It's great to be back in southeast Asia. It's 70 - 80 and humid in Saigon, and this is what I like to think of as perfect weather. To me, it just feels right--it feels like the Philippines, where I grew up. Ever since moving back to the US, I have wished I lived in a tropical climate but it's not in the cards for now.
The fact that the flight to get here is so miserably long--24 hours plus via Hong Kong--makes me very, very happy that I'm here for several weeks as opposed to only 9 days, which was the original plan and which would have been pathetic in a particularly American worker-bee sort of way. A flight that long requires a sufficiently lengthy visit.
I booked a no-frills hotel near the market on my brother Chris' insistence--I'm booked at the best hotel in town on my next swing through Saigon. The budget hotel, the Bich Duyen, only cost 13.00 USD and turned out to be perfect. Clean, with air conditioning, centrally located, with breakfast included and a super friendly staff. I met my brother there, just arrived from Bangkok, where he lives. Upon arrival, I had some appointments with tailors and haberdasheries to keep, so while Chris went to explore the town, I schlepped my fabric to the tailors. At a classic tailor shop, where the tailor is an elderly gentleman wearing a tape measure around his neck, I handed over navy blue wool pinstripe for an interview suit and gray wool for trousers as well as cream corduroy, which I've had forever, for an autumn blazer. At a chi-chi dress shop, I dropped off red striped linen, apple green linen and blue striped cotton for summer dresses as well as turquoise blue linen for a beach tunic.
Then, I met up with Chris for a North Vietnamese dinner of grilled carp in a white wine sauce with green onions. On the walk back to the hotel, we stopped by a street vendor to purchase soft tofu custard served in little cups with ice. Foods stalls are absolutely everywhere here--I think that we will eat very well. It's going to be a delicious trip!
And today, we're off to the Mekong Delta.
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Maria, that sounds amazing! I'm excited to hear about all the yummy food you'll be eating! And I want to see pictures of the dresses when the tailor is done with them :) Anytime I'm in a tropical place I think so much of my childhood. That was great to read about. I can't wait to hear more about your adventures. Say hi to Chris!
ReplyDeletelet the adventures begin! sounds like you are already enjoying it all :)
ReplyDeleteplease post pics asap!
ps. we went to the movies last night and had SO much fun! and today we are going for a run and getting milkshakes :P
Thanks for the kind comments. I love the fact that it's milkshake weather in New York already. After this brutal winter, you deserve all the milkshakes that you can drink!
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