As 2009 wraps up...there have been a lot of ups and downs...
There have been a lot of things that I have experienced this whole year...quite a lot of firsts...but I probably will recount them tomorrow as I need to be extremely coherent to write them all...
But in tradition to my own principles...or idiosyncracies... as usual here's my ten resolutions for 2010. Unlike previous years, these 10 will be crucial as fulfilling them will probably determine whether the rest of my life will be good or miserable...
Here we go...
1. Be an effective planner for everything - always consider the beginning, the process and the end - and what must be done.
2. Be more effective in my job - which means fulfilling increasing responsibilities amidst changes
3. Fulfill responsibilities to family and friends...
4. Sort my own emotional commitments...
5. Participate in more social activities and personal improvement skills, including:
- cooking
- sports skills(tennis, squash?)
- marathons (looking at adidas sundown and standard chartered)
- music classes (guitars?)
- languages (malay may be a start...)
6. Lose weight
7. Update my blog every 2 weeks...
8. Plan for a better vacation - Tibet or Taiwan will be my destination depending on what happens for the year...
9. Always ask and be not afraid of criticism - I suppose I still linking do not know to incompetency...
10. Be more optimistic while retaining the current pragmatism - i.e. living by the 'ant of the masses' philosophy...
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
The Vietnamese Experience...13th-18th December 2009
I think it is without a doubt that the trip to Vietnam (congrats to you if you managed to figure out the country in my last post) was immense – in the right and wrong ways… but I managed to think over a lot of things in the midst of appreciating the trip itself…
It is hard to describe everything that happened in the past 6D5N I was there – but then I would try as best possible to…
Prof did not feel good then – so he took the bike back up the hotel, while Thomas, Kimberly and myself walk the way back – but what we didn’t know as part of the climb back was a near 75 degree shortcut climb which was extremely dangerous – Kimberly definitely did not enjoy it to the very least and Thomas and I took turns to watch her back while we scaled up – I swore we were cursing when we did reach the summit which we climbed more than 300m up – the scariest one I did under any circumstances…
'So much for the climb'...
All of us eventually wrapped up with dinner and an early rest for the night.
But that is where things did not exactly go well for the second day in Sapa as Kimberly sprained her ankle in an awkward way and fell thrice…the walk down to the Lao Cai village was much more treacherous than I thought and while the views were much more breathtaking – including one of the tribal aunties who followed us all the way – I cut short the journey myself and ended the trip around lunch to give ourselves time to rest and recover. In the process, I got a foot masseuse to tend to Kimberly’s ankle and it slightly improved. But to make things worse, we missed the night train – no thanks to me misreading the ticket – we should have left earlier, and instead got on another train back no thanks to a tout – I was severely berated in the process by all and I had nothing to say about it. There I think ruined the whole trip in my own opinion.
What next then? Perhaps a trip to Taipei which the sights and sounds can be better accommodated within less strenuous circumstances would be better – but I am personally also looking to Tibet for my own personal exploration – after all, I felt most at peace with the mountains…. While also appreciating the fact that I am also quite a city kid after all…
Finding the best of both worlds in city and nature’s enjoyment is difficult in a tour – but Hanoi will live in my heart – for all the things I have seen, done and enjoyed in the process.
A good trip to a good socialist country. =D
P.S. The photos will come in later days due to the huge memory in uploading so therefore the complete post with the pictures will be up by the end of the week latest. In the meantime, stay tuned to my facebook profile as I am putting pictures up there as well – there will be some overlaps…
It is hard to describe everything that happened in the past 6D5N I was there – but then I would try as best possible to…
As of any trip – it has to start with the take off from Changi – we took a three and half hour flight to Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi – but before that we ate something from Popeye at T1 before we flew…
'Good Meal before the flight...'
