Disappearing Act 2

MIA again?

It has been quite some time since I blogged my last entry. Busy? Lazy? I think Both.

Actually, my disappearance often has got to do with my absence in Vietnam. I was away back to Singapore on 4 Oct and went on a family trip to Phuket from 8-12 Oct. Came back to HCMC on the 18th. Having to get used to life back here again after travelling for quite a number of times these few months.

Counting back, this is my 10th trip to HCMC. (1)1 Oct (2)28 Nov (3) 16 Jan (4) 15 Mar (5) 1 May (6) 7 Jun (7) 29 Jun (8) 13 Sep (9) 27 Sep (10) 18 Oct... ...

Phuket was fun yet tiring. Didn't have very good experience with our first hotel, given the price we have paid. Encountered 2 days short circuit during our 2-day stay. :( We stayed at Banthai Beach Resort and Spa. The service wasn't good either.

Luckily, we were greeted with superb staff with wonderful service and English during our last 2 days of stay at the Mariott Vacation Club, Mai Khao Beach. The place was heavenly! :) Something missing in the whole trip = My Darling. If only he was there, then everything would have been even better =)

Another 2 days before my family visit me in HCMC... looking fwd to it... :P

F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2009

Haha... F1 fan? not really. But i went for Singapore F1 Race for consecutive 2 days... FOC... so why not?! Thanks to our dear bro-in-law for the padang grandstand seats. Not the best but it was good enough, at least not standing.

First day, went on a date with my Dad (first time ah... kekeke). I still remembered telling Kelly that I have nvr gone out alone with my Dad the day before. Felt weird at first but I'm glad we went ahead with our date. =P

It was just a practice session, so not much excitement. However, it was an eye-opener for both of us, the engine is really loud..."BOOMZ" (adapted from....u know who la) ...whahahaha....

Day 2, went again with my Darling. This time round, we went for the Qualifying at 10pm. It was much more exciting than Day 1 as the drivers were out to fight for the best and pole positions for the RaceDay. Darling said it was more fun and more programs compared to last year. There were some shows and live bands going on... Singapore did a great job! :)

Hehee....din manage to take many good shots of the F1 cars coz my dummy camera can't do a great job for sure. Darling didn't bring along his SLR coz we din expect to turn up for this year's F1 actually.

Darling has been supporting this Singapore F1 since its first last year. Mayb we should make it a yearly affair, and we are contemplating to book a hotel room next year, then we can have more people to join in the fun... =)

20.09.2009

Hee...still in time for an entry for this special day... 20.09.2009 =) Din manage to come in at 20:09hrs though...haha

However, this wasn't that great a day afterall. Received bad news that Silas' grandmother had just passed away in Malaysia. :( Then, both of us weren't feeling well... Darling had a bodyache and fever... my stomach giving me problem...worst still, think both of us were too 'gluttony', we wanted to have a simple dinner at Petro House.... we had a buffet spread instead.

Too irresistable to give it a miss. Not that the food was that fantastic... the spread was Asian food (something Silas misses much, me ok since I just came back). It was a buffet spread by the hotel to celebrate Hari Raya, as requested by some of the patrons. So, we thought why not since both of us were feeling well THEN.

Now both of us are not feeling that OK... mayb we have just eaten too much.... Darling just gulped down a glass of ENO. As for me, I'm going to pop 2 panadols later.... Haiz...blame ourselves. :(

Anyway, just finished watching the interesting match bet. ManU and ManC. Woah! I would say one of the most interesting games I have watched so far. I guess the talk of the town would be "where do they get some much extra time?" I totally agreed. However, I think ManU deserve to win la... though I support Liverpool (more so I support my Darling...hahaha). Giggs is good and poor Ferdinand, I do pity him somehow.

Anyway, most likely will be going back this Tuesday to attend Grandma's wake. Just hope everyone is well. Hope we get well soon too.

Ciaos... Goodbye 20.09.2009 in abt another 2 hrs 6 mins' time...

MIA

Missing in Action for quite some time...and yes, for about a month.... so many things happened... good and bad...went back to Singapore, furthermore, no more internet at boon lay house, so rather IT handicapped for that 3 weeks...

My first post back in Seaview. Went back Singapore to settle our house...blended with excitement & disappointment. :x Dun really feel like explaining anymore...*tired*

Hmm....but i'm glad I had more than enough to get together with my family. Friends too....though not all.....willl definitely arrange more gatherings when i'm back the next time. Haha it would be better if someone arranges and i attend....kekeke.... (",) My pupils even celebrated Teachers' Day for me... a cake and my favourite Pooh...Thanks gals...so touched! :)

My darling, on the other hand, had to return to Vietnam much earlier than I did due to work commitment. I'm glad he came back on 11-13 Sep to take a short break and to accompany me back to Vietnam on the 13th.

