Vung Tau Trip and Farewell Forever

We were woken up pretty early. Even though we were promised to be able to wake up at any time. So we dragged ourselves out of bed. Did i tell you Sop is bossy? For breakfast, we ate some bakery and drank hot milo. And i mean really hot milo. Sop scold her dad for putting hot water all the way to the brim of the glass, when by right he should just pout 1/3 of hot water and the rest cool water.
Anyway, we took taxi to this bus interchange place. Bought tickets to go Vung tau. Meanwhile, Jess played the machine game. The one where you push the button hoping the finger-machine thing will catch the soft toy of your choice. And Jess got her toy. The Eeyore doll. And Jesey want it. Well her doll was kind of in the middle of empty place. So it is kind of east to take. We try to play again, but to no avail. So only the pure of innocence can get the toy and only once too. We took this mini van shared with other people. Jess was asleep on the trip. Tini too.
Anyway, after so long, we finally reached. We took taxi to another place and turn out it was the wrong hotel. So we walked all the way to next door.
To cut the story short, Jess was sick. She spread it to everyone.
We went to the beach and play under the sun. Messy hair and wet shirts and pants, we caught the crabs. Tiny little crabs. Some guy talk to us, i mean to Jess but we don't really understand them again. We took some clams. There are so many of them. So we took them and put it on Jess' slipper. We took alot and she kept asking, "eh how many do you guys want to kill?" While my reply will be, "walao, you all murderer." Then we went back to the hotel. Which is actually more like a chalet. Except its way better than the one we stayed at. And there is air-con.
Then we went to the beach again and we play water with Sop family. They all are in the water. While we were playing and running and splashing water at each other. Then they scared me away with a fish. And i so scared that i don't want to go back into the water. I mean duh, the tide can carry the fish anywhere. Then there is also sotong. What the heck.
So night fall, we ate seafood. Yum yum. But Sop mom feel sick and went back to the hotel. Then Cuong was there. We played cards. But we more of watching soccer first. Anyway, he got a punishment and that is to carry us around the block. And pity him. We actually don't want, but Tini got so mad at us.
Next day, Sop got sick. And she don't want to come for hiking. Then tadatada. Nothing much. But we did talk bout Urban legend. And why is it in Asia, the dead are so bloody scary locking while in the West the dead are very handsome of some sort. E.g. vampires, hunky werewolves..
At night we went cycling. Sop came along. Then got one time we had to climb up the hill. Very steep hill. Cuong and Sop kind of have to stop halfway. Haha. Our bicycle is the 2 person one. So me and Jess. And we went to this cafe. Very cool place. Very chilling. Music, comfy chairs, super cool drink - juices. I asked for avocado, but as usual, they don't have it. Cuong laugh. Sop too. That is the first time she laugh that day. In the end i ordered mango juice. Jesey too. Sop don't want anything. And half way, she went home. Jess cried. I drank Jesey's mango juice. Yeah!! So i got 2 glasses.
After we done, we cycled back. Then Tini fell. She rode with Cuong. And they both fell. Cuong; meaning strong. But he cant even cycle with a girl properly. Oh well, we tease him about that.
The next day, we went home. We ate crab at night. Then we play cards = bully strong guy.
Cuong(pronounce as keng) turned out can speak English. I know that he knows, but i didn't know the others don't know. He can understand English but his English is not that good. Then Sop speak in Chinese. Tini said that he can understand too. We were like what the. How the heck? Why didn't he tell us. And that is the case after so long, that i beat a guy. So me and Jess, we speak Indo. Haha, too bad Sop don't understand.

