.. love song

To love a person is to learn the song
.. that is in their heart,
And to sing it to them
.. when they have forgotten.

To love a person is to learn the song
.. that they hum along to,
And sing it to them
.. when they falter in their steps.

To love a person is to learn the song
.. that they snap their fingers to,
And sing it to them
.. when they lost their way in the dark.

To love a person is to learn the song
.. that they would sing to you too
A duet, of a song for love
.. that both would remember to eternity

~end~


.. kian

.. a room with a view

.. finally, my third official day in Saigon, and hopefully the unsecured Wifi network i am on, lets me finish writing this blog and publish it. It has been a hectic three days, a lot of purchases and cleaning done. Had slight difficulty, or rather loses, from my purchases, as i took advantage of the free delivery, of course on a bike. First, i lost my dustpan, which only had the stick delivered whereas the pan was no where to be seen. Second, i lost 4 boxes of tissues (which had really nice embosses on it !).


.. all these plastic bags, with plates and cups, bottles, detergents .. a lot of stuffs, was sent by an uncle, on a bike, delivered to my doorstep high up on an apartment which visitors had to pay 1000 dongs everytime you use the lift. It was a miracle, nothing broke, only my dustpan reaching without its pan.

.. the first picture above was taken from my room on the very first morning in Saigon. I did not even notice the existence of the bamboo and plants earlier, as i was too tired after cleaning my room ( the floor had to be mopped 3 times before i could walk on it bare foot without getting my feet dirty). It was such a suprise to me, to have such nice view, i really thought i was still dreaming, because there is no way bamboo could've grown more than 5 storeys high !

.. i was reluctant to wake up, being afraid that small window would all just fade into oblivion leaving behind a view of a bustling and smog filled Saigon City Center accompanied by the honks and beeps of traffic .. but somehow .. these sounds are already there ?!

.. reality struck hard, i have indeed woke up, but still fazed and surprised by the plants. Without delay, i reached for my phone and took the picture to record that moment before the effect is gone. What you see, is exactly what i have seen when i wake up on my first morning staying in a new place,

.. a warm welcome and and a very good morning.

.. there is still a few more items that needs to be purchased, which i should be able to sort out by this weekend, and by then, i would be able to call this home. I have even cooked my first meal today after being out the whole day shopping alone, a delicious fusion of Vietnamese and Italian which i created. Spaghetti lashed with olive oil with finely chopped onion stalks wrapped in omelet mixed with fresh taugeh and ham and sprinkled with the miraculous Vietnamese pepper mixed with salt and lemon which i had grown a liking to.

.. mmm, more experiments to come throughout my stay as i start exploring Vietnamese cuisine.

.. more updates to come once i get a proper internet connection. By then i would try to revamp my blog slowly. Would be looking forward to this weekend as well, as i would finally be able to go out and meet two newly made friends. Time to just kick back and relax this weekend, and start work on Monday, which would at the same time be my official exploration of Saigon as well.

.. good night, would provide views of District 1's (heart of Saigon)skyline next, from my balcony if i am able to get a good shot from my phone.

.. anyone can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry to the right person, to a right degree, at a right time and right way .. it is not easy

.. this might probably be my last post for while. To my horror, i realized i do not have an internet connection where i am going, unless there is free wifi networks to hitch a ride on. I doubt there would be on the 7th floor (lol, yes, 7 again, a significant and important number in my life), too high up to find a network from a nearby cafe.

.. this post would probably cap up the earlier two post i have, the good thing is, i made a trilogy in 2 days .. rather than having to wait 3 years for star wars or lord of the rings. I have no plans of making a seven part like chronicles of narnia or harry potter. There is too much of negativity being written down, i am putting myself into misery with every word i pen down.

.. the past 3 months had been a whirlwind of a journey to me. I was bombarded with a whirlwind of emotions that had left me wounded so badly i do not think it would ever heal. As usual, as typical as human could be, one single emotion would just manifest itself and overcome the others. To be where i am right now, in Vietnam, blogging intensively for the past month, i have analyzed and thought things over so many time already. Angst, can only be channeled to my thoughts and penned down here, but not to anyone else.

.. holding anger is a poison. It eats you from inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us. But hatred is a curved blade. And the harms we do, we do to ourselves.

.. how often would you find yourself cursing and swearing against actions you have done, often putting yourself in a state of misery so bad, you feel that everything around you is against you. The world would be so fucked up to you, that you feel totally useless, and distraught. It would often lead to decisions that you would never imagined yourself doing. Saying things that you would not even dream of saying .. but you still went ahead without much realizing it.

.. that is how true that statement in my title would be. Often, angst would lead to things unimaginable. Angst and hatred is not easy to control. It manifests itself in many ways, often creeping up to you in the least expected moment when you thought you have got over it. Things are not always what it seems .. 3 months, 8 months .. it always comes back to haunt you.