During the trip back to Singapore, I didn't do much actually. Ironically, I slept more than I should and more than what I did in Seaview (which I had plenty of time to sleep if i want to)..... Eat Sleep Play...Kaoz.... so farewell gift = FATS!!!! :(

After all, it was still nice to be home sweet home. When I first stepped into the Singapore Airport, I can't help but take a deep breath.... "Singapore Air smells so nice" I exclaimed! Haha....think this was thus far the longest period of time that I wasn't on Singapore grounds. First meal i had was my favourite TEA-C from Hans at the Budget Terminal. "Fasntastic...long missing taste... even the Tuna puff taste heavenly! :)

Some interesting videos i took during this trip back... my beloved nephews, Jet, Jeryl, Jafon and Garreth in Action.

Sleepy yet Hungry Baby Jafon... Mai Siau Siau, he finished almost all the porridge whilst sleeping

Swimming Fun at The Centris

小小车神

Till the next post.... (",)

Another 4 hours

Another 4 hours, Silas & I will be on our way to the airport on flight back Home Sweet Home, Singapore.

Darling has already fallen asleep after working for nearly 30 hrs... poor dear. *Good nitez and sweet dreams*

Me? I'm still surfing the net coz I'm very excited over my new buys that I found online. Done 3/4 of my packing...not much to bring back coz I didn't buy any checked-in baggage...so limited to 7kg for each of us.

I am tired... Darling is going to wake up for the Liverpool game at 3am. Can I make it till then? Or should I catch so beauty sleep first? Hahaha... I think I'll take a quick bath first then pack my luggage then decide le... guess I'm just too excited to sleep now....

Laksa, Hokkien Mee, Popiah, Nasi Lemak, Mee Rebus, Mee Goreng.... mum's cooked food....singapore brewed coffee and tea....Wait for me...I'm coming!!!! (",)

Counting down....3 more days! (",)

Silas & I are looking forward to this coming Thursday...HOME SWEET HOME!

We are going back to Singapore, though a short trip. But defintely a much awaited one. Miss our families and friends...

Counting down....3 more days! (",)

Mui Ne Beach Escapade 8-9 Aug 2009 ~ Day 2

We woke up at 8am and headed for our buffet breakfast at the Hippocampe restaurant. Nice buffet spread, definitely made me feel better after the disappointing BBQ dinner.

Asked for a sunny side-up... got a heart-shaped one...haha (",)

Vietnamese Mini Pancake (a bit burned)

Whahaha...James or Jam? :p

The Sun, The Sea and The Sand…something that one cannot miss! We spent the whole morning at the beach before our check-out. I ordered a coconut that never came... and was told they ran out of it! :( So, I went to the pool bar and ordered a ‘Tropical Sunset’ – a mix of 3 fruit juices. Aiya! I think I’m just not fated to enjoy a drink then. I only took 3 sips, darling once before I toppled the glass of mocktail!!! (#@*!%^&) Not only that, I lost 100,000D (the money I have prepared to pay for the coconut)…haiz…. So I actually paid S$15 for the mocktail! Luckily, not a big price still.

Darling had a good sun bath while I enjoyed the breeze under the bamboo-coconut ‘umbrella.’ The waves were magnificent. Being mild hydrophobic, I’m glad I took up the challenge to get into the water and got ‘crashed’ by the jumping wild waves. It can be painful sometimes. Enjoyed these moments with my darling definitely!

Roaring Waves...

Dear in Action!

We didn’t have enough time to go for a swim at the pool. We bathed, packed our barang barang and checked out at 1pm. Went to the pool bar for our welcome ice-cream – had soursop and passion fruit sorbet.

Checking Out...

Pool Bar...

Last stopover before we headed back to Vung Tau was a very cheap seafood Vietnamese Restaurant, Lam Tong. Also one of the recommend restaurants in my list. I’m very happy that we didn’t miss this. A plate of kangkong is only about $1.20. We ordered Squid, Prawns, steamed fish, kangkong, a beer and a lime juice, all for only 167,000D (~S$14).

Will definitely come back again if I revisit Mui Ne. It would have been better if we could stay for at least 2 nights. And I would make sure I bring my camera battery charger along, given the number of pics I snapped. I was too naïve to believe that the battery would last me for this short trip. The battery went on strike after the Jeep Tour, only lasted less than a day.

