Phuong's passport now has a stamp from another country. We went to Thailand for five days and it was a whirlwind trip to the say the least.
We did the following in a very short time: rode a bus everywhere; saw a food/dance/comedy show called Nanta; ate bland, mediocre international buffets; saw a tiger show; saw a snake show; ate bland, mediocre international buffets; rode a bus everywhere; went from Bangkok to Pattaya; took a boat ride to a small island and went swimming (actually, I taught Phuong how to swim); went to a sheep petting farm; saw a laser etching of the king's son on the side of a big rock; tried to see the queen; went to a wretched alligator skin store crawling with Chinese tourists; went to a silly 3-D museum; ate lots of exotic fruit; rode an elephant; saw a transexual international cultural show that was awesome; went shopping in Bangkok; got a massage in our hotel room; and ate marvelous Thai street food.
The highlights: street food; transexual international cultural show; the beach and water.
The lowlights: the bus rides; international buffets; alligator store with Chinese tourists; the bus rides and international buffets.
Bangkok is a very modern city. It's packed with freeways and cars, and they ride on the wrong side (the left side) of the road. There aren't nearly as many motorbikes in Thailand as there are in Vietnam. Downtown Bangkok is full of skyscrapers, street food, cars, incense, statues and people. Pattaya is a beach town (more like a city) about three hours by bus from Bangkok. It's a little more laid-back and a little less congested than Bangkok. We took a bouncy boat ride to an island near Pattaya
and went swimming. The salt water was very clear, and we had a nice
time. Should have stayed longer, but we got back on the bus.
I like ladies, and boys are OK when they're my students and they behave
well. But the blend of ladies and boys isn't my cup of papaya juice.
There were many, many lady-boys in Thailand. Either that, or a lot of
the pretty girls have Adam's apples and stubble. To each their own, of
course, and it's no skin off my butt. Actually, the transexual cultural
show we saw had lots of singing, dancing and extravagant costumes, and it was one of our favorite parts of the trip. So there.
The people in Thailand are very nice and polite. Everyone smiles and bows their heads when they greet you. We went with a tour group of Vietnamese folk, and other than cutting in line and reaching across my face at the international buffets, they were quite nice. One lady in particular was helpful, offering mouthwash to Phuong, who threw up every time we rode the bus the first two days. Phuong had a rough start to the trip, but once we discovered motion sickness pills, she was fine. Phuong found a great outdoor restaurant our last night in Bangkok with spectacular (and spicy) food. By the way, Phuong is an awesome travel companion, and she looks hot in a bathing suit.
I'd certainly recommend a visit to Thailand, and I'd definitely recommend the food, if you can handle the spice. I'd also advise you to avoid international buffets, unnecessary bus rides, and beautiful women with stubble and Adam's apples (unless that's your thing -- to each their own). Thailand gets a thumbs-up, but honestly, it's great to be back in Vietnam, where Tet holiday is in full swing and we were greeted by two scorpions in our living room. There really is no place like home.
Note: I spell transexual with one "s" because internet research informed me that transexuals prefer this spelling to "transsexual." What the hell do I know?
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
The rat returns and other issues
Phuong and I were sitting in our kitchen talking two nights ago when a rat slithered under our outside door and into our porch off the kitchen. I didn't see it because I was flapping my jaw as usual, but Phuong spotted it. Phuong got real nervous, saying she can't stand rats. I'm a coward and was ready to stand on a chair. So Phuong opens the back door, grabs a broom, goes onto the porch and starts flogging the rat with the broom. The rat scooted out the open door. Today, Phuong showed me an apple she left out in our kitchen to ripen, and it was half-eaten. You could see the rat's teeth marks where the apple had been chewed. At Phuong's request, her brother is going block the openings in our kitchen and outside doors by screwing strips of metal onto them. Whew, I'm glad I handled that situation so well.
