.. reality is an illusion that occurs due to lack of alcohol

.. time just breezes through for me in Vietnam, without realizing it, i have already spent 17 days in Saigon, working and exploring my new found life in an alien country. Maybe that is just reality. When you keep your mind distracted, things just float by, without the need for ourselves to have a second thought for it at all. Today, i would provide a peek into the night life of Vietnam. Whatever that i might write below, would strictly be my personal ramblings, and might not be entirely true. There are a lot of restrictions around in this country, and i would try my very best not to cross that.

.. as most of you would have known by now, fags and booze in Vietnam is dirt cheap. The local beers here costs the same as a can of coke, and buying a carton of fags here would be the equivalent of buying a single pack in Singapore. Perhaps, that is why alcohol is so widely abused in this country, leaving that to be the only form of entertainment for the "adult" world here. Membership with gyms and clubs are expensive, as i have learnt as i go around looking for one. These establishments prey on expats like me, as of so many other "posh" setups. I guess, the search continues for me, hoping to get this all sorted out by next week as my muscles is just dying to be stretched again (jogged up and down 9 storeys today !). Regardless the price i need to pay, it has to happen, as i don't fancy going out for alcohol that often.

.. i am not the type that believes relationships could be built through alcohol. How often would conversations be taken seriously when you are in a heightened state of intoxication? But, here is where all havoc breaks loose for me. It seems, almost every business contacts that i meet so far is from a glass of drink! Look at the picture above, 3 bottles of Johnie Walker Black Label lined up nicely, and we managed to finish it in a period of 2 hours, with people whom i never met at all, in a club with loud thumping music and people packed to the brim. Its not even possible to talk to anyone at all, with the thumps and bumps, but somehow i ended up having stacks of name cards with me, and people inviting me for lunch or coffee weeks after that madness.

.. somehow, it seems that this unknown force is keeping everything together, feeding on this illusion that keeps everything so vibrant yet mad from abuse of alcohol. Business relation or friendships could be built or torn apart through alcohol .. somehow, it is still something that baffles me. I just can't seem to understand what fun there is to derive from getting highly intoxicated? It is a common sight here in Vietnam, all nightspots that has alcohol would be filled with locals and expats alike. I am not condemning anyone, everyone has their own way and method of entertainment (but it seems like in Vietnam, a lot more likes alcohol), and definitely it has high potential to built a strong business network.

.. this illusion of reality created by most when they are lack of alcohol, would pull them down so hard, searing off that small part of them that was given freedom everytime they are intoxicated, leaving them yearning more and more of it, thus feeding and nurturing this nocturnal beast that hunts for a prey named alcohol every night.

.. i have not "entertained" anyone for quite sometime now, setting appointments during the wee hours of the morning, for lunch, and afternoon teas. Dinners would mostly be cooked at home, unless i am out with friends. I am mildly surprised, as things still worked out well as i make progress in projects i am concentrated on, albeit a bit slower compared to a night out with lots of alcohol.

.. maybe sometimes, the beast needs to be let out to feed just to keep things interesting if else fails.

.. sometimes, it is just best to treat reality as an illusion.

.. chicken story

( .. time really flies when you do things that you enjoy, but slows down when you do things that you don't enjoy)

.. chicken story, now that is really interesting, in fact i find it so amusing (yet depressing once you know the outcome), that i need to write this down. I've heard this from a friend, and i will try to relate it again as accurately as possible without any deviations from his account. This is a story about a friendship gone sour, and it might sound boring, but from the way i view it, it is indeed amusing and would like comments from visitors.

.. it all started from a chicken, a dead chicken.

.. a few months ago, a group of students of about 200 strong took a flight to UK to complete their Degree. Upon arrival, and of course recovering from the culture shock and jet lag, they settled down in their dorm. It was summer then, and mostly students there are asian. My friend, Kelvin, and one of his close friend, Marcus, both from Penang,are together in this group. It all went well, happily they went on with their lives and studies for the first few weeks, cooking for each another .. living together and sharing their new found experience in a totally new environment.
.. cooking, hmnn .. this is where the chicken comes in. Marcus met Mary, who stays in the same dorm, and Mary had been cooking for the rest since they arrived. They take turns buying grocery and delegation of washing the dishes. One day, Mary bought a chicken at a much lower price, cause it was somehow crushed during transportation or something else .. i don't know, but it was disfigured and looks rotten. The rest got disgusted, and made remarks .. Mary got annoyed .. everyone else stopped talking to her .. except Marcus.
.. Marcus became closer and closer to Mary, spending their time together. Slowly, Marcus withdrawn from the majority, dedicating his full attention to Mary. Kelvin, immediately saw a drastic change in his close friend and knew that he had lost a friend. Of course there are alot of details on these changes, but i would not want to lay them out one by one .. that would definitely bore you to death.

.. so is this called compassionate love ? You take advantage of another at their weakest moment, manipulating that lowest moment of your emotions to turn it into something strong. How long do you think this would last and at what cost do you have to pay ? Losing a friend, losing your social link, withdrawing yourself from everyone else, .. straying. How can we maintain a balance between love and friendship, is it ever possible ? How do you define friendship in this case ..
.. if its lost because of a .. chicken.

( .. names had been changed to protect myself from being beaten up and to protect the identity of the real life friends i know. Any matters pertaining life, injury, heartbreaks, love, or any innocent mosquitoes that got killed in the process of writing this .. does not concern me, i am a story teller, please treat this as crap if you think you do not like it )