Birthday in Saigon II

As the saying goes, "it can only get better"... and it sure did.

So we were meeting TT, my Vietnamese friend, for dinner (check out the previous Saigon journal on how we met). I didn't realise he could still recognise me after 3 years and with a different hairstyle as we have only met once! I am so glad that internet exists! We have been in touch for 3 years, even talked about travelling together to Taiwan but he couldn't get a cheap ticket and so it didn't work out. He also talked about coming to Singapore but I guess I saw him there before he could come over.

TT agreed to take me to my favourite place for Vietnamese BBQ even though he hadn't stepped in there for 2 years since a bad experience 2 years ago. But he was impressed this time, service was prompt even when it was really crowded and the food was good. I hope it will change his mind after this ;) It was lovely, I had wild boar, deer, squid, fresh prawns that still moved, lotus rice and many more... It was his treat too!

We then proceeded to his bar for cocktails, the place where we first met by accident. It was still the cosy little bar with great prices and drinks! Nightlife in Saigon is much more happening than in Singapore... I was told the Vietnamese would have dinner till 10pm and then the drinking would start after. So we went to a place with amazing live bands that sang in English. The crowds were all sitting quietly listening to the music, unlike in Singapore, people would be dancing on the dancefloor.

After that, it was our first rooftop bar visit at Caravelle, our neighbouring hotel. The prices are insane, but well, these places are for tourists! I decided to go for a port since everything else was just as pricey! It was about midnight when we finished and we decided to head back, but TT wasn't ready. I think he would love to party more, but we were a bit exhausted from the drama today, and I would see him the next day too! We bought him the drink to thank him for being such an awesome companion for the night :)

The stay at Sheraton was okay, the room was comfortable and roomy. I just wish I had more pillows!! We had a pool view, and it helped and I could check it out before going down for my swim! I didn't like the shower facility so much as the shower head was fixed, so I made myself baths instead! It felt more like a business hotel though and there wasn't free internet included which is a shock for a 5 stars hotel! I read that even the cheaper hotels nearby have them.

Nightmare in Saigon I

Be a millionaire in Saigon, again.

The exchange rate apparently has gotten better than 3 years ago, from S$1 = 10,000 VND to 13,000 VND (in Singapore) or even 14,900 VND (in Vietnam)!!! But for sure, everything do cost a lot more now. I suggest to change minimum here and do the rest over there, easily in the malls or hotel reception :)

We took the afternoon flight by Jetstar and arrived past 2pm. As I was aware that going by meter would be cheaper, I went up to the security and asked for a taxi. Unknowingly, we got lured into one driven by a touting driver. Damnit, why didn't I realise it when the meter was already starting at 328,000 VND instead of 10,000 VND and he even locked the doors before we entered and after. I must really be alert the next time in other countries!!

During the first few minutes, he tried to make a conversation with his very bad English. As soon as we got out of the airport, he had to pay maybe 5,000 VND on exit, he asked me for 300,000 VND. I was stunned, I saw the ticket prices for leaving the airport and it was nothing near 300,000 VND, after some argument, he said 100,000 VND and then 10,000 VND which he said by mistake I believed. I passed him 20,000 VND if it was 10,000 VND as it was more reasonable but he changed his mind and said it was 100,000 VND. I told him it was too much and I would call my friend in Vietnam to check. He heard me talking on the phone, got anxious and decided to get his accomplice to ring up to convince me that I had to pay 300,000 VND. My friend assured me it was nothing more than 150,000 VND (maximum) to get to the hotel.

I was getting desperate. Believe it or not, I was so pissed too that I even wanted to escape from the car when it stopped but we were locked in! There wasn't any taxi hotline or taxi no. labelled in his car and I was on the verge of thinking I could hit him with my luggage at the last resort! LOL. I know, all my violent tendency was about to emerge at that desperation. Fortunately, I saw a no. on a sticker right in front of the front seat, we were at the back... and my eyesight didn't fail me! I managed to text my friend the no. as well as a no. on the sticker on the back window (which is their car identity no. I believe) and he rang up the taxi company. At one point, I even threatened to call up the police once we got to the hotel, and fortunately he never drove us to anywhere else! Just before we were nearing the hotel, he got a call (I believe from the complaint my friend has lodged). A few metres away from the hotel, he suddenly reset the meter to 100,000 VND and then once the doorman opened the door, he jumped out and complained that we wouldn't pay him! ASSHOLE! I told the doorman calmly that this idiot tried to charge me 300,000 VND for getting out of airport and over 400,000 VND on the meter. I believe I'm not the first to have met touting taxi drivers, so the doorman said it would be around 150,000 VND usually and I just gave him that. That asshole was trying to cover his ass, it left me very pissed for sure... but not for long after I had a swim :)

