I think I was just asked my room number near the elevators to ensure I was not an early morning call girl.
I am dressed in my uniform sans jacket and just went out for a delightful cappuccino and an early morning walk around the hotel. Our plane is delayed by 20 minutes and I wish it were delayed by a whole day or more. I am in the Eternal City, one of my favorite of all time.
Once more I was the lucky recipient of an airport alert assignment and although it took two days in a row of warming the couch, I am so happy to be on this trip. This is what I live for, the brass ring which I only hold seldom but what keeps me coming back for more. All the elements were in place on this journey, a wide body plane, great crew (one crazy but that is normal), my favorite position in business first, crew that actually wanted to go out, combined with my favorite country in the world. If this is what I was able to do every time I packed for the airport, the decision to stay with this job would be a no brainer. But here is the thing: to “hold Rome” takes 20 years seniority. Really? I am going bonkers at 3 years with no line in sight.
Back to the silver lining. The group that gathered to wander around the most famous city in the world was two friends and a new girl who was sweet as could be. Our tour guide was a Columbian who thought he could talk his way around the city and we let him. He took us to every point on the cross in Angels and Demons and answered our pleas to go to the mouth of truth as well. Momentarily I was channeling Audrey as I suck my hand into the mouth and posed for a photo. It was so much fun to hang people to hang out with and of course not to have to beg strangers to take my photo. The only thing that would have made this journey better is a trip to the supermarket to load up on my favorite things but at last it is closed.
This I know for sure, I will always return to Italy, I have no doubt.
30 May 2009
27 May 2009
chicken fried, cold beer on a friday night..
My decision to call sick was not like a bill to pass Congress, it only took a little nudge. I had some trouble with my gums prior in the weekend and the thought of them getting worse with flying, the fact I was assigned to work a trip with the crazy flower lady, and the invite for a great weekend lay before me made the case for the late night phone call.
The next morning we met on St Marks for the upcoming journey. I was assigned to a cook off team and was asked to wear a redneck costume for the meeting of the van. Only having a few hours to come up with something, I gave myself a black eye and then taped a confederate flag made from crayon to my chest with the illusion of being pregnant.
It took a couple of hours to get out the city and we hit traffic along the way but the eight hours in ol' Gertie paved the way to a fantastic weekend with many laugh-out-loud moments. We met up with Mama Sue and Don Caesar and left the pavement. Country tunes provided the perfect background music for the ride to cabin. When first told of this Redneck Weekend and a cabin in the woods of West Virginia I was ready to rough it, sleep in a tent without showering for days. I was more than pleasantly surprised to find a house in the woods with all the modern convinces. I did elect to sleep on the porch swing for fresh air and to really feel like I was out in the woods.
The Friday team made us wear togas, take multiple jello shots, and eat burgers from the grill. Afterwards we sat out on the back porch and talked into the wee hours of the morning. Drew got on a roll with telling stories and the three who were left standing loved every minute of it. The next day we donned our "Redneck Ranch" tee shirts and went into town for supplies. We headed to the local WalMart and wandered about with local eyes attempting to read and understand our tee shirts. I took this opportunity to practice my southern drawl and attempted to talk to as many locals as possible. Meanwhile across the store Beth had to translate the questions posed by our French friend with his accent. (Mind you he speaks impeccable English).
Back to the cabin and down to the creek for a little sun and cooling off in the water. Miller Lite was never far from our reach.
The Saturday team brought the elegance of the city to our cabin with a gorgeous fish dinner and the theme of pineapple through out. After dinner we played a game and then JR got his guitar out and we sang along til four in the morning.
I chose to drink Jack along with the boys so my headache was not well received. Instead Kate and I went on a high for a couple of hours and provided each other with therapy. When we returned we all got together and headed down to the creek. A little more standing in the water prior to our attempt at kayaking.
The Sunday team (including yours truly) fixed a traditional southern dish called old country boil. We started our evening off with sampling of four different kinds of Boones and the appetizers of wheat thins and cheeze whiz. Since they threw a northern in the mix, I insisted on some greenery. I made my famous Fiji apple, Gorgonzola salad. It ended up to be redneck because I forgot to pick up the correct cheese and had to substitute some serious cheddar. The main dish, the perfect finish to the weekend was laid out on table of newspaper. The fresh boiled corn, shrimp, sausage, and red potatoes was one of the best things I have ever had. Of course the miller lite made it even better. Our dessert was apples in crescent rolls with butter and cinnamon with a mountain dew over it.
Our team won the cook off hands down and was presented with aprons for our efforts. The games of horse shoes, toilet lid toss, and pumpkin spitting were dominated by JR who received a beer can telephone.
Once again we stayed up talking until the wee hours of the morning before heading back to the big city. Our drive was broken up with a stop at Cracker Barrel where I chose the chicken fried chicken with mac and cheese, apple dressing, and green beans, along with my sweet tea and biscuits.
It was the perfect weekend with good friends, good food, and many memories. I am so blessed to have a been a redneck...at least for the long weekend.
The next morning we met on St Marks for the upcoming journey. I was assigned to a cook off team and was asked to wear a redneck costume for the meeting of the van. Only having a few hours to come up with something, I gave myself a black eye and then taped a confederate flag made from crayon to my chest with the illusion of being pregnant.
