First Time in VIETNAM!

     Okay so this post is way overdue, 1 month and two days to be exact so do you see where I'm coming from? I have very chronic procrastination issues and it's very hard for me to get going but once I start off, I am fine. But to get started is the hardest part... help me.

     So I went to Ho Chi Minh City on the 11/1 - 16/1. This trip is a very important milestone in my life because this was my first solo overseas trip that my parents ever allowed me to do so I was very excited !!! It's not exactly solo because I traveled with a buddy there but still! Why HCMC ? Because my dad ruled out Cambodia as a poor 4th world country with nothing to offer and also because landmines (what??? dad's logic). And also because it was pretty cheap to fly there from KL as well, my return flight tickets were only RM315. 

DAY 1

     My flight took off at about 12pm local time, and I arrived at Tan Son Nhat Airport at about 3. So from there I took bus no. 152 to Ben Thanh Market, where Pham Ngu Lao was. I have no idea what to expect; I didn't know my stop and I didn't really know how to get there from the stop either but fortunately, there was a fellow Malaysian with me who was heading to the same place so at least we were somewhat fucked together. And then we met a Vietnamese tour guide who was more than willing to help us with directions; and that was my first of the many friendly encounters with the locals.

     I managed to find the hostel I was staying at, it was hidden inside a restaurant called Punjabi. I got there and waited for my travel buddy who was supposed to arrive at about the same time as me to check in, because he made the booking and it was under his name. Tick tock. 5 minutes passed. 10. 20. 30. 45. Finally the very nice lady allowed me to check in under his name probably because she was sick of looking at my face because I've been sitting in front of her for almost an hour. About an hour later after the hour, I FINALLY heard from him. So many things were running through my mind, like did he step on a landmine and die? Did the bus run over a landmine and explode? Did the landmine die ??? Okay the last one doesn't make sense but still. Well, it turned out that he had food poisoning. Food poisoning is like the worst way to die because you simultaneously shit and vomit out of both holes at the same time, so I completely understood his plight. 

     So, since I didn't want to get food poisoning on my first day here either, I chose to eat pasta. Yes. Pasta in Vietnam. Don't question it please.

     Did I mention that I survived crossing the roads here? The traffic here is so insane, my first thought when I had to cross the road for the first time was "fuck this fuck that fuckity fuck me". Apparently you don't wait for the road to clear up because it never will, so what you do is just go ahead and cross and the traffic will flow around you, just as long as you don't chicken out. I tested it and it was like magic - the traffic just goes around you so if you want to commit suicide here it's gonna be really tough. 

DAY 2

     So I went out for some Vietnamese food in the morning (finally!) and it was really good, no lie. My love for cha gio will never die.

     And then I walked into this little cafe and I had my first taste of cute Vietnamese boys. I forgot the name of the cafe cause I was obviously distracted by the waiters. Oh wait... I just noticed that the cafe name is right there in the picture. 

 

     So, since I didn't feel like getting mugged in the streets, I went back for a nap and SURPRISE I wasn't a solo traveller anymore! My travel buddy finally showed up (about time he did) and I was so happy/ relieved because a part of me was 100% convinced that I was going to be left here alone. 

     I was equally as surprised to see that coke in a glass bottle still exists??? I remember drinking these kinda coke back in my mom's hometown in the rubber estate, Bahau when I was 5. And at that moment I was so tempted to smuggle one home for old time's sake.

DAY 3

     Day 3 was Chinatown Day and I had a culture shock in the bus on the way there. If I've ever drove you around, you'd know that I absolutely cannot lay my hands off the honk and based on the incessant honking 24/7, I thought I'd feel right at home. Wrong. I swear the bus driver honks at anything, everything, and NOTHING. The road was straight with nothing in front of you, WHY ARE YOU HONKING??? 

Obviously we got lost because I wanted to go to Chinatown but I have absolutely no sense of direction. Basically it was just a huge market everywhere.

