Vietnam 2013 [Part 5; Saigon]

Day six: Chinatown, Meetup

(I have 88 photos for day 6 in my camera, compared to 195 for day 5 lol)

We alighted from the train and stepped into the cool air of Ho Chi Minh City. Just like how it felt when we first arrived at Nha Trang. I was still groggy and heavy with sleep, no thanks to the travel sickness pill I'd taken hours before.

We also got rid what was left of the mini bananas because they were all black and gross. (That's such redundant information but I actually remember it)

The sky was beginning to get that little bit brighter, and many many cabs were in sight. But for some unknown reason, we refused to take a cab, and instead chose to freaking walk from the train station to Saigon Youth Hostel at Pham Ngu Lao, our next place of accommodation, for about 3.2km with our baggage. And we did it, oh yeahhhh! *pumps fist into the air*

Pictures from the walk

Vietnam 2013 [Part 4; Nha Trang]

Day four: Rafting, Massage

Rise and shine! Our plan for the day was rafting! We woke up a little late though, and the hotel reception had called us to inform us that the bus had arrived outside to pick us up, at 9am. Whoops. We made them wait a little, bout 10 minutes, but thankfully it was a small bus and there was only one other couple in the bus. Breakfast was some bread bought the night before. No time for com tam; that stall wouldn't have been open so early anyway.

We booked this activity with [horror of horrors, I didn't record this!!], and paid 630,000d per pax for this (S$37.50). Here's the information on the brochure, which does not include the name of the travel company.

9:00 Pick up at your hotel and take you to the starting point. It is 1 hour from Nha Trang city.

10:00 Start rafting down stream about 8kms. The biggest rapids are class 2 & 3 (safety for beginners). 

10:45 Visit the fruit garden, enjoy the tropical fruit. 

12:00 Have lunch with BBQ and Beer.  

13:00 Continue rafting along river 6kms. 

15:00 Finish rafting and return to Nha Trang. 

15:30 Arrive your hotel.  

Included: Transport, guide, dry bags, equipment, food and drinks, insurance.   

We did not visit the fruit garden to have fruit, and honestly, the rafting didn't feel like it was 8 + 6 kilometers. Anyways...

Our only selfie in the bus. 

Sidetrack a little - this was the day I wore my new bikini, hehe. It's a good thing that I found one that looked decent (also thanks to opinions from Ame) or I would be wearing the same cobalt blue bikini set for all three days in Nha Trang -_- I now have two sets, yay, and I'd like to acquire more :P

We travelled for less than an hour to this river, reached at about 10am, and had to take this small, rocky and muddy road in. It made the ride bumpy, but I'd rather take a bumpy minibus ride than motorbike ride.

It was also on this road that we saw how our bus driver and guide help another Vietnamese guy on a motorbike get unstuck from the mud and pushed him along. Simple acts of kindness can be so heartwarming :)

Backstage Cafe

I first learned about the existence of Backstage Cafe through Kevin Chia's instagram. It caught my attention because I thought 'backstage' was an unusual name for a cafe. Then again, all sorts of cafes with creative names are sprouting out in Singapore, which is good for us, but not very healthy for our wallets haha.

I found out later about the significance of its meaning, which is linked to its location at Safekeep Building. The building houses TV studios, so it's of no surprise that many celebrities have visited it and autographed the pillar, haha.

Visited this cafe with my boy on New Year's day at close to 3pm :) Located in at Kallang's industrial estate, it was relatively accessible for us as we had to take a few stops down from Kovan/Serangoon to Boon Keng MRT, then take a bus and alight 4 stops later.

Loved the fact that Backstage was large and empty, with a high ceiling that doesn't make you feel claustrophobic like some smaller cafes do. Wifi is also available, perfect for students like myself who want a place to study or carry out group discussions.

New Doxology

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost

Let earth and heavenly saints proclaim
The power and might of His great Name
Let us exalt on bended knee
Praise God, the Holy Trinity

Praise God, praise God
Praise God, Who saved my soul
Praise God, praise God
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow

Praise to the King, His throne transcends
His crown and Kingdom never end
Now and throughout eternity
I'll praise the One Who died for me

Praise God, praise God
Praise God, Who saved my soul
Praise God, praise God
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow

Vietnam 2013 [Part 3; Nha Trang]

Day two

The sky was bright when we arrived at Nha Trang. It was about 7.30am, I think? We were greeted with a gush of cold wind as we sleepily alighted from the bus and retrieved our bags from the storage compartment. I panicked a little then, thinking that it would be this cold throughout the day, but thank God that afternoons were warmer.

We then set off in search of our Blue Star Hotel, which Brice had booked beforehand. Many locals tried to promote their hotels to us as we did so, asking if we need a hotel. We declined by telling them we are going to Blue Star Hotel, and I thought they would just leave us be since we said we're going to their competitor, but some of them gave us directions despite that! First impressions of the Nha Trangese (I'm not sure what to call them) were thus positive, to me at least :)

So we managed to locate our hotel...

I didn't take this photo upon arrival but this would do. Just to show the entrance :)

Ushering 2014

I really like what Melody Yap said in her blog in this post:

you should let nobody destroy your dreams just because they lack vision, and no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

It's something I try to remind myself too, whenever I can. 2013 was filled with much opportunities and happiness, but there were times where I felt like I was a mere tool, and I was never good enough, was not as liked by others as I would have wanted to be. Sometimes I end up disgusted by myself for envying my own friends, for this inevitably created slight feelings of resentment for something I perceived to have lacked.

I know what I need - greater self-esteem, confidence, perceived competency. This is something I struggle with, year after year, although sometimes it may not be obvious to the people around me. After all, I am a psychology major, and I am expected to be able to deal my own inner struggles. Correct? ..... Actually, it's not as easy as everyone thinks. There is a limit to how much I can do, on my own. :(

Learning is a lifelong process which extends to and applies to every possible domain in our lives. This includes that of my spiritual life - I am still learning to rely less on myself, more on God, while striking a balance such that I do not end up blaming God for negative events. This year, I will learn to seek Him more, in every possible way, for every little thing. I will seek God with that child-like faith I saw during my cell group's recent mission trip. Then, perhaps, all those insecurities can be dealt with more effectively.

One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm 27:4

Vietnam 2013 [Part 2; Saigon > Nha Trang]

Disclaimer: The first half of the trip is going to be more detailed because I have more pictures and hence more cues to memory retrieval.

Day Zero/One

This was when it really started to dawn on me - VIETNAM, BABY!! Spent the night at the airport with my pals. We went to have Popeyes at T3, which was supper for them but dinner for me, then went to some random open space to settle for the night... sorta.

Brice and Ivan tried to sleep but Amelia and I were chatting and making use of my camera's remote function and making fun of them as they slept. Or tried to sleep. I have no idea why we did not feel sleepy.