It took a couple of hours to get out the city and we hit traffic along the way but the eight hours in ol' Gertie paved the way to a fantastic weekend with many laugh-out-loud moments. We met up with Mama Sue and Don Caesar and left the pavement. Country tunes provided the perfect background music for the ride to cabin. When first told of this Redneck Weekend and a cabin in the woods of West Virginia I was ready to rough it, sleep in a tent without showering for days. I was more than pleasantly surprised to find a house in the woods with all the modern convinces. I did elect to sleep on the porch swing for fresh air and to really feel like I was out in the woods.
The Friday team made us wear togas, take multiple jello shots, and eat burgers from the grill. Afterwards we sat out on the back porch and talked into the wee hours of the morning. Drew got on a roll with telling stories and the three who were left standing loved every minute of it. The next day we donned our "Redneck Ranch" tee shirts and went into town for supplies. We headed to the local WalMart and wandered about with local eyes attempting to read and understand our tee shirts. I took this opportunity to practice my southern drawl and attempted to talk to as many locals as possible. Meanwhile across the store Beth had to translate the questions posed by our French friend with his accent. (Mind you he speaks impeccable English).
Back to the cabin and down to the creek for a little sun and cooling off in the water. Miller Lite was never far from our reach.
The Saturday team brought the elegance of the city to our cabin with a gorgeous fish dinner and the theme of pineapple through out. After dinner we played a game and then JR got his guitar out and we sang along til four in the morning.
I chose to drink Jack along with the boys so my headache was not well received. Instead Kate and I went on a high for a couple of hours and provided each other with therapy. When we returned we all got together and headed down to the creek. A little more standing in the water prior to our attempt at kayaking.
The Sunday team (including yours truly) fixed a traditional southern dish called old country boil. We started our evening off with sampling of four different kinds of Boones and the appetizers of wheat thins and cheeze whiz. Since they threw a northern in the mix, I insisted on some greenery. I made my famous Fiji apple, Gorgonzola salad. It ended up to be redneck because I forgot to pick up the correct cheese and had to substitute some serious cheddar. The main dish, the perfect finish to the weekend was laid out on table of newspaper. The fresh boiled corn, shrimp, sausage, and red potatoes was one of the best things I have ever had. Of course the miller lite made it even better. Our dessert was apples in crescent rolls with butter and cinnamon with a mountain dew over it.
Our team won the cook off hands down and was presented with aprons for our efforts. The games of horse shoes, toilet lid toss, and pumpkin spitting were dominated by JR who received a beer can telephone.
Once again we stayed up talking until the wee hours of the morning before heading back to the big city. Our drive was broken up with a stop at Cracker Barrel where I chose the chicken fried chicken with mac and cheese, apple dressing, and green beans, along with my sweet tea and biscuits.
It was the perfect weekend with good friends, good food, and many memories. I am so blessed to have a been a redneck...at least for the long weekend.
19 May 2009
old blog
I had a private blog once upon a time. A place for the output of my feelings without fear of being judged. I just read a few of my old post and thought I would share...
tuesday, april 25, 2006
ten year old haunt
Mistakes that follow you around for ten years are usually relationships haunts that people hold on to. I tend to forget about the relationship and the feelings and just remember the lesson I learned with that partner. Actually, it is difficult to even remember what it was like to be with my past interests. I won't call them loves, because I am unsure if I have ever truly experienced it. Sure I have had the crushes, the butterflies, the need-to-be-with-you-everydays, the care deeply for, but undying, this-is-it LOVE...not yet. Anyway back on track, my mistake was that of having a fake id, scratch that, it was getting caught with a fake id. I just returned from a private detectives office that could be in an old movie, up the dimlight stairwell into the office with beveled glass that bost of the name of the detective. I had to get fingerprinted in order to finish with the expungement process of hiding my nineteen year old mistake from all visible eyes but mine and that of my lawyer. Applying for an airline means that they do an FBI background check on you and you have to come clean about things in the past. And to add to the insult of this all, I have to plead for forgiveness from the Canadian government for my "crime" in order to gain entry. If someone would have pulled me aside at the bar, that fatefull night in 1996 and told me that I would be paying for my stupidity ten years later, I would have gladly went home and got an ice cream or done something I could legally do. All of this effort is due to me chasing after my dream of being a flight attendant (ie. seeing the world on a budget) and the break that came to me Friday afternoon, an interview in Chicago with the number one airline in the nation. I am doing everything in my power to nail this interview, I am ready to fly.
tuesday, april 25, 2006
ten year old haunt
Mistakes that follow you around for ten years are usually relationships haunts that people hold on to. I tend to forget about the relationship and the feelings and just remember the lesson I learned with that partner. Actually, it is difficult to even remember what it was like to be with my past interests. I won't call them loves, because I am unsure if I have ever truly experienced it. Sure I have had the crushes, the butterflies, the need-to-be-with-you-everydays, the care deeply for, but undying, this-is-it LOVE...not yet. Anyway back on track, my mistake was that of having a fake id, scratch that, it was getting caught with a fake id. I just returned from a private detectives office that could be in an old movie, up the dimlight stairwell into the office with beveled glass that bost of the name of the detective. I had to get fingerprinted in order to finish with the expungement process of hiding my nineteen year old mistake from all visible eyes but mine and that of my lawyer. Applying for an airline means that they do an FBI background check on you and you have to come clean about things in the past. And to add to the insult of this all, I have to plead for forgiveness from the Canadian government for my "crime" in order to gain entry. If someone would have pulled me aside at the bar, that fatefull night in 1996 and told me that I would be paying for my stupidity ten years later, I would have gladly went home and got an ice cream or done something I could legally do. All of this effort is due to me chasing after my dream of being a flight attendant (ie. seeing the world on a budget) and the break that came to me Friday afternoon, an interview in Chicago with the number one airline in the nation. I am doing everything in my power to nail this interview, I am ready to fly.
four day birmingham
I am such a foul mood, and I would love to shake it. It am going to attribute it to the rain and to the stupidity of the cashier at Marks and Spencer. Yes that will do.