Upon arrival at Noi Bai my assumption of it being a decently managed airport of a good socialist country was realized – in every sense of the word. Seeing uniformed officers all around clearing our immigration to providing security for us made me think that we were in a military rather than a civilian airport – not sure if that was the Vietnamese government’s intention… With then that we headed on our move to our hotel in Hanoi which took 1 hour – with me sitting at the front tasting for myself first hand the traffic of Vietnam – horning was the way to get around incessant motorbikes which were crazy – and vehicles were cutting across traffic lights like no other…
'The 4 of us taking a photo after landing at Noi Bai Airport
Due to the late arrival – we checked in for a short while around 30 mins before going off on our train ride to Lao Cai village which then we would be transported by minivan to our hotel in Sapa for our first 2D2N stay in Sapa… quite a train ride as I relived my young days of taking the train ride… exhilarating and me and my friends spent time playing card games and talking stuff to spend the time. But one thing for sure – I sure did not like sleeping on the train as the ride was much more bumpy than I thought. And I had not adjusted well to the 1 hour time differential between Hanoi and Singapore yet…
We finally reached Lao Cai after a 8 hour 30 min ride – I swore it was very tiring…and then we just managed to haul ourselves on the minivan to Sapa which took another hour…so by the time we reached it was about 8am in Sapa... we took a long overdue breakfast which was refreshingly good to say the least.
We finally reached Lao Cai after a 8 hour 30 min ride – I swore it was very tiring…and then we just managed to haul ourselves on the minivan to Sapa which took another hour…so by the time we reached it was about 8am in Sapa... we took a long overdue breakfast which was refreshingly good to say the least.
'Outside Sapa Summit Hotel...the Homg tribal people at the background were to harass us for $ throughout our stay...'
Subsequently we then started our walk of Cat Cat village as day 1 of the Sapa tour began…it was quite a walk down to the village. We got served first hand of the ‘hospitality’ of the Hmong people as they walked with us – but with the ulterior motive of getting us to buy their stuff – I vehemently refused because I knew I would be fleeced like no one’s business… but the walk down was very smooth and the scenery was majestic – especially of the mountain ranges. In the midst we took time to explore Sapa itself and managed to see the common area in there – a small courtyard of sorts which also served as a pasar malam, and recreational area as well.
'The Common Area of Sapa'...
We managed to view some of the Hmong artifacts that the local women made – it was then that I learnt from the guide that only boys were sent to school to study which they would grow up to do businesses and toil the lands. Of the plantations present all around, different crops were grown in different times – bamboo and wheat in summer, and rice and indigo in the winter like now…
In the house of a Hmong family, it is worst than I thought – the rooms of the couple and their 10 children were very scary – cannot compare even to the conditions in my hometown which I thought were bad enough…
In the house of a Hmong family, it is worst than I thought – the rooms of the couple and their 10 children were very scary – cannot compare even to the conditions in my hometown which I thought were bad enough…
The indigo plantations...
'The kitchen of a Hmong family...'
We managed to reach the waterfall which was a breathtaking sight – considering the fact that it came down from the mountains which we walked down from. We also managed to eat the delicacy of pork satay which came from the pigs in the area which fed on plants alone – a great treat to say the least.
'All of us at the waterfall at the end of the downward walk'
'Pork Satay anyone?'
Prof did not feel good then – so he took the bike back up the hotel, while Thomas, Kimberly and myself walk the way back – but what we didn’t know as part of the climb back was a near 75 degree shortcut climb which was extremely dangerous – Kimberly definitely did not enjoy it to the very least and Thomas and I took turns to watch her back while we scaled up – I swore we were cursing when we did reach the summit which we climbed more than 300m up – the scariest one I did under any circumstances…
'So much for the climb'...
After our trip back to the hotel, we took time to relax, and then walked down to the common area in Sapa which we hoped to visit the Stone Cathedral – but to our disappointment it was closed due to ongoing renovations. Prof needed to go for a massage so Thomas waited for him…while Kimberly and myself went on our way back to the hotel – we stopped by a café on the way back and had drinks and cheesecake for only 6 bucks – a good deal =)
All of us eventually wrapped up with dinner and an early rest for the night.
