Scrolling message across the screen

You know when you're watching television and a storm is coming from some far off place and a warning scrolls across the bottom of the screen? I find it very disconcerting that, that also happens here, but I have no idea what it's saying. "Lauren, come claim your 1,000,000,000 dong [which is about $47,000]! You have ten minutes or we give it to someone else." Oh, crap.

Russian Bar, I Feel Love

I know it's been ages and ages and I keep saying I'm going to update and I never do. But I will and I'll send a mass email out when that happens.

Until then get an inside view of nightlife here in Saigon - it's a video of the last night at the city's most popular after-hours bar. If you stick around until around 2:40 you'll catch a glimpse of Dan (the one in the cast, a story of which will be posted in my March backlog) and I.

Love to all <3 and a special shout out to Miss CMB for her birthday

Mama Said There'd Be Rain Like This

I tutor in the evenings after work 2-3 times a week. Sometimes I'm tired and don't feel like going and other times it's raining so badly (and I still have to go) that I feel the need to blog about it so here goes:

Emotions of Driving in a Saigon Rainstorm

Happy: I forgot to take my yoga clothes out of my bag, so I'll have something (albeit covered in yesterday's sweat) to change into. Also, there is 3/4 less traffic because why travel in the rain (on a motorbike, no less) when you don't have to? I realised there would be a lot less to contend with when driving through the street market - less motorbikes, less slow pedestrians, and wait.... NO BICYCLES AT ALL! (I've recently decided that I'm anti-bicyclists, at least here.)

Nostalgic: I was wearing this dress for my first major rainstorm in this city - it got soaked through that time, too. The children are running, laughing, and playing even though it seems as though the sky is falling.

Surprised: The mini floods are quite warm when they're splashed on your bare leg. (But definitely angry that I'm being splashed at all.)

Nervous: It's getting awfully windy out here... almost there, almost there!

Wistful: I wish I could go home and cuddle up with my book (The Beach), crank up the aircon, and wear sweatpants. (Yes, I know it all sounds counterproductive and is going to contribute to the ruining of the earth, but sometimes a girl just needs to cuddle up in sweats).

Proud: I was recently complimented on my driving skills and the rain appears to be making no difference in that department. I've also worked out all of the roads with the least flooding, so I'm not drowning up to my ankles.

Overjoyed: The bumpiest road with the most potholes in the existence of time has been paved! I'm no longer at risk of losing my front tire, or whole bike in one of them! Way to go Government; thanks for the awesome surprise!

Unamused: The rain. Has stopped. As I pull up to the gate where I tutor. Go figure.