.. people might call it moving on, or starting a new chapter .. but in actuality, would it ever happen ?

.. forget and forgive ? Is it possible ?

.. anger is a killing thing, every time it happens, the rage that boils would take something out of you, leaving you less than what you had been before. Many had been through this before, and i have my own stories to tell, but i have caused hurt so much, and being hurt even more, i am less and less prone to letting angst take over my emotions.

.. what is done is done, leaving scars and wounds, and emotions that would never heal. Why should we let these marks take much more from us, than what we have already lost?

.. it lies within each and every of us, letting go is not easy when depression and misery leaves you lost in an oblivion, but all this are manifestations of our emotions. It happens within you, and no one would ever be able to control or manipulate them .. let reality dissolve and settle in you, carrying on is very easy to do irregardless how wounded one is. No one should ever swim in swirl of emotions hard to control, making you say or do things that is unimaginable and might cause hurt to another.

.. it is not easy to have control over what will ever happen,

.. but you have control over what had happened.

.. it is a matter of believing,

.. and let anger be something that you keep to yourself,

.. and the world would definitely be slightly nicer to live in,

.. with one less angry person.



( .. good night all, and thanks to that someone who had shared a lot with me for the past 2 nights, it was a huge relief for me to have finally completed my trilogy, and look forward to my trip to Saigon. Probably this is a result for one month of contained thoughts that i could not share with anyone since the Vietnamese could not understand me, irregardless how hard i tried .. eg, can someone tell me how to describe "gays" to a Vietnamese in sign language without being rude ?? )


~ end ~


Disclaimer : All names had been withheld from my posts to protect the identity of the person in real life, if they do exist. No portions of my posts should be duplicated anywhere, at least let me know so i would not get angry if i see it. No animals or 40 year old aunties were hurt in the process of writing this, they had been very very helpful. If my last post (the one above) happens to annoy or upset anyone, please, keep that anger to yourself. Trust me, it is nice, warm and fuzzy .. to be happy.

.. freedom is nothing else, but a chance to be better.

.. this probably would be my final post in Hanoi (maybe another later tonight if i finish packing early), before i leave to Saigon, opening new doors that leads me to a new chapter of my new life. Preparations are made, way before my move, as i am already in Vietnam for one month, and been traveling to and fro between Saigon and Hanoi to for meetings and prepare for our new office. For the past month, i had been given a crash course on the business culture and laws of Vietnam, which i deem might not be enough. I foresee more hiccups once i am unleashed in Saigon.

.. i am glad and grateful for all the new friends i had made during this short period of time. At least, i know, beyond the door that i would step through tomorrow, there would be people welcoming me. Names of course would not be mentioned here to protect their true identity, but to each and every one of you, i would like to apologize way in advance, because i know i would be pestering you a lot.

.. like i have said in my earlier post, freedom is not a word i would use that eagerly, there would never be a chance, throughout my entire walking life that i would claim myself to be free. I am only free when i dream. There is so much contradiction in my life, and i think as for anyone else as well. It really depends on our perspective on what makes everything tick. Often, this perspective has pulled me down into the unknown abyss for decisions and risks taken.

.. freedom is nothing else, but a chance to be better. I think, that is a much better way for me to define it. It might be different for you .. freedom could mean unlimited spending cash, or a vacation, or not having to work .. endless, everyone looks at it in a different way.

.. a newly made friend of mine has put it in a nice way, her definition draws near to my personal definition ( .. thanks! .. like you said, i think we're gonna be friends for a long time),

"Freedom is the ability to express in every form without barriers or borders and across distance .. "

.. in short, we would never define freedom in such way that it is agreeable to everyone. Having a definition, would usually be marred by something superficial and temporary. Freedom .. the ability to express in every form .. often in ways that pleases the mind, but why not in a way as a chance to be better. I am not expecting much reply from readers, but if you strongly believe how you want your freedom, i would want to hear it. Drop me a mail friends.

.. with me stepping through this doorway to Saigon, i am sure it would open up to many other doors, leaving surprises which would entitle me to more exploration of my thoughts and life. As you all can see, from my earlier entry and this one, i am slipping away from the mainstream blogging, to have more personalized content. Blogging has became a way of expressing my freedom, without barriers or borders.

.. chances are hard to come by, and that is harsh reality, and often it comes as a blessing. Always, we give it a miss, but what difference would a chance make to your life if there is no risks involved, even if it means starting all over again.

.. freedom is even harder to define, but if it gives you a temporary pocket of safety, why not?

.. it is never wrong to dream and be free.

.. if i fall asleep with a pen in my hand, please do not remove it, i might be writing in my dreams

.. ahh, yes, a passion of mine left unexplored for quite some time, i used to love writing a lot. Often, combining my poems with illustrations of own and printing it out on those nice glossy paper. I have left it aside for quite some time, as work and normal daily routines has taken precedence.