On our way back, our driver actually lost his way! Puzzled! Hee… How did he get to Mui Ne then? Anyway, he asked a few people we met along the way for directions. We reached Seaview Residence safely, our home away from home, at 630pm :p

A look at our expenditure:
Transport: 2,200,000D (120USD)
Seahorse Resort and Spa (Deluxe Garden View): 84USD (inclusive of buffet breakfast)
Korean Lunch: 180, 000D
Jeep Tour: 470,000D
Tips & Drink for tour: 160,000D
BBQ Dinner: 470,000D
Ice Cream: 20,000D
Luna d’Autunno (Italian Restaurant): 330,000D
Pool Bar & Room Service: 100,000D
Lam Tong Lunch: 167,000D
Sunglasses: 250,000D
Lost: 100,000D
TOTAL: 4,447,000D + 84USD (Hotel) -> About S$500 for 2 pax!

Mui Ne – an oasis of calm! a tranquil and personal paradise for anyone seeking a relaxing and enjoyable escape, especially away from the hustle and bustle of city living. Highly recommended! Love the undisturbed beach, less crowded and commercialized as the ones in Phuket and Bali. I begin to miss the place already… (“,) The next time I go, I must wake up early for the sunrise! :)

Darling, thanks for this memorable and fun-filled Mui Ne Escapade. I really enjoyed myself very very much. I’m sure you did too! =)

Happy 1st Anniversary!

Mui Ne Beach Escapade 8-9 Aug 2009 ~ Day 1 Part 3

After the tour, we went back to our room and took a quick bath before proceeding for our BBQ dinner at our resort to celebrate our 1 year anniversary.

Seahorse Resort & Spa in the evening Guess which floor we stayed at? Hahaha... =) Getting ready to party...

It’s in a lush garden setting! Nice and romantic feel… but the food and service is only 5.5 out of 10! On the voucher, it was stated that the dinner starts from 630pm to 930pm. We reached there at 715pm. Guess what? By 820pm, the chefs and servers started clearing the food and buffet tables! Wakaoz…just because MOST people had taken their share. One of the servers still countered us (he came to get some feedback from us during our breakfast the next day) that we came late and most of the Vietnamese guests came at 6pm! Hmm…Singaporeans are not that kiasu after all!

Overall, I would still recommend this hotel for its stylish beachfront resort, good-sized room with a balcony and open-style bathroom, picturesque beach, nice swimming pool and pool bar, where refreshing array of cocktails and tasty snacks are served. Nice spread of buffet breakfast. Service at restaurants can be improved though. Front desk service is good.

Our Room...Deluxe Garden View

Pool in the day...

Nice Beach
Pool Bar
Pool at night...
The Lush Garden
Well Well Well...
US! (",)

We went for a stroll along the streets. Mainly only restaurants and massage parlours operating. Saw some hotels along the way. Other hotels that I may want to try next will be Terracotta, L' Anmien Mui Ne Resort & Spa (expensive) and Coco Beach (good reviews on this but it's staying in a hut).

Darling and I, not very satisfied with the dinner, went for another round of gastronomy experience. Bought an ice cream for 20,000D at the Gecko. Then we proceeded to one of the recommend restaurants in my list, the Luna d’Autunno is an Italian restaurant. The menu includes fresh pasta, great salads and fine pizzas from a wood-fired oven. There is also an extensive wine list. We had a pizza Salame, a Tiger beer and a set meal that included a pasta Vongole, a tiramisu and a soft drink. Pizza wasn’t as nice as the one we had in Phuket. The Italian Restaurant David in Vung Tau taste better. Or maybe we were already not that hungry...

Haha...my camera's battery ran dry...no pictures of Luna. Here are some recommended restaurants:
Jibes: Italian
90 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ham Tien, Mui Ne.
Tel: +84 (0) 62 847 405.
07:00-late

Luna d’Autunno: Italian
51A Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ham Tien, Phan Thiet.
Tel: +84 (0) 62 847 591.
Daily 09:00-22:00

Good Morning Vietnam: Italian
57, Km11, Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ham Tien, Phan Thiet.
Tel: +84 (0) 62 847 585.
Daily 10:00-22:00.