We went shopping. At some shopping centre. We took bike there. Me and Tini, Sop and Cuong, Jess and Sop's dad. Me and Tini kind of got lost. And she crash into some bike. We ate kfc. We played pool. Wanted to watch movie, but no time. We played arcade. Racing, Jess won twice. The first time, my screen was totally opposite. So i drive the car in the up side down manner. The 2nd race, lets just say i suck at playing game. Then we played air hockey. Me vs Jess and me vs Sop. I won them both. Even though they help each other.
Throughout the shopping, we gossip. Man we just love to gossip. And i saw this MANU jacket which have like the best material ever. Too bad is kind of ex, and it's for guys. Oh Cuong like Manu and i was like what?? We went to the coffee shop, which is the Starbucks of Vietnam and we drink and chat and chat and drink. Next door, there was a huge ground, and people are sitting on the grass watching soccer.
We went back and ate beef noodle. But i choose to eat the all type ones. We were so full. Coung not eating, coz he gonna go to a party. He sat across me. Then after i ate, he suddenly said, "bao le ma?" 'cept it don't sound that way. It took a second for me to register it. Then i realised what he asked me. I said, "chi bao le." While Jess was like, "wah cool!"
We went home, but before that we went a little shopping. Jess bought some pants and shirt. And i bought some pants. Sop gonna shop when we went back. Humph! Lucky her. At night, we drank some chiku juice, watch the wedding video.
We planned to say up the whole night. But halfway, Sop slept. Then me and Jess talked then we got sleepy. So we end up sleeping. In the morning, we woke up, got ready and packed. Then we ate breakfast then went to the airport. Before we left, Cuong called. He asked me for my email. Well, in the coffee shop he did say ya we should exchange email address. Coz he actually want to talk to us, but find it difficult coz of his English not at all good. He can write but he cant talk so well. So, i asked him to talk online. I thought then he just you know being nice and ask for my email, but turn out he did want my email. So he could use me and learn English from me. Anyway he said sorry he cant be there to send us off, coz he got school. And so farewell through the phone. He actually skip school the day before. While his professor went to the toilet, he sneak out. Just so Sop(Tini's niece, he likes Tini btw) could have someone to ride bike with.
So in the end, we say goodbye to the whole family and we went back to Singapore. Me and Jess. And Jess went back to Indo.

Anyway, here's the link for some of the pictures
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=20865&l=554a0&id=833719781

Our Own Tourist Time

On the 1st of Dec, we went to Mekong Delta. We first took this minibus, or van, for a few hours. Jess was kinna scared. You know, with Santa Clause and all. Then, we took the boat to this place. The boat ride took forever. Well, it was kind of chilling anyway. We waved goodbyes to all the other angmoh in the oher boats. Some were friendly enough to wave back. Some just heck care us. Then we went to this place for lunch. It's like going to the kampong. Everything so old and ruin and poor. No offence. In Bekasi, stuff also like that. They captured the snake in this cage. Then we saw ducks swimming. And mudskipper. Of course they make a joke out of it. Coz they kept hopping and i was like what? Mudskipper? It took a few seconds for me to realise it is the skipper part that they name the creature after. Coz, after all they skip and hop and jump and whatever. Moving on. We ate our lunch. I think i became a vegetarian there. Coz they order chicken specially for the people who don't eat fish, and fish and this big steamboat of fish. So i can only eat the chicken which has very little meat and the rest of the rice i finished it with chili and veg. So after lunch, we took the sampan(picture below). When we went down the step to take it, i fell. Tini, drop her sunglasses. Lucky the guy there managed to get it back. Embarrassing moment for me. My legs and boots got dirty and muddy. Well, anyway, after this ride, we took the boat back. This time the ride back seemed to be much faster. Then again, coz i sleep all the way back. Haha.

Then we took the mini bus home. Eh, no we took the bus to this place seafood place and ate seafood. The food is so nice. When we first go up, the stairs are so tiny and high, the guys kept staring the girls from head to toe. The girls meaning Jess and Sop. Jess was like 'OMG, it's my hair colour right.' Then she go on bout her salon person again.
Then came the prawn. It was still fresh from the bbq, so Jess being scared of things hot did not want to open the shell. I helped her. In the process eating all the head. The adults think that Jess did not know how to open the shell, so they open it for her. At the same time giving me all the head. Oh man, im hungry typing this all down. Oh, we cross the road for the first time. It was no big deal. Coz in Indo, you cant even step on the road side, let alone cross. So ya, no big deal.