.. with the start of a new life in Vietnam, i guess it is due time i explore what i enjoy doing most again. I hate to be controlled by majority, when i have to be adapt myself to others. True enough, it is a give and take situation, but my main concern, how much would others adapt their likings to me ?

.. how often would you find a guy who enjoys and talk about writing, cooking, movie appreciation (a lot of my friends can't even remember Shawshank Redemption), listen to Pulp, Suede .. etc etc .. they only talk about girls, cars, gadgets .. endless list of totally unproductive and uninformative conversation pieces (i'm sorry to my close friends who reads this, but since i am in Vietnam now, unless you all come over to give me a smack on the head, i am still in, all ways a friend, and you know by any means we would always have something to talk about which interests me, what i've said are written in general.)

.. my only resort, is to have my thoughts here on my blog. Sometimes, contents i have here might look and sound like crap, but those are just my thoughts. I don't spend a lot of time planning the whole content out. I just write as i please. This piece i am writing now, only took 10 minutes up till this point.

.. i have plans to have a major re vamp on my blog, adding more personalized graphics inside, which would really reflect my mood and what i visualize in my dreams and thoughts everyday.

.. i guess, i am going to have pleasurable time for my new life in Vietnam. Friends are being made everyday and soon enough i would finally have freedom given to me thoroughly once i move to Saigon. Freedom is not a word i would eagerly use, as i have not have this feeling for a very long time already. Decisions, actions, and basically everything else that i have done so far, has external factors influencing it. For once in my life, i feel the heavy shroud blackness that had been blocking my true self clears away.

.. this would be the very first confession i have made since i come over to Vietnam. No offense to my ex, i've enjoyed every single moment i spent with you for the past five years. I was distraught when our separation happened, but for reasons only both of us know, it is for the greater good. When i said freedom is finally mine, it is not because you had withheld my dreams, you were once part of it, and i have all freedom when i was with you. My life had always been great with you, and the freedom i have now, is freedom to explore more of my personal interests and pursue of my dreams.

.. i wish all the best to your personal interests as well and i do wish we remain as close as we were earlier. I hope you understand my trip to Vietnam is solely for career advancements and the decision was made not because of our separation (well, maybe a small portion, cause i don't have commitments now except to my family), but don't take it too badly. I am sorry, if in any way, i have left you distraught, it is a mistake for me to solely bear responsibility of.

.. i guess that would be enough said before i put myself in misery again. I have finally got over my fear of facing reality with what i have said above, and i do wish the same for you too.

.. a new chapter has begun in my life

.. a new story awaits to be written down

.. back

.. it was a crazy trip to Saigon, and from it, i had much stronger determination to learn Vietnamese now. Though most people i see does not require me to speak english that much, i realized i would have major difficulties with the taxi drivers, since they are going to be my main method of transportation soon.

.. visitors to Vietnam, beware !! These taxi drivers, young or old, even though they drive with the meter, they would figure out ways of increasing the fare. One lesson is more than enough for me, which ended up in an argument by the roadside between me and the taxi driver at a busy junction.

.. I asked to be sent to Saigon's Chinatown, of which i have already located on a virtual map on my phone. Fare would be at max 40,000 Dongs, but somehow, he took me for a round trip around District 5 (where Chinatown is), which ended up me having a fare of 135,000 Dongs. The building which i was headed to was within sight all the time .. on my left side to me precise (Vietnam is left hand drive, and i think the driver has all intention of hiding that building from my sight), i queried him, and he said he wanted to send me to the building front cause we're on a one way street .. OK !! Fine !! .. when he stopped, i refused to pay him the full amount, and we started arguing .. @#*&%$!@, to cut long story short .. in the end i halved it.

.. that really shows that these taxi drivers prey on tourists and expats alone, knowing we have cash, and no knowledge of their streets and language. You would never never get lost in the main cities, the whole city is laid out like a checker board, and the whole stretch, from top to bottom, is one street name, with premises having odds numbers on on side, and even numbers on the other. These taxi drivers understand the checkered maze well enough, they will go round and round .. instead of a straight line which would definitely get you to your destination faster at much lower costs.

.. more updates soon enough, i am just too tired to continue with anything, it has been a hectic two days, with lots of appointment and very little sleep. My journey back to Hanoi was unpleasant as well because some Korean mother left her 5 year old kid running all over the plane, which in the end, that kid emptied his in flight meal of rice, soya chicken stew, vegetables, red bean pudding and coke, spewing forth every thing in such glory it would look like as if it is a scene from Poltergeist, leaving that poor chap right next to him covered with samples of food.

.. it happened 3 feet away from me, leaving a stench so unbearable i had to leave my seat and go disturb the gorgeous air hostess ( .. wink wink) for the remaining 40 minutes of my flight.

.. good night all.

