Back to Singapore!

Our 5 weeks trip had finally ended. I do miss Vietnam a lot ever since back in Singapore. I am sure not only me who miss there. Before leaving there, there are even some friends who cried. However, for me, of course I didn't cried. Because I only start to miss there only when I left the place. :( After this five weeks, I guess we are more bonded together, especially between the 2 classes. I feel that we are more closer now:)
Remembering the first week when we reached Vietnam, we totally cannot get use the ''honking'' by the car every seconds. However for now, I feel so quiet on the road. I guess I need to get use to this. Taking taxi everywhere we go, in here, taxi is just too expensive! Eating fast food and maggie mee had also be something normal to us. Not knowing to eat some of their food, but still try here and there. Difficulties communicating with the locals there and then trying to understand them and making them to understand them. Starting to getting use to the life of Vietnamese as the time goes by. However, when we really get adapted to there, it's time to be back in Singapore. I think 5weeks is just nice for us. There are many more things to be mentioned. Everything will be kept in my heart.
Now I really miss Vietnam. When I am at there, I miss Singapore. However, when I leave that place, I really do miss that place a lot. At there, I grow to be much more independent. Making decisions and many more.
Vietnam's trip is something that I will never forget for life. If I had a chance, I will want to return to there, if better, together with the same group of people!
:D

Our last trip out.

Our last trip out of hostel is to Mekong Delta. I was kind of interested to see how it really looks like, as this is one of the places that I know about Vietnam before coming here. For once our trip to other places is short, in terms of journey and also the time of stay. About 3 hours ride, and we had reached Mekong Delta river! Oh, before that, we went to eat at the Saigon tourist village. The place was beautiful, because we ate in a small hut beside the river/lake. We even saw 2 couples taking wedding photos there. ( Did I mention that, every week I will see like 4-5 couples taking wedding photos. It can even be seen beside our hostel. This seems exaggerating, but it's true. Haha! )

Went to take a motorised sampan and out we are at the sea. Bad bad weather, it was raining that day! We were kind of lucky with this type of trip, thinking about the trip at Dalat and Nhatrang, because of the rain, we had really missed out a lot of things. Fortunately, though raining, we still headed out for our trip. However, we will need to wear poncho. While in the motorised sampan, a local tourguide will then give an introduction of the life on the river. We will be heading towards Mekong River town of Cai Be. Cai Be is know for its large floating market, where they displays food produce are hung from bamboo poles over the host boat in order to attract customers. We also see that actually rice husks are of use, they are used as fuel for the regions numerous brick kilns. We also get to see how they make coconut sweet and pop rice. Getting to eat them fresh from oven is just so nice. We had also bought some back for our families. After that, a long boat ride to My Khanh tourist village to enjoy fresh fruits and amateur traditional music. It was so fresh that I even see worms on it, which do freak out me. The traditional music was nice. There was even one song where there is rap in it! This reminds me of the song'' Welcome to Vietnam''. It was kinda of famous in Vietnam.
After that, coming onboard to the land for our lunch. Then headed to the economic hub city of Can Tho. It was said that it was officially called a city during 2004. It was also regarded as the ''Western Capital''. Checked in to our hotel and rest awhile. We had our dinner at the cruise. It was something special. Totally enjoy this, but there's one bad point. In the cruise, they allowed people going up to sing, however, there are 2 storeys, meaning that 2 loud songs at a time. Upon hearing it, we seriously do not have the mood to continue eating. It make us headache. After eating, we went up to the ''rooftop''. The view and wind was nice, most importantly, peaceful. Haha! Before back to our hotel for a rest, we went to have a little shopping at the small night market beside our hotel.
Second day! Early this morning, we went to enjoy a cruise to Cai Rang. It was something similiar like the market yesterday. For me, there isn't really much things. Seeing those kids coming out to sell things together with their parents made me kinda sad. Singapore's kids are really lucky nowadays. Everything ended kinda fast. After that, we went to a tourist village for a walk. It's my first time seeing dog and pig racing! However, I didn't bet. Haha! My friends who had won in their bet, won a piggy bank for themselves. After that, some of them even want to have a sampan ride, something like our canoeing but 4 people (?) After that, lunch!! Time to have our 4 hours ride back home!~
On the road, I had also realised that there isn't road lights. Meaning that drivers must on their car's light and need to drive carefully. I wonder is it because they do not have enough money to make it or some other reasons.

