The Hanoi trip Pt 1

I went for a backpack trip to Hanoi last weekend, it was short but really pleasant. When the wave of the hot air engulfed me the moment i stepped down from the plane embracing my home land again, the first thought that running through my mind was "sigh... i am back to the 30 degrees days again!". Back in the world of reality after being away for three days in a foreign land had really make my brain and my pace running slower, without my usual pre-planned and packed itinerary, i am sort of losing the track of time and it felt like the earth is rotating slower or even spinning in a totally different axis in Vietnam. For a second it makes me wonder whether did the weekend getaway really happened or it was just a dream.

Hallo Vietnam!!

Hanoi welcomed me with 18 degrees day the morning I reached the city, despite the pleasant chillness and the morning breeze, the tranquility of the morning was mixed with dust and endless honking sound. To be frank, the journey started and ended exactly with the honking sound. It’s such an annoyance that the drivers honked anytime and anywhere for no reason. I swear that even in the middle of night I can still heard someone honking on the street. Anyway, back to the first day morning. It was early, 8:30 am, but already i can see the amount of the vehicles lurking on the main road, motorbikes, bicycles, cyclos, taxis, and buses, rooming and honking their way through.Its pretty much unorganized and messy. However despite of how unorganized it was, at the same time, everything seems to fall in its places.

I am totally impressed with the Honoian women walking around the busy traffic with 10 kgs of goods in basket on both side, balanced deftly on a bambo lifter across their thin shoulders, with much ease. Now and then you can also see some motorcyclist stopped by the road side buying the freshly baked bread from the old ladies. The charm and the touch of the locals reminds me of those P Ramli's monochromatic movie of the olden days.

Anyway, that’s my first impression of the city.

In order to feel and experience the Hanoian life, I’ve decided to have my 3 days 3 night stays in the old quarters, beside the famous Ho Kiem Lake which is exactly in the middle of the heart of the city. I am very much against 5 star hotel and pre arranged city tour package, its not that i 'm defying myself from luxurious enjoyment, back packing has always been my preferences since I’ve first started my back packing journey to London 4 years back. To have the local experience is what makes the whole trip different, to eat what the local eat and to see what the local see. Yes, the budget hotel and the downtown street can be dirty, and yes, its El stinko, however, if i want to be pampered and enjoy the queen like service, i might as well checked myself into the Hilton in KL Central instead of coming all the way to Hanoi.

The City is a paradox.

The aftermath of French colonisation can be felt clearly in Hanoi. Being in the east and having influence from the west have made the city enjoy the best out of both. Artistic building in French Quarters makes you feel like in Paris, but 15 minutes away, you will also get the Old Quarters which was similar to Malaysia very own Petaling street. On one side of the road you will see the greenest and widest Paddy field that you have ever seen, and the other side, rows and rows of CANON/Panasonic factories are poisoning the view. Am enjoying the asean authentic cruisine a.k.a street food-pho (beef noodle) for lunch, and wine and dine in the finest French like restaurant at night.

Old quarterFrench quarter

Anyway this is just the opening to my series of flashbacks on Hanoi trip. All the photos above is courtesy of Google image. Am still waiting for my mate to transfer all the photos to me, once its done, i'll be back with a more visual description of my Hanoi moments.

Jason Mraz in the house

It was a total blast last night, Jason Mraz was in the house and gosh, he rocked the entire KL! Peter and I went to stadium Negara for the long awaited concert and he didn't fail us at all! He pulled a good show and the only flaw is that its too short! The show lasted for 1 and half hours, and throughout the whole period my senses was bombarded with euphoria of colors from the stage lightnings and melodies from trumpets, saxaphone, guitars, percussions etc.

Accompanied by his critically acclaimed live band which includes the very 'famous' percussionist Toca Revera (yes THE Toca!), Jason Mraz was stunning on the stage. I have to admit that his showman ship was perfect and he really had it all, the humor, the talent, the character, the skill etc. I have my goosebumps all over when thousands of audience sang in one voice when it comes to the chorus of "The remedy"

"I..... won't worry my life away.
I..... won't worry my life away"

Am totally blown away....

Before the concert started

During the concert

Anyway, Peter is a big fan of Jason Mraz since a good 5 years ago when he is still an unknown artist who sang in the pubs more frequent than getting his songs played over the radio. I'm very much influenced by him. In fact, Jason Mraz's catchy melody and reggae pop beat had very much accompanied us throughout our 4 years of coupling journey. Its awesome to finally see the Person in real singing in an actual concert.

Peter and I in Jason Mraz Concert!
(Dorcas, here comes the picture of us as promised)

P/s: Anyway, cut my hair, surprise? this is before and after... (ignore my bloated cheeks)

Reminiscence of the past... wedding

This is a regugitated entry on my sister's wedding.

I havent meet my sister since her wedding in last November, 2008. Her absence is quite unusual especially for this year chinese new year holiday, as we've have always celebrated the festival together as a family for the past 25 years of my life. Well, i guess its very much a chinese tradition for the daughter in law to stay with the husband family during the such festive season. For some reason, our home seemed to be more quiet and to some extent less homey without her presence. I've even started to miss her endless grumbling and the occasionally shouting.

Anyway, i still have this warm feeling in my chest everytime i look at the photos taken by Elvis, he is really a fabulous photographer as he captured the "moments" so perfectly and the photos really tell the story much better than thousands of my words.

I slept with my sister in their wedding suite the night before the wedding, and no i didnt trash the hotel room and i've even make the bed for the newly wed birds. Its 5 am in the morning of the wedding day and this is the picture taken before the make up session (my sister gonna kill me if she know i've uploaded this photo). I guess we are still very much relaxed watching CNN news while waiting for the make up artist preparing with all her tools. And yes i am munching and eating muffins early in the morning. shame on me.

The make up tools, i wonder what is the spoon like thing for??

Then my mom and dad arrived, and she was nagging at me for not putting up my dress yet, and its still 6am!! Anyway, Elvin steal a shot on us when i am 'dressing', hehehe.

My sister admiring her newly done hairdo..

Finally after all the dressing and make up, me mom and dad put on the white vail for my sister

As usual, there was a session whereby the sisters gang of the bride played all sort of pranks to the groom and his die-hard brother team, such as forcing them to drink from the kid's milk bottle, eating bannana, munching chillies etc. And finally after overcame all the obstacles, the man of the day was able to come into the room to receive the bride.

And see how happy my sister was to see that her knight appeared in shining armor.

And yes, all the sisters gang were smiling brightly and satisfied with big fat ang pow in their hand and alas a lala pose to end the whole Bride-receiving ceremony.