Après la pluie

Quan an ngon, HCMC, Vietnam, September 2009

A Vietnamese restaurant for once very popular with both Vietnamese people and expats. However, I have heard that like many nice buildings in District 1, it will soon be knocked down to build new office buildings. In any case, a new QAN with a similar architecture is soon going to open at 160 Pasteur. The vinegar hot pot is exquisite.

Shoes and cafe sua da

HCMC, Vietnam, September 2009

Vietnamese (chic) shoe shop.

Altars are nearly everywhere in Vietnam: houses, pubs and even the "billards" in front of the office have one...

Iris

Opera house, ceiling, Ho Chi Minh City, September 2009

Saturday night was my first evening at the opera of Saigon. After a crazy taxi ride to get there right on time, we realized that we left the tickets at home. The charm and patience of S got us in though.

We had a very nice evening. We purchased the tickets without knowing what the program was as it was written in Vietnamese. It ended up being contemporary dance and the choreography seemed a little influenced by Philippe Découflé.

Dance and theatre. Beauty and laughter.

And comes the ponytail back

Little girl playing in a temple in Siem Reap, Cambodgia, January 2009

Picked up S at the airport last night. The road to the airport was blocked because of construction work going on. Of course, the cars decided to ride on the big sidewalk instead. Suddenly, a huge noise. Flat tyre. We hit a big rock which was in the middle of the sidewalk. Therefore, I was slightly late at the airport, but late enough for the whole Filipino info connection to be set off ;) Always amazed how that really works well.

We have already reached an agreement for the w-end, S shall lead the shopping activities and I shall lead the food activities.

Shaved head and no more ponytail

Angkor Vat, Cambodge, January 2009

The sun is back in Saigon.

Ceci n'est pas Magritte

Pagode des parfums, Hue, Vietnam, August 2009

My good friend from the Philippines is coming over this w-end to shop and eat. Though I do not care much about the first activity, I am hopeful we will focus on the second. Starting to prepare myself to eat for more than 48 hours.

Other than that, Stephen Fry noted that it is a cliche that most cliches are true, but then like most cliches, that cliche is untrue.

Meanwhile, rain continues flowing down the sky here in Saigon.

Classical beauty

Con Dao, Vietnam, August 2009

It's been raining cats and dogs lately.

One of the brothels right in front of my window office had some sort of blessing this afternoon. Lucky money was thrown out by the ladies and the pimps and fake money was burnt on the sidewalk.

From my somewhat conservative practice, straight from my window, there are two brothels stuck in between a luxurious cafe and a bakery. Under the cover name of "billiards", they are actually quite lucrative businesses which start work as soon as it is dusk. Around 6PM, despite the soundproof windows, I hear the ladies calling customers in. Seeing by the window guys pretending to hesitate and be forced to get in by their friends or colleagues is actually a daily sight here. Traditional (and universal) profession, I guess.

Smiling chubby buddha

Around Dalat, Vietnam, February 2009

Nuages bas

Con Dao, Vietnam, August 2009

Gravity and chocolate cake

Citadelle, Hue, Vietnam, July 2009

For dinner: delicious salad, lasagna and home made chocolate cake or the advantage of having a great flatmate who knows how to cook and bake.

Perspectives

Bridge somewhere on the way from Ben Tre to My Tho, Vietnam, July 2009