Personally, I don't recommend you doing what I did to the driver as I do admit it was a bit rash and might even ended up with very bad consequences if the driver had worse intentions. But calling up my friend and spotting the hotline certainly saved my day, thank God for that!

Post Saigon thoughts

I'm feeling tired but yet I can't get to bed. Is it always like this after a trip? Everyday for the past 3 days, I had alcohol... Cocktail, port & beer. Maybe it's a withdrawal symptom!

Saigon has changed drastically since I last visited and somehow I don't like it as much anymore. Too many malls have sprouted in the city and it just loses its real identity... It doesn't feel like it's Ho Chi Minh, it feels like it's Singapore-wannabe. The sight of branded stores just turned me off. I really like it for the authentic local eateries, handicraft shops or even cheongsam tailor. But not seeing Coach, Gucci, Milano, Fendi everywhere in a developing country... They are almost empty, I don't see anyone coming to Vietnam to buy these stuff really. I'm so glad it was all so different 3 years ago, but I'm also so glad this time I have a local to show me around - definitely makes a lot of difference!

I'll write a short trip journal once I finish sorting those pictures :) I'm still trying to count sheeps...

3 sets of bikinis and what else?

The news about the flood in central Vietnam freaked my parents out... As usual, I had to convince them it is not the place I am heading to! "Vietnam is pretty big, you know!"

Unlike my last visit 3 years back, this time I am adopting a different approach to enjoy Ho Chi Minh. Everything was on budget, from the local bus that I took from the airport to the budget family hotel... and all the street food. My sister wants to enjoy, she didn't even want to witness the reminders of the tragic Vietnamese history... I don't mind not seeing them again, as I already did, so I guess this time I will see different things in another light. From a luxurious hotel stay, rooftop bars' visits, a lot of swimming in the pool and maybe enjoying good food, especially that Vietnamese BBQ I miss very much, these will all be in the plan! As it's only 3 days 2 nights, I don't think we will spend a lot of money considering there won't much to buy from there (and the fact that we won't have checked in baggage allowance)!

Now I'm starting to look forward to it! It's time to ponder about what to bring! See you guys on Sunday!

p.s: Oh yes, oh yes, I need to stock up on my chewing gum!!!

A bundle of friends

I can't believe one of my friends is a sugarmama to a younger man, sigh, this is what loneliness can do to a vulnerable soul. I also can't help but wonder why one of my close friends can have a change of attitude within 2 weeks, one moment hot, one moment cold... or shall I call it "Women"? Another friend surprised me by telling me I have met my match of erratic behaviour after hearing my stories, true or no, mmmmmm.... Why do some friends need to talk every single time they're online on MSN, do they not run out of things to say? I don't know, but I'm not a big fan of it especially when I have more important things to do! Why do friends sometimes ask silly questions or say things deliberately to diminish others - are they still called friends? My BFF has this annoying bossy attitude when you talk to her online, grumpy and whiny! Then she becomes a total different person when we hang out in real life! Weird, just like the things she said sometimes, say it this way and do it another way.

Humans are fascinating, isn't it?

For the ladies only ;)

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Also you can try out their personality quiz! I got my results, and apparently "1% of people who have taken this test are Artsy as well", so isn't it a bit WOW? 1%???

Randomness XV

I never worked so hard on my weekend, and I am surprised at my self-discipline! So I'm treating myself mango pudding later :)

Recounting my last weeks...

The fourth week of September. A week of illness, an interview, attending a social media forum, random adventure of Taiwanese food, snapping beautiful lanterns along Clarke Quay, missing out my favourite mooncakes and F1 madness in Singapore. Eventful... and ended off with a chilled weekend.