.. away, again

.. i will be flying off to Saigon again tomorrow for a few appointments scheduled over 2 days alone. So expect a huge update on Saturday, hopefully, if i can finish everything and come back by Friday night. Looks like my plans of visiting Ha Long Bay this weekend can be flushed down the drain.

.. next time "dragons", i promise i will visit you .. next time ..

.. go on sleeping

.. random pictures

.. well, below are some random pictures taken


.. finally got a shot of the 16 feet ladder which i missed from my earlier air conditioning series, can't even fit the whole thing into a single frame, had to take it in 2 pictures. Wet morning in Saigon amidst heavy traffic.

.. look at the electricity cables !! WTF ! .. and these are considered one of the neater ones, still waiting for the picture moment to show you all how they sort out the cables, a guy would be within that web of danger with a cutter without safety harnesess.

.. a typical vietnamese restaurant, everyone still squats, probably the Vietnamese had figured out a way to aid indigestion. More of these "squatter" shots coming at you.

.. i seriously do not know how to call these critters, but i think they are unclean softshell crabs. It was being sold in a hyper market called "Big C", which is GIANT/TESCO in Malaysia. They are still alive, but somehow drugged and trained to stay within the confines of that white container.

.. the first ever cantonese speaking vietnamese i met !! For the first time ever at all in Vietnam i ordered my own food, which is a bowl of wanton mee, ahahaaha. He was shy, so i could not get a frontal shot.. lol.

.. when we two parted

When we two parted
In silence and tears,
Half broken-hearted
To sever for years,
Pale grew thy cheek and cold,
Colder thy kiss;
Truly that hour foretold
Sorrow to this.

The dew of the morning
Sunk chill on my brow—
It felt like the warning
Of what I feel now.
Thy vows are all broken,
And light is thy fame;
I hear thy name spoken,
And share in its shame.

They name thee before me,
A knell to mine ear;
A shudder comes o'er me—
Why wert thou so dear?
They know not I knew thee,
Who knew thee too well—
Long, long shall I rue thee,
To deeply to tell.

In secret we met—
In silence I grieve,
That thy heart could forget,
Thy spirit deceive.
If I should meet thee
After long years,
How should I greet thee?—
With silence and tears.

George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788–1824)

.. 3 days in Saigon

.. ahh, glad to be back in Hanoi after that short and hectic trip to Saigon. We accomplished so much within that short period of time. I don't even have enough time to take enough pictures or videos to share here. Still sorting out whatever pictures or videos taken there, deciding on which would be "appropriate" to be posted here, it would have to wait a bit.

.. closed a project in Saigon, which definitely would ensure i have enough to keep me occupied once i move there in June, yes, we have found a place there which would double up as our office as well. F#*%king expensive unit considering the facilities provided. Location was very good though, i am just barely 2 kilometers away from the heart of Saigon, district 1, where most action and businesses are concentrated. District 1 also has something similar to what we have back home, Jalan Bukit Bintang, a lot of designer items and apparels being sold amidst high quality fake goods.

.. for those who had followed my post, you would have realized that i had spent less than 2 weeks in Vietnam. Many would be curious, how the heck i would be able to survive if i move to Saigon, with no one to guide me !!?? I am in a country with very weird laws, and also a language that i am not able to comprehend, and now with less than 2 weeks of orientation, i am moving to Saigon already ? Alone ?

.. Saigon is the business capital of Vietnam, which attracts a lot of tourists. At the same time, it has expanded so much for the past 10 years, it now has a total of 12 districts (correct me if i'm wrong). The population and development is so rapid and dense that every single piece of land is squeezed dry of space. I was pleasantly surprised that almost half of its population speaks Cantonese. I finally ordered my first meal in Vietnam without help ! One bowl of wanton mee please (cantonese).. ahh .. bliss !

.. also, i have made enough friends within that short period of time, to ensure i have company upon my arrival. I have even made promises to play tennis weekly with these newly made friends (one problem though, i don't know how to play tennis). Saigon is filled with expatriates, and it is very easy to fit in. They form an unofficial yet closely knit society, which helps each another out in times of need. I guess, i would blend in just as easily. It would not be an adventure without the challenge right?

.. expect more to come as i sort out my life slowly in Vietnam. Adaptation is not an easy task, and learning a new language is way to much of a behemoth task for me to do in 2 weeks. I would definitely include more pictures and videos once i settle down, in the meantime, i am preparing for my move to Saigon, a lot of items needs to be furnished into the apartment.

.. a new life, a different ending.

.. cows ride ?

.. well, here are more random pictures taken, feast your eyes on the three below, i have not taken these, but they were snapped in Vietnam by fellow expatriates alike which i just grabbed from facebook.


.. no comments needed, picture says it all, even with dried grass for the journey, but i do think the poor thing is dead.


.. snakes on a plane, and now dogs on a bike, don't think he would even need his bike horns to navigate through traffic


.. all i could say is .. WTF, full queen sized bed !!

