My Blog

The sky was  bit over cast when I started to walk  towards the airfield from my hotel.
It
was an old military  airbase since the American war in the 1960’s and
was made to an airport then again changed to a military air base (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nha_Trang_Air_Base )   

The hall was a hodge podge of   Americans, British, Thais, Japanese, Chinese,  Russians and of course the lone Filipino Me. All wanted to be part of the 1^st ever  civilian Sky Jump over Vietnam.

Hmmm now to think about if I get to jump  I would  be the 1^st Filipino Ever to sky dive in Vietnam.

From what I heard from the organizer it took them almost 2 years to get the
necessary permits for this event.

 So I was introduced to my tandem master who was Thai named  Khun Winnai ,who was a retired member of the Thai SAS. He stood about a half foot smaller then me but possessed
large stocky body capable of supporting us .He went thru the
procedures. I had to go thru from standing, walking the ramp, jumping
off, free fall, parachute controls and landing.

Our
ride that day was the Russian made MI-8 , which was made as military
transport helicopter. It would be bring the contingent of 22 people up
to 12,000 feet above sea level. It had a rear ramp in which we where
going to jump off from.

So they called us off and  then  we were formed into 3 sticks as we board the helicopter.

As the helicopter started its rotors I was filled with excitement .I expected fear to creep
on me but it was rather eerie as it was blanket of calm that  I felt at
that moment . It seemed so surreal here, I am taking off a military
airbase on a military helicopter strapped to an airborne ranger and
flanked by 2 US Navy officers. It felt like being right smack in the
middle of a war movie. I felt giddy being able to play solider. The
ride up to the drop height took about 15 mins.

Some of the divers took a nap.  I admired the view from the open helicopter ramp , watching the landscape become smaller. 

“3 Mins ……3 Mins” shouted the Jumpmaster I was stirred up from my stupor of watching the view.

“Up “my tandem master told me. I
stood up, The jumpers started to give high fives and good luck  signs
they all acknowledge me give me shakes of hands and thumbs up.

“Safety “ I then pulled on the straps then will hold me.

“Walk…….. Move Forward” I waddle forward  to the ramp still I felt no fear

I saw the other sky divers’ jump over the ramp , disappeared and plunged down towards Earth.

Then I was on the edge of the ramp

“Jump… Jump…. Jump “I assumed the position for the jump.

Then started my descent towards earth face forward with   a terminal velocity of 200 kph.

The freight train sound of the rushing air makes you realize the speed of your fall.

It
is  an experience I will try to describe but it  was simply something
unless you have experienced personally no amount of words can convey  .

There
was  no any sensation of falling. It seemed that I was not moving and
had this wall (which was the ground) accelerating towards me. A patch
of clouds suddenly blocked our drop. We punched thru it. I felt  draft
of cold air embraced me  as went thru it.

Wow I actually touched the clouds…

Time seemed to slow down Oh what a rush… every senses of my body was enjoy every moment of my ride.  As the landscape became larger.

Thump as the canopy opened and jerked us up… my straps strained as it held me in place and slowed our descent to a glide.

“Control
“once again my tandem ordered me. I gripped the controls of the
parachute he gave me orders of left or right as we corkscrew our way
towards the drop zone which was along the beach of Nha Trang. It looked like a small target but it was visible.

I appreciated the view from my vantage point. I could see the island
resort of VinPearl, the fishing boats which were dots that lined the
seas.

It was going to be a beach landing which explained why some of the sky divers were barefooted when we jumped.

”Control
back” which meant the finer aspect of landing was given back to my
tandem master. It had to done right or else we end up doing my next
favorite activity which was scuba diving if
landed on the open sea.

As the land loomed larger I saw a large crowd waiting for us to land.

No wonder he was Special Forces we landed softly about 5 feet away from the bull’s eye.

As we landed , being the only tandem jumper the crowd closed in on us.

As we walked to the secure zone where the skydivers went to repacked their chutes.