The last week of September was tumultuous and peaceful, like a roller-coaster ride. My laptop adapter was faulty and would risk a short circuit, so finally made a trip to Toshiba Data Dynamics (man, this place is remote!!!) to see if I could get another. I was quoted double the price of what I eventually bought in Sim Lim Square. I never like to enter Sim Lim but there was not much of a choice. It's on occasions like these I get to see places I never been before in Singapore! Ha, how optimistic is that! I was that close to Infineon building and I thought it would be a really cool place to work! But it's along PIE, not the best place to get to via public transport! I visited a place where I will house-sit for free because there's a cat to feed. My family never like having a cat but I adore them, so it's a chance I can try living with one. An evening at the French Film Festival Opening with a cocktail party and another up at the latest rooftop bar, 1-Altitude. Then it was only work for weekend!

Brrrrrrrrrrrr... Spider Solitaire seems to be my stress relief these days.

Yum (02) - Mushy pork belly

It's another day I did grocery shopping with mum, and it's beginning to show that she doesn't want to be the decision-maker anymore. She would constantly ask what I would like to eat, and I would choose and she would just whip up dishes with them. It wasn't nice all the time especially when it was experimental.

I spotted shark fillet today and thought it was interesting, so I got those. Mum decided to fry them with a soupy base with ginger, tomatoes and 酸菜 (pickled cabbage resembling sauerkraut), it was not fascinating, I think there is a better way to cook it, well will try it next time!

She also did the pork belly with pickled cabbage, she was in a rush to go to a mahjong session with her friends, so that's her lazy way out. I told her I wanted to try something with the mushrooms, so I made my own dish :)

I call it "Mushy pork belly", there's no photo as I have already almost finished them, ooopss! I can't say for you but I quite like it, probably because I would eat anything with mushrooms!


Mushy pork belly =  Fry strips of pork belly with sliced shiitake mushrooms, add in tiny bit of Lee Kum Kee chicken marinade.

We mourn for our loss

2nd October - Singapore lost one of the greatest women, Mrs Lee Kuan Yew. She dies at age 89. I am sure most of us (citizens and residents of Singapore and perhaps many others) are saddened by the sudden news. My condolences to Mr Lee and his family.

282m above the ground

This birthday I will be away... I spent one in London and one in Germany years ago away from home but I still received so much love through the mail. I am very fortunate to be able to spend the recent ones with my close friends and family. Nothing means more than sharing the special day with the special people.

So we explored 1-Altitude last night, even after reading so many bad reviews about their service. I spoke to two friends whom also seem to agree with the reviews. Maybe they do it to the men only?? LOL. I'm not sure but it went okay for me, I got my drinks without much fuss and the bartender was prompt and attentive. We even found seats in that "very limited seatings" rooftop. The view was awesome but I think my knees would turn jelly if I could look down between the planks! I can't tell if this or New Asia Bar is higher but the rumour is this is the tallest! A shame I didn't bring my camera but I'm sure I will return another time if there's another occasion to celebrate :)

It was a pity they didn't have much going on up there, and with the limited seats, many people left shortly after a quick drink. Perhaps that's the plan?! No seats, so they can have as many people on top as possible... and with majority of them left standing, no one would stay long enough. Clever plan! Oh yes, I was on Indonesia network on my mobile as well, how nice! It seemed like M1 is not getting enough coverage higher off the ground!! To M1: Do something!!

I prefer New Asia Bar for the comfort but they seem to have implemented a much higher cover charge at S$25 these days, 1-Altitude didn't use to charge a cover too but they do now. It's S$15 for the first drink and still quite reasonable, and when it starts to increase then I will think twice about going.

It was a nice chill-out place, but we got bored and decided to head elsewhere for dessert. We had the yummy Taiwanese shaved ice (I miss them lots!!) along Liang Seah Street... a place more happening than Clarke Quay these days! I love places that offer hungry people food late into the night, how considerate ;)

It's a little early to celebrate my birthday, as the Germans said it's not auspicious to. But Singaporeans are just a bit kiasu, aren't we? Anyway, I never really thought of it as a celebration but it was nice to spend some time together with the people I like :) Thank you peeps.

Ho Chi Minh, I am coming~