Below a few more taken by me yesterday, sigh, its just endless on what they could actually carry on a bike. Must be a very hot Saturday, because its just not this 2 bikes, but i have seen a few more, one actually carried 2 full sets of air conditioning with compressor.


.. look guys .. no straps or ropes, just my two fingers balancing it. Imagine the confusion it would cause it that falls !!


.. and this guy seems to be more careful about it, but do count the boxes, and see how much space is left for his balls on the seat.


.. well, with all the wire and piping works for air conditioning, you would definitely need someone for the patching up works right ? .. now i need a picture of a 12 feet ladder on a bike to complete the series.


.. again, a picture is word a thousand words right ? Everyone is buying air conditioning, it has even left this guy enough time to give me a nice pose.

.. one week in Hanoi

.. i had spent almost one week in Hanoi now, and yet i am learning or experiencing something new every day. Information and experiences is shoved right at my face without mercy. I would never label this as culture shock, because everything is almost similar to what we have back home. There are little things that might be different, but not so much of a shock that i would have difficulty adapting to.

.. for those who had followed my posts for the past week, you would have noticed that i highlighted a lot on their traffic antiquities. I have not even started on local food, local culture and practices, or as requested by a lot of my friends, local ladies. There is still much for me to go through, and Hanoi is only a stepping stone for me before i move to Saigon(now it is Ho Chi Minh City, locals would still fondly refer to it as Saigon).

.. Saigon would be my operation base in Vietnam. That would be my second home, and where i would start a new life. At this moment, i have no pangs of guilt for making the decision to come over. I have left a lot behind, and again, to those that i did not get the chance to meet before i leave, sorry, i would make it up to you once i am back. I am shown a pathway that i know opens up to a much better career opportunity, and deep inside, i know this is the route i must thread.

.. i am leaving for Saigon on Monday for a few business appointments and hopefully at the same time secure my apartment/office unit. Saigon is about 2 hours flight from Hanoi, and surprisingly only one hour from KL. Saigon is a much more "commercialized", much more like the hustle and bustle of KL. In fact the weather is also hot and humid like KL. If i am not wrong, currently, it is the raining season there. I am told that Saigon would not be much different from Hanoi in spite of population and size different. I would still experience the same food, the same traffic, the same culture, and .. etc ~wink wink~, please guys, stop asking me about the ladies.

.. i have a lot of respect for them, on how they were "trained" from young, to behave like what they do now. Please refer to my earlier post for a full description of this culture. They are friendly, they smile meekly at you from their very refined faces, revealing dimples that would stop me dead in my tracks every time, portraying gentleness in their every move amidst a sea of endless fair complexion. In short, simple yet refined.

.. i am not in any way condemning anyone, but my friends, those that are "easy" on you, most of the time they are out for your money. Just be cautious. As a communist country, Vietnam is well known for its prostitution, and the government is doing all they can to curb this. Not everyone behaves the same though, and in fact for this one week i am in Hanoi, i have seen drop dead gorgeous and sexy promoter girls that will warm up to you in no time, but yet drawing a thin fine yet strong line that tells you when you need to stop. Professionals at work, hats off and a bow and salutations to you all !

.. enough of that, i am sure if i go on, that would leave everyone asking for more. Seriously, if you guys want pictures, go to a porn site, that would reveal much more. I would have pictures of ladies coming up soon, but more to highlight their natural beauty, which will forever hold me in awe.

.. i might not be able to post as often when i am traveling, but i think that gives me more time to compile and organize what i want to have documented in this blog once i am back. Friends who visit me on this blog, do tell me what you want to see, or read, and i would try my best to accommodate it. The comments section is made available for all .. and please make use of it. Till then, see you all soon in my next update.

.. vietnamese ladies, a brief introduction

.. these excerpts, i have taken from www.vietnamese-culture.com, it tells the culture, and how local ladies are bred. I find it very interesting, and not in any way discriminating at all, on how they are so tied to traditions. For those who hate to read, please skip this. This is literature and history, but if you all read back my very first post, i like literature and poems a lot ..


The Vietnamese Girl in Popular Poems

The Vietnamese girl never complaints about the condition and the role a Confucian society has assigned to her since the dawn of time. From her young age, being used to hearing popular poems incessantly sung by her mother or sister and continuing to grow up with the rhythm and the sound of the swinging hammock, she began to absorb unconsciously the recommendations found in these poems.
In spite of their simplicity, these poems began to give her not only an education worthy of Vietnamese tradition but also an incomparable resignation and the four virtues that any Vietnamese girl is deemed of possessing at her adolescence: Công, Dung, Ngôn, Hạnh (Homemaking Skills, Appearance, Speech Manners, Good Behavior). This will help her to be able to become in turn, sister, wife, mother, grand-mother during her existence. Therefore, it is not surprising to see that she has thus become one of the themes most talked about in Vietnamese popular poems.