The loud chatters in Vietnamese  surrounded us , then out of the blue a woman’s voice in a n accented but understandable  English  said “ Hey where are you from ?” I turned around and smiled “I am from the

Philippines

‘They clapped and smiled back  ..

I
walked towards the bus which was going to bring back to the airbase I
smiled to myself wondering if this would mean a new beginning like it
was my 1st discovery scuba brought me to where I am.

I just said a prayer of thanks to God for allowing me to experience gift of life.

Erik my colleague invited me to join a wine tasting affair at one of the luxury resorts here in Hoian named The Nam Hai (http://www.thenamhai.com/). 

A beautiful property and  very new, about a year old.

It
was luxury resort  which you can tell by just by look at it . Nice
clean lines, contrasting light usage and massive infinity pools that
seem to never end. Golf Carts for all the  guest . You can see from the
pictures that it indeed exudes class.

The wine company presented some of the best wines made in New Zealand and pulled all stops for this event.

They
showcase their  finest Pinot Noirs, Rieslings (one of the best whites I
have tasted from New Zealand) their sparkling wines and their reserve
collections was also presented.

It was an excellent showcase of wines from New Zealand.

The
winery was family owned and still processed the wines the old  fashion
way by hand . Yet funny thing is that they  have changed from using
corks to screw tops for their wines a trend that seemed to be happening
for the wine industry but something I would not expect from a family
run winery who markets themselves as a traditional winery.

Top-notch wine was complement by even more by top-notch food. They had

Foie gras
Fresh Tasmanian Oysters
Roasted Wagyu Beef
Duck Breast with Thyme Infused Honey and Balsamic Pan Sauce
New Zealand Lamb loin
Cheese -cheddar, gouda , ricotta, brie, bleu,
Fresh baked breads and assorted other salads

It was an epicurean delight, it was one of the best wine tasting affairs I had the pleasure of attending.

They
had a wonderful pianist/singer to complement the night. My colleagues
were on the bet that she was a Filipina. So after her rounds and
approached her and said “Kamusta ka?” She was surprised by my greeting
and she said she happy to see another Filipino.

During our talk, I was surprise that all of the bands playing in Danang and Hoian are Filipinos……Ok not that surprise .

She
has been playing for the resort for over 6 months and is being billeted
in one of the villas in Nam Hi Resort with a rack rate of $650 USD. Not
bad… plus she gets to order food from the F&B outlets.

She said that Filipinos in Vietnam are  highly respected.

Hmmmm
maybe that is why my staff has been egging me to go Karaoke nights with
them. It seems that they have this impression that all Filipinos are
excellent singers.  Too  bad when God was giving singing talents to
Filipinos . I was sleeping under a rock or something.

I got to
meet  the local GMs of the other resorts  they were French , Malaysian
, Scottish Australian and then I got my 2nd surprise of the day I met
a Filipino GM.

He is the GM for the 1st 5 star resort in the
area. He has been there for almost 7 years in Vietnam. We even found
out that we had the  same acquaintances in Saipan where he also used to
work like me. It is indeed a small world.

We got to talk in Filipino for a brief moment since he had to go back to his property . He invited me to visit him when I can.

The night was winding down after a full and satisfied tummy  complemented by  8 glasses of very good wines.

We bid thanks to our host.

Erick then invited us to pass by another resort to have one more round .Hmmm the night has not ended.

So off we go ,Erik seemed to be a regular there since he was greeted by his 1st name .
We
went to the bar, order some drinks, and started listening to the
Filipino Band. After a while we started to play some pool , the band
then finished  one of it’s sets and like any good band went to mingle
with the guest.

The male vocalist approached and started to greet us in English .
I then said “Kamusta kayo”
He then looked at me a said” Oh sir you know Filipino?”
I replied smiling “ Oo naman Filipino ako eh”
Then we started laughing  and started talking
Again,
in the course of our talk I find out that his friend was one of the
General Manager in the Hotel that I opened in Manila after I left .
Wow, this world is really getting very small.