I am on a four day trip, the second trip ever longer than the usual layover. I picked it up with hopes of a reunion with my jr high teacher in Wales and the chance to be away from the apartment and its oddness for a day longer. Much to my dismay my roommate was home Sunday morning playing dj music at noon. It got me out of bed and forced me out for a coffee and a walk around. When I returned there was a guy coming out of our bathroom. He approached me and asked if I was Jases roommate. Uhm, duh. Yes. He introduced himself but his name didn't stick as I looked into his bloodshot eyes. He swayed with the music booming out of the other bedroom as his arms rose every couple of eight counts. He blocked my way to my room and asked what I was doing. I told him that I just got a coffee and now I have to get ready for work. He was perplexed by the fact I had to work on a Sunday. I made the mistake of telling him I was a flight attendant. His blood shot eyes and large pupils grew even larger. He then asked me if he could see me later. No, I replied, I am leaving town. He then just asked me out directly. I quickly replied I had a boyfriend and he asked me if I was sure. What I am sure about at this point was the fact that my coffee was about to wind up on him if he kept blocking my path. I held my story in tack and then told him to get out of my way. After a long shower, I was putting on my make up and there was a knock at my door. Sidenote: my roommate and I are down to texting and emailing each other as forms of communication, I answer my door and there was strung-out asking me if I wanted to order food with them. I replied no thank you. Food? The drug I thought he was on wouldn't want to eat, pot maybe? I didn't smell anything in the house. I got the hell out of there lickity spilt.
The flight over was pleasant minus one passenger who try as I might to win her over to my "drop the attitude" club she won't budge. I don't really care for women in first class for this reason and others that are obvious. My galley guy was not only a Northwestern but anal as all get out. We got along fabulously. We met up along with some other crew members for dinner and a play at the Royal Shakespearean Theatre. It was Julius Caesar and done brilliantly.
I had planned to rent a car today and drive to Wales. I wanted to put another country under my belt and it would be fun to drive on the other side of the road. I awoke to rain and decided against the journey as my old teacher was actually stateside and I didn't have anyone to road trip with me. Instead I walked crossed the bridge into the small quaint, very expensive town. I wandered in and out stores and each time I emerged it was a different sky. When hunger set in, I decided to go to M&S for a quick, cheap sandwich. While at the register I asked where I could eat my lunch as most have a small cafe. The idiot cashier once getting my request understood conferences with three other people before returning a blank look to me. You would have thought I asked about the Queen's hangnail...that they may have known about. So I grabbed my lunch and sat on the steps of their delivery door and ate my salad as people walked by and stared and my toes got wet from the mist.
I gave up on my day out and went back into the market and stocked up on supplies for the rest of the day in. Hoping there is a good movie on but bought the dirt book about Madonna for two pounds just in case.
I am grateful not to be at home. Rain or no rain, this is much better than being hit on in a place I pay to rest my head.
I am on a four day trip, the second trip ever longer than the usual layover. I picked it up with hopes of a reunion with my jr high teacher in Wales and the chance to be away from the apartment and its oddness for a day longer. Much to my dismay my roommate was home Sunday morning playing dj music at noon. It got me out of bed and forced me out for a coffee and a walk around. When I returned there was a guy coming out of our bathroom. He approached me and asked if I was Jases roommate. Uhm, duh. Yes. He introduced himself but his name didn't stick as I looked into his bloodshot eyes. He swayed with the music booming out of the other bedroom as his arms rose every couple of eight counts. He blocked my way to my room and asked what I was doing. I told him that I just got a coffee and now I have to get ready for work. He was perplexed by the fact I had to work on a Sunday. I made the mistake of telling him I was a flight attendant. His blood shot eyes and large pupils grew even larger. He then asked me if he could see me later. No, I replied, I am leaving town. He then just asked me out directly. I quickly replied I had a boyfriend and he asked me if I was sure. What I am sure about at this point was the fact that my coffee was about to wind up on him if he kept blocking my path. I held my story in tack and then told him to get out of my way. After a long shower, I was putting on my make up and there was a knock at my door. Sidenote: my roommate and I are down to texting and emailing each other as forms of communication, I answer my door and there was strung-out asking me if I wanted to order food with them. I replied no thank you. Food? The drug I thought he was on wouldn't want to eat, pot maybe? I didn't smell anything in the house. I got the hell out of there lickity spilt.
The flight over was pleasant minus one passenger who try as I might to win her over to my "drop the attitude" club she won't budge. I don't really care for women in first class for this reason and others that are obvious. My galley guy was not only a Northwestern but anal as all get out. We got along fabulously. We met up along with some other crew members for dinner and a play at the Royal Shakespearean Theatre. It was Julius Caesar and done brilliantly.
