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Day #2 at Halong Bay/Hanoi, Part 1

It is interesting that the houses and shops at Hanoi are built so closely to each other and so narrowly. I wonder how they can feel comfortable! I mean, I am used to having a lot of horizontal space but vertical?



We were constantly afraid of eating dog meat or the likes of pig brains and stuck firmly to those we could identify. Anything suspicious is a big NO NO. God I saw 4 or 5 slimey brain matter (I believe it belongs to 4 or 5 unfortunate pigs) lying happily on a plate waiting to be cooked. Do the hawkers split it in portions or cook as a whole? Oh my god. The people there looks just a tiny bit too comfortable about it!

Hoan Kiem lake at night is lovely. Soothing. Calm. Romantic. Never mind the fat rats that scurry about crazily.

Here's what it looks like in the day.



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Ok fine. Day 2 at Hanoi. Blasted Handphone alarm. =( I am so not done with sleeping yet!! Hanoi time: 6.45am

Time for breakfast. Shuttle bus that brings us to Halong Bay will arrive at 8am.

The floor was freaking cold. USD 25 didn’t allow for bathroom mats. I did what I always do. I let the tap run with hot water to heat the room up.

Well, the only thing is, I forgot the simple fact that hot water could run out. Uh. Stupid me. I had to shower in water that must have been 15 degrees. T_T I remember fondly of a similar experience in Rome where my travel partner cursed me vehemently for what I did. :P Poor Roman, my current room mate, he probably showered shivering. =/

OOOOOOO Breakfast! It wasn’t a buffet but it was filling! I finally met Manager Trung and he is so nice! =) We had chicken Pho, baguettes (Super soft and crispy), coffee and omelettes. I wanted a sunny side up and the guy didn’t understand me. My other travelling companions nagged me to order something simpler like omelette but I was determined. I thought for awhile and came up with “Fried Egg”. He got it immediately! I thought that was rather clever of me :P

I tried on the new earrings I bought at Dong Xuan Night Market the day before and I’m mighty pleased with them. Korean style one wor! 75,000 Dong for 2 pairs – too damn expensive if you ask me.

Gah! Bad hair day.


Our shuttle bus to Halong Port arrived! I saw the bus, I got to say it looks like we’re in for a great 3D2N Halong Bay trip! There were too many horror stories about tourists packed like sardines in small, uncomfortable buses but nope, we were okay! We were on a 15 man tour and our guide, Duc, spoke decent English and was quite friendly and professional.

The ride to Halong takes 3 hours. Omg. On the way we passed by acres and acres of paddy fields. Always a pleasure to see them rice growing so happily.

Do cows eat ALL grass? ANY grass? I just passed a cow and he didn’t look too choosey about his lunch! Oh yea and cows that lie to rest are so endearing. Funny how I never saw one doing that before.

There were 3 Iranians, 2 Germans, 2 French, 4 Australians and Us 4 (2 Singaporeans and 2 Malaysians) on the tour. Interesting mix though I am quite disappointed there aren’t any young people onboard looking like they are wild. Ah well. Looks can be deceiving.



ALS is a pig. How can he sleep after a cup of coffee?? Nvm the fact that I'm biased against all regular coffee drinkers since 1 drop is all it takes to make me spring off walls.


ALS kept leaning my way! Hence, the shot. Courtesy of Kerk.

Here I was, blogging, the traditional way. :P

The water buffalos that help plow the paddy fields look so bored. I do wish to give them a little pat.

Oh yes, Hanoi Vodka. Shit. Only 40,000 dong!!! That, along with 2 1.5L bottles of water (10,000 dong) were smuggled onto our junk. :P

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After what seemed like eternity, we were finally at Halong Port. We were greeted with a massive crowd of junk boats. We see nothing of these in Singapore or Malaysia but here, gosh. What an eyeful!



Our shuttle boat came to send us to our junk. The crew had uniforms on! That surely is a sign I didn't get conned right?

Awww, our junk has a beautiful sundeck. :) I am so looking forward to seeing my room!



Kerk insisted we draw lots (AGAIN) to decide who sleeps with whom. And YES, I DID NOT get ALS! Yippeee!!



I can't say how much I loved the rooms. It was small but it wasn't cramped. It was very homely. Very cozy. I can't wait for the night to snuggle under the really comfy covers!