Anyways the GM who
was a Filipino then joined us. Again, we were talking shoptalk and
Vietnam in general. It seems he was the 1st to bring Filipino bands in
the area and then started to get some more Filipinos to his management
staff.

So, he then left after an hour of talk .
Erik , Tan and me continued by play darts.
Soon we called a night finally .

Now
a funny thing happened  We were waiting at the lobby for a taxi when a
black Toyota Camry stop in front of us and asked us where were we
heading to?

I immediately recognized it to be the GM of the
hotel. Nevertheless, Erik ,who I think he had to many glasses (12
glasses of wine and a couple of Heineken ) started to barter with him.

I had to stop myself from laughing . He thought it was driver moonlight as a taxi.
It was a hoot, anyways he came back to his senses and recognized the GM.

We were all laughing on our way to hotel.

Oh what a night ….

PS
it seems the present IP I using is having problems gaining access to
Multiply so I am forced to mask my ip which makes it a bit slower. If
you try to trace me you will find out I am in Germany heheheh

I like eating in places that one  does  not exactly find  on the tourist maps.
Those good eats where the local people come to enjoy great food for a great price.
One such place is called Thuy Restaurant 94.

I love my seafood so when I heard about the restaurant that has  been famous for over 20 years in Saigon for soft shell crabs I really had to try .

The
place are just like a hole in the wall ,literally just a small space
with Spartan décor and dining utensils. Unless you know what you are
looking for you might just drive pass by it.

However,
one thing that is unmistakable is the freshness of the seafood. When
you arrive you will immediately see the live soft-shelled crabs lined
up in front of the restaurant.

So
I order a selection of  steamed crab claws, grilled prawns and their
specialty deep fried soft-shelled crab with sweet chill sauce.

The
service was quick, you can see them going to the pile you saw when you
came in and cooked them all in plain eyesight with their simple show
case kitchen counter.

The soft-shelled crab was delicious. The difference between the regular crab and the soft-shelled one is that this one you can eat it all no need to peel and scoop out the sweet crabmeat.
I literally ate the shell, the body and legs. Hmmmm dip in sweet chill sauce to complete it.

The Shrimp freshness was betrayed by sweetness and firmness of meat that you dip in a mix of pepper, salt and lime juice.

Likewise, with the crab claws, which came to my table, peeled and ready to eat.
It was great meal with rice, salad and drink  and it was only $ 18 usd  the quantity was good enough for more then 1 person.

It was a great discovery, which I plan to share with my friends.

Here is the address to those might get to be able  drop by in HCMC

Thuy Restaurant 94
84Dinh Tien  Hoang , D1

Last night I was had the chance to go clubbing. Which I have not done since I left my previous work.

While in

Saigon

I want to sample a bit of night life. So I went to Q Bar (http://www.qbarsaigon.com/) a hip and trendy place where the expats and elite of

Vietnam

go. Located in front of Caravelle Hotel and underneath Saigon Opera House. The price of the drinks are pretty steep for the Mojitos which I had a couple was about $5 and the premium drinks like the tequila (Herradura Selección Suprema) I had was about $ 7.50 a shot for a country like Vietnam it is steep but I have been to bars in NY and Toronto that a bit more pricey but he you compare the apples to oranges.

They have a good selection of liquor and wine from the Bollinger , Moet Chandon champagnes to the obscure Robert Cavalli Vodka ( I know he is a designer but I am not drinking anything made by someone whose main business is not producing quality liquor Same with the Trump Vodka made for Donald Trump).

As the night went on I got to talk to other expats working in

Vietnam

and exchanging business card. It was great to have a change of scenery from the quiet beaches to a vibrant nightlife. It something I would like to do once in awhile.

So about after midnight I peeled myself away from the crowd and went home.

Here a recipe of a Mojitos that wonderful drink I had.  One thing they have a lot in excellent quality in

Vietnam

is Mint Sprigs.