But that is where things did not exactly go well for the second day in Sapa as Kimberly sprained her ankle in an awkward way and fell thrice…the walk down to the Lao Cai village was much more treacherous than I thought and while the views were much more breathtaking – including one of the tribal aunties who followed us all the way – I cut short the journey myself and ended the trip around lunch to give ourselves time to rest and recover. In the process, I got a foot masseuse to tend to Kimberly’s ankle and it slightly improved. But to make things worse, we missed the night train – no thanks to me misreading the ticket – we should have left earlier, and instead got on another train back no thanks to a tout – I was severely berated in the process by all and I had nothing to say about it. There I think ruined the whole trip in my own opinion.
'View of the river from the mountain which I was at... - amd after two hours of crazy trekking....'
Everyone otherwise, tired and stunned by the way we got on the train back to Hanoi from Lao Cai, rested on the way back – as for myself I did not say anything more as I knew I had permanently made the trip not so enjoyable for everyone. Upon arrival we reached back at the hotel, had breakfast and were on our way to our day tour of Halong Bay.
The trip to Halong Bay consisted of a 3 hour 30 min minivan ride – which we slept most of the way due to our exhaustion from the night’s ride…but the scenery that greeted us at Halong City was magnificent. I was stunned by numerous rock formations that came up – some were as large as mini islands and others as tall as probably Mount Faber itself. There were also some which assumed different shapes and formations – I shall let these pictures describe to you what I think of them…
After a good lunch on the junk – we disembarked and walked in and around the Amazing Limestone Cave and saw the numerous shapes of limestone rock deposits in the cave itself. As only one of the 1000 such caves in Halong Bay – the numerous shapes took my breath away and everyone of us was quite trigger happy – we took numerous pictures of the cave as we walked around. Unfortunately my camera was not up to the task as the lack of light crippled its ability to get most of the stones in it.
As none of us were in the mood for kayaking, we took pictures around the fishing village near the cave before heading back – I wondered how these people could make a living on these waters and still survive – one of the pictures I got shows a family in there…that adds to my sympathy of these people and admiration of their will to survive despite the harshest conditions…
All of us headed back to the junk and back to Halong City which we took the minivan back – I bought some souvenirs back to office and home which hopefully can satisfy my parents and all of the folks on Monday when I see them… We ended up in Hanoi around 8pm which we had a very satisfying dinner at a small western café run by a small family – good money’s worth… We then went back to have a good rest for the night.
We then wrapped up our tour with a day’s visit of Hanoi – the probable highlight was the visit of the HCM mausoleum where Ho Chi Minh was buried and preserved – in all cases exhibits glorifying him took a morning for us to explore – the entire space dedicated to him was at least twice the size of the Istana – massive! I let the pictures below tell you the story…
In the midst we visited a few temples including the First University of Vietnam, and ended up with a tour of Museum of Ethnology. It was also then which we took time to further understand the Hmong tribe we saw at Sapa, and took pictures of the various artifacts and houses which different tribes of Vietnam stayed in…
In all, we ended with a good ending dinner which I led all the wrong way, and Kimberly took the matters into her own hands – thankfully. And of course with dessert which was ice cream for all of us – and that’s how things ended on the last night of Hanoi. As for myself, I downed a bottle of Hanoi vodka with Thomas – the only liquor I drank the entire trip.
Finally, on the 18th morning, which being the final morning – I woke up early to help Kimberly settle down to take her early flight to Cambodia…and did not sleep after that as I wanted to as Thomas and the Prof subsequently woke up when I came up – the trio of us took breakfast and then took the transport back to Noi Bai Airport – for home. As I took the remaining pictures on the way to the airport, and before the flight itself – I took time to think about the trip and what might have been…
In hindsight, it was not quite good planning from myself which ruined the trip in Sapa – and my blurness which almost sabotaged everyone in general… but then as I realized that these mistakes must be addressed to make future trips with friends enjoyable, I also realized that in all cases I need to consider everyone’s mindset about what they want from the trip… I must admit myself not giving adequate consideration to their requests as much as they did not ask of me for the trip. Ultimately I betrayed their trust.
To Thomas, Yong Keong and especially Kimberly, I seek your apologies and forgiveness for all inconveniences throughout Vietnam… but as I mentioned in my final comments during the final dinner – I hope all of you enjoyed Hanoi and its sights nonetheless…
And that ends my own reflections to Hanoi.