2nd Dec, we went to the museum. What to say, er.. interesting facts. I mean, very disturbing and sad stuff. Well, but we found this article that got the FUCK on it. So enjoy.

Then we walked all the way to the ben tanh market.(is that how you spell it?) Anyway, we look look around. Never really buy anything. Coz, they say we are going there again in the last day to shop. But of coz, that did not happen. Anyway, we went to the bookstore. Bought some books for Jess. Notebooks that is. Coz, Sop cant find any English book. While me, i bought a magazine. Soccer mag. Hehe. Cant change me that much.
Next, we go to the supermarket. Sop laugh at us. She said that we buy stuff that they have in Singapore. Yes we did, but not all. And the stuff there cost so much cheaper. Lastly, we went to this cafe drink my first ca phe sua da. Pronounce cafe ser da(coffee with milk and ice). Then we watch a game of soccer. Repeated one. I think it was Newcastle vs Mancity. Well, it was Newcastle vs someone.

3rd Dec, we went to Cuchi(gucci) tunnel. It is a place where the Vietnam people hid during the war. The dug up the tunnel for hiding purposes. The American was huge comparing to them., So the tunnel is a good place to hide. When we enter the place, we had to pay like $7.50. But local people only had to pay $2.50. So when we got in the place, we all had to keep quiet. Sop grandfather make it even bigger. He told the guard that they should take a walk while he guard the place. Coz he used to be the one guarding the place. Then, the guards just keep quiet and let us all past. At first we watch a presentation. Then we took a walk around the ground. Then, we went into the tunnel. But Jess could not get in. I mean, the tunnel is really tiny. And every time you got in, the person in charge will have to go in with you. So ya, good thing Jess didn't got in. But you know, there is no Santa Clause in small tunnels.


And here us eating tapioca. The food they eat during the war.
After that we went to take the bus and went around the place. See some land that Sop granddad bought. Then we ate lunch. After that, we went fishing. I mean, they went fishing. I just stand to one side and watch. Did i tell you i hate fish?


4th Dec, after the night playing cards, we woke up with nothing better to do. So, that was what we did. Nothing. The whole day, we just chill and chat i guess. Then at night, we got ready to go to Vung Tau. But, we got no bag. So we went out to buy bag. We walked all the way from the house. It was a long way. Then after buying a bag, we went to the supermarket. Oh, we ate beef noodles. So supermarket. We took one trolley and filled it with junk food. We go down aisle after aisle and just put food into the trolley. Then, we start all over again. We end up with 3 huge plastic bag of food. Way to grow fat!!
So, Jess know I'm weak and she took the plastic bag and carried it all the way home. I mean the bag is heavy but she refuse help. What is wrong with that girl?
When we reached home. Cuong came over and we play cards again. This time we played up in the attic. Sop's uncle and Cuong lost and their punishment is to run around the eastate. We had to sneak all the way outside. Then at one part, Cuong jump on uncle's back and he fell. His foot bleed. But he still had to run all the way. 3 rounds to go. They had to run 4 rounds in total. Pity full.
Ounch!!