     Well to be honest it was my fault because I dragged us there, so after wandering aimlessly forever his rationale was to have coffee and we did! One thing I noticed with the drinks served there is that it is usually accompanied with a glass of tea. Very fragrant tea, tasted like Jasmine but not exactly that. So in that little coffee shop there are tiny stools for you to sit on that allows you to watch people, and they have tiny coffee tables as well and it was like a little coffee place made for adults. 

     So instead of taking the bus back we walked back because I said the words "If you can do it I can do it" or something along those lines. I said it because he had a huge hole in his knee from a fall and he wanted to walk, so I figured since I did not have a hole in my knee I should be fine walking back. Trust me when I say the hole is huge. Plus, it didn't seem too far from the bus journey there so why not? 

     Not even halfway into the journey I realised what a grave mistake I have made. He kept marching on non stop while I was getting slower by the pace, heavier by the steps. The weather didn't help either cause I'm pretty sure it could have well been 40 deg Celcius at that time because I honestly felt like my body cells were slowly shutting down. Not even halfway into the journey and I've already started asking "are we there yet?". Not even halfway into the journey and I've already wanted to just sleep on the streets for the night. 

     FINALLY we made it back and I just collapsed on the bed. It wasn't until later that we went out for food, and naturally I inclined towards a bowl of pho and it was the only bowl of pho that has ever made me wish for death. Here is the pho in question. 

     The moment I ate it, I felt that something was wrong. No, nothing is wrong with the food because it was piping hot. Well, even before I ate it I felt a little unwell, so I attributed it to being unwell. WRONG AGAIN. I ate about what? 7 spoonfuls? before I decided to waste the whole bowl. On the way back I felt like my stomach was revolting against me. A World War 3 erupted in my digestive tract and food was coming out from everywhere. Remember that R rated description I gave you about food poisoning above? It happened to me. FIVE times. And he had to clean my vomit so José, I am really sorry about that. 

DAY 4

    The next morning I was so much better, but still unwell so we had French food! Holy smokes that baguette was so good I have no words. Tres delicieux! Je veux manger la baguette encore.

     Our next destination was the art museum. The walk there was much better, it was almost nothing compared to the walk the day before. 

    There's nothing much to shout about about this museum, but maybe that's because I don't know how to appreciate art. Oh well.

     By the way I had another culture shock when I went into McDonalds and I saw pork being sold??? Okay I might have overexaggerated a little bit but it was definitely unusual for me to see pork on the menu because, you know, pork and sex is haram in Malaysia. I didn't get the pork burger either because, you know, pork and sex is WHO AM I KIDDING I DON'T EVEN EAT KETCHUP OR MAYONNAISE. 

     This particular McD was already playing Chinese New Year songs when I stepped in, and it was the weirdest thing ever because those songs are Mandarin New Year songs I used to listen to, sung in Vietnamese. I think my brain broke trying to make sense of the songs, and the only way I could describe this weird sensation is Nestum Squid.

     It gets dark by 6pm there, and by dark I mean pitch black and by 6pm I really mean 6pm. Pitch black at 6pm. We headed to the Saigon Central Post Office because I was really interested in this other architecture Gustave Eiffel designed, and I vastly underestimated the distance. The map said 2km, but in actuality it was so much more than 2km. I know this for a fact because my travel buddy complained that it was really far. And you know this for a fact too, because he can really walk (ahem Chinatown, anyone?). 

DAY 5

     Day 5 was beach day! Since the nearest accessible beach was Vung Tau, we headed there first thing in the morning. I had plans to go to the sand dunes in Mui Ne (holy shit sand dunes??) but because of circumstances that left me with very limited time to travel, that plan was scraped. Anyway it is always nice to see other places, and I had a good company so no complaints there! 

 

     It was so peaceful at the beach, and I really enjoyed lazing under the umbrella just chit chatting and doing nothing. Pure bliss.

     Here is us on our last night together in Vietnam (face blurred out because he is too handsome)! I might have gotten on his nerves and he might have gotten on mine, but I would never change anything from this trip because good company beats everything else.