Exchange Activities Part 3

Today, we had our 3rd exchange activities with the Vietnamese students. We had exchange activities with students of Lac Hong University. It is also the only exchange activity that is out of our hostel. At first, I was kind of interested to find out how the university looks like, thinking whether it will be like Singapore that big with all the things in it. However, in the end, we were asked to go a park. This is because they said that there are no more space in the university for our exchange activities to be held at. I was quite surprise thinking that a university which is big do not have enough place for us.

Waited and waited, the students are late. However, this is nothing wrong as our Vietnamese lecturer told us that being late in Vietnam is something common. There is also a saying here saying that '' Time is Rubber'' to refer to this. Our first game is the bamboo dancing game meaning that some people will need take the bamboo then harmonize then someone will need to dance/jump over. Because I was shy of playing it, hence, I tried the making of the bamboo. It was quite fun but tiring. Sweat all over when only a little while.
After that, getting into a circle like again. Choosing people to go up for games, seriously, this is something I am very afraid, because I am have a low comfort level with strangers. Haha! But... yes, I was asked to go up. Quickly get into group, I choose the one and only group which is all my friends in. We were asked to eat apple without using our hands and puke out the seeds, and of course it's a small apple. It's not easy eating like that, because the apple is still too big for us. After the game, it's like pinic time. We sat on a mat and eat the tidbits we had bought for each other. Some photo taking session and our day had ended.

Before leaving the place, I had seen one family playing blind mice/Eagle catching the chicks. Nothing special? The family consists of the kids and their grandparents. It's their grandparents who brought the kids to the park and played. This type of scene is hard to be seen in Singapore, as children nowadays won't be interested to go out with their grandparents let alone playing with them. Kids in Singapore are more towards Westernization, they are more independent outside. Family relationships seem to be lesser here too.

I hope to see more of these in Singapore, but it's really hard to see.

Exchange activities with Economics and Laws University

The second exchange activity we had in this trip. This time round we had exchange activities with the economics and law students. We had also seen some familiar faces that we had interact with in the first exchange activities. It was glad to see them again. Formed a circle, where ice breaking games started. One of the Vietnamese students even sang Kelly Clarkson’s My life would suck without you. I was really amazed that not only they can speak English fluently. They can even sing well for English songs.

After which, getting into 3 groups and games started. Our group name is ‘The Sesame Street band.’ Our slogan? The Elmo’s world song. Aren’t we cute? :P Games started. There are 3 games prepared by them. First game we played is where one person blindfolded while the other had their hands tied. Then, the person who had their hands tied will need to lead the blindfolded to put water from the pail into the bottle with their hands. It was really tough. My group had lost in this round.

The second game is Banana game. Both players will need to be blindfolded, and fed each other banana. We will need to peel the banana with our mouth and eat finish the banana to win. Once again, my group lost.

Last game, shall be ‘dog and bone’. I am sure this game is common in Singapore too, where both groups will need to snatch the bottle in the middle without being caught. For the first round of this game, we had lost. However, we had won the last round. Finally, we are the first in one of the games.

After all the games, we gathered into a circle again. Wrapped up everything and the Vietnamese student had also gave us biscuits and jellies. We had sung ‘Home’ for them too, in return they had also sung the song which our Vietnamese teacher taught us. Hence, we were able to follow too!

Having these exchange activities, can make us close together. From two different countries not knowing each other, and then, gather together and playing together like we are friends of not first time. However, of course, there are also awkward times between us.

Vietnam: Challenges through Innovation

One of the most interesting IS module we had. I think the lecturer makes a big part of making it interesting too. The way he talked is interesting and the languages that he knows are really a lot. He speaks fluently English and a little of Chinese in the lessons. This topic that he is teaching is also interesting. This is because the things in the PowerPoint slides, can be really seen in the weeks we are in Vietnam.

It is said that ‘Love is bigger than Law’ in Vietnam. This is what I totally agree with. This is why Vietnam is the second SEA country in corruption. For example, motorcycle can only have 2 people on it, but most of them had 3 or even 4 to 5. Hence, many got caught, however, just crying, perhaps the police will let it go. In here, the boss and the employee had also about the same rank. Unlike in Singapore, if the employee had disrespect to their boss. They will most likely be fired. Most importantly, there is nap during their working hours here. Hence, these reasons show why Vietnam is corrupted. We shall be glad that Singapore had such strong law, if not, we might also be corrupted if this happen. Another one is that impatience is getting rich. This is what I experienced even on the first day here. They just cut queue even seeing you queuing up for it. If this happen back in our country, those cut queue will definitely got scold by the ones queuing up. However, I cannot scold them, because this is something normal here.