The Wedding of the Year

I just forgot. On the 1st day, they gave us each a teddy. I got a brown and white one. Jess a pink and orange one. I like pink, i should get those, but since that's what they buy us, so i guess ok. Oh, Sop's one is a big dog. For being the 2nd in level. And my teddy, which i name Jon, is very sad looking. I guess that's because he will miss the Milan match on 5 Dec. Haha. So ya, why Jon you ask? That's because the poly guy name is Jon. Ok, that is not the real reason. It is because, Sop wrote us a short story each. And my character end up with her high school sweetheart but-never-been Jon. So ya, Jon is my teddy. Which will end up belong to Kelly.
Oh, btw, we cant really sleep at night coz everyone was doing their own Kbox stuff. And they made us go down and feed us porridge. We just had our dinner not long ago. Only a few hours there, and they already feed us non stop. It is way dangerous. For me that is. I need to lose weight.
So i woke up beside Jess. I slept with her. Sop sleep on the floor. Then we got dressed and stuff. Our breakfast was the one dollar 'subway'. Sop throw away the chili. She told us to throw away the yellow vegetable which is actually chili. But, Jess didn't see it and she just ate it. So ya. Spicy moment. Anyway, Sop wanted to wear her Friday the thirteen shirt, lucky we talk her out of it. The wedding ceremony was kind of formal. The guys are all in shirt and tie. I guessed i dressed the least formal, but i don't have any clothes.
Anyway, we got down, and they told us to stand on one straight line and stuff. Then, the groom side of the family came over. They walked in one by one. The whole thing kind of normal. So nothing big deal. Skip to the part where all the groom side people(all guys) carrying stuff to be pass on to us. So these guys, stood opposite us. Then, they handed us whatever they are holding. My God, mine is heavy like shit. I wonder what is in it. (we found out days later that it maybe fruits) Lucky Jess, she said hers is not heavy. So the guy, who is Cuong, asked me to switch with him. I was like what the heck, now then switch. He should earlier. Doesn't matter. Better late than never. So we switched, and his one is also heavy. I guessed after carrying a heavy weight for some times, you carry something lighter, but you will feel the weight of it. So we carried it all the way to the 3rd floor. Then we down again and wait.
Jessie was crying and she wanted to go in the house. But we made her stay. Then she stick to Jess like glue. But later on she moved to Sop. She ate the jelly provided on the table. But she only ate the top part. Coz the below is coffee flavored. Coz we all use toothpick to eat, which is really hard to take the jelly with. But Jessie managed to take it. And she was showing off. Then because she did that, when she tried to put it into her mouth, the jelly drop. She tried again. This time, she just put it in her mouth without showing us first. Well, that is the funny moment of the day.
We sat at the table with the guest from Singapore. Uncle Paul was there and telling all about Vietnam. The escargot, the egg which has the duckling inside. And his last time trip to Vietnam, how he got injured and the doctor had to stitch his leg up with the needle from the chicken essence bottle.
Finally, the bride and groom came out of the house. The bride looked so stunning. Anyway, we were once again busied with pictures taking and stuff. Finally, they went to the groom's house. We were stuck in the house doing nothing. In the end we decided to sleep. At around 4, we were done with our makeup and stuff. Turn out we need to get ready before 5 not 4. But hey, for once we are early. So ya, the lil kids want to put on makeup too. Jesey is one lucky girl. Sop did her dress, me did makeup, Jess did hair.
So we are done. We went down and waited outside. Sop's mom drop her earring and it broke. We took taxi and reached 'Happy Garden 2'. The place where the wedding took place. When we entered, the happy garden girls were lined up in wedding gown and greeting the guests. We gave the present to some receptionist people. We sat at some table, then they moved us. Pity the waiter there, coz he had took off the chopstick thing, the cover. Then he already add ice to our cup. But so we moved, to the female side of the guest and way more in front.
Our new waiter is a long lost twin of Leckzhi. He so totally look like Leckzhi. From the side. He stands like him. And he is as short as him. Then again, its just natural for Vietnam people to be short. Anyway, we were seated with Sop uncle and aunts and with Sop's youngest uncle's ex-gf. She was seated there and felt left out. Blame us for not speaking her language.
Through out the middle she cried and went home. The excuse was that her uncle was ignoring her. Well, the whole wedding was fun. There were singing performance from friends and family. We 3 just sat there and talk among ourselves and gossip bout 'Leckzhi'. Everything went well. When we go home that time, 3 guys talk to us. The bad news is we don't understand whatever they were saying. Man, language barrier sucks.