Despite her young age, her mother's labor and wisdom have been repeated to her time and again through nursery rhymes the most known of which remains the following:

Cái ngủ mầy ngủ cho lâu,
Mẹ mầy đi cấy đồng sâu chưa về.
Bắt được con cá rô trê
Tròng cổ lôi về cho cái ngủ ăn.

Little sleeper, you have to sleep as long as possible,
Your mother has not come back from the deep rice paddy replanting seedlings.
She caught a carp and a cat fish
That she will take home for you to eat.

Then at 7-8 years of age, she began to replace her mother and imitate her in singing again the same popular nursery rhymes to lull her younger brother or sister to sleep. She also provided much service to her family: knowing how to cook rice, keeping her younger siblings, feeding the pigs and the ducks, taking water to the family animals, weeding the garden, collecting eggs, participating in family chores.

She also saw the change in the nature of her work when she reached adolescence. The nursery rhymes were replaced by folk songs or popular poems she used to hear singing often in the rice field. It is here that she would know the boys of her age. It is here that we would hear the first revelations of love, the first teasing of the Vietnamese girl through poems or folk songs. Among them, this one reveals and hides the blossoming heart of the Vietnamese girl who is shy, tender, and constrained by traditionally Confucian conditions.

Vào vườn hái quả cau xanh,
Bổ ra làm sáu mời anh xơi trầu
Trầu nầy têm những vôi tàu
Giữa đêm cắt cánh đôi đầu quế cay
Mời anh xơi miếng trầu nầy,
Dù mặn dù nhạt dù cay dù nồng
Dù chẳng nên vợ nên chồng,
Xơi dăm ba miếng cho lòng nhớ thương,

I enter the garden to pick a green betel-nut,
I cut it in six and invite you to taste this betel.
This one is spread with lime from China,
And flavored with the spice of the spice of cinnamon ends.
Please have this betel prepared by me,
Even if it is strong or light, hot or mild,
Or even if we do not become man and wife,
Just taste its flavor for you to remember.

That teasing is quick to find sympathy from the boys. To praise her beauty, these boys would not hesitate to offer not only one but ten loves at the same time, which ended up in the composition of this famous poem entitled "Mười Thương" (Ten Loves) that any young men in the old days would be deemed to know by heart:

Một thương tóc bỏ đuôi gà,
Hai thương ăn nói mặn mà có duyên,
Ba thương má lúm đồng tiền,
Bốn thương răng nhánh hạt huyền kém thua,
Năm thương dải yếm đeo bùa,
Sáu thương nón thượng quai tua dịu dàng,
Bảy thương ăn nói khôn ngoan,
Tám thương má phấn ngó càng thêm xinh,
Chín thương em ở một mình,
Muời thương con mắt đưa tình với ai!

First I love your plaited hair,
Second I love your suave and charming voice.
My next love is your dimpled cheeks,
Then your lacquered teeth more lustrous than jet is my fourth love.
Fifth, I love your bra and your necklace.
And your grand hat with velvet ribbon invites my sixth love.
My seventh love is your manner in speech,
Comes my eighth love of the makeup on your attractive cheeks.
Ninth, I love you because you are still single.
And finally tenth, because you reciprocate my loving glance.

The seductiveness of the girl only lasted for a short time because generally for the sake of socio-economic interests, she would be married very early. Many times in the past, there were financially pre-arranged marriages, which provoked criticisms and jokes through the following popular poem:

Mẹ em tham thúng xôi rền,
Tham con lợn béo, tham tiền Cảnh Hưng,
Em đã bảo mẹ rặng: đừng !
Mẹ hấm, mẹ hứ, mẹ bưng ngay vào,
Bây giờ chồng thấp vợ cao,
Như đôi đũa lệch so sao cho vừa.

Even when I had said: No
But my mother, fond of the sweet rice bucket,
Fond of the fat pig and fond of money.
With uhms and ahhs, she brought this guy in.
Now husband little, and wife tall,
We look like an unmatched pair of chopsticks after all.

Despite this remark, she accepted to become a member of the new family and be willingly submissive to all the Confucian constraints commonly seen in the Vietnamese society. She tried to meet the norms expected of her in the new family by following steadfastly the recommendations found in popular songs that she used to hear time and time again when she was still in cradle. In one of these songs, the following is found:

Con ơi! Mẹ bảo con nầy:
Học buôn học bán cho tày ngưòi ta,
Con đừng học thói chua ngoa,
Họ hàng ghét bỏ người ta chê cười.

My daughter! Listen to me,
Learn to wheel and deal as well as other people.
But try to avoid being sharp-tongued,
As this invites hate and sneer from friends and relatives.

