Halo, Ju

It has been 12 years I have not been called Ju since I left SMBTR. Someone text me recently by addressing me `Ju'... This recall my sweet memory during school life in SMBTR...

Luwi, a stranger that came into my life and bring happiness to me. From a mystery customer that I thought was an abang or pakcik when he placed a purchase order; turn out to be a young gentlemen that I can make friend with.

"Wish you meet your jodoh soon ya!" I am going to miss you for some time...

I cannot predict what will happen in the future but I should appreciate what I have at this moment. Dear Princess Alicia and sxxxy daddy, I love you.

Souvenir from Vietnam

Normally, I forget to buy souvenir for myself when I go travel. This time, I got a bookmark, one purple coloured raincoat and a double layered jacket.

Quan An Ngon Restaurant

This is a small scaled hawker center. We walked around the stalls and order our dishes. I like the prawn cracker here. Very crispy!

This is the first time for Jenda (a Hanoi Kids member) to have a meal in Quan An Ngon as well. She is a beautiful girl with cheerful smile.

Temple of Literature

Temple of Literature is also known as Van Mieu. The courtyards was built based on the concept of `Ying Yang'. There are three doors to enter each courtyard. The middle door is catered for the teachers. One side door is for those students who have brilliant mind (`wen') while another side door is for those who are good in martial art (`wu').

This is a favourite spot for outdoor wedding photo shooting among the local couples in Hanoi.

Cat Cat Village

We are honoured to be the guests in Dung's new house @ Cat Cat Village. We had a simple yet awesome meal here.

We were invited to try the local rice wine. During a black Hmong wedding, those who could not finish the rice wine offered to them will be punished to eat the fat part of a pork. Else, they need to leave the venue where the function is held.

Ham Rong Mountain

Ham Rong mountain is my favourite place in this trip. Easy trek and enjoy a great view of Sapa town. It has a very colourful garden.

We went for a cultural performance here. Later, we put on the minority ethnic traditional costume for photo shooting. Pity me, I have to wear the shirt for men (i am too fat) and match it with a skirt that can only cover the front part... We laugh a lot at this moment...

What 20,000 Dong can buy?

We get 700g of plum mix with cherry for 7,000 Dong and one whole big sized pineapple for 10,000 Dong. All these for less than Rm 3 ??? This is a good deal.

On our way back to Hanoi, we bought 1/2 kilo of peach @ 20,000 dong. The baguette sold by the stall vendor was hot and taste good. It was priced @ 10,000 Dong each

Bacha Market

I would say this market is quite touristic. When we first entered the market, it was lined up with two rows of souvenir stalls. Further up we saw the wet market for the locals.

This is a good place for shopping if you have good bargaining skill. It is very competitive here because their products are quite similar. If the vendor don't agree with your price, just walk away and try your luck elsewhere.

Food in Sapa

Taking BBQ food at the roadside in a windy night is fun! I like the sweet potato and glutinuos rice in bamboo (more delicious to add in mint leaves and gravy with peanuts). There are lots of BBQ stalls along the road near Sapa church on Saturday night.

On our way back from Bacha Sunday market, we went to Sapa lake while doing research for dinner. Finally, we have chosen a restaurant with many locals taking hotpot at the first floor. We were using an electric pot to savour the steamboat. The soup base consists of dates, tomato, pineapple, yam, ginger, mushroom.

The BBQ salmon fish with lemongrass is to my liking as well. Vege fried rice ordered by CY was very delicious with good `wok hei'!

Trekking in Sapa

We started the 7-8km trek @ 9.00am from Fansipan View Hotel. We were heading to Lao Chai-Tavan-Giang Ta Chai Village. The Hmong lady escorted us all the way until we stopped at a homestay for lunch.

A pig hunting for food went near to Dung's backpack (our lunch was i that bag) when we were resting at a riverside. Dung quickly went to rescue our food.

My followers are two black hmong girls. They are aged 9 and 12 years old. I am ashamed to say that I don't even know their name while their were assisting me and hold my hands like a queen. Reason: I am an adult from a city with a cold heart & they are kids from a village with warm hands...

Ha Long Bay

We were with a 2D1N group tour on board of Pinta Cruiser to Ha Long Bay. The food served are pretty much westernised but it is delicious. The chef are creative enough to present the spring roll on a craved pineapple lantern during dinner. A cup of pure passion fruit juice during meal is my favourite!

We were invited to join the 15th anniversary party for Steven & Vicky from Melbourne. It was really a surprise to both of them. Thumbs up for Columbus Travel for such a sweet arrangement for the couple.

Kayaking is another exciting activity in this trip. Hong was so nervous and kept yelling at me. He blamed me for forcing him to try kayaking... Complaining that I do not own a sense of direction etc. I was speechless...

Moral of the story: when you are in the same boat with others, compromise is a must to make both party happy. In real life, he is my partner for the rest of my life so no choice but to compromise...

Dining @ Madame Hien's

We went to this restaurant which is just a few steps down from our hotel @ Chan Cam Street on the first night in Hanoi. Price are above average but I am willing to pay that surplus due to its ambience.

Staff here are very courteous and help us to get a taxi beforehand as we are rushing for the water puppet show.

The dish that I like most is the prawn grilled with sugarcane and I had a teapot of lemongrass with honey to myself!

Mixed Fruit Shake @ To Tich Street

I fall in love with this drink! There are lots of fruits in a cup. They will pour in condensed milk in a cup filled with various fruit cubes and offer you a bowl of ice to add in on your own.

It costs only 15,000 Dong per cup & the corner shop near Hang Gai or Hang Bong taste better. Let me recall what fruit we get in a cup:

strawberry, longan, papaya, avocado, banana, jackfruit, mango, pineapple, kiwi, etc. Yummy!