It's hot out there ..

Yes, it is true, the weather really has taken a turn over the past week. If you are out and about in the middle of the day, the sweat factor will well and truly kick in! I have even returned to sleeping with the air conditioner on at night.

Otherwise, life continues as normal; school, gym, walks, meals in, meals out and further exploration of this city.

There were quite a few discussions at school this past week about the fact that all we seem to do is work, and how tired we are  … but I have been wondering how is this different to anywhere else I have been!

Teaching is a very time consuming and energy sapping job and I will always be the person who takes on more and wants to create interesting lessons for the kids. So,  it really is situation normal but, having a full teaching load is the main difference. Teaching 29 lessons in a 35 period a week timetable is big .. especially when it is basically all new material!

Let’s hope I am teaching some of the same classes next year!

Recently, I have taken on the goal of going somewhere to trying something new every week.

As a result, I have found some lovely little cafes and restaurants and walked the alleyways of District 10, as opposed to my usual 1, 2 or 3. This was particularly interesting as it was predominately a Catholic area and there was a surprising open air chapel and numerous statues.

I also initiated a 'Blue Chair’ dinner club. This involves a monthly dinner in a Vietnamese restaurant - eating on the street with the locals. Our first night was a great success with pigs brains and wild boar being tried as well as some delicious scallops, prawns and a couple of beers! Such fun!!

A quick trip to Hanoi for a weekend Technology conference was a great couple of days. I learned a lot, mostly centred around how to use Google more in a school setting. And, it was also nice to feel cold for a change. 5 - 10 degrees and fog plus pollution made me appreciate Saigon so much more. 

I have also joined a book club and skim read the first book - The Chrysalids. Sci-Fi is really not my style at all! Birds with Wings by Louis de Bernieres is the second book and I have just realised that I have read this already - but it is just nice to be reading for pleasure rather than school.

And what else have I done; well, I have watched both seasons of The Newsroom - loved it, plus the 2nd season of Borgen - brilliant. I have also enjoyed the movies Philomena, Blue Jasmine, 12 Years a Slave and Non Stop, which is rather topical considering one recent Malaysian airlines flight!!

So, all is good and I hope it is with you too!

New Year # 2 in Malaysia

Malaysia - another very different Asian experience, and most enjoyable of course.

I began my trip in Penang and had a good look around the island - enjoying the historic Georgetown, the hills and the beach. I loved the vibe of Georgetown with its historic homes and amazing street art. Photos of the Street Art

However, the location may not have been the best at this time of year due to its large Chinese population. Like Saigon, many of the shops and restaurants/hawker stalls were closed due to Chinese New Year. So, thank goodness for the Indian population and their amazing tandoori chicken and naan bread. 

The hawker centres that were open were amazing - if only I knew a little more about what to order.

And, there were so many food options and so little time. 

Kuala Lumpur is a curious place. It really didn’t grab me at first as it is such a hotchpotch of old and new, freeways and flyovers. It is also not a very walking friendly city and I must admit I was not always sure of my exact location!  Luckily, there are plenty of public transport options - train, light rail, monorail and bus and it was a delight to use a modern, efficient system.

The highlight of my stay was a heritage/food walking tour. The guide was so passionate about her city and also concerned about the changes that are occurring, all in the name of modernisation. As she stated, the country is developing due to oil and gas - not tourism. We enjoyed many sugary delights and it is no wonder the population has a large number of diabetics.

As well as the hawker/street food options, I have never seen so many fast food options.

I also enjoyed a trip to a Forestry Research Institute and did a lovely walk in the jungle, including an elevated canopy section. Back in town there is also some great parks and I enjoyed the butterfly park and orchid garden.

It must also be said I enjoyed the shopping and was very brave in venturing to MidValley MegaMall. My suitcase on the return journey had an interesting mix of goods - new shoes, mac products and supermarket items that are not available here in Saigon.

So, a great mix of relaxation, sightseeing and shopping!

Photos of Penang and KL

Chuc Mung Nam Moi - Happy New Year

One of the joys of living in Asia, is the opportunity to experience
two new year's - and particularly the holidays associated with the celebrations!

My post is a little belated, as this is the 9th day of the New Year, but the celebrations and the holidays continue.