I had to give up my daily walks. People kept hassling me. Some guys would whistle at me (must be my tight shorts), others would yell "Hey you! hey you!" and a lot of teenagers would say the exaggerated and obnoxious "Helllloooo!" to me. Adding insult to insult was the fact that two places I frequented to buy flowers and nuoc mia tried to rip me off, charging me twice the going rate of what they charged me before. And these are people that see me three or four times a week. Now that's smart, customer-centric business. And one woman wouldn't give me my money back when I refused to pay her higher prices. I actually had to snatch my cash from her wrinkly paws. And finally, one teen on a motorbike nearly ran me over, going out of his way to brush past me, shouting "excuuuse meeee, excuuuse meeee." I was going to give him a forearm to the head and knock him off his bike, but there was a teenage girl on the back of his bike. She apparently admired his behavior, because she was laughing and pointing at me the whole time. Maybe I'm crazy, but I think the boy was showing off for the girl. I guess it doesn't matter. Long story short ... the walk is finished ... forever. Oh, and I took my walks between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Must be a dangerous time to walk here.
Phuong and I are heading to Thailand on Sunday. Can't wait. Even bought some sun block.
Our tennis matches are getting more heated, and it isn't just the weather. Our time expired with the set tied at 5-5 the other day. And there's lots of running now because the points last longer. Fun stuff, even at 7 a.m. After tennis, we grab a coffee by the river. It's quite pleasant. In fact, I never get hassled when I'm with Phuong. Some guys may gawk at her, but everyone has been respectful. When the White Monkey is alone, it's a different story.
Classes are going well, especially the kids' classes. Students are focused more on tet than English, which I totally understand. Just like December in the U.S.
I'm cutting back on my teaching hours, which seemed to please the school, and probably the students as well. I want to spend more time with Phuong.
One last note: This is my 100th blog entry. Maybe I'll celebrate by taking a walk. Nah, bad idea.
I had to give up my daily walks. People kept hassling me. Some guys would whistle at me (must be my tight shorts), others would yell "Hey you! hey you!" and a lot of teenagers would say the exaggerated and obnoxious "Helllloooo!" to me. Adding insult to insult was the fact that two places I frequented to buy flowers and nuoc mia tried to rip me off, charging me twice the going rate of what they charged me before. And these are people that see me three or four times a week. Now that's smart, customer-centric business. And one woman wouldn't give me my money back when I refused to pay her higher prices. I actually had to snatch my cash from her wrinkly paws. And finally, one teen on a motorbike nearly ran me over, going out of his way to brush past me, shouting "excuuuse meeee, excuuuse meeee." I was going to give him a forearm to the head and knock him off his bike, but there was a teenage girl on the back of his bike. She apparently admired his behavior, because she was laughing and pointing at me the whole time. Maybe I'm crazy, but I think the boy was showing off for the girl. I guess it doesn't matter. Long story short ... the walk is finished ... forever. Oh, and I took my walks between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Must be a dangerous time to walk here.
Phuong and I are heading to Thailand on Sunday. Can't wait. Even bought some sun block.
Our tennis matches are getting more heated, and it isn't just the weather. Our time expired with the set tied at 5-5 the other day. And there's lots of running now because the points last longer. Fun stuff, even at 7 a.m. After tennis, we grab a coffee by the river. It's quite pleasant. In fact, I never get hassled when I'm with Phuong. Some guys may gawk at her, but everyone has been respectful. When the White Monkey is alone, it's a different story.
Classes are going well, especially the kids' classes. Students are focused more on tet than English, which I totally understand. Just like December in the U.S.
I'm cutting back on my teaching hours, which seemed to please the school, and probably the students as well. I want to spend more time with Phuong.
One last note: This is my 100th blog entry. Maybe I'll celebrate by taking a walk. Nah, bad idea.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Rejected, but it's not over yet
Phuong applied for a tourist visa to the USA so she could come there with me in June when I get some work done on my left eye. She had an interview at the embassy in Ho Chi Minh City and was rejected after two questions: Where's your job contract? Where's your bank statements? Of course, she has no job contract because she's self-employed and we didn't know to bring her bank statements. Interview over -- game, set and match. We can apply again, which we will with hopefully more positive results.
