A poem by Kipling that I just now got around to reading. It's a little hokey- about an Englishman's love for a sweet little gal in Burma. Maybe Mike will write a nice poem about me when we're in Myanmar. Or he says "maybe I'll find a sweet little gal to write a poem about in Mandalay." He seems to have been bitten by the blog bug so we'll just have to see how poetic he finds the place.
The road to Mandalay is also our path to where we'll be for most of this fall: Mandalay, Myanmar for the next two months, starting this weekend. I have a job there teaching nursing and Mike will be occasionally filling in as a volunteer tutor helping the students with their English skills.
We're looking forward to settling down in one place for a while and getting to know the people and the culture. Myanmar seems like a pretty exciting place to explore having just opened up to foreigners in the last few years.
On the way there we've had a good time. Visiting family in Traverse City and Fowlerville, including an amazing family wedding. Next was the trip to Chicago via the Megabus for a quick visit with friends and then the long flight to Tokyo and on to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
On our last trip here we only stayed for a short time in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC- formerly Saigon.) This time we have just over a week and decided to spend the entire time in HCMC. Specifically to stretch ourselves beyond District 1- the main tourist area- and to explore different foods that we missed last time.
We've made good friends with Phu, a guy who works at our guesthouse who has introduced us to some different areas and foods. A couple of times we've gone out in the evenings on a scooter ride with he and his brother or friend to different areas of the town. A scooter ride in this town is not for the faint hearted. Elbow to elbow traffic. Weaving in and out of buses, taxis, cars. Our mothers would not be happy to hear about this but we made it home in one piece.
A few nights ago we went out with Phu and his brother Bou to a place near their home which specialized in a crab stew with chunks of pork, sausage, meat balls and congealed pig's blood. After we went to a park where we had a salad with caramelized cow stomach and green papaya. It all was pretty good except for the pig's blood which I politely tasted but left in my bowl largely untouched.
Two nights ago we went with Phu and his friend Hu to a place that specializes in Hot Pot and BBQ. We grilled goat, deer and beef over a little stove and then had a delicious hot pot of squid, shrimp, clams and fish head. All very tasty although I left most of the fish head for Mike and the boys.
The best part is being able to see parts of the city where there are usually no tourists. We definitely do not blend in but everybody is very kind.
We have one more day here and then we'll move on to Bangkok for a night before heading to Mandalay. Here's hoping for some interesting eats in Myanmar.
District 1, HCMC
Vietnamese students ask to interview us to help with their English practice. They're very sweet. Giggle at the answers to every question.
Mike haggling for a pair of "Ray Bans." My new pair was 80,000 dong ($3.50) Cheaper than in Nicaragua, more expensive than Indonesia "Ray Bans."
Picture of Ho Chi Minh (affectionately called Uncle Ho) at the Central Post Office.
Central Post Office- beautiful building!
Mike buying Banh Mi
Mr. Cook left his mark. Maybe one day one of his students will find this?
50th floor of the Bitexco Financial Tower. Great view for the cost of a 99,000 dong beer (they're usually around 15,000 dong.) Well worth it!
Uncle Ho statue in front of the People's Committee Building.
Beef wrapped mushrooms with eggplant and okra for the grill
Phu and Hu grilling meat
Hot Pot with the boys
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