Having said the negative points, I shall say some positive points too. I admire their community spirit. Like eating, wait for each other to eat. Nowadays, in Singapore, most of the family, the family members just eat by themselves. Especially the children, they seldom eat at the dining table with their parents. It seems that the Vietnamese will think of their families in everything they do. I think reason that some Singaporeans are more of individualism is because we are exposed to many things like westernization too.

Spring rolls!

Sunday! For this day, we had to wake up early as the director of VNU has organized a learning to make spring roll day for us. After greeting the director, we headed to the kitchen for our spring rolls! She then explained to us the ingredients needed for the spring roll. We are also introduced to the two types of spring roll. One which is healthier where there are a lot of vegetables in it and the meat is boiled. After which, wrapped them together with rice paper, though the meat is very fatty. The other type of spring roll is cooked by deep frying in oil. Work started! We helped out the kitchen by peeling onions, garlic, pluck leaves of the stalk etc. A busy day in the kitchen! Wrapping of spring roll started, firstly, they demonstrated to us and it’s our turn! There are a few types of leaves but we didn’t put as we do not know how to eat. Hence, our spring roll had only meat and lettuce.

It was quite a good experience as we won’t have much chance doing these entire things. Moreover, preparing, cooking not only people from our own course but also the Vietnamese. Teamwork is seen in this day. Without everyone’s help, we won’t able to complete the task fun and successfully.

End of the third week!:)

River of Green

Other than Da Lat, the other city we went to is Nha Trang, which is also meant River of green. The journey from Da Lat to Nha Trang took more than 3 hours. During the journey, my motion sickness started! This is because the whole trip, the bus is just turning around and around up the mountain. However, during the journey, we do see much beautiful scenery.
Finally we had reached the city of Nha Trang. The hotel we are staying in, isn’t great compared to the first hotel. It really made me miss our hostel! The condition there isn’t good. Some others had also met with ghostly experience. Our first stop we had in Nha Trang is the Long San Pagoda. This is a Buddhist temple. There is a giant Buddha statue on the top, and we need to conquer 153steps till we reached there. Initially, I did not want to go up, thinking that it will be very tiring. However, in the end, I still went up. It isn’t as tiring as what I think and not really that far.

Our next stop will be Ponagar Cham Towers. This is a Hindu temple. The structure is so strong even though after so many years. There are also many burns seen, as it is said that the building never use concrete, they just put the bricks together and burn it to let it together.

Our last stop of the day is the Dam Market. However, because of the bad weather, time given to shop there is very little. A few walk around the place, and time's up. However, it's ok, because I find kinda similar with the markets we had went before. The stuffs they sell are around the same. That's why I won't really feel disappointed about not getting to walk finish. Saying about markets, oh, I miss Ben Thanh, hope to go back there soon!
For the second day at Nha Trang, today is a ‘’sea day’’. Took a local boat from Cau Da Wharf to Hon Mun Island. We visited Tri Nguyen Aquarium. From what I think, there isn’t much difference from the aquarium in Sentosa. After that, we headed out into the sea for snorkeling. However, not all went down, and I am one of them. I am disappointed with myself, because I cannot go downL Hence, I can only enjoy by seeing others in the sea. They can even see the underwater world, while I can just stay on the boat to see the view. After that, we headed to another small island to have our lunch. Having to eat beside the sea , is such a nice experience. However, I sat at a place where there is a lot of fly. Oh no!

Supposingly, we are going to Vinpearl, amusement park, however, because of the bad weather. It was canceled. Last stop of the day is XQ Nha Trang embroidery shop. There are many art pieces in there, and are made using embroidery. One word to say is talented. There is a shop selling their stuffs. However, it was really expensive. We can buy a similar stuff in Ben Thanh market much cheaper. I guess it’s the price you had to pay if you want a more good quality.

We spend the rest of the day in the hotel. For the both night there, we went for manicure, pedicure and foot massage. Nha Trang seems to be more of a tourist site. We see many foreigners over there and many restaurant selling Italian/western food etc.