I had planned to rent a car today and drive to Wales. I wanted to put another country under my belt and it would be fun to drive on the other side of the road. I awoke to rain and decided against the journey as my old teacher was actually stateside and I didn't have anyone to road trip with me. Instead I walked crossed the bridge into the small quaint, very expensive town. I wandered in and out stores and each time I emerged it was a different sky. When hunger set in, I decided to go to M&S for a quick, cheap sandwich. While at the register I asked where I could eat my lunch as most have a small cafe. The idiot cashier once getting my request understood conferences with three other people before returning a blank look to me. You would have thought I asked about the Queen's hangnail...that they may have known about. So I grabbed my lunch and sat on the steps of their delivery door and ate my salad as people walked by and stared and my toes got wet from the mist.
I gave up on my day out and went back into the market and stocked up on supplies for the rest of the day in. Hoping there is a good movie on but bought the dirt book about Madonna for two pounds just in case.
I am grateful not to be at home. Rain or no rain, this is much better than being hit on in a place I pay to rest my head.
14 May 2009
packing it up
I have packed up my place, now room so many times in my head when things were dark and grey. But today when I have started this act tangible, it is overwhelming. Not for the idea that I am packing it up with Oregon as my outcome but instead of all the shit I have. I live in a 10x15 room for god sake! I wonder what I need for the next three months, what I can live without and what I might want to wear. It is all ridiculous considering I just survived ten days with a backpack. I wonder how I am going to get all this stuff back and wished I lived closer so I could just jump on a plane and go back and forth. I can't, I need to stay here and make money. I am ready to fill in shifts and get my head above water. I am in complete survival mode now, surviving my roommate, we have resolved to talk via email and that is fine by me. Surviving financially and emotionally. I long to be home and to be able to meet some one for a movie. My friends here have other things going on, as I am one to talk with just now getting back into town after three weeks.
I knew that my decision was correct when returning from Vietnam. On the bus journey home, I glanced to the skyline which always makes me smile either externally or inside, "hey I get to live there" and there was nothing. Complete apathy for the city. It could be attributed to my exhaustion but still yesterday on the way home, the same thing. Soon it will be over, this journey. Soon this struggle and loneliness will cease.
Or so I hope.
I knew that my decision was correct when returning from Vietnam. On the bus journey home, I glanced to the skyline which always makes me smile either externally or inside, "hey I get to live there" and there was nothing. Complete apathy for the city. It could be attributed to my exhaustion but still yesterday on the way home, the same thing. Soon it will be over, this journey. Soon this struggle and loneliness will cease.
Or so I hope.
10 May 2009
still here
My day in NRT:
arrived at 0730
washed face, brushed teeth, freshened up
missed bus to terminal 1
had vietnamase guy share his negative insight of the world
made bus an hour later
got here on my id only
used internet
ate McDonalds (craving western food)
got sick
got a push cart
walked the entire length of concourse
stopped in every store
purchased random things
stopped in drug store
purchase stomach elixer
used internet
wandered more
went back and purchased ear picks for the novelity of them
had lunch
wandered more
stopped at Starbucks for coffee
read my book
had some guy come talk to me for an hour or so...nice but lost me when he asked if Paris was in Italy...he is American...enough said
got facial and hand massage
wandered back to gate, plane still delayed
used internet
just got paged to the CO desk
leaving now with my trusty cart...feel like a bag lady
arrived at 0730
washed face, brushed teeth, freshened up
missed bus to terminal 1
had vietnamase guy share his negative insight of the world
made bus an hour later
got here on my id only
used internet
ate McDonalds (craving western food)
got sick
got a push cart
walked the entire length of concourse
stopped in every store
purchased random things
stopped in drug store
purchase stomach elixer
used internet
wandered more
went back and purchased ear picks for the novelity of them
had lunch
wandered more
stopped at Starbucks for coffee
read my book
had some guy come talk to me for an hour or so...nice but lost me when he asked if Paris was in Italy...he is American...enough said
got facial and hand massage
wandered back to gate, plane still delayed
used internet
just got paged to the CO desk
leaving now with my trusty cart...feel like a bag lady
09 May 2009
long part of the journey
It is always exhausting going home; even though I have been thinking about and been ready for it for days. I was able to take a quick shower before grabbing a cab out of the motorbike chaos of Saigon, then I waited for my flight to Narita and some guy who was on the flight to Hanoi with me came up and jawed my ear off. My sleep was once again restless and I figure it is because my legs are too damn long for that plane.
I arrived in Narita and made my way over to the other terminal on my id alone as I have yet to print out a boarding pass. I learned that my flight is now four hours delayed bring my total time here to 13 hours.
I am bored, I have gone in every shop there is. I ate some western food only to have my stomach give me the what for. Luckily there is a pharmacy here in the giant airport so I picked myself up some exliar and will stick to Japanesse food for lunch. I am debating on a shower or a facial, I can't afford both and I don't think they take dong here!
24 hours or so till I am in my bed. My bed in my messy room...let's not think about that right now!
I arrived in Narita and made my way over to the other terminal on my id alone as I have yet to print out a boarding pass. I learned that my flight is now four hours delayed bring my total time here to 13 hours.
