Archive for June 22nd, 2006
You got to be an early riser to see this! If not - you’d better try to as this will be once-in-your-life-time scene!
At dawn (6.00 a.m. in the morning - can be earlier or a bit later depending on the season)…as the mist swirls, the Laotian people (old and young) as well as tourists do gather to give alms to a procession of nearly 500 monks who walk through the street in the orange saffron robe offering a chance to devout Buddhist to offer sticky rice for making their merit of the day. Its absolutely stunning sight when you see hundreds of monks walk gracefully and silently at that moment.
One of the best places to see is in front of the Royal Palace. There are also some vendors on the street selling the sticky rice (some also selling some food too but I do not recommend you offer food to the monks as according to Laos tradition, food should be given to the monks after they return to the temples not when they are in the morning alms). It should cost you around US$ 1-2 for a bowl of sticky rice. With that basket of sticky rice - you will have to pick up some of it by using your clean hands to take it out from the basket - I always do a small portion enough for one bite for each monk so you can offer as many as 20-30 monks from the whole basket that you buy).
As soon as the sun comes up - all the monks will disappear into their monasteries to pray and study before eating their first meal of the day.
If you are 100% awake by now (after seeing this sight - am sure you are!), finish your morning with a walk through the local market near the Nam Khan River front. Here you will see the real life of the Laotian people selling and buying fresh produce from vegetables, fruits, rice, snacs to even snakes (some people do eat that - ugh!). Try the local coffee (extremely good taste!) and some French baquette for breakfast (there are several small restaurants near the market). What a nice end for your morning tour!
June 22nd, 2006
If you are done with your sightseeing all day long and still want to go out and see the night life of Vietnam - here is the recommended places:
ACOCALYPSE NOW
2c Thi Sach. It’s entertaining if you are in the mood for a noisy crowd of tourists and local Vietnamese people!
ENIGMA
20 Thi Sach (around the corner from Camargue Restaurant). This is a new wine bar with a great choices of vintages by the glass.
Q BAR
7 Cong Tuong, Lam Son Square (opposite the Caravelle Hotel or Continental Hotel). This is the city’s hippest bar in Ho Chi Minh City, where expats and fashionable Vietnamese hang out! This is my favorite one!
ROOFTOP BAR AT THE REX HOTEL
SAIGON SAIGON BAR AT THE TOP OF CARAVELLE HOTEL
Both are great for a panoramic view of the city at night!
There are many more places to enjoy a nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City especially in Dong Khoi Street. Take a walk through the street - you will surely find one or two more for a night cab before going to bed!
June 22nd, 2006
Tired of Thai food and feel like having ”Farang” food for a change?
My favorite home-made Mediterrean-Food restaurant is “Mediterreneo” which was just opened in November 2005. The restaurant was recommended to me by a Farang (westerner) friend of mine who visits Bangok regularly for business purpose. After visiting the place for the first time in November - I never hesitated to put this restaurant on my first choice for a top-notch farang-food restaurant on my list!
My recommendations for the food and dessert are:
Fried Brie with Mediterranean Fruit Chutney (so rich in taste but its so tempting that you simply forget to watch your weight at that moment!)
Carrot Sweet Corn Celery Chicpea Barley & Basil Salad (healthy food for a healty body!)
Spaghetti with Spicy Sausang, Rocket and Sweet Peppers in olive oil - OR - Seafood Spaghetti with dried chillies (both are absolutely cannot be resisted for me!)
Mediterreneo Sundae (caramelized orange layered with vanilla or chocolate ice cream, crunchy ginger biscuits, garnished with orange peel glace - awesome!)
The restaurant has a great wine list (not many choices but honestly - all of them are really good!). If I dine with my business clients - I have to choose the good ones only but going friends is another story! I simply choose their house wine “Terra Matter”. Both red and white do very well with all my food!
Where is the restaurant?
Its located at the ground floor of Somerset Suwan Park View, 9 Soi Tonson (opposite
Central Chidlom), Tel: 02-6585678-9
Dont take my word for it - go and prove it to yourself!
Bon apetit!
June 22nd, 2006
