" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">Exploring the streets of Saigon one last time.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">So we went to Din Ky instead! Apparently it’s a famous Chinese restaurant in the area, evident by the patrons that are spilling out to the sidewalk. The breakfast was still sloshing in my stomach so I opted for a coconut instead of food. As I sipped on my drink lazily listening to the chatter in the background, it struck me how easily we all took to each other. It feels like everybody truly and thoroughly enjoys each other’s company, and each of us has a place in the family we have come together to be in the last nine days. This is where I got teary eyed and distracted myself by struggling with the coconut flesh!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/P4S0a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://i.imgur.com/P4S0a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">Waiting for the rest of the food to arrive!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">After that we trounced the sidewalks, looking at stalls and making last minute purchases to bring home. The stalls on the sidewalk are actually very reasonable, with a decent variety (although not as much as at Ben Than Market) and comparable prices! So if you find yourself on the last day of your trip with a few souvenirs short, hit the streets and see what treasures you can uncover.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/3DTKH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://i.imgur.com/3DTKH.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">One of the street vendors in Saigon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB">By the time I had spent the last of my <i>dongs, </i>we were running late for the practice for cultural night! So we rushed back home to the sight of everybody sitting in the park. We proceeded to put on a show for the locals and tourists as we practiced our <i>dikir barat</i> for the group performance tonight. Our audience seemed to enjoy it, judging from the laughter directed at our very loud group! Usually we take a bit of the country we visited back home with us but I’m glad today we were able to leave something of ours behind, even if they are just memories.</span><span lang="EN-GB"><b> </b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/LEqsr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://i.imgur.com/LEqsr.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB">Practicing <i>dikir barat</i> in the great outdoors!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">After <i>dikir barat </i>was <i>bhangra </i>practice! Apparently our stomping could be heard all the way down. That’s how hard we were practicing! We really worked up a sweat before getting ready for Cultural Night.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">I believe it’ll be an emotionally exhausting evening, but in a good way. Water works will fly, believe you me, if not from anyone else but I! Getting ready for Cultural Night now. This promises to be a fun filled night!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><a href="http://searchforsaigonprofiles11.blogspot.com/2011/07/christyna-fong-editorial-team.html">Christyna Fong</a>, 21, is taking her Degree in Arts with a suicidal Writing and Communication major. She can be a bit floozy and start using words like floozy. I also suspect she might be bipolar (bear!).</i></div>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856656400010423441.post-29193397781654959142011-07-17T11:57:00.000-07:002011-07-19T07:30:28.791-07:00Vietnamese Cuisine: The Local Point of View<div style="text-align: justify;">By <a href="http://searchforsaigonprofiles11.blogspot.com/2011/07/student-guide-profiles-le-kim-thanh.html">Le Kim Thanh</a> and <a href="http://searchforsaigonprofiles11.blogspot.com/2011/07/student-guide-profiles-vo-nhat-thang.html">Vo Nhat Thang</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pictures courtesy of Google</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Cuisine is the soul of a nation. With the balance of fresh herbs, meats and a selective use of spices, Vietnamese food can be considered one of the most original and healthiest cuisines worldwide. It has French and Chinese influences due to its history of occupation, as well as Indian flavours. For instance, during their invasion, the Chinese brought the Wok and chopsticks to Vietnam. French bread was introduced during the France’s colonial rule and can still be found in Vietnamese markets. The geographic makeup of the country is also responsible for different regional cuisines. Dining in Vietnam varies greatly among the north, south and central regions. Every region has a specific cuisine.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Food in Vietnam</td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the North, the colder climate limits the variety of spices that may be used in cooking, as well as the types of vegetables and fruits. Therefore, the food is lighter in taste, and less spicy than that of the Central and Southern regions. Due to its close proximity to the border of China, North Vietnamese cuisine reflects more Chinese influences.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Meal in the North</td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Center, where Hue, the ancient capital of the Vietnamese kings is located, features a very spicy cuisine, which reflects the country’s royalty and the abundance of spices that this region’s mountainous terrain has to offer. The diverse variety of fruits and vegetables within the area is also reflected at the table as meals are served.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bun Bo Hue - A Specialty from Central Vietnam</td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The South is hot and humid, and its fertile river delta makes it ideal for the cultivation of a huge variety of vegetables, fruits, and livestock. During the French colonial rule, white potatoes, asparagus, tarragon, shallots were introduced to this region and they are still grown there today. Curried dishes are common in this region, influenced by Indian traders traveling west. The style of cooking is also simpler than that of central Vietnam. Fish sauce is a specialty here.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canh Chua (Sour Soup) from the South</td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Although the way of cooking and flavors vary from region to region, there are two main ingredients that will be found on any table within the country. Firstly, rice plays an essential role in the nation’s diet and is a main staple throughout Southeast Asia. Secondly, no meal is complete without a bowl of fresh vegetables or herbs. Vietnamese food is a pleasure to enjoy in the company of family and friends.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family Meal - An original feature of Vietnamese culture</td></tr>
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</div>insearchofsaigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18160964532723114420noreply@blogger.com0