#76vietnam, bush!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Today I woke up at
3am.
And I couldn't fall asleep again. So I got out of bed at about 5am, because closing my eyes and trying to sleep was harder than staying awake. And surprisingly, I'm not even tired now. I'm in that half tired yet can't sleep mode that I'm in about every school day.
Today I can't sleep, yesterday I was dragged from my sleep to IKEA.
Not that I really mind though. I love IKEA.<3
We went there to buy these kiddy stuff cos my dad's vietnam friend is starting a kindergarten in vietnam. so cool right(: one day I will work at a kindergarten! hahaha if I actually did everything I said I would I'd have approximately no life when I reach 'one day'(:
VIETNAM!somehow I think my sleep very little-ness today is because I'm excited about Vietnam. My dad printed out this huuuge stack of wikitravel and some other stuff about Vietnam. VERY amusing. I read about half the stack yesterday before I went to bed, then this morning when I woke up I read for another hour before turning the lights back off and trying to overcome that springy things that the spring fairy stuck in my eyelids when I was sleeping.
You should read these quotes:
VIETNAM ONLINE.If your friends at home love tacky tourist crap, you are in luck!
WIKITRAVEL.If you've lost your departure card or forgot to fill one out, the immigration officer may request $20 as a bribe to let you pass. Don't give him the money
Taxi drivers may tell you there are no more airport buses - ignore them.
Driver may come up with any kind of excuses, from 'no vacancy' or 'circus is in town' just to get you [to] stay at other (commision-paying) hotels.
Driving in Saigon is best left to experienced drivers, however - the traffic is intense, and has its own rhythms and logic.
The driver often visits places which benefit his wallet. The driver often ignores your directions for museums and heads to his favoured local poor quality gift shop. They circulate around the central market and will immediately try to take you on a city tour the moment you are on board.
...the biggest problem is when you get of the bus, you become a pedestrian. (haha you think, big deal, then you read these: )
However crossing the road in Saigon can be a nightmare.
Adherence to traffic signals in Saigon is is vastly improving, and while they're not always followed... Just remember though that vehicles can ALWAYS turn right at any time (regardless oflights). Motorbikes often drive in the wrong direction
(On Independence Palace) There is also a photo gallery and a propaganda film recounting how the South Vietnamese supporters and American imperialists succumbed to Ho Chi Minh's indomitable revolutionary forces, upon which point the South Vietnamese Supporters were forgiven and everyone lived happily ever after.
If you care about animal welfare, avoid the zoo.
(On Quan Am Pagoda) The oldest pagoda in town, home of a lot of incense and a cheerful puppy.
(On the Saigon River) Make sure you know how to cross the road before attempting to get there.
If you're in Saigon on a Sunday night, then beg, borrow, or rent a two-wheeled vehicle
Cho Binh Tay in the China, the more underrated twin of Ben Thahn [market](haha it sounds like ben10) , selling everything from spices, Chinese medicines, silk to obscure varieties of fermented fish, dried seafoods, and jerks.
Hidden behind rows of hardware and electric supplies shops, just brave yourself and enter.
Vietnam sounds so exciting(: I also saw this email to my mum with pictures of weird sights in Vietnam. Oh, forgot to send it to myselfD: but look at this email(:
I will miss Bush's quotes"The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country."
"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure."
"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any Governor, and that one word is 'to be
prepared'."
"I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future."
"The future will be better tomorrow."
"We're going to have the best educated American people in the world."
"I stand by all the misstatements that I've made."
"We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commitment to
Europe. We are a part of Europe."
"Public speaking is very easy."
"A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls."
"We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur."
"For NASA, space is still a high priority."
"Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children."
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that
are doing it."
"It's time for the human race to enter the solar system."
Makes us love Obama that much more. (:
and this one, from amandah(:
and my favourite...
10:48 AM