I am bored, I have gone in every shop there is. I ate some western food only to have my stomach give me the what for. Luckily there is a pharmacy here in the giant airport so I picked myself up some exliar and will stick to Japanesse food for lunch. I am debating on a shower or a facial, I can't afford both and I don't think they take dong here!
24 hours or so till I am in my bed. My bed in my messy room...let's not think about that right now!
the end days of Vietnam
My first day in Saigon was good, I got a little hustled by a cyclo driver but the agreed price was paid at the end of the journey through town, to the insane market place, and to some pagodas. I also gave him here the here's what with New Yorkers and talk him the word extorsion. It was great to see things and it would honestly take days to explore the whole city, it is huge. After dropping off some shopping I regrouped and headed back out. I wandered around District 1 stopping for a beer and then having dinner. I also did a little souviner shopping and then headed home. On the way my damn flip flop broke and I was reduced to giving in to the incesant "motorbike?" request. I showered and scrubbed the hell out of my right foot and went to bed. It was the first time I had to set an alarm since my holiday began.
I organized my things and headed off to the booking office to catch my tour to the cu chi tunnels. I was sent on my way with breakfast and a loner pair of shoes from my guesthouse. I met a few Candaians on the journey but spent most of the time reading up on the upcoming places and enjoying "Slim Jim" conduct the tour. He was comical..."the bigger the bike the bigger the girl!" His english was learned from Aussies, Brits, and a few Americans so his antidotes were sometimes mixed together but still funny and educational.
Our first stop was a temple with the mix of four religions, one made up that escapes me now (their pope died in 1959 and they have yet to elect another one) Buddist, Catholic, and Islamic. They all gather in this godly decorated temple on nine different steps four times a day for service. It was bazzar to say the least.
After that we drove by the alley in which the famous "burning girl" was photographed. Lunch at some random place was next and I made friends with a guy from Toronto and we just laughed at the organized chaos.
On to Cu Chi where we watched a film on how the VC used incrediable tactics to win what they dub the "American War". We walked around the forrest where most of the war took place in the south. The rain poured down and all I could think about (instead of the bullshit war) was Forrest Gump talking about the rain coming down in big drops, sideway rain, and rain coming straight up.
"Gump, get in the hole!"
"Yes sir!"
We saw the booby traps and how they were constructed. And then came the fun part. We could shot a gun and I am not talking about the guns I shot grown up, big boy guns. I was the first to sign up and choose the AK47. Talk about a rush!
After I couldn't heard a damn thing but my adreline was pumping we crawled through a 100 meter tunnel. Most people could squat and gave up and went out the short cuts, I crawled on my hands and knees till the end. It was awesome.
We ended with "big party at long table with tapicoa and tea". I was expecting pudding but instead we ate potato like something with crushed peanuts and washed it down with a sip of tea.
I organized my things and headed off to the booking office to catch my tour to the cu chi tunnels. I was sent on my way with breakfast and a loner pair of shoes from my guesthouse. I met a few Candaians on the journey but spent most of the time reading up on the upcoming places and enjoying "Slim Jim" conduct the tour. He was comical..."the bigger the bike the bigger the girl!" His english was learned from Aussies, Brits, and a few Americans so his antidotes were sometimes mixed together but still funny and educational.
Our first stop was a temple with the mix of four religions, one made up that escapes me now (their pope died in 1959 and they have yet to elect another one) Buddist, Catholic, and Islamic. They all gather in this godly decorated temple on nine different steps four times a day for service. It was bazzar to say the least.
After that we drove by the alley in which the famous "burning girl" was photographed. Lunch at some random place was next and I made friends with a guy from Toronto and we just laughed at the organized chaos.
On to Cu Chi where we watched a film on how the VC used incrediable tactics to win what they dub the "American War". We walked around the forrest where most of the war took place in the south. The rain poured down and all I could think about (instead of the bullshit war) was Forrest Gump talking about the rain coming down in big drops, sideway rain, and rain coming straight up.
"Gump, get in the hole!"
"Yes sir!"
We saw the booby traps and how they were constructed. And then came the fun part. We could shot a gun and I am not talking about the guns I shot grown up, big boy guns. I was the first to sign up and choose the AK47. Talk about a rush!
After I couldn't heard a damn thing but my adreline was pumping we crawled through a 100 meter tunnel. Most people could squat and gave up and went out the short cuts, I crawled on my hands and knees till the end. It was awesome.
We ended with "big party at long table with tapicoa and tea". I was expecting pudding but instead we ate potato like something with crushed peanuts and washed it down with a sip of tea.
08 May 2009
saigon
I beginning to feel like a true traveler, a true backpacker even. I was the expert on the bus last night and had the routine down to a science. I stopped drinking water an hour and a half prior. My longshelve tee shirt and pashmina was the perfet warmth, my bag was locked into place, my water from a hook next to me, one newly purchased Valium and I woke up 30 minutes prior to arriving in Saigon. I was refreshed and ready to find the hotel recomended to me from travelers going the other way. I offered my suggestions to them in return. After assuring my room was clean and I would only be charged for one night, my guard came down. A three hour nap was a bit of a time waster, but long over due. Some info from the westerners in the lobby as sent me on my way to the backpackers road to book a tour.
I stopped and ate street food and it was one of the best things I ever had.
This day is devoted to wandering about, it will take a bit to get my barrings but nothing to commit to, no time restraints for today, just me and the city of motorbikes.