We were served lunch immediately. It was quite a sumptous Vietnamese meal. Rice always came last. I have no idea why.



Look at our yummy food!


The deep fried fish is damn nice lor. It looks like fried sotong legs in the picture above.

You know what they say about talking on the phone while driving.


This guy is carefree.



If only it would stop raining!



Look at how Kerk looks. Definitely nothing like the web designer he is and every bit a fisherman who didn't quite catch a fish.

Off we go! Itinerary for the day is a visit to the "Amazing Cave" (a name definitely designed for puns), Titop Island and then dinner before anchoring for the night.

Another post for another day. :)

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Posted by Ju Ann at Sunday, April 26, 2009
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Reviving my interest in knitting



Mom you'll be proud of me! I found the other stupid knitting stick and am determined to knit a scarf instead of a really long cloth now!

I'll make you one too. And for JL too. And Popo too. Eventually. I just need to get my rhythm. 

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Posted by Ju Ann at Thursday, April 16, 2009
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Joke of the Day

Me to someone: Hey, you know for this project, I gave you some materials to work with right? Like the CDs... Can you please pass it to me? I need to return it to the owner.

Someone to me: Er, what type of material? I only have some videos in CD?

This is bloody funny when you are so damn pressed for time and this joker comes along and stuns you with this joke. Problem is? It's not a joke. At least not to someone! HAHAHAHA

Frustratingly hilarious.

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Posted by Ju Ann at Wednesday, April 15, 2009
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Reversed Seats for the Privileged?

Kiss my ass.

Before I begin my rant, I do want to tell you that I do consider myself a considerate person, one who cares for the elderly, handicapped, pregnant, those with small kids and those with nonsense for kids on the MRT. I do give my seat to them if I deem that they need the seat more than I do. Subjective. 

What I do not do (when I am seated at the normal seat - not priority seat), is to look out for people who needs these seats more than I do. If I see, I get up. If I don't, then too bad, hey I paid for my fare just as you and the other person next to me did and I'm not going to make it my business to look out for you. Selfish? Again, subjective.

Anyway what happened yesterday on the MRT made me so pissed!

So there I was with 2 bags. 1 bag saggy under the weight of a laptop and the other is my handbag. I found a seat - to my delight and dismay. It was the priority seat that SMRT "says" is for people who fit into the four illustrations:



I hate sitting on the priority seat. Makes me feel as if I should keep a constant lookout for these "privileged" people. 

Anyway I got up, and I was reading these notes from work. Just a quick glance. I was just cursing myself at forgetting to bring my novel or knitting to pass my time. So it was just a quick glance. 

I noticed the lady beside me getting up. It just felt weird that she should be getting up at that moment so I looked up abit. I saw this 50 year old woman in red (black hair, fairly wrinkled face, with sports shoes on) and since I figure the girl beside me is getting up to give her the seat, I don't have to. So I look down at my notes for a moment more before I hear this woman talking loudly. 

I looked up again to realise that she seemed to be calling for someone from the OTHER end of the carriage to sit at the empty seat beside me. Well, fine I thought. Just as well, since she doesn't really look like she NEEDS a seat. 

This old man came wobbling over and I thought ooo... now he deserves a seat. Then I notice this woman kept looking over my head and I realised that oh, maybe she wants a seat. Oh alright, I could give it to her. Then as I was packing up my things to get up (notes remember?) to give her the seat, she said, "Excuse me if you don't mind..." and points at the stupid SMRT "priority seat sign" above me. 

And did I want to shoot her a retort and start an arguement?

No. I did not. That illustrates exquisite restraint on my part. 

I just got up and she just sat down, WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A THANK YOU.

1) She fucking EXPECTED it for herself.
2) Who needs a seat is subjective. And in this case, even though I really didn't think she needed one, I was going to let her sit.
3) Wtf? No thank you? No smile? Nothing?!
4) Excuse me if I don't mind? Yea I don't mind giving my seat to you, and I was going to anyway, but your attitude sucks big time. 

I hate people like this. REALLY hate them. 

By them I mean people who EXPECT seats to be given to them. People who are ungrateful. Singapore has become a nation of people who follow the rules so closely that there is no grace anymore. Nothing comes from the heart. Everything comes from the government and the rules they make.