For the whole 5day tour, our breakfast, lunch and dinner is all included, which is really good. When we are back in our hostel . We had to be all dependent on ourselves again. Having to eat the same old things, and most of the time the food are unhealthy like KFC and instant noodles. Of course, not only the meal that I remember. I will remember the fun we had at Dalat and Nhatrang.

DA LAT!

I love this place really a lot! Everything is nice over there. The hotel, weather and stuffs over there, especially the place seems very ‘’paris’’. For people like me, who likes Paris but don’t have the chance to go there. Consider this place too! The journey to Da Lat is about 6hours. However, during the journey, we had been sleeping, listening to the tour guide’s stories and all. Finally, we had reached Da Lat in the afternoon. We headed for the Dambri Waterfall first. However, BAD NEWS! After our lunch, it RAINED! :( Not only never get to sit the roller coaster which we get to control the speed ourselves, we never even get to see the waterfall. Because it was too dangerous to go there if there is rain. Thinking of this, it is really sad to miss out this. Hence, we headed for the city. Before heading out for our dinner, we checked in to our hotel to rest awhile. The city is much smaller as compared to HCM city. However, I find it nicer perhaps more to the type I liked. It seems more peaceful. Then we went to have our dinner before our shopping at night market starts.

For the next day, we went to a few places. The first places we headed for is Golden Valley Tourist Site. The whole place is filled with flowers. The planting are also well maintained. The whole place is really beautiful and with the weather. PERFECT! There are also man-made waterfalls when we walked around. The place is also surrounded with trees.

After that, we headed for Liang Biang Mountain. We took a jeep up to the mountain top. The scenery was so perfect that it looks like it is done by Photoshop. Too real that it seems fake. There are also a few swings at there. I am sure not many had been on a swing at such a tall mountain. :D:D The breeze on top of the mountain is even better.

Next we headed for Dreaming Hill. It is filled with miniatures of other countries’ landmarks, like The Great Wall of China etc. From what I think, there’s nothing much there. I think because this isn't really any special of Vietnam, as this is what can be seen in other countries. Most importantly, the real thing. Then, we went to the opposite road to buy local tidbits. &of course we bought a lot:)

Next, we headed to a train station. What’s special about it can be considered as one of their historical site, as it had been there for many years already. Most importantly, it is built by the French during the period they conquer Vietnam for near 100years. Over so many years, but still standing strong. However, of course, it doesn't work anymore.

Our next stop is Domain de Marie church. We never went in, but we took some photos outside of it. It’s kind of special, as it is my first time seeing a rooster on top of the cross.

Next stop is the house where the last king stayed in. Before we went in, we bought Kem (Ice cream in Vietnamese). Their ice cream is special, they put carnation milk and peanut on the top. Though it had everything in it, but it is quite small. Then we know that actually that house is for the king to come for their holidays. Before the walk in the house, we will need to wear something to cover up our shoes. I think they are afraid that our footprints will leave marks on the floor. The King's room had even a balcony which is faced to see the moon! The king and his wife had also separate room, I wonder why.

For the both night, in Da Lat, we went to their market there. The stuffs their market sell is really special, and I really love it. Most of the stuffs they sell are knitted ones! I extremely love knitted stuffs. In Singapore, it is expensive because they are handmade, and we won’t get much chance to wear, since we had only one season all year round. Especially if you wear knitted clothes out, many will give you weird glares. Back to the market, I find that the stall holders now are more persistent with the price they sell to us. Though we know that they sell maybe 30,000dong to the locals there, they will still sell more expensive like 150,000dong.* Though they still it more expensive, we still think that it is worth to buy as it is quite cheap for handmade stuffs. Hence, bargaining here doesn’t really work. Before heading back to hotel, drank soya bean milk. Da Lat is famous for their peanut soya milk. Most of the stall tendors selling food there are illegal. This is because we had even experience that the police came, and the next thing, all the stalls along the streets gone. However, just minutes later, they are back. This shows that the law here isn't strict enough too.

*14000 dong = SGD$1

Let's go to Nha Trang next!~

Song Be Golf Resort.

Today, we woke up earlier than usual as we headed for Song Be Golf resort. Had visited there, as it is closely linked to what we learnt in our course. One of the two shareholders for the golf resort is Singaporean. When we reached there, they explained to us about how they manage the golf course, how’s the design like and etc. After the explanation, they bring us around with a minivan. There are 3 parts in the golf course – desert, lotus and palms. Though they claimed to be one of the smallest golf courses in Vietnam, but it was really big that it can even be said to be 10times a golf course in Singapore. This shows the amount of different land space between Vietnam and Singapore. In the golf course, they are so many facilities that really making me want to spend my night there! We are not the only Singaporeans student over there. There are also 6 students from other Singapore’s polytechnics there for their OIP (oversea immersion program) or attachment.