I stopped and ate street food and it was one of the best things I ever had.
This day is devoted to wandering about, it will take a bit to get my barrings but nothing to commit to, no time restraints for today, just me and the city of motorbikes.
06 May 2009
vietnam day 7
After meeting my friends for a farewell beer, I waited for the next bus ride and tried to infultrate the group of Brits. They were pleasant and good to chat with but went there separate ways once we arrive in Nah Trang.
This sleeper bus was nicer than the last. More leg room, the seat sat up as well as reclined, they didn't play Vietnamase music videos at all hours, nor did we pick up thirty other people who laid on the floor. Also my bag managed to get off this one instead of me chasing down the bus via motorbike. The draw back to this one was the lav was locked. I peed at the first stop and it was the grossest toliet I have every been in. I took a small sip of water to gratefully down the Valium Mike gave me and crashed out until 0500. The bus ride was super bumpy and there were times I felt the bus was going to either crash into something or tip over. Looking back, I might be able to contribute this to the drug but I did awake with my seatbelt on.
So here I am on the South China Beach. I have yet to make it over there but it looks nice. My twelve hours here will just be spent wandering around. Breakfast is on the agenda as well as one of those iced coffees.
This sleeper bus was nicer than the last. More leg room, the seat sat up as well as reclined, they didn't play Vietnamase music videos at all hours, nor did we pick up thirty other people who laid on the floor. Also my bag managed to get off this one instead of me chasing down the bus via motorbike. The draw back to this one was the lav was locked. I peed at the first stop and it was the grossest toliet I have every been in. I took a small sip of water to gratefully down the Valium Mike gave me and crashed out until 0500. The bus ride was super bumpy and there were times I felt the bus was going to either crash into something or tip over. Looking back, I might be able to contribute this to the drug but I did awake with my seatbelt on.
So here I am on the South China Beach. I have yet to make it over there but it looks nice. My twelve hours here will just be spent wandering around. Breakfast is on the agenda as well as one of those iced coffees.
vietnam (lost track of the days)
My day has been good, I awoke at 730 and wandered about. My breakfast was an iced coffee and lemon pancake. I wrote postcards while soaking up the warmth of the morning. After my tailor shop opened I followed my tempation to be adventurous and rented a motorbike.
I explained to the guy that it was my first time so he gave me a quick lesson in stop and go. I guess that is all you really need. I made a turn into old town where the streets were quieter so I could get a feel for the bike and was whistled at by a police officer. Motorbikes were not allowed. He came and turned off my engine. I stared walking the bike back to a main rode but was unable to move the bike. Luckily a westerner came up and helped me put the bike in neutral. A couple of blocks later I climbed on the bike and started fumbling around trying to turn it on. I saw another western couple so I asked for the guys assistance. Moments later the bike was running and I was being my journey around the town. I stopped for a liter of gas and the attendant must have figured out that I was an novice so he started the bike for me as well. After that I was set and quickly had the bike in high gear driving along the China Sea. I drove and drove stopping only for a quick water break and to take photos. I rewarded myself with a job well done in mastering the machine with a thai massage.
Getting ready to make one last loop around the town before taking a shower and meeting my new friends for a farewell drink. The bus to Nha Trang leaves at 1800. Twelve hours in a bus, hoepfully I have worn myself out for sleep the whole time.
I explained to the guy that it was my first time so he gave me a quick lesson in stop and go. I guess that is all you really need. I made a turn into old town where the streets were quieter so I could get a feel for the bike and was whistled at by a police officer. Motorbikes were not allowed. He came and turned off my engine. I stared walking the bike back to a main rode but was unable to move the bike. Luckily a westerner came up and helped me put the bike in neutral. A couple of blocks later I climbed on the bike and started fumbling around trying to turn it on. I saw another western couple so I asked for the guys assistance. Moments later the bike was running and I was being my journey around the town. I stopped for a liter of gas and the attendant must have figured out that I was an novice so he started the bike for me as well. After that I was set and quickly had the bike in high gear driving along the China Sea. I drove and drove stopping only for a quick water break and to take photos. I rewarded myself with a job well done in mastering the machine with a thai massage.
Getting ready to make one last loop around the town before taking a shower and meeting my new friends for a farewell drink. The bus to Nha Trang leaves at 1800. Twelve hours in a bus, hoepfully I have worn myself out for sleep the whole time.
05 May 2009
vietnam day four...i think
After finding four great travel companions, we have made our way to Hoi An. The fourteen hour bus ride to Hue was comical to say the least. Greatfully I had to moved to a top bed in need of more leg room. I did get various hands on me during the night as people made their way to the toliet over the obstacle course of people laying on the ground. On my way back from the neighboring toliet, I was replacing my shoes back into the given plastic back when the co-pilot shook his finger at my shoes and then slapped me in the leg.
My new mates (3 Irish and 1 Canook) wandered around the city of Hue and found nothing to see other than the Perfume River...we smelled it rather. We decided a beer was more in order so we sat at an air con'd cafe and enjoyed the local beer for eighty cents.
Back on the bus for another four hour trek and we grabbed road soda. The Canadian and I sat together and giggled the whole time. We were very happy when the bus made two more stops because we had to pee and this also enabled us to get more beer. The journey was over in no time and ended at a quaint hotel here in Hoi An.
