Some more on Hoi An

More on Hoi An

Hot for Hoi An

We are back! Boy, much to update about this hot trip. Firstly, it was a tad short. Probably my fault for not checking out the flights as we had wasted about 2hrs taking this flight as it had a connection to stopover at Siem Reap.

Direct flights to Danang is available and is about 2hrs plus. Secondly, I can't ride a bike. It was just overwhelming for me, but I love being a pillion rider as long as someone is willing to take my load. It was super fun but I'm sure it'd be much more fun if I had and could ride the bike myself. The feeling of wind blowing your hair and face plus Hoi An is 'deserted' enough to ride quite safely and almost recklessly, it was fun, fun, fun! At first, I had to hold on to Sim but gradually, I mustered up the courage to just hang myself via the back of the bike without having to hold on to my dear life by wrapping my hands on Sim's f(l)abulous shoulders. We wanted to extend our bike rental for the last day but unfortunately, we couldn't come to terms with the prices the store was charging us so we opted to return the bikes and travel by taxi. Taxi wasn't cheap - we paid about VND350,000 (USD20) for a 30mins plus ride from Hoi An to the bustling Danang.

I wish there was more time so I can laze by the beach. It was great that we chose an off peak season as practically the hotel, beach and restaurants were like 'exclusively' ours for the 3 days we were there. But that means, I don't have much people to watch, which is typically what I like to do on the beach - bum oggling as I call it. Nevertheless, we had fun pretending the 'island' was reserved privately for us.

If we had more time, we could explore more places in Hoi An but that would mean poor Sim would have to take me along as his piggyback rider. He must have missed out the joy of riding dangerously by himself if I weren't pillion.

Thirdly, the food was quite a disappointment. Didn't have anything that excited our palates too much. The water spinach cooked in garlic was just about the highlight for the trip. Duh. Even the pho was good to great and not even excellent or maybe we had our expectations set up too high?

Fourth, we figure this area is going to be quite a hot tourism place in about a year's time. When we were there, so many constructions were going on by 'branded' hotels such as Le Meridien, Hyatt etc. Most of the establishment were local branded ones but gradually, you see the foreign forces coming in. This oughta tell you something. We found out that it costs about USD95,000 to own one's personal (retirement) pad in Hoi An. Not a bad idea if you think about it - provided it doesn't become overly commercialized like your Phukets and what nots. We joked around we should consider buying and investing in real estates here... Probably Hoi An is the next retirement paradise? The pace and lifestyle is easy and laid back. It is great if you have dough in the bank and looking for simple and peaceful life.

All in all, it was fun for me. Might have missed out some details here and there but can't wait for next group trip with the rest.

How much beef do you need to eat to equate to bovine based collagen intakes like botox?

I think we ate a whole cow today at Yakiniku Daidomon at Novena. We ordered almost every possible parts and combination of beef except the tongue.

I even ordered the raw beef but er... would say that didn't go too well for my stomach. It was alright, and tasted and felt like those japanese raw octupus except it's red and it's beef. Reminded me of that Mr Bean episode where he ordered from some Russian restaurant and ended up with a raw beef pattie which he tried hard to get rid of. Me, I just cooked it.

All in all, the food is quite nice and service was great. Every time we were just studying the menu, some waiter or waitress would pop by our table to ask if we wanted to order anything.

For $50++ per pax, I guess you can't complain too much. Will come back once I've sold more ESPP shares...

Tea Cafe at Seah Street

Great ambience, great company, great tea and food. Must check out Tea Cafe at Seah Street if you have a leisure afternoon to catch up with friends or your reading. I had hot sour plum tea, tea egg, cucumber sandwich and assortment of snacks. Lovely! Can't wait to come back again.

Narcissist fool

There are no more narcissist ones than you are; but it's a good kind of narcissism which one could find lovable and charming. You also have a great need to please and charm, with a strong penchant for conquest.




Your main flaw is your too great self-indulgence, your tendency to self-satisfaction. If you don't succeed in fighting it, it may prove to be a serious obstacle to the good development of your personality. On the other hand, you've pride and courage. But when you fear being badly judged or appreciated, you won't hesitate to resort to cowardice and compromising.



