Showing posts with label Heritage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heritage. Show all posts
19 February 2011
17 May 2009
Hanoi ~ Dragon City
National Geographic Traveller Magazine in Apr 2009 issue interviewed Paul Theroux, writer with 50 books to his credit, a prolific, incisive observer and the ultimate traveller.
What surprised you?
The forgiveness in Vietnam. After we dropped over seven million tons of bombs, 13 million gallons of Agent Orange, and killed millions of their people, Americans are greeted politely, welcomed, urged to have some noodles (pho). It's a great lesson to anyone familiar with other wars and atrocities.
This is how my tales of 2 the most interesting cities in Asia begins.
In 1991, when I was travelling to United States, on my way there I was sitting next to a South Vietnamese who has migrated to Los Angeles since the last days of the fall of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh). He told me his Uncle was a Captain in the South Vietnamese army & during that fateful day, he managed to get into the helicopter with the Vietcongs shooting at them. And, to be able to hold the people on the board the aircraft carriers, the Americans were pushing the planes & copters into the sea. How humane!
And in the same trip, on the way back from US, I sat with another South Vietnamese, who was in the army. He has great stories of how he escape from the invading North soldiers and the Vietcongs.
Despite all these, 15 years after the fall Saigon in 1975, I can say that Vietnam has embraced the World. And people from all over the World has "invaded" this Archipelago once again! Of course, this time they bring along money and not arms.
Meal at the Square (Quan An Ngon) Ly Thai To, founder of Vietnam
Above: Top to bottom: Lunch in the boat in Halong Bay; Halong Bay the Heritage Site
Ho Hoan Kiem at Sunset; and at Sunrise as early as 6.30am!
Rows of shops on one road selling "cheap & good" shoes & sandals. A pair Nike & Adidas sports shoes for as low as US$17!
What surprised you?
The forgiveness in Vietnam. After we dropped over seven million tons of bombs, 13 million gallons of Agent Orange, and killed millions of their people, Americans are greeted politely, welcomed, urged to have some noodles (pho). It's a great lesson to anyone familiar with other wars and atrocities.
This is how my tales of 2 the most interesting cities in Asia begins.
In 1991, when I was travelling to United States, on my way there I was sitting next to a South Vietnamese who has migrated to Los Angeles since the last days of the fall of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh). He told me his Uncle was a Captain in the South Vietnamese army & during that fateful day, he managed to get into the helicopter with the Vietcongs shooting at them. And, to be able to hold the people on the board the aircraft carriers, the Americans were pushing the planes & copters into the sea. How humane!
And in the same trip, on the way back from US, I sat with another South Vietnamese, who was in the army. He has great stories of how he escape from the invading North soldiers and the Vietcongs.
Despite all these, 15 years after the fall Saigon in 1975, I can say that Vietnam has embraced the World. And people from all over the World has "invaded" this Archipelago once again! Of course, this time they bring along money and not arms.
Meal at the Square (Quan An Ngon) Ly Thai To, founder of Vietnam
Above: Top to bottom: Lunch in the boat in Halong Bay; Halong Bay the Heritage Site
Ho Hoan Kiem at Sunset; and at Sunrise as early as 6.30am!
What we enjoy the most: Tea time on tiny stools at one of the many stalls on 5-foot way. Nice cold bia (beer) coupled with some delicious tofu, cuttlefish & cold cuts.
Rows of shops on one road selling "cheap & good" shoes & sandals. A pair Nike & Adidas sports shoes for as low as US$17!Group Photo with students from KOTO (Know One, Teach One) "chefs" after a sumptious lunch at the KOTO Restaurant!
Don Xuan Market - Lots of foodstuffs
Don Xuan Market - Lots of foodstuffs
05 April 2009
Penang ~ Pearl of the Orient in 24 hours
Jack Stanley, US historian, with Statue of Captain Francis Light in Fort Cornwalis and we also discover the grave of the Founder of Penang
Penang Trip: 21 Feb to 22 Feb 2009
Food Stop #1: Penang Road Coffee-shop
This Coffee-shop proves to be the favorite for most of us with the best of Penang Hawker fares viz. Cendol, Char Koay Teow, Assam Laksa and the ever uniquely Penang's Lorbak.
Jack Stanley, historian, enjoying his Char Koay Teow...goes well with Coke!
(Above) Lor Bak
Captain Francis Light was having dinner in his favorite Nyonya Restaurant and there was this new curry chicken dish which he was unfamiliar. So, he asked the smartly-dressed waiter
"What is this?" The waiter stood at attention, saluted and retorted "Curry, Kapitan!" (Kapitan being the Malay word for Captain). So, true till today, one of the more famous curry dish in Penang is the all-time popular chicken curry dish call "Curry Kapitan"
Penang Trip: 21 Feb to 22 Feb 2009
Food Stop #1: Penang Road Coffee-shop
This Coffee-shop proves to be the favorite for most of us with the best of Penang Hawker fares viz. Cendol, Char Koay Teow, Assam Laksa and the ever uniquely Penang's Lorbak.
Jack Stanley, historian, enjoying his Char Koay Teow...goes well with Coke!
Food Stop #2: Rumah Perut
We had probably one of the best Nyonya Food in Penang. Rumah Perut is housed in a bungalow along Jalan Kwlawai right behind Evergreen Hotel. With good ambience, good food and nice desserts, this place should be a "must visit" food itinerary!
(Above Top) Inche Kabin (Fried Chicken) & (Above Bottom) Ju Hu Char (Turnips) with popular Curry Kapitan
(Above Top) Inche Kabin (Fried Chicken) & (Above Bottom) Ju Hu Char (Turnips) with popular Curry Kapitan
(Above) Lor Bak
Food Stop #3: Swatow Lane
The famous Majestic Penang Rojak is found in thgis corner Coffee-Shop between Northam Road and Burmah Road.
Here you can also taste some of Penang's favorites hawker fare such as Char Koay Teow, Char Koay Kark (Carrot Cake), Hokkien Mee (Har Mee or Prawn Mee), Assam Laksa, Lorbak and Ice Kacang.
Here you can also taste some of Penang's favorites hawker fare such as Char Koay Teow, Char Koay Kark (Carrot Cake), Hokkien Mee (Har Mee or Prawn Mee), Assam Laksa, Lorbak and Ice Kacang.
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