Scribbles

Catching up a bit on previous posts I neglected, this one from March…

My week-long trip to Vietnam redeemed my lack of travels during P3.  Starting from Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon), we traveled through the Mekong Delta, and moved our way up to Hanoi to explore the exquisite Sapa and Halong Bay.  Because the country is still relatively undiscovered by tourists, we managed some very off-track type trips (think more backpacking than tourist sight-seeing.)  There we had a pleasant homestay with a friendly family, in their home on the Mekong river.  We moved around exclusively by boat and encountered the numerous boats that composed an impressive floating market armada.  This itinerant market travels down the river and sells fresh produce for the entire duration of the trip of about a week.  You would bring your smaller boat into the market, and then vendors would weigh your purchases and transfer them over.

Fresh fruits and veggies, anyone?

Up north in Sapa, we did a2 day mountain biking trek organized by the highly recommended Handspan group.  Imagine rolling mountains covered by rice paddies, serpented by gentle rivers.  Here we also did the homestay, and of course concluded the night with our hosts toasting us to the popular melange of rice wine and Chinese herbal medicine (dang gui).

Aquaduct device for rice paddies

Trekking in Sapa

The entire trip was physically exhausting.  Not just from mountain biking up and down hills for 50km, but because we were so ambitious about fully taking advantage of the trip by cramming in so much in a mere week.  Mekong Delta alone warranted an entire week.  We made up for it by sleeping during the long drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay.

Because my two travel partners were white (the fabulous Sophie from Engerland and my partner in crime Douglas from US), most of the locals mistook me as their tour guide.  Problem is I don't speak a lick of Vietnamese, other than “I don't understand” and “Do you speak Chinese?”  Ok, maybe also “I love you” but I never got that far.  So while we were checking in a very upscale hotel in Ho Chi Minh, the concierge brought out a tray with two bottles of water and two glasses.  When I looked at her with a cocked eyebrow, she began talking to me in Vietnamese, which I promptly replied to in English expressing my utter ignorance of the situation.  In that moment, it dawned upon the four of us, simultaneously, that no, I was not the hired help.  Good times being branded as the tour guide from then on, ha!

Speaking of tour guides, the two we had in both the South and North impressed us with their competence and diligence, especially our mountain biking guide.  Not only did he ride all day along side us, he also cleaned and maintained the bikes at the end of each day.  And to top it off, he would cook us a fabulous meal while we sat around.  During our homestay, he cooked the entire meal for us and the host family of 7 or 8.  Our man just did it all, and maintained a great attitude to boost.

Bountiful dinner accompanied by rice wine and thigh slapping

Many locals there assumed the nature of my visit to be that of business, once I announced that I was from Taiwan.  Some even offered to find me a wife.  While that may reflect the current trend of Taiwanese investments in the region, I would recommend that you discover the country on your own, outside the context of work.  The country is surprising large both geographically and population wise (approximately 75m).  Its natural beauty and harvest offer an abundance of adventures and tropical fruits, all for small sums.  I can't stop praising the place, and I am not alone in that respect, from INSEAD.  A group of students from my promotion started an education project there, to encourage the local children to attend school and learn English.  Many of them are volunteering their summer to teach there right now.

Cherimoya, “the most delicious fruit known to men” – Mark Twain

Hey, just arrived back in LA today after traversing a large portion of the world.  I spent my last night in France having several pleasant conversations with the drivers and restaurant waiters – a nice way departure for me.  Just catching up on Internet and jet lag, updates to come…

Prague, known as Praha to the locals, has been the perfect cure to my INSEAD hangover, that fleeting sense of security in knowing there’s always a full day’s worth of intense activities ahead of you. The past 10 months provided non-stop action in the company of friends you keep for life; action that never lets down, whether you like it or not. All of a sudden, you wake up and realize that there are no more group trips, parties, or lectures in your schedule, and the group of friends you’ve shared those unforgettable experiences with are spread all across the world. There’s a definite pang of bitter sweet longing. And though we rightfully tell ourselves that it’s not the end, just the beginning of something great, I nonetheless found myself in an eerily depressed transition period the last days in France.

But the 3 days here have been liberating and relaxing. Even though I spent yesterday with one of my INSEAD classmates and her friend (they’re everywhere, you just can’t shake them), I still managed to avoid the partying, socializing, just to slow down a little and reflect. Doing all this in the form of touring picturesque Prague is so easy. The scenery and landmarks in this deeply cultural city have brought me immense peace.

It has been the perfect antidote to my lull in energy and spirits. Consider me fully recovered from the end of my INSEAD experience, and recharged and ready to adventure to Odessa and beyond.

Depressing and deserted.  That's how it is right now.  I'm in an empty chateau packing my things.  People are either long gone, traveling, or who knows where.  Officially there are only 3 of us left in the main house, and I think 3 down the hill.  But for the greater part of today, nadie, just me.  It's such a contrast to when I first arrived and most of the chateau was empty.  Back then, while I unpacked, I looked forward to meeting the new people who have yet to arrive.  Now, I just want to make sure I'm not the last one out.