DAY 6

     This was the day I left, and undeniably it was a sad occasion because I've had such an amazing week away from everything that's been bugging me in my life. Waking up in a different country really is an exhilarating feeling. So this is what Vietnam is to me in a single photo:

    Noisy, exciting, fun, amazing. I feel a little saudade thinking back about my time there, from the traffic to the food (except pho) and especially not being able to catch up while crossing the road, but hopefully more adventures are coming in the future. What matters is the memories made, right? 

    So thank you for putting up with my crazy antics, José! I hope you had a good time (if not great) with me tugging on your shirt as we played Crossy Road together. My next destination hopefully might be Portugal so get ready! 

New Year's Resolution 2013

Today is the last day of the year (again) so let me see what I can cross out from my resolution checklist. Time has gone by surprisingly fast but that's kinda good, I think, cos I don't really like how this year turned out to be. I spent the first half of my year working in Vivo Hotel so basically there goes my supposedly 9-month holiday. Then the rest of my year was spent in Unimas, a university out in the woop woop. Yep, that's it.

• accept my STPM results with an open heart
When the results were out, you basically HAVE TO calculate your GPA yourself and when i got mine, my hands were trembling so much and I was so nervous I couldn't even math. When I regain my composure and figured out my GPA, I was half-screaming because I got exactly the pointer needed for entry into the local university. Although it was pretty shitty, I was glad because my prayers were answered. Thanks, Jesus.

 • get driver's license
YESSS this has got to be the biggest achievement of my life. I was declared a full-fledged licensed driver at the end of August, just in time for my enrollment. You have no idea how much I whined at my mom for her to finally let me get my license. I have more whining to do, too, because she wouldn't let me TOUCH HER CAR. I have a license for Pete's sake. Apparently she doesn't like being chauffeured to work. 

• continue my studies in USA
 This is by far my biggest disappointment. Nope, my hopes were dashed. I don't have enough money, and never will. I get envious of my friends who continued their studies overseas. You lucky bastards.

• positive thinking
My anxieties were alleviated when my grandpa had a seizure, and ever since then whenever I hear a loud thumping noise when I'm trying to sleep, I relive the exact moment when I heard my grandpa fall followed my my grandma's disheartened screams. It's horrible, to top it off my grandma fell and had to go to the hospital. It makes me hate being confined here feeling so helpless.

My last resolution was omitted due to cringe issues. When I blog and write cringey stuff I tend to forget I actually have viewers and it might come back to haunt me so better not. Overall, I didn't really like this year because honestly it could have been better but it wasn't... Glad it's going to be over in another 2 1/2 hours.

Farewell, 2013. It has been a rolley-coastey ride.

   
 

The Malaysian West Virginia

     For my political science assignment,  we have to find a political event and then describe it. My team chose a political event somewhere out in the woop woop, in the outskirts of Kuching and deep inside a dark road. There was not a single street lamp in sight -  I kid you not.

     On the way there, my sceneries to my left and right were both the most fluorescent greenest grass you will ever see in your life. The houses were far apart and it's just greens. It reminded me so much of my stay in West Virginia and honestly, for a moment there I convinced myself I was.

     When we got there, it was a true village. It gave me a similar feeling to my hometown in the rubber estates. Small kids were playing in the small little river accompanied by their parents and oh did I mention the water was UNPOLLUTED AND CLEAR and right at that moment I wanted to jump in. When the time had come, the village head literally screamed into the microphone on the audio system to call out all the villagers. Everyone exited their house in their best traditional costume - the Bidayuh traditional wear.

     One of my observations was that some of people there are so old like omg you must be at least 90 years old! And another observation would be when the village head spoke to us in ENGLISH!  ARE YOU KIDDING ME I DIDN'T KNOW OLD  PEOPLE IN REMOTE VILLAGES SPOKE ENGLISH!
Shame on you youngsters in universities that cannot even understand simple English.

