Jun
10
Cruelty of War Lives On..
Filed Under Vietnam | 6 Comments
Even though Vietnam War ended about 30 years ago, but the havoc created by the war is trailing over the children now. Many new-borns are deformed due to the chemical bombing used during the war and the numbers of victims are a huge one.
„The US Airforce used during the war a chemical called Agent Orange which de-foiled the jungle and therefore many Vietnamese soldiers were exposed to this aggressive chemical. The long-term effects are genetic transformations in their children so that they have mental and physical disabilities.“ Extracted from East Eats West~
Some are able to work to support themselves but most need help. It was really sad to hear how the cruelty of war lives on, many, many years after the war has ended.
Some of the lovely artworks by the disabled.
May
21
The Scenic Halong - Part 2
Filed Under Vietnam, travel, holiday, photo | 3 Comments
During the 4 hours boat ride, we stopped twice on the island. This is the first stop :
We stopped by an island with spectacular caves, high ceilings and… well, I didn't listen to the history by the tour guide as I was too busy capturing pictures..
The cave, very beautiful.. better than Gua Tempurung..
We had our lunch on the boat, which was prepared on the boat too! What water was being used to cook? I was a little worried. But it tasted OK and some were nice too since we were hungry..
The sun finally revealed itself after lunch, making the sky so blue and it was lovely! But it was the end of the 4 hours boat trip. Heading back to the mainland..
Upon reaching mainland, we were back on the little bus and headed back to Hanoi on the 4-5 hours journey~!
May
19
The Scenic Halong - Part 1
Filed Under Vietnam, travel, photo | 8 Comments
Halong Bay is indeed one of the prettiest places that I have been to. I mean nature place, apart from Koh Samui, with the white sandy beaches on those lovely island! Man, I am mesmerized, again!
We set out pretty early, around 8-ish in the morning to the jetty with many boats! I simply love the view. I always like jetty full of boats, feel like real holiday and I could forget all my stress and worries. =)
Though the weather was a little gloomy, I still can't help feeling excited like a small kid. I love the sound of the waves and the huge spread of green water gleaming under the sun and the wind blowing against my cheek with my eyes closed. Wonderful!
There are also many mobile sellers on the small boats approaching our boats! They are selling fruits and also seafoods. Most of them have small children with them which are rather a pitiful sight. They grew up on the small boats and their life is practically on the sea. I can't imagine living like that, can you? 
May
16
Poverty..
Filed Under Vietnam, photo, life | 7 Comments
Sometimes I would complaint about my lack of wealth-ness and about life when I have am leading a good life with stable job. I believe a lot of people do that too.
I suppose there are many more people living in poverty and poor living condition that are worse than us.
These pictures taken in Halong Bay, Vietnam remind me how lucky I am to have what I have. They practically live on the boat and sell food to the visitors everyday. How sad.. 
May
13
The FREE Massage~!
Filed Under Vietnam | 10 Comments
"Sun" our tour guide who studied four years in university for Chinese course, suddenly declared that their company was giving us free complimentary foot massage upon reaching Halong town with the 4 hours bus journey. WOOHOO~~!!!
Well, initially I was excited for a massage treat till he sent males to the females massage room! Gosh, I have never been massaged by a male masseur and the thought? … wasn't a lovely one! 7 masseurs was sent into the room to massage all 7 of us, females! >_<
First we soaked our feet into a bowl of herbs (or so I thought) and the masseur worked on our shoulder and back. And I felt abused!!!
He was practically punching and breaking my bones and kneading my flesh like dough. Man, can't he see how petite I was?!? C'mon, gimme a break!
He also wanted us to lay down on his thighs as he massaged our lower back with his knee! I didn't know how the positioning look like till I got up and saw this! *gasp*
After that, he worked on the legs and creep up the thigh every now and then! Freaky! And he was putting too much pressure on my legs that I have to tell him stop for two times. I felt that my whole legs were getting bruised and blue black the very next day (which amazingly didn't happen!).
They asked me in broken English 'how old are you' (that sounds like 'how are you'). I said 'Good'. And they repeated the questions many times and I finally understood them.
The reflexology on my feet was okay though as I didn't feel much pain. I am healthy, eh? 
May
11
Trishaw~
Filed Under Vietnam, photo | 2 Comments
I like this photo a lot~
Taken on the 1 hour trishaw ride for USD5 around the Hanoi city. It’s rather fun although a little scary as you were seated at the front of the trishaw and many motorbike were coming from all direction.
Will they hit me?!?
The answer is no. The trishaw peddler and other motorist are so good in manoeuvring that they could avoid each other at the very last second!
It’s great to see the city without having to walk on your own. (^.^)
May
8
Hanoi, The People & Culture~
Filed Under Vietnam, holiday, photo | 5 Comments
Most of the people in Vietnam work in the agricultural sector and you could see a lot of paddy fields along the way.
According to "Sun", our tour guides, women in Vietnam are very hard working and faithful to their husband. They would do all the hard work and serve their husband well.
Vietnam wives, anyone? (I think only costing around RM20K for a permanent maid that could bear you children and serve you well! Pretty too! Good deal, eh?)
In one occasion, "Sun" said, woman can never say no. Ahhh, I wondered if he really meant it. Try Malaysian woman, they can say louder no than man and nothing makes them to do against their will (or at least me). 
I see a lot of mobile sellers on the street; either on their bicycle or by foot and mostly woman! Their products range from varieties of fruits, household stuffs, clothing, accessories and even bra; which they carry on the two baskets, balancing on their shoulder with a rod.
Another different culture is most Vietnamese like to sit at the "mini stalls" by the roadside with ridiculously small stools! I think they served food and drinks but I didn't have chance to try any of it. According to SlowCatchUpKuan who tried them, some was rather nice.
The tour guide said the stools are small so that they can run faster when the police come after them as it was illegal stalls. There are just too many stalls along the way though. And people likes sit by the roadside either for chit chatting or for a game of chess! So relaxing (and dusty)!
You can see many "mini stalls" at the road side~
May
7
Hanoi City~
Filed Under Vietnam, holiday, photo | 9 Comments
So what's with Hanoi? The country barely achieved their independence less than 30 years. So it is like Malaysian in the seventies I suppose, which I wasn't even born yet!
It is rather mundane town with some old classical buildings, all slim and tall. It was slim as everyone wants a piece of land by the roadside and thus they are given a narrow land but the people could build as high as they want. So many buildings are 3 storeys and above and people do business in front of the house. But it was a pretty sight as if you stepped back into older times.
Our tour guide, known as "Sun" (his given name) told us that there are 3 slim things in Hanoi.
- First is the person, they are mostly slim! It's true! I hardly see any fat people there.
- Second is the building. Slim and tall~ Graceful~!
- Third is their road! Slim but messy with traffics coming from all the direction, full of honking that drives you crazy!
Another thing I noticed is their cables by the roadside! Man, how messy they could be! One electrical pole has so many cables coming out of it and I really wondered how the electricians work on them and how dangerous could it be!
Here is the picture of Hanoi city from my hotel room in the morning (courtesy of kyife) : :
Here is the photo at night from my hotel room (courtesy of kyife) :
B.e.a.u.tiful~!