Those are the last recommendations of her mother transmitted from one generation to the next through folk songs. The Vietnamese girl tends to keep them and apply them without failure until the end of her life. The Vietnamese woman accepts this resignation, this sacrifice, this injustice without reserve, which makes her an exemplary model worthy of admiration of her relatives, in particular her children. This is also one of the reasons that explains the profound and unshakable attachment of all Vietnamese to their mothers. The situation is illustrated by the following two verses found in one of the popular poems:

Em bán đi trả nợ chồng con,
Còn ăn hết nhịn cho hả lòng chồng con!

I do business to pay the debts incurred by my husband and my children.
It doesn't matter if I have nothing to eat, as long as they are satisfied.

Or in another, the following four verses depict not only humor but also tenderness, outstanding patience, even intangible proof of the sacrifice and love the Vietnamese woman always carries for her husband and her children:

Chồng giận thì vợ làm lành,
Miệng cười hớn hở rằng anh giận gì.
Thưa anh, anh giận em chi,
Muốn lấy vợ lẽ em thì lấy cho.

My husband is upset; I would try to calm myself.
Smile on my lips, I would ask what the reason is.
Come on, don't be frustrated any more.
Should you want a concubine, I'll get one for you.

.. the horror of Hanoi's traffic

.. ahh, finally got a nicer shot on the perfect navigation and anti collision traffic system in Vietnam .. enjoy! I caught this on my way back today, and do pardon the jerkiness again. Notice how we dive across a very very busy cross junction during peak hour, and with bikes and cars alike dashing across, sideways, and behind us. We made it through, without a single scratch. Next chance i have, i'm gonna tear a bike apart to see whether there is some kind of high end anti collision system inside .. or perhaps, the secret lies in their helmet .. i do notice that everyone wears the turle shell type of crash helmets .. but our driver is not wearing one, how is this explainable ??

.. i think, and i do seriously mean so, that the secret lies in the horns. The horns acts like a bats ultra sonic system, sending ultra sonic waves to objects and then calculates the distance and size. Vietnamese drivers had evolved in such way that their brain is attuned to processing the horns like a bat, and reacting, channeling this inhuman energy to their vehicle. Soon enough, i am going to learn their secret and drive like them. Imagine me .. going across a busy traffic junction in KL on a Monday morning .. hehehe ..

No wonder, Vietnam is called "The cradle of mankind", it all begins here, and i am glad i am here where it all started ..

.. more bikes !

.. these 2 videos i have taken on my way to work earlier this morning. I am not that sure of the quality viewed on a PC though, as up till this moment i'm still not able to view my own blog. I am not that sure about the sound quality as well, cause i seriously did not have to chance to try it out, uploading straight from my phone.

.. notice how the bikes are everywhere coming at you from all direction, as well as the frequency of beeps and honks. I wonder .. how would a local survive Malaysian roads, if he does what he does when he rides, he'll be chased down and beaten up! One thing i am sure though, local drivers put Malaysian bikers to shame, they have much godly skills navigating and slipping in and out, and not to forget against traffic, without much of causing hurt nor scratches to each another.

.. bikes everywhere !!

.. look at this, the nightmare i have to go through every morning, afternoon, or even night to get to work. They are so skilled bikers, and have this nagivational system that would avoid all obstacles in their way. The bike nearest to me, look at the handle .. i could reach out and pull an arm hair out of his hands !

.. and check out what the auntie, woo .. amazing balancing act, the first lady driver i've seen carrying this much.

.. and this guy made me laugh in the car, having my director doubting i am still drunk, pimped out bike with nitro boosters .. LOL

.. ahh, a picture tells a thousand words. This was taken this morning as well, that guy was first sms'ing, then received a call, and all this while navigating morning rush hour amongst trucks, lorries, cars .. in the background, that is hawker food in Vietnam, everyone squats or is seated in very low chairs to have drinks or food served to them, right next to the busy main road.

.. not sure what to say of this, but the locals here seemed to be able to balance anything on 2 wheels. I missed a picture where they were carrying those 8 feet long zincs for your roof on a modified 2 wheel bicycle. This lady has all sort of brooms, mops, feather dusters, brushes and etc, attached to her bicycle, putting those sundry stores we have in KL to shame. She has everything possible for you to clean a 3 story bunglow, plus the windows, and of course except a ladder which probably is being carried by someone else behind ...

.. till then, i'll keep you visitors entertained with more to come .. cyas

.. is it safe to blog in Vietnam ?

.. only today i figured out on why i could not access my own blog, but still able to publish. Vietnam is blocking access to a majority of free to use blog sites like blogspot and typepad. I am in doubt now, is it safe for me to continue blogging ? Would pictures i put up be controversial enough to land me in trouble ? I am a visitor to a different country, and i didn't realize that such restrictions exists. Dear friends .. please comment ...

.. good morning Vietnam !