I am sharing a room with Brian and Kristi. We played rock, paper, scissors for the shower and I won much to the joy of my very soiled body and probably anyone I had been in contact with lately.
We met up for dinner and had a traditional dish from Hoi An called "white rose". Amazing!!! I followed with a Vietnamase pancake of shrimp and all sorts of goodness. Wine and great conversation added to the evening. Then we headed off to a place called Cargo and stayed until last call. Then moved on via motorbike to a bar in which you could write on the walls. We ended up dancing until they closed and then attempted to move on to another spot. Brian and I's motorbike ran out of gas, so the girls went ahead and we wandered the streets until we found home.
Today has been a nice day walking around the gorgeous beach town. I snapped some shots and found the bar which our graffetti marked our presence. Another fanstatic meal preceeded getting fitted for a custom made dress. I am trying really hard not to walk into the custom shoe shops because I need a new pair of shoes like I need a hole in the head.
Hoping to talk my still sleeping buds into renting a bicyle and going to the beach. Did I mention life was good?
My new mates (3 Irish and 1 Canook) wandered around the city of Hue and found nothing to see other than the Perfume River...we smelled it rather. We decided a beer was more in order so we sat at an air con'd cafe and enjoyed the local beer for eighty cents.
Back on the bus for another four hour trek and we grabbed road soda. The Canadian and I sat together and giggled the whole time. We were very happy when the bus made two more stops because we had to pee and this also enabled us to get more beer. The journey was over in no time and ended at a quaint hotel here in Hoi An.
I am sharing a room with Brian and Kristi. We played rock, paper, scissors for the shower and I won much to the joy of my very soiled body and probably anyone I had been in contact with lately.
We met up for dinner and had a traditional dish from Hoi An called "white rose". Amazing!!! I followed with a Vietnamase pancake of shrimp and all sorts of goodness. Wine and great conversation added to the evening. Then we headed off to a place called Cargo and stayed until last call. Then moved on via motorbike to a bar in which you could write on the walls. We ended up dancing until they closed and then attempted to move on to another spot. Brian and I's motorbike ran out of gas, so the girls went ahead and we wandered the streets until we found home.
Today has been a nice day walking around the gorgeous beach town. I snapped some shots and found the bar which our graffetti marked our presence. Another fanstatic meal preceeded getting fitted for a custom made dress. I am trying really hard not to walk into the custom shoe shops because I need a new pair of shoes like I need a hole in the head.
Hoping to talk my still sleeping buds into renting a bicyle and going to the beach. Did I mention life was good?
04 May 2009
dog or cat?
I walked into the backpacker storage room to the smell of old moldy towels, and stinky feet. It was overwhelming and I searched for a space as fast as possible. Another guy, tall and unwavered by the smell quickly found a space. I asked him what he was doing that day. He replied going to a mosalium and asked if I would like to join. So off we went on the back of two motorbikes cleverly negotiated by Martin. The line snaked on for a half a mile and we stood in the sun being ushered along by armed guards. We were instructed to store our bags, and then 300 meters later, our cameras as well. Within no time were lined up in two lines walking along a red mat. Up the stairs into a square building with pillars, and around the corner. We walked the three sides of a square around the body of Ho Chi Ming. We walked the rest of the property before gathering our belongings and resting with an iced coffee. We chatted away about where we were from, where we had been, and where we were going. Next we hired a cyclo and went to the temple of literature. Nothing exciting but the pho lunch which followed was quite grand. Since he was not sick of me yet we walked the streets of Hanoi stopping in DVD stores, the post office, and on the corner for a fruit shake. We sat with the locals on tiny plastic stools and sipped away. On the way back to the hostel for happy hour we stopped by the lake. A Vietnamase guy came up and wanted to practice his english.
We talked about Britney Spears, the color of his motorbike, what he did for a living, and asked him to help me with my Vietnamase.
We started talking about eating dog and cat. I told him that was something I could not do. I will try a lot of things but that is not. He told me not to worry as my dog was far away.
We talked about Britney Spears, the color of his motorbike, what he did for a living, and asked him to help me with my Vietnamase.
We started talking about eating dog and cat. I told him that was something I could not do. I will try a lot of things but that is not. He told me not to worry as my dog was far away.
02 May 2009
vietnam day 2 thus far
I felt my age last night when after two beers and a dice drinking game, I had to call it quits and hit the hay. I was in bed asleep by 2030, awoken several times by the nine other girls I was sharing a room didn't bother me as I fell right back to sleep. I got up with the slew of them and went downstairs for breakfast which consisted of a roll, ramen noodles, and coffee from concentrate. I am not complaining because it was free and it shouldn't send me running to the toilet.
I am spending my day in Hanoi going to look at some temples before departing on a bus tonight southbound. The first stop will be Hue fourteen hours from departure. So, I will be sleeping on a bus tonight....better than a van down by the river.
I am spending my day in Hanoi going to look at some temples before departing on a bus tonight southbound. The first stop will be Hue fourteen hours from departure. So, I will be sleeping on a bus tonight....better than a van down by the river.
vietnam day 1
I have only been in Hanoi for 14 hours and the struggles, emotions, and exhaustion which has been experienced makes me feel like I have spent a month here.