That's not to say I have met people who refuse to be given a seat, people who thank others profusely, you know? The bits of this and that that makes the world better. The thank yous, the please, the smiles, the graciousness. 

Eh hell lah, this woman and this old man came from the OTHER end of the carriage - where there's another "priority" seat. So why the hell did they have to cross the bloody crowded cabin and terrorize me?

And when as I stood and looked down at this woman who sat without a thanks, did I even say anything or send vicious darts over? No, I did not. This, in my mind, is another illustration of control in heroic proportions. 

I am NOT saying that asking for a seat from the one in the privileged seat is wrong. But at very least, have a bit of courtesy in you to say thank you. And be prepared for the occupier to suddenly reveal a sprained ankle or something to you. Well it could happen!

AND don't expect an immediate offer of seat if the occupier is doing something! Like, me for instance, if you are not intuitive enough to see that I am packing my stuff to get up, hell, you shouldn't even be allowed out into society! I maintain, I WAS GOING TO GET OUT when she "demanded" a seat and sat without a thanks.

Bitch.

Bitch Bitch.

Damn this rant is not enough.


Subjective sign

If SMRT puts up subjective signs for a country made up of a whole bunch of inconsiderate people to read, I suppose I get inconsiderate idiots who are determined to interpret it the worst way possible and idiots who expected themselves to benefit from it.

And don't bother even telling me how the seat is to be vacant till someone deserving of it comes along. People here are just not ready for this.

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Posted by Ju Ann at Tuesday, April 14, 2009
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Woah or Roe?

Here's something interesting to share. 

That day, this guy irritated me so much that I couldn't resist no longer and chopped off his...


Faster, tell me did I do a good chop a not!


Check out my sharp chef knife beside the "thing"!


As you can see I am quite pleased with it and took another angle.



Heard of (in cantonese) this saying?

Zhin Jor Ngei Gaye Pee Pee, Zin Bei Ngei Sek.
(For those of you who don't get Cantonese, it means, "Cut off your pee pee, fry and present it to pee pee owner for consumption - to be used and executed excessively on men who cheat, to be threatened to men who don't.)

Wahahahahaha!

My friend said it was delicious leh! 

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Ok lah, I shall kid you no longer. Gonne be a damper now.

I hate to disappoint and say it's not what you think it is.

It's just a very big (and gross looking) piece of fish roe. From a sea bass. 

Tagged as: 4 comments
Posted by Ju Ann at Tuesday, April 07, 2009
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If it's not this, it's that

When I know how 2 bloody weekends managed to slip by me, I will tell you.


Gosh. Do you know how many things I have pending in my life?!

1. New blog template with new header
2. Post about Europe Trip (oh god, yes, there's more that I fail to tell)
3. Post about Hanoi Trip
4. Sort out my mp3 files and delete the duplicated ones
5. Rent a flea market stall and sell my 3 bags of wool of clothes
6. Fast forward the stupid, DAMNED, unexplained, unreasonable, uncalled for delay in receiving my degree certificate
7. Go for more yoga marathons (ok lah, only 2-3 max classes in a day)
8. Get myself a free makeover by purchasing too expensive cosmetics
9. Laze around in bed and feel bored for 1 day thankyouverymuch
10. Pack my bag and go round the world.

Sigh.

And that's just the ten things off the top of my head! I have more I can't recall as I am still frustrated with my lack of time.

Oh but but on the bright side, I am in the midst of booking my trip to Hong Kong - Shen Zhen - Macau - Zhu Hai!

Yippee Yai Yai Yippee Yippee Yai, la la la la ok stop it Ju Ann. 

Right, where we were? Yes, the TRIP! So happy! At least I have something to look forward to now. Good news? Tiger (yes don't talk about it. I have sworn never to take them again but they came out with cheap tickets to Macau leh!) Airways' tickets from SG to Macau are only at an unbelievable SGD 190-200 NETT two-way!!!!

My mom must hurry with her mind! I am SO GOING!! :D

Omg yes...

11. I need to start planning for my US/Eygpt/Europe trip again soon!! 

I do want to go!! I hope the air tickets remain cheap while I stupidly figure my way out of this nonsensical chinese need to work like a dog and scrimp like a hamster and keep to the well-travelled ways of those before, and around us. 

Ok - back to working at breaking the norms - 

Tagged as: 2 comments
Posted by Ju Ann at Monday, April 06, 2009
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