holy smokes
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part I (vietnam trip)
back frm the land of the dead...
instead of feeling fresh and revived as i shld after a holiday.. i feel exhausted, dead beat, my soul worn out, urgently in need of rejuvenation. Weird i must say, but i knoe i wld have to make do wit the rest of the remaining 7 days tt i have left...
Vietnam was an interesting experience i must say but nothing spectacular. For me, the bumpy and uneven roads covered by dirt and sand made for an ardous and gruesome journey. I cursed and sweared nonchalently as we chugged down the wretched road to our every-day destinations tt somehow seemed miles apart. Stretches of highways through the mountains, a common sight even in China was non-existant in Vietnam. testimony of the common poverty amongst pple of the communist nation. As a result, the roads took us on perilious and windy paths through the highlands. Exhilaration from making frequent bends around the steep cliffs turned to a unspoken fear for one's safety. I sat on the edge of my seat throughout the rough journeys, sometimes, dozing off as exhaustion and boredom sets in. At the end of each day, I was often to tired and grouchy to admire the sights and sounds of the local towns. 
taking in the sights and sounds along the beaten track
Sapa, a small town, rather commercialised by my standards, was a nice change. We went on the mini trek through the hillside to visit the various tribes. It was interesting to experience the lives of the hill tribes. To take a trip down the slow lane, where life passed at a snail's pace and children set on the soil, playing with objects that never occured to me as 'playthings'. I was intrigued and fascinated that these people could live a satisfying life just the way it was. Children paced around bare-footed on the rough terrains, chasing and trying their best to communicate with the outsiders tt have 'invaded' their territory, in their grummy hands, they held wares, hand-woven pouches for sale. They begged, pleaded, probed passerbys to purchase their ware. But often to no avail. Their innocent eyes and pattering footsteps behind us often wavered the hearts of many. Even my father offered money to the pretty little girls in hot pursuit behind us for a distance of at least half a kilometre. well, so persistance does pay off.
At Sapa. given its high altitude, and the season of the year, nights were pretty cold and harsh. Temperatured quickly plunged as the night sets in and my family and I quickly retreated in to a warm italien restaurant furnished with a fire-place and a roaring-cracking fire. Given that it was christmas night as well, we decided to settle in for a nice family dinner together. Something different from the usual vietnamese fare that we had been having for the past few days. Dinner was great. I had the fish capers with lemon and butter. yummilicious.
Another highlight of the trip was having visit the local weekend markets. We were treated to the hustle and bustle of the market as well as the spectacular fare offered. Pigs, chickens, horses, and even puppies were brought for sale at the market. Most memorable would have to be the pigs. Blinded in their sacks, they remain silent. However, once dragged out from their bag, they evolve into monsters, thrashing about furiously in an effort to break free. As though aware of their upcoming fates; to be chopped and grilled into the delicious barbequed pork to be served at our tables. With this in mind, they struggle, snort and squeal like mad till all energy was drained then did they resign to their fate and shiver in the cold. It was indeed a sad sight but oh well..i'll put up with it in place for the tender pork on my plate ANYTIME! wahaha...
oh yesh, did i mention that dog meat is a delicacy in vietnam. Its awful seeing dogs at the market knowing tt these adorable puppies are being bred for their meat. Totally grotesque!!!
the sights and smells in the local market
poor piggies....
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