When Nightfalls in Vung Tau

I ran out of toothpaste today, and the shop opposite of my hotel was about rip off my wallet by charging a tube of toothpaste at 120,000 Vietnamese Dong which translate to about RM 20. So I decided to walk a little further to look for toothpaste that doesn't cost me a freaking price of a beaf steak. 

Walking on the streets of Vung Tau was pretty interesting, is a place infested by sexually frustrated expats and old fucks looking for extra curricular activities during the night, which causes companion businesses mushroom around the area. Big flashing neon signboards with words like 'Cucumber, Womanizer, Whisper, ONS, KISSES etc etc...' And since the business environment is so competitive, owners are going all out to make that extra income in turning their business from red to green. Along the streets, there are Mamasan on the bike going around, spotting for potential client. 'Hey, young girl very pretty, you want? you want?...' And not forgetting the Massage businesses which seems pretty legit on the outside but dirty on the inside. 

Comparing to Saigon, the street of Vung Tau is considerably quiet but of course if you're comparing it to Malaysia it was no where near quiet. The honks are used often, but not the brakes, for them is not about slowing down the car, but more like get the hell out of my way by sounding the honk. And often do I see accident involving cars and motorist, and almost every time, it attracted a large crowd of on lookers, some even stopped their vehicles by the streets, get down and go 'ke po' for awhile. 

And if you're thinking of crossing the streets, waiting for the vehicle to get reduce or at least slow down, then my friend you will probably have to wait forever. The golden rule is, keep yourself alert, maintain visual at all times, grab your balls and go, and not forgetting to pray that the motorist will notice and try to avoid you. So far, I'm doing well and all I can say is, there's definitely someone up there watching over my back.

I soon found a sundry shop that has everything I need, the problem now was how to convey the needs to the owner, and for all I know I am doing it by action, squeezing out toothpaste, and shampoo for my hair. Oh dear god, this 40 days are going to be fun! Definitely need to learn some basic Vietnamese language. 

A Bowl of Pho

A bowl of Pho anyone? 

Something I had craved for from watching food channels and shows like No Reservation from Anthony Bourdain, it was the first thing I looked for when I landed at Tan Son Nhat International Airport,checking out possible signs or board that has the word 'pho' on it,  too bad there was no such luck, coming out from the arrival hall, I soon spotted my driver, holding a card with my name on it, I knew I had to go, I dragged myself to the vehicle and coming up next was a gruesome 3 hours plus journey cutting through Ho Chi Minh to Vung Tau with mind blasting traffic, unbelievable large number of motorist, cutting in and out like nobody business, crossing junctions without looking at the traffic light and what really amazed me was nothing happen, no accident, no touching, nothing. Like needle passing through each other, flexible enough to turn and switch direction like a snake. One thing I learnt, in Vietnam, 'Red Lights' meant 'floor it' go faster... bit the red light with lightning speed. 

Vung Tau is a tourist destination, a beautiful place by the sea, with long shore lines where people can enjoy the sun and the sandy beach. At night it turns to a lively city, with neon lights around the streets, vendor selling food outside, music from the bars with young Vietnamese lady waiting by the side, hoping to get lucky tonight, and not forgetting some horny expatriates trying to get some action for the night. 

I on the other hand was worn out and hungry after all the travelling, I check in to my Hotel and I headed out looking for a meal. Pho came to mind, nothing beats a bowl of hot soup to warm the stomach and to get rid of the tiredness. It was good, refreshing and light, a slight touch of soy sauce and some chills complete the meal. Simple yet satisfying... and a promising start for the next 40 days I'm here, home away from home. 

Dog's Man's Best Friend and Wingman

They say 'dog is man's best friend.' 

I say ' dog is man's best friend as well as wingman.' 

Not only did he got me into meeting a young, descent and sweet veterinarian.. he managed to extinguish the anger from a grudging lady and saved my ass from getting burnt. So lesson learnt, if your brother is too busy to be your wingman, get a dog instead, preferably a puppy not too cute as you don't want him/her to get all the attention from the girl you like.  And afterwards you can start blabbering about some adventurous stories about how your dog saved your life to that girl and asked if she would be interested to see some of your pictures of you and your dog AT HOME of course. ( then... you know what's next.) 

So let's just say you already has a girl, and the weather might seem a little bit off that day and both of you started having some small quarrel and it seems like is getting into a big one pretty soon. What to do? Release the puppy! or dog whatever if he is old and still lovable into her arms, a few wiggling motion of the tear, staring at her with those innocent eyes will definitely melt her heart, presumably if your girlfriend is also a dog person.