Lam Tong
92 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ham Tien, Phan Thiet.
Tel: +84 (0) 62 847 598.
Daily: 07:00-23:00

The Golden Sand Saloon Resort: Seafood
81BIS Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ham Tien, Phan Thiet.
Tel: +84 (0) 62 741 277.
Daily 06:00-24:00

Cay Bang restaurant
2-4 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ham Thien, Phan Thiet.
Tel: (84-62) 847-009.)
Daily 10:00-22:00.


We had a long day, decided to call it a day and stroll back to our resort. It was a tiring but fun-filled day. Day 2 coming up… =p

Mui Ne Beach Escapade 8-9 Aug 2009 ~ Day 1 Part 2

Our Tour Itinerary

First Stop: Fairy Stream This unusual stream wanders down from the nearby mountains, where red sand dunes slide down towards the gurgling stream, with interesting sand and rock formations. Nothing much, at least not for me. We waded barefooted (have to) through the water in the stream. The last part of the stream is nicer, with the sand and rock formations.

Second Stop: Fishing Village The major industry in Phan Thiet is fishing. From July to October is the peak fishing season of the region. During this season the boats in the sea form a spectacular sight. Famous for production of fish sauce.

We merely saw some colourful fishing boats, not very spectacular though. We stopped over for about 10 min only and headed for the next attraction.

Third Stop: Red Canyon This is a canyon with eroded red sand forming strangely shaped angles. The driver made a stopover for us to take some pictures at this Red Canyon. We were told that it was closed for renovation, so we merely took some pictures from the landing point.

Me with our Rented Jeep and Driver

Fourth Stop: White Sand Dunes (WOW! WOW! WOW!) This had to be the HIGHLIGHT of the tour. The view was breathtaking. It gave me a feel as if I’m not in Vietnam, the Vietnam I never knew. The elements of wind have given it a shape worth viewing. Besides the awe-inspiring view, we tried sand sledding on plastic mats.

Our little tour guide, Ngan

Before I reached the White Sand Dunes, I was already very determined to try sledding. Darling, on the other hand, didn’t want to coz it’s kinda cheap thrill for him. In the end, I managed to persuade him to try it out. I was the one who was getting cold feet initially. Felt so ashamed of myself. The little girl, Ngan, who was our guide did it so naturally. I can’t even be compared to a 10-year old…. :(

Silas & Ngan having fun with shadows

For a fainted-hearted person like me, I finally took up the courage. The first attempt failed. Looking back at my video, it was so comical. Eventually, Ngan gave up and sled down on her own. Hahaha. Was I too heavy? :s

Second attempt, I sat upright. Succeeded! Hah…no kick. It was pretty slow. Then I tried with my chest facing down, off I went, this was much more thrilling…flying down the super-silky-soft fine sand.

I tried a few more times after that. It was much tiring than I expected. The sand was super fine and and it wasn’t easy to climb back to the top especially when we were going against the wind. Also, it was super breezy, were extra careful not to let the sand get into our eyes.

Ngan has good service and PR skills. She looks like one of my pupils, Valerie. She showed me how to sled and encouraged me to do it! She even volunteered to take pictures for me and for us. Ironically, I gave her a tip of 100,000D (~S$8) when I was still complaining about the initial 50,000D quoted to me. Anyway, I think she deserved the credit, having spent quite some time with us, sledding and be our photographer! (Hehe…. Silas and I ended up right smack in the centre of the photos taken by her… can’t blame her la…so young… I should have reviewed the pic and taught her one photography tip :p)

Overall, it was a wonderful experience. I really had great fun, feel like a young gal full of energy (for a short while nia) and enjoying myself to the fullest. I haven’t felt so free and boundless for a long time. :) On top of sledding, one can try out horse ridding too. We didn’t try though. It’s about 80,000D.

Last Stop: Red/Yellow Sand Dunes Our last stop was the Red Dunes, another popular tourist attraction. The best times to visit the dunes are at sunrise and sunset. We reached at about 530pm, hoping to catch glimpse of the sunset. The view was nice too, though not as spectacular as the White Sand Dunes. But it started to rain shortly after we arrived. What a pity. The good thing is the rain didn’t last long but of course, the sky wasn’t very nice for photography. Anyway, there was something wrong with Darling’s camera…time to send for repair! :(

What a sight! Sunset giving way to menacing dark clouds...


Road beside the Red Sand Dune
Way back to Seahorse Resort & Spa

On the whole, I’m very satisfied with the tour itinerary. We tipped the driver, 50,000D. If you were to visit Mui Ne, don’t miss out The White Sand Dunes! Be sure to try the sand-sledding' :)

Can check out my facebook for more pics. =)

After the tour...in next blog post! (",)