Then headed out in the minivan for our trip around the golf course, at certain parts of the trip, we will get off the van. This is where they will explain to us more about their golf course, like how they maintain it. They even show us the compost heap. This really reminds me of Planting Maintenance! (one of the module which we took last semester)

After the trip around the place, the boss was even so kind to invite us to the restaurant for buffet! I think this one of the best meal I had in Vietnam. Hehe. During the lunch, he will even sit down and eat and talk with us. Before we left the place, we took a few photos there together and they even packed Samosa for us to bring back and eat. They are really nice, I hope I get a boss like this in the future or even when I am going for Year 3's attachment.

Goodnight everyone, and I am going for my 5days trip. Byebye!:D

Historical Day

For today, it is a day of historical day. We get to visit places where there are the traces of the wars. Woke up earlier than usual, we are heading out early as we are going to Cu Chi Tunnel Tour. The journey to the place was 2 hours. During the journey, everyone slept!:P Finally, we had reached the destination. We get to explore the place where we see Ben Duoc and Ben Dinh tunnels. We get to see the self invented weapons by the Vietnamese and the tunnels they made. Those traps just by seeing can make you goosebump. It just shows how smart they are. We get to try out to climb in the tunnel ourselves too. Just 20m and the biggest tunnel, we already cannot take it. I really admire those Vietnamese who survived through all these. It takes really a lot of courage and the ‘never say die’ attitude to make them survive through all these. After the tour, we went to have our lunch at Ben Dinh Restaurant.

Smallest tunnel.

Traps invented by the Vietnamese

Weapons which the Vietnamese made.

Then another 2 hours to go to the War Remnants Museum. This museum is full of photos and also there is also the US weapons (bombs and shells etc.) and the tiger cage. Seeing all these, really feel sad for the Vietnamese. It can really make one person tears drop by seeing all these. In Singapore, though we had experienced World War 2 too, however, it can never be compared to the Vietnam, because they had survived through this war for 17years+. The last stop of our day is Reunification Palace. It is somehow similar like Singapore’s Istana. It is a place for the president, meeting place, recreational place for them and all. The view from the top of the building is also marvelous.

View from the side entrance.

The scenery there was really nice, hence, we took a few photos!:D

Day and Night Markets!

For today, we got to go Day and Night Market. The journey was fast compared to the others when we are going into the City area, as there is no traffic jam. If there is traffic jam, it can take up to hours for the journey. Unlike Singapore, this will not really happen. As I walked along this market, it reminds me much of Bangkok's chatuchuk which is similar to it. However in Singapore, there isn’t these type of market. In these markets, bargain is allowed. We are able to get a thing at 50-70% cheaper than the original price.

Before heading for our shopping spree, we finally went to eat PHO ( famous Vietnam’s food ) Originally it’s beef noodles, however, there is also chicken noodle. I think it’s a pleasure to eat a traditional food at the origin country and it’s the first time I eating PHO. The place where we ate the PHO is PHO 2000, even Bill Clinton went to this shop to eat.

PHO ga! ( PHO chicken )

ga = chicken!

For the first market, Ben Thanh Market, it seems to be situated at the central of HCM city. It was crowded there. Though it’s small but it had a lot of things. At these places, we can get to find a lot of handmade stuffs.

After that, we headed for the second market, Binh Tay Market. The experience there isn’t good at all. The walking spaces for us only allow one person at a time. This is not the worst. The attitude of the store keepers is bad. They just ignore you, or if you buy little things, they will show a black face. However, of course, there are also store keepers that are friendly, even having motherly feel. If these attitudes are shown in Singapore, they will definitely got scold by their boss or even customers. For the night, we went back to Ben Thanh Market, as there will be Night market over there. Temporary stalls are being set up along the roadside. These totally cannot be found in Singapore, because of danger and hygiene issues.

What I experience to these markets is that when your bargains to these stallholders do not work, and when you walked away, they will keep on pester you till a price where both can agree. If this was in Singapore, the stall keeper won’t even care. If you don’t want to buy, that’s your problem.

Roadside stall

The har gow &carrot cake which I really miss!

At the street of Ben Thanh