The trip to Halong Bay consisted of a 3 hour 30 min minivan ride – which we slept most of the way due to our exhaustion from the night’s ride…but the scenery that greeted us at Halong City was magnificent. I was stunned by numerous rock formations that came up – some were as large as mini islands and others as tall as probably Mount Faber itself. There were also some which assumed different shapes and formations – I shall let these pictures describe to you what I think of them…
After a good lunch on the junk – we disembarked and walked in and around the Amazing Limestone Cave and saw the numerous shapes of limestone rock deposits in the cave itself. As only one of the 1000 such caves in Halong Bay – the numerous shapes took my breath away and everyone of us was quite trigger happy – we took numerous pictures of the cave as we walked around. Unfortunately my camera was not up to the task as the lack of light crippled its ability to get most of the stones in it.
As none of us were in the mood for kayaking, we took pictures around the fishing village near the cave before heading back – I wondered how these people could make a living on these waters and still survive – one of the pictures I got shows a family in there…that adds to my sympathy of these people and admiration of their will to survive despite the harshest conditions…
All of us headed back to the junk and back to Halong City which we took the minivan back – I bought some souvenirs back to office and home which hopefully can satisfy my parents and all of the folks on Monday when I see them… We ended up in Hanoi around 8pm which we had a very satisfying dinner at a small western café run by a small family – good money’s worth… We then went back to have a good rest for the night.
We then wrapped up our tour with a day’s visit of Hanoi – the probable highlight was the visit of the HCM mausoleum where Ho Chi Minh was buried and preserved – in all cases exhibits glorifying him took a morning for us to explore – the entire space dedicated to him was at least twice the size of the Istana – massive! I let the pictures below tell you the story…
In the midst we visited a few temples including the First University of Vietnam, and ended up with a tour of Museum of Ethnology. It was also then which we took time to further understand the Hmong tribe we saw at Sapa, and took pictures of the various artifacts and houses which different tribes of Vietnam stayed in…
In all, we ended with a good ending dinner which I led all the wrong way, and Kimberly took the matters into her own hands – thankfully. And of course with dessert which was ice cream for all of us – and that’s how things ended on the last night of Hanoi. As for myself, I downed a bottle of Hanoi vodka with Thomas – the only liquor I drank the entire trip.
Finally, on the 18th morning, which being the final morning – I woke up early to help Kimberly settle down to take her early flight to Cambodia…and did not sleep after that as I wanted to as Thomas and the Prof subsequently woke up when I came up – the trio of us took breakfast and then took the transport back to Noi Bai Airport – for home. As I took the remaining pictures on the way to the airport, and before the flight itself – I took time to think about the trip and what might have been…
In hindsight, it was not quite good planning from myself which ruined the trip in Sapa – and my blurness which almost sabotaged everyone in general… but then as I realized that these mistakes must be addressed to make future trips with friends enjoyable, I also realized that in all cases I need to consider everyone’s mindset about what they want from the trip… I must admit myself not giving adequate consideration to their requests as much as they did not ask of me for the trip. Ultimately I betrayed their trust.
To Thomas, Yong Keong and especially Kimberly, I seek your apologies and forgiveness for all inconveniences throughout Vietnam… but as I mentioned in my final comments during the final dinner – I hope all of you enjoyed Hanoi and its sights nonetheless…
And that ends my own reflections to Hanoi.
What next then? Perhaps a trip to Taipei which the sights and sounds can be better accommodated within less strenuous circumstances would be better – but I am personally also looking to Tibet for my own personal exploration – after all, I felt most at peace with the mountains…. While also appreciating the fact that I am also quite a city kid after all…
Finding the best of both worlds in city and nature’s enjoyment is difficult in a tour – but Hanoi will live in my heart – for all the things I have seen, done and enjoyed in the process.
A good trip to a good socialist country. =D
P.S. The photos will come in later days due to the huge memory in uploading so therefore the complete post with the pictures will be up by the end of the week latest. In the meantime, stay tuned to my facebook profile as I am putting pictures up there as well – there will be some overlaps…
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