It was interesting to note that in the lead up to Tet, that the roads were much emptier and those who were on the roads, had their motorbikes packed and were on their way to their family home - a tradition across Asia.

Before I jetted off to Malaysia, I did get a brief glimpse of one of the flower markets in the city and it really was a spectacular display. As far as the eye could see there were flowers in full bloom and my mind boggled at how they were all cultivated and transported ready for this major celebration.

Let's hope it is a good year for this Horse!

Cruise to Cambodia

After a fabulous three week break with my Mum and Dad, and then another visitor, the other Meredith, life is resuming its normal routine. But, not for long, as Tet, or Vietnamese New Year is fast approaching.  

It was great to have Mum and Dad with me in Saigon. They got a very good feel for my life here and were fascinated by the sheer mass of humanity.

We went to a few tourist sights that I had yet to visit and a couple of places off the beaten track. We also sampled the delights at many of the great restaurants,  and there were plenty of afternoon naps too.

Our cruise to Phnom Penh was fantastic. If you ever think about doing a river cruise in South East Asia, I can highly recommend Pandaw. The boat was very comfortable, with plenty of space for all 22 guests and the food was amazing in all aspects; quantity, quality and variety. The cheese plates certainly took my fancy!! 

The other guests came from Australia mainly, but also Sweden, England and America and were all lovely people, so they added to our enjoyment.

We had a few local tours which were interesting but there was also plenty of time to relax, read and watch the world go by. There was always something or someone at which to look. 


Once in Cambodia, I was amazed at how different the people are both in looks and mannerism. It is like South Australians being totally different to Victorians!! They are so gentle and friendly and are living with such hope despite their turbulent history and current political difficulties. We heard a great deal about the People's Corruption Party! 

We enjoyed our 4 days in Phnom Penh, despite visiting the very confronting Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields. It is simply impossible to get your head around what happened to the people there. 
In contrast, we enjoyed seeing the grandeur and wealth of the Royal Palace and we did a little shopping in the markets too. We also loved getting around in the tuk-tuk's.


Christmas lunch was had on the balcony of the Foreign Correspondents Club. A lovely 3 course meal with roast turkey, but the Baked Alaska for dessert was a little different. 


The 6 hour car ride to Siem Reap was a dusty and bumpy affair and we were certainly glad we took this soft option, rather than the bus!! Plus, we enjoyed seeing the countryside and life being lived on the side of the road. 

The temples of Angkor are simply amazing. We had no idea of the number and scale of temples in this area. The workmanship in the stone carving is just incredible. The mind boggles at how it was all achieved. The only drawbacks were the number of other tourists and the cold mornings - a jumper would have been handy. 

So, it was a relaxing break and also very informative as I learned so much about Cambodian and Vietnamese history, yet have only touched the surface.

More photos of Cambodia

Next stop ... Malaysia. 

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas from this Socialist/Buddhist but highly decorated country!

I have loved checking out the fabulous, extravagant and downright gaudy decorations that are everywhere - even the petrol stations!

Downtown, it is like a carnival, with families taking photos in front of the decorations, buying fairy floss and balloons. So, there is always something to look at.

  

I am loving having my Mum and Dad here and showing them around town.

Tomorrow we are joining a cruise to Phnom Penh, where we will spend a few days, including Christmas Day and then to Siem Reap. I can't wait.

Community Service in the Delta

It is very nice to announce that I am on holidays after completing my first semester at AIS. What a whirlwind it has been and more demands lie in store as I will mentor a new English teacher and also take on the role of Assessment Coordinator! Never a dull moment!

Term ended a little differently as I accompanied 5 girls on a 24 hour trip to the Mekong Delta, where we linked up with an organisation called Aid for Kids, with which one of our parents is associated. A group of doctors and medical students from Florida had been doing an outreach program for a week and we joined them in hosting a Christmas party for a local orphanage.

It was great to see our students interact with these kids, acting as translators, game organisers and Santa's helpers, as they delivered presents. This was the first time AIS has been involved, so let's hope that it is the start of many more activities.

The following morning we had a tour of the region which is famous for its coconut plantations. It was fascinating witness the life of the locals and their sustainable farming practices. Every aspect of each coconut is accounted for, with much sweat, and just remember that you too could earn $10 a day for shelling 1,800 - 2,000 coconuts!