You've a profound esthetic sense and don't do anything which could harm beauty. You're very much gifted for music, dance, writing, artistic criticism, material exploitation of beauty, and can make a fortune in such branches. You easily attract helps and supports.



You couldn't live without being loved and surrounded. Your amorous successes can be numerous. Prestige plays an important role in your attachments you're interested only in those of whom you can be proud for one reason or another. Furthermore, you need a scene of beauty and refinement so as to live your sentimental or conjugal life satisfactorily.

Personal QBR... 3/4 point review

How the year of the OX is turning out for me thus far:

Jan: It was a good start as I went to Seoul for shopping with friends. Spent more than my usual as the girls had fun with my 'makeover'. Best part for me was the food of course... I miss the sam gye tang. I think I'm still the slob that I am but as Mdm Coco Chanel had said - "..it's best to be as pretty as possible for destiny". Point taken though may not be fully adopted at all times.

Feb: Missed that 'exciting' Phuket trip and a bunch of stuff that made me think a lot about issues I've never quite thought about and how I have been treating me, myself and I. Health and possibly 'life and living it' took an exceptionally important focus that I hope will continue to be key point for many more years to come.

Mar: House Arrest and keeping sanity; I'm a home person but being couped up at home 24/7 is no joke. I wonder how Ms Aung San Suu Kyi survived... but then again, maybe she is living in a big house that has a big garden and backyard for her to wonder around?

Apr: Gathering at my house to celebrate my 'release' - it was quite fun but unfortunately we had to end the night early as my place had a curfew to adhere. Did my 5km JP Morgan Run for second year running - which I'd shamelessly say I am yet again the most unfit person I know where even men older, fatter and 'balder' outran me effortlessly. I was panting like mad and barely made it to the finishing line. I know I've never been a long distance runner before but this was quite outrageous.  Set myself to 'correct' this blip in following months by training... resulting in me setting myself up for this objective by signing up for Standard Chartered 10km. Crazy but true. Went to Bangkok for eating and shopping with parents which was quite fun and I hope next year, we can do something with brother in tow. Went to HK for meeting and met our new dynamic CMO. 

May: My favourite month because I was in New York. I love the place; it has its quirks and is all messy and chaotic and all, but it does have its magic. Wish I could have spent more time there and if only H1N1 wasn't so prevalent, probably could have gone to Queens, Brooklyn and so many other areas of the great city. Well, I brought something extra when I came back and once again, I found myself under House Arrest. The whole H1N1 experience was painful - I'd tell anyone you won't die from the virus but you'd probably die from being couped up in isolation first before the virus gets to you. 

Jun: NY withdrawal - I miss the place. Found out CK was a closet moonwalker and that he was also a Kevin Kern fan. I enjoy irritating him and I think he secretly enjoys being irritated too.

Jul: Night at the museum (not the movie but the real gig) - one of the most interesting event I've ever been to and thank organizers for putting up such a nice idea. This is also the month where I start putting goals for 5km run, which eventually extended to 10km. Dreaming of more getaways as I suddenly crave for more holidays...

Aug: Got my Nike+iPod and started looking at distance running like Bay Run 6km and RunNUS 5km to sign up. Eventually booked myself for 10km which was something I didn't plan for... kinda fell into it, thanks to people like Daniel, Sim, Beni, Andrew, Sri.... all culprits in making me swallow more than I can bite :P But it really pushed me to train myself up and thankfully with support from my boss too :)

Sep: This is the month where we head off to Hoi An getaway with colleagues. I hope it'd be fun as most of the CEOs (chief entertainment officers) are not coming. Planning for a gathering with colleagues-in-crime at somebody's house and hopefully it'd be just as fun as the Apr one. Hope everyone who comes will have a good time. I'm going Seoul again, but for work purpose although I have planned for some personal R&R as the week I'm there would be my birthday week - I usually take PTO on my birthday but not this year :) I'd be by myself but I've always been great at self-entertaining so I think I'd do fine exploring on my own as usual.

For the next and final three months, I can't really point down what else would be in stored for me but I hope it'd something colourful and exciting.