The five hour flight from NRT was restless to say the least, my body begged for sleep but could not find a comfortable space. The man next to me was unamused with my tossing around. A man with a paper sign was waiting for me as I book two nights at a hotel recommended in Lonely Planet. I left with him for the 45 minute drive into the city. When we got to the hotel, the lady tried to charge me $25/night and when I showed her my book she changed it to $18 the highest price and told me that I had to stay at another hotel. A guy would take me on his motorbike. I used the internet prior to departing to find my travel partner decided to stay in Laos rather than accompaning my through the country of Vietnam. I decided I had enough of this bullshit and told the woman that she could not take advange of me just because I was an American. We argued back and forth and finally I told her to give me my money back and that I was going to inform Lonely Planet of this scheme of theirs. I stormed off into the unknown streets of the Old Quarter of Hanoi at 11:00 pm. I flagged down a taxi and asked him to take me to the Sofitel which I saw coming in. I was furious and all I wanted was a shower and a clean bed. I got to the hotel and got a room, mind you the room cost as much as my roundtrip ticket from Japan. I didn't care, I had my pride. Sidenote: this was one of the nicest rooms I have ever stayed in. I stood in the shower for 20 minutes still realing about the past hour's events.
I awoke to wonder not only where I was at, but why. Did I have to get up for anything? Am I on a layover? What country am I in? What time is it?
I went downstairs to have the breakfast included in my room price (specifically asked when reserving) and enjoyed a gorgeous buffet of every food you could imagine. Let me tell you about the coffee here, it will get you going. I had read about a coffee they feed the beans to a lima or something and then they take them from there shit, clean them and then brew them. I was hoping that was not the kicked in part of the caffine.
I finish my breakfast and begin my day. As I was exiting the restaurant I was asked to sign something. They were trying to charge me for breakfast. Ah, hell no! So I argued with them and then the front desk. And then it occured to me as I was watching interaction...it's because I am a woman. I did not pay for the breakfast mind you.
A few hours of wondering around my hotel, and I was not impressed. I was walking through filth, every street looked the same. I wondered what my next move was, how I could get out of here, and where I should go.
I still don't know the answers but now have a bed for $7.50 at a hostel a better sense of being, and my strength as wonder woman as Turiya likes to call me.
The five hour flight from NRT was restless to say the least, my body begged for sleep but could not find a comfortable space. The man next to me was unamused with my tossing around. A man with a paper sign was waiting for me as I book two nights at a hotel recommended in Lonely Planet. I left with him for the 45 minute drive into the city. When we got to the hotel, the lady tried to charge me $25/night and when I showed her my book she changed it to $18 the highest price and told me that I had to stay at another hotel. A guy would take me on his motorbike. I used the internet prior to departing to find my travel partner decided to stay in Laos rather than accompaning my through the country of Vietnam. I decided I had enough of this bullshit and told the woman that she could not take advange of me just because I was an American. We argued back and forth and finally I told her to give me my money back and that I was going to inform Lonely Planet of this scheme of theirs. I stormed off into the unknown streets of the Old Quarter of Hanoi at 11:00 pm. I flagged down a taxi and asked him to take me to the Sofitel which I saw coming in. I was furious and all I wanted was a shower and a clean bed. I got to the hotel and got a room, mind you the room cost as much as my roundtrip ticket from Japan. I didn't care, I had my pride. Sidenote: this was one of the nicest rooms I have ever stayed in. I stood in the shower for 20 minutes still realing about the past hour's events.
I awoke to wonder not only where I was at, but why. Did I have to get up for anything? Am I on a layover? What country am I in? What time is it?
I went downstairs to have the breakfast included in my room price (specifically asked when reserving) and enjoyed a gorgeous buffet of every food you could imagine. Let me tell you about the coffee here, it will get you going. I had read about a coffee they feed the beans to a lima or something and then they take them from there shit, clean them and then brew them. I was hoping that was not the kicked in part of the caffine.
I finish my breakfast and begin my day. As I was exiting the restaurant I was asked to sign something. They were trying to charge me for breakfast. Ah, hell no! So I argued with them and then the front desk. And then it occured to me as I was watching interaction...it's because I am a woman. I did not pay for the breakfast mind you.
A few hours of wondering around my hotel, and I was not impressed. I was walking through filth, every street looked the same. I wondered what my next move was, how I could get out of here, and where I should go.
I still don't know the answers but now have a bed for $7.50 at a hostel a better sense of being, and my strength as wonder woman as Turiya likes to call me.
01 May 2009
only have a 100 yen, so this has to be fast
So I landed in NRT to be met by the health officals. They came on the plan with head to toe haz/mat suits. One was rushing around taking what first appeared to be photos but turned out to be a video of every single passanger. He was not shy about getting right up to you either. Good thing I just applied lipstick. Others were rushing around the plane collecting forms. Mandatory forms from each passanger asking where they have been for the past ten days and where they will be for the following ten. After the business first section was released we were handed a form about going to a clinic if we felt ill and our own personal mask.
I love this country, they don't mess around with shit!
Carol, you will be happy to know that now I have two masks because I stumbled across one in a first aid kit and threw it in to my backpack for good measure.
Awaiting my flight to Hanoi now and can't wait to get on that plane and sleep. Vietnam when I awake.
I love this country, they don't mess around with shit!
Carol, you will be happy to know that now I have two masks because I stumbled across one in a first aid kit and threw it in to my backpack for good measure.
Awaiting my flight to Hanoi now and can't wait to get on that plane and sleep. Vietnam when I awake.
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