And of course there would be time when your wife might wanna get a baby but you're not ready for that kind of commitment yet, so guess what? Get her a dog instead, keep her busy while taking care of the dog and buy you some precious time to get some parenting advice from some half dead mid age male at the local bar. 

So believe it or not... this magical creature could be your 911 call for problem with girls.

Fried Nian Gao 炸年糕

I just spent  27 bucks for a freaking Hainanese chicken rice at the airport!!! and it taste no different than or may be worst than chicken rice sold outside. I was out of my freaking mind!!! Burger King no, Mcdonalds no, Starbucks no, Chicken Rice Yes?! What the fuck was I thinking... 

Well anyway, I hope everyone had a great Chap Goh Mei yesterday! Along with the public holidays, I believe everyone has a great rest during this long weekend.  For those single who went to throw mandarin oranges at the river, I hope your wish would come true, if not do continue with what you do best, keeping up the good work stalking at handsome or beautiful strangers on facebook, add them as friend and start cock talking. 

For me, I spent my Chap Goh Mei resting at home, playing with my dog and indulge myself in some good food. Fried Nian Gao came to mind, in fact I had been craving for it since the beginning of the new year, not exactly the healthiest food of all time, but for me I only get to eat that once every year, and is only during such period of time the food is at its finest and taste the best.

Neither do I fancy of abalone nor shark fin soup, but a simple food that brings back memories of the past, when Chinese New Year was fun, and despite the simple food, everyone was happy indulging and sharing. Is the food that closest to the heart, the comfort and old taste a home made delicacy could provide. For those who shared the same tradition, I believe you will feel the same.

For those of you who never had the chance to try it, Fried Nian Gao is a chinese delicacy made from left over 'nian gao 年糕’. Nian Gao was used as one of the offering items for ancestor during Chinese New Year, as the 15 days of celebration ended, the hardened 'Nian Gao' was removed and sliced into thin pieces, stack between yam or sweet potato slices, and coated with flour and goes into a deep fried mode. The result is a crispy and golden looking fried nian gao, with sweet and stickiness inside.

Do go easy on it,  as it is not the healthiest food on earth, but then again if is only once every year, let us not refrain ourself indulging the comfort food of home~ Wishing everyone the best this new year! Have your fair share of fried nian gao! 

Experience at Daorae Malacca

May be is a trend, or people are genuinely more accepting foods from different culture nowadays as I see restaurants from different nationality and culture mushroom around the places. In Malacca, among those I saw the most was Korean Restaurants. It has been a trend in the past, for restaurants trying to conquer the food scene in Malacca, but not many survive throughout the years, it has always been the same reason as most Malaccans are more attached to comfort foods that are close to home, and paying more than RM5 for a bowl of noodles were deemed as ridiculous not to mentioned a Korean Ramen at RM 18 in a freaking Korean Restaurant. 

However things have change, ever since the tourism business in the state picks up after gaining recognition as a world heritage site. Businessmen are more daring in venturing into the small state of Malacca for one reason, the influx of tourist. Growing of commercial complexes, shop houses, new roads, new condos, hotels... I'm starting to doubt it was the Malacca that I once knew, and whether all this fast changing and growing is just another bubble waiting to burst. 

Anyway let's get back to food, so here I was passing by the shop that has been sitting on that corner for almost a year and never once I step food in it. Is not a big deal, in fact there are tonnes of shops that I had never once ventured in. But for this CNY I decided to do a little different, to try things out a bit, to experience the 'Samgyupsal' that appears so frequently in Korean shows, and the joyful face of those celebrity after tasting Samgyupsal seems a little too fake to me, and there I have to prove I'm right.

I walked right in at Daorae the corner shop at Jalan Melaka Raya and was greeted 'Anyeonghaseyo..' by Bangladeshi, Burmese and Pakistani waiter, it was a scene of surprise as it was common to spot foreign labor working in restaurants, coffee shops as well as hawker center.

I ordered Bulgogi as well as Samgyupsal, the two distinct and must try barbecue meat and also a side dish of kimchi ramen. Soon my table was fulled with dishes accompanied the barbeque, things like the lettuce wrap, kimchi, sweet potato, yam, chili, spring beans etc...

The barbeque was great, the best thing about it is that you don't need to get your hands dirty, the waiter will come over and do the flipping for you, and cutting it into small pieces.While all you need to worry about was what side dish you would like to add in your lettuce wrap. The meat was great, with its original flavor still intact, especially the samgyupsal was mostly original without much seasoning.  While the bulgogi was grilled for a short while and is then added with spring onions and quick stir fried before it was plated. 