3 fresh mint sprigs
2 tsp sugar
3 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 1/2 oz light rum (Bacardi white)
club soda

In a tall thin glass, crush part of the mint with a fork to coat the inside. Add the sugar and lime juice and stir thoroughly. Top with ice. Add rum and mix. Top off with *chilled* club soda (or seltzer). Add a lime slice and the remaining mint, and serve.

Enjoy

I
have been temporarily assigned to work in another property for a month
or so . So I packed my gear and headed down south. Its about 3 hours
drive from HCMC and thats after a hour flight from Quy  Nhon.

I
have a nice unit to stay in and the view is different from my base
property. But  new faces and places keeps me on my toes. I will  try to
post some pictures when my schedule permits.

I woke up early this morning took a hot  shower to begin my day. Then
light peeked coaxing me to move the shower curtain.I was then rewarded
with a beautiful sight.

I continued enjoyed my shower while enjoying the sunrise savoring every moment  .
The simple joy of life  one must take timeto enjoy  and be thankful.

I  just really hope the there are no fishermen on those boats hehehe

A picture of my shower stall for those interested without me of course hehehehe

My best friend Mintoy has his Vespa who’s exact model and make escapes me.
He would ride his Vespa from their farm in Balayan Batangas to their residence in Paranque a good 120 to 150 km trip.

I found then his Vespa amusing.

Now that I am in Vietnam I found out Vespa here is like a cult if not status symbol.
People here ride motorcycles more as cars here are pretty expensive.
Once  I ask my HR manager to get another driver for the resort . he said it wont be easy.
I said why I see  people riding scooters around like ants on a mound of sugar.
He said yes they drive scooters not cars.
Oh ok heehe no wonder the drivers here moving like they are on scooters

I still do have heart stopping moments when  I travel in the roads here
and this is from guy who used to ride bicycles in the streets of Manila during rush hour.

So here I am eyeing a nice Vespa to use. I had our American English teacher who speaks Vietnamese poke around in town for one.

Some Vespa here are classics brought during the French occupation .

I
want a nice candy apple red for my use like the one pictured. Hopefully
to be able to ride it around vietnam hehehe. too bad it cant carry my
scuba gear.

hehehe

Sigh after a month of activities (full occupancy, Typhoon
near miss , IT problems etc.)

I am down for 16 hours of straight sleep the other day

 I am able to enjoy a
slow day. Sipping my coffee as the local fisherman boat sail by.

Sound Seawaves crashing in the background.

When should I finish my Padi Divemaster course?

Thinking about if I took that job in the

Maldives

(hehehehe).

Scribbling in my moleskinne .Random thoughts on life and leisure.

Maybe I should skydive hehehe

Looking forward to my vacation in October and perhaps a
R&R .

Eat in a swank restaurant where $100 per head is norm.

Or eat hotdogs I use to grab in the streets of

Toronto

.

Ideas are always free…..but action that are need are sometimes costly

Friends from afar….

People when they come to my place of work they would say “Wow it’s beautiful here you are lucky to work and live here….” Sure if I am off for a vacation it’s a great place to be but if you spend 24/7 in a place no matter how breath taking the site is you do get bored and lonely once in a while( I can imagine my Housekeeping manager who worked in the jaw dropping Maldives nodding in approval.)

Out from the blue ,My old friend Joon drop me an email saying he would be in Vietnam on a business trip and will try to spend a night in our property.

Joon was one of my closest classmates . Even before we spoke it seems that we had some things that bonded us . His co-worker in Korea was my Guest Relations Manager before and his former boss was the EAM of the Hotel beside my former Hotel and a friend. He was the youngest in our class and we had fun rubbing it in .

Never mind the 4 hour drive coming from Nha Trang . He just wanted to take time to visit me. We spent the night talking and catching up since our classes in Cornell Hotel School.
He just got married about 4 months ago and invited me but I could come due to my work.
Joon still extended his invitation for me to visit him in Korea . As we bid good bye the next day , We would meet again soon either in Vietnam or Korea.

Having a Friend visit made my post less isolated ….

Joon on my Right in Cornell