.. ahh, my very first morning in Hanoi. Rainy and very cold. I woke up to the sound of motorbikes honking as early as 5 in the morning. I have been trying to snap pictures everywhere i go, in fact been snapping away since my arrival yesterday, but had to do it in such inconspicuous way because i am with my director all the time and want to make myself look like a kampung boy.

.. arriving in Hanoi, was such a culture shock to me that i would not be able to describe and depict everything in this one single post. I don't even know where to start! Guess i'll just put it up in sequence as i experience it .. and do pardon me if the images are not clear, all taken from my trusty phone and shaky hands (also moving vehicles, thats where the most action happen !

.. my arrival in airport, while waiting patiently for my luggage, which finally arrived after 40 minutes, i spot this pack of airport officials queuing up to get out of customs, Vietnamese ladies in their traditional costume, and boy oh boy, salute to the person who had first designed it! Body hugging, and the side slits cut up so high which i think reaches their belly. More of this to come once i get pictures of vietnamese nightlife .. lets move on to my first morning which was really filled with horror during my ride to the office ..

.. as everyone would have heard now, Vietnam is well feared for its traffic. Thousands and thousands of bikes flock the streets, which was really chaotic to me. I've taken this in the morning rush hour today from the car i was in. These bikes we're everywhere, coming at you from all directions, yes even riding up head on towards you, on your lane, and avoiding you at the very last moment. They are even on the pavements !!

.. they have this holy grail of navigation system that i think i would have a lot of difficulties adapting to, even with such chaos, no accidents seemed to ever happen. With their thumbs positioned on the horn, car drivers and bikers alike, just went honkers .. peeet peet, pon ponnk, peet peeeet .. 18 hours a day. They honk you if you're blocking their way, they honk you if you're too slow, they honk you if they wanna change lanes .. they honk at everything !! It was hell trying to cross the roads, but to the locals, it was so easy. They just walked into traffic, step by step, ignoring all bikes around them, and somehow they will survive .. I've even seen one auntie walking diagonally across a very very busy cross junction while juggling a huge basket on her head while sending sms on her phone ... WTF !! I'm sure they would pawn the game Frogger.

.. and look at this, they can carry anything on their bike, everything .. and i think i am gonna start a compilation of pictures just on this alone once i capture enough. I've seen chicken, pigs, tables, air conditioner, eggs (a lot of eggs), chairs .. practically anything that the bike is able to support the weight. Skills beyond imagination, through the hectic and chaotic traffic!

.. i'll have to stop this now, given the short period of time i have in writing this. There is still so much to be shown, yet so little time to put it up. I have not even started on their food, hawker food, their peddlers, .. a lot of other stuffs which i don't think i would have enough time to put it up each day as i experience it. Do check this space again, i would indefinitely keep it updated whenever i have chance and internet connection.

.. ciao

.. goodbye malaysia, Chao Anh(hullo) Vietnam !!

.. this would probably be my last post in Malaysia, i would be leaving Malaysian soil in a few hours, to be in Vietnam as an expatriate. I would definitely be back for my vacation, but i would not know when. This would probably the first time i would be writing this in this manner and tone, not like my previous posts. I feel excited about my trip, but at the same time, in great misery because i would be leaving a country i grew up in, and of course those who are dear to me.

.. I am very sorry to those whom i cannot see within my short 3 weeks of decision and preparation to leave the country. There is just too many too meet and too little time to do so. I promise, for my home trips you will see me. Check out this blog for updates on my schedules (just hoping really badly that i have proper Internet connection there).

.. this would be my very first time leaving the country, in such a drastic and sudden move, that i think would leave many baffled. I have left home before to work in other states in Malaysia for short stints, furthest would be a period of six months in Sabah, but those will not compare to the feelings i have for the "home" i'll be leaving behind now. Many would question why such decision is made, in such short period of time (those who knew the reason, i really appreciate your support as a friend, thank you !!), but to those does not know, think of this as a great opportunity for me to further my career.

.. would like to take this chance to document my appreciation and gratitude to a friend who had hosted me for the past three weeks. I would definitely repay you in kindness of same and even more when i see you in Vietnam after i have settled down in Ho Chi Minh. I take your statement of coming over seriously, and i await the day i have to wait for you in the airport and become your guide and translator around Vietnam. Of course i will not forget those i had dinner with, thank you for turning up and create sweet memories for me, every single one of those i know, is more than welcome to visit me. Do please "ta pao" roti canai for me when you come over ok ..!

.. i would not want to end this post in such a way that it seems that i will not be coming back to Malaysia again .. ever. This post might just sound so monotonous to everyone, but this would be the only place i could document and express my thoughts. This blog would be my window to my friends .. load this space up, and you would have glimpses of my life with Vietnam. I promise, it will be filled with pictures on your next visit, now that i have my own laptop and have more control on what i can store in my harddrive.

.. wish me luck and godspeed everyone, and i shall serve Vietnamese coffee to everyone from this private little window soon enough !