THE Roommate

I can't believe I'm nice enough to write an entire post dedicated to my roommate. Well here's the thing : this is going to be really negative. Proceed at your own risk.  Not for the sympathetic-hearted.
Two nights ago while I was on the phone in my room ,  my roommate motioned to the door while carrying a backpack,  so I knew she wanted to go out.  I motioned back "go ahead" and then she went.  I didn't manage to ask her where she was going cos there were housemates in the living room so anyone would naturally assume she's gonna be outside studying or whatnot. When I finished exposing my ear to radiation,  I went out and the living room was empty. I didn't know where she went so I got back to my room and slept like a log. 
The next morning,  I thought I heard the roommate's alarm so okay ,  she's back. Since I didn't have any classes I stayed home all day and totally forgot about her until I came back from the library at 12am. GUESS what?  She still wasn't home. I asked my housemate and they said she messaged saying she would be out late but it's already too damn late and they messaged her again but no news.
I got so scared I couldn't even sleep last night. I had so many "what-ifs"  running through my mind. What if she was kidnapped?  What if she was raped?  What if she was KILLED and comes back and haunts me??  I was so damn paranoid I slept with the lights on.  The rationale behind this?  I was afraid she would manifest as a ghost and come back to disturb me.  When I woke up today my eyes were hurting so bad from the glare ugh stupid roommate.
Then at 9.18 sharp she walked through the door as I was eating Maggi. I interrogated her and her explanation for disappearing was cos her "friend"  didn't send her back last night. "FRIEND",  YOU SAY ? You dumb ass just say you went and slept with a guy last night cos I honestly don't give a damn. I don't give a damn about you being missing either,  I just didn't want to be dragged into your problems incase you happen to be found dead in some drain.
So do you see how nice of a roommate I am? I wake you up when you can't wake up for classes in which  you never returned me the favor. I sweep all of your nasty hair you drop all over the house. And I don't make a shitload of noises when I know you have classes late in the afternoon whereas I have classes at dawn. But you do all of the opposites.
You snooze your alarm from 7 til 8 right before your classes start. You never bothered to wake me up when I overslept. And you...  Ugh.
I can't wait to move out.

Not Headstrong Enough.

Well,  today is my 12th day here in Unimas. If I was a little more rebellious and stubborn I could have been funding my way through some expensive universities in KL,  but I wasn't. My dad is harder than steel but I'm only a piece of termite-infested wood.

Before I got here I really resented my dad so much for throwing me here out in nowhere. I still do,  because in this uni there is no working wifi and I don't have broadband,  only really limited mobile data that I try not to use up so fast. Well so far it's looking good,  although my first few days here were a total disaster cos my room looks like a prison cell. When I first got into my room I wanted to just lie down on the floor and cry but I realised the floor is actually really filthy as fuck so I didn't lie down,  I just cried. Don't even get me started on my roommate cos WHO SLEEPS ON A DORM MATTRESS WITHOUT AT LEAST TWO LAYERS OF BEDSHEETS or even one layer for the matter ???? We have communication issues too,  I don't speak mandarin and she doesn't speak English (why???)

Moving on to friends.  I'm so grateful making friends is not an issue for me cos so far I have quite a few friends apart from ex schoolmates.  Best thing about having friends here is wherever I go I will definitely bump into a friend or two and I  feel popular. For like a fraction of a second then I go back to feeling like a wallpaper again.  Hah. 

As for school,  I am taking modern economics and political science (and a few other boring subjects)  I mean WHY modern economics??  Gosh if I wanted economics surely I would have applied to study for economics,  right????  BUT I DIDNT,  RIGHT?!  At least my political science class is interesting and I have an edge over everyone in my class cos nobody seems to be interested in it except for me.  This could kick-start my career as a future corrupt politician,  who knows. And I'll have all your hard earned money to spend on my poodle. Yeah beat that suckers.

The weather here is really batshit crazy though,  just like me know my period except for I'm not on my period every day.  You will NEED an umbrella everywhere you go.  The sun is either burning hot or the clouds hate you and decide to pee on you randomly.  And there are plenty of black birds here too...  Not sure if Ravens or crows but they're most probably associated with black magic. Kinda creepy so I just try not to dwell on it so much.