Tet holiday is coming Feb. 19 or so, and everyone here is getting wound up. Lots of absences from class, crazy bike riding (as always) and big crowds everywhere. Prices also rise near Tet. And there's still some time before the big holiday. Brilliantly, Phuong and I are going to Thailand for five days leading up to Tet, so we'll miss the real insanity. We're going to Bangkok and Pattaya beach, so we're pretty stoked about the whole thing.
We're still playing tennis three or four times a week, and I'm devastated to report she has beaten me a couple of times. The sun was in my eyes one time, and I drank too much coffee the other time, but I'm not one to make excuses. Actually, I tell Phuong I hate her because she's gotten quite good in a really short time. She understands, but doesn't care and competes really hard. Oh, and I didn't agree with a couple of her calls on shots that I hit. I'm sure they painted the line, and as everyone knows, my eyesight is amazing.
Some nights I teach at two different locations, and the bike ride is quite the thrill. But after almost two years here, I understand the etiquette. People can cut in front of you, pull out on you, and never use their turn signals. They can stop for no reason, run red lights, ride on the sidewalks, and generally put your life in jeopardy at every intersection. But here's the catch, or etiquette. You can do the same stuff, and no one really squawks. I've pulled some really stupid stunts on the bike, and the other drivers didn't flinch. Rules of the road, I guess.
Phuong and I no longer get the creepy looks when we're out together. I think people are used to seeing us together all the time, so the novelty has worn off. The only place that's a drag for me is COOP Mart, where teenagers say really silly "Hellos" to me, people stare at me, everyone cuts in line or bangs into me, and the workers there ignore everything I try to say in Vietnamese. I very rarely go there, obviously, but it's the only place that sells this soap I really like, so when I do go I'll buy every bar in the store.
We've had a stretch of really nice weather here, but the heat is just around the corner. But mornings are very nice, and the 6:30 a.m. bike ride to tennis can actually be, dare I say it, chilly.
Miss my family and friends in the USA, but life here with Phuong is fantastic, so no real complaints.
Tet holiday is coming Feb. 19 or so, and everyone here is getting wound up. Lots of absences from class, crazy bike riding (as always) and big crowds everywhere. Prices also rise near Tet. And there's still some time before the big holiday. Brilliantly, Phuong and I are going to Thailand for five days leading up to Tet, so we'll miss the real insanity. We're going to Bangkok and Pattaya beach, so we're pretty stoked about the whole thing.
We're still playing tennis three or four times a week, and I'm devastated to report she has beaten me a couple of times. The sun was in my eyes one time, and I drank too much coffee the other time, but I'm not one to make excuses. Actually, I tell Phuong I hate her because she's gotten quite good in a really short time. She understands, but doesn't care and competes really hard. Oh, and I didn't agree with a couple of her calls on shots that I hit. I'm sure they painted the line, and as everyone knows, my eyesight is amazing.
Some nights I teach at two different locations, and the bike ride is quite the thrill. But after almost two years here, I understand the etiquette. People can cut in front of you, pull out on you, and never use their turn signals. They can stop for no reason, run red lights, ride on the sidewalks, and generally put your life in jeopardy at every intersection. But here's the catch, or etiquette. You can do the same stuff, and no one really squawks. I've pulled some really stupid stunts on the bike, and the other drivers didn't flinch. Rules of the road, I guess.
Phuong and I no longer get the creepy looks when we're out together. I think people are used to seeing us together all the time, so the novelty has worn off. The only place that's a drag for me is COOP Mart, where teenagers say really silly "Hellos" to me, people stare at me, everyone cuts in line or bangs into me, and the workers there ignore everything I try to say in Vietnamese. I very rarely go there, obviously, but it's the only place that sells this soap I really like, so when I do go I'll buy every bar in the store.
We've had a stretch of really nice weather here, but the heat is just around the corner. But mornings are very nice, and the 6:30 a.m. bike ride to tennis can actually be, dare I say it, chilly.
Miss my family and friends in the USA, but life here with Phuong is fantastic, so no real complaints.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)