Not forgetting to mention the kimchi ramen, well for RM 18 and basically with nothing inside other than the noodles and broth, I would say is not worth the try, better of to get it in the supermarket and make it on your own at home, it cost much less and you could always customize with your own ingredients and suit your own taste.

Apart from the food, I do enjoy the view outside the window, as the shop was located right at the corner and is two storey above, you get a pretty descent view of Melaka Raya, as well as the Shopping Malls nearby, especially when night falls and all the lights are up. Sitting near the window and looking at the busy street in between of Dataran Pahlawan and Mahkota Parade, something for u to enjoy while u are chewing that lettuce wrap.

Food wise, is definitely a good choice to op for if you're looking for a change. Price wise, is definitely a place to think twice if your pocket is tight or even if it is lose, something you wouldn't wish to eat daily. Vibe, depends... as in normal days, Malacca is usually quiet but is also better that way so you could enjoy your meal without the annoying noise from some drunk ass tourist or the crying baby sitting across of you. A place close by to the malls and other tourist attractions in Malacca, or if you're looking for a meal before the movie starts. It is also a good place to hangout with friends and have a descent meal.

This Year CNY

The first taste of being away from home during such important festival of the year, it was a strange feeling, neither was I happy nor particularly sad. But to be able to experience Bangladesh during such times of the year, makes me appreciate my life more, my family and friends especially the love ones. 

As I was on the plane crossing through a different time zone, many thing came through my mind...I sat looking out the airplane window and there the uncontrollable thinking starts...

This year CNY, is a portal to the future as well as a time warp that brings me back to the past. I looked forward to a better future as I embrace the year of the dragon, I felt good, this is my year as I was born in the year of dragon, 24 years has passed without notice, it was indeed a journey. Looking back, like a time warp I was consumed into a black hole where images of the past moving in fast flowing motion all within a glance and I wasn't alone, of all those images that flew past there were my parents, my relatives, my childhood friends, the girlfriend, the buddies, and the bros. It was a blessing to have them in my life, no matter how I am truly grateful and in debt to those people that came in and out of my life.

This year CNY, I received a lot of red packets, but for the first time in my life I realized the true meaning of it rather than merely receiving it for the sake of the benefits enveloping by it. I didn't opened any till now, I felt grateful for those who had given it to me even without my presence. This year I wanna do something better with it, to extend the wishes from those who care for me to some others. 

This year CNY, I still hated to go house visiting, and I don't know why... 

This year CNY, I hope all of us embrace the new year with wisdom acquired from the past and do something good for yourself and others. 

An Afternoon Stroll

Took an afternoon stroll around the fences of the power plant, for a brief moment I felt like I was a prisoner, living behind bars and was only allowed to have limited freedoms. But I was wrong when I looked outside the fence. There I saw and hear things that makes me sorrow, guilty and sorry for both myself and the people out there. First I felt sorry and guilty for myself, for being an asshole who doesn't appreciate things and be grateful with whatever that he already has,  a person who easily forgets. Second I felt sorry for the people living on the other side of the fence, for having to live in such poor condition, nothing close to the meaning of comfort when comparing to my current situation.

I saw two men, squatting at the back of the kitchen, scrapping left over foods from the container, they hold the rice in their hands like precious gold, keeping the good ones for their family while they ate those that are dirty. My heart sank for a brief moment, and I started to have teary eyes as I walked further. I felt really mad about myself at that moment, for being weak and helpless on that situation. The weather was cold and all they were wearing was broken clothing with a dirty cloth wrapped around their head and neck to keep them warm. 

As I walked further, a bunch of kids crowded in front of the fence, reaching their small hands through the fence, shouting 'Mister, have money?'I felt bad for them, but I didn't do anything..I just stood there till the commotion comes down, and those that realize they aren't getting anything left the scene while some left over standing asking question like where are you from? why are you here? I took out my camera and took a picture of them, hoping to keep as a remembrance and also as a reminder for myself of the people here. 

We were all born in this world the same way, but not all of us are being treated the same way. The world might seems to be an unfair place, but when you see how this people actually live, your problems might not seem that big anymore. Always be grateful with what you have, there are always a person with a bigger house, a better pay, a better career etc, but also think there are more people having worst place to live, doesn't have a job and are living day by day.  

A kind reminder for all of us this new year: 

Be grateful with what you have and you will be happy.