Vietnam Tourist Spots: Reunification Palace, Saigon Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, War Remnants Museum

Hi there!

And so now I go on with the story of our adventure in Vietnam. After snoozing a bit, it was time to visit the local tourist destinations in Ho Chi Minh.

First stop, the Reunification Palace.

The Reunification Palace, Vietnam

The Reunification Palace is where the Vietnam War was ended. In 1975, a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates and declared the victory of the communist party, thus ending the Vietnam war. That said tank can still be seen at the grounds of the Palace to date.

Having a picture with a young lady at the Palace's souvenir shop. Oh, a little trivia, they DON'T call females "miss."(E.g. Miss, how much is this shirt?) Instead, they use "Lady" and "Madam." 

Having my picture taken with a statue of Ho Chi Minh. He was a Vietnamese Marxist-Leninist revolutionary leader who was prime minister (1945–1955) and president (1945–1969) of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam). He was a key figure in the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945, as well as the People's Army of Vietnam and the Việt Cộngduring the Vietnam War source: wikipedia.

Meeting Hall of the Reunification Palace. This was where top leaders gathered and made
important policies and decisions. 

Inside the Reunification Palace, you can expect to see the president's office, meeting halls, conference halls, and a view of the City.

After an hour touring the Reunification palace, we walked around the block and saw this restaurant. We didn't know what to order so we sorta just told the waiter to "surprise us." And this is what we my tita got ---

Tomato and pipino salad

I asked for their local best seller and this is what I got --

Pancake with veggies.

I love veggies. This was the perfect mirienda.

After eating our mirienda, we went to the Saigon Post office which was just walking distance from the restaurant. This Post Office was built by 20th century French colonizers. It features a Gothic architectural style and was designed and constructed by Gustave Eiffel with the original materials flown from France.

Inside the post office.

Inside, you can buy post cards and stamps; there is also a souvenir shop. That portrait of Ho Chi Minh right there reminds me of Kung Fu movies I used to watch when I was kid. I want my own portrait painting just like that someday with a tagline: "Wanna try my Kung Fu?!"

Notre  Dame Cathedral

Just opposite the Saigon Post Office is the Notre Dame Cathedral. The design reminds me of San Sebastian Church in Manila. We wanted to go in and pray, but it was closed.  Notre Dame Cathedral was built by the French between 1863 and 1880.

Next, we hailed a cab and went to nearby War Remnants Museum.

The exhibit was a graphic encounter. It shows explicit photos of the effects of the war. There were pictures of dead people as a result of war in almost every gallery. Some photos show people injured, disfigured, mutilated, or amputated. It's horrific, but that's reality.

Tank you very much. My first photo with a tank.

Outside the building is a large collection of military vehicles, planes, and helicopters that was either left by the departure of The US forces or they were captured by the North Vietnamese Army. 

The War Remnants Museum. 

It is said that the museum was originally called Museum of American War Crimes, but it was changed as not to offend tourists. 

Chinook 

The museum speaks for itself -- a compendium of the effects of modern warfare.

Effect of Agent Orange

One gallery details the effects of the 75 million liters of defoliant sprays dumped across the country, including hideously malformed fetuses preserved in pickling jars.

"Agent Orange." It's the first time I really got to understand what Agent Orange meant. Agent Orange is the common name used for one of the herbicides and defoliants used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program. It is an extremely toxic dioxin compound. Vietnam estimates 400,000 people were killed or maimed, and 500,000 children born with birth defects.

It is said that during the Vietnam War, between 1962 and 1971, the United States military sprayed nearly  (80,000,000 l) of material containing chemical herbicides and defoliants mixed with jet fuel in Vietnam, eastern Laos and parts of Cambodia, as part of a war operation to defoliate forested and rural land, depriving guerrillas of cover and to destroy the ability of peasants to support themselves in the countryside, thus depriving the guerrillas of their rural support base and food supply. (source: wikipedia)

My first day in Vietnam was unique because it's not the usual fun getaway that we Filipinos expect from a vacation. Most tourist spots in this part of Vietnam are all related to war. It was depressing. It didn't sink in to me until it was time for us to go.  I didn't know United States of America resorted to chemical warfare in an attempt to win a war. What a shame! The Vietnam War  is a ghastly shadow that continue to haunt our very souls.

More stories of our adventure. Next, I will tell you guys how we left Vietnam and set foot on a journey to Cambodia.

Regards,

Rah.


:)

My First Out of the Country Experience: Vietnam

Greetings!

I love the Philippines.  I am quite satisfied traveling locally as much as I can, but I have to admit that sometimes there is still that eagerness to find out what's beyond our country. When I was a little boy, I knew someday I was going to set foot on a foreign soil. I just did not know it was going to be this month already!

When my mother invited me to go with her and my titas to Vietnam last month, I couldn't contain my excitement. We would be flying to Vietnam then cross the border to Cambodia and get to see the famous Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap. We invited Sweetpea, too. I was so excited that Sweetpea could come with us. We booked our flight early and got the best deals from Cebu Pacific.

After being lonely in my drawer for many years, my passport finally found its purpose:  to be  stamped at by immigration officials. I'm glad Vietnam and Cambodia are non-visa countries, it saved a lot of time and money. I wish I could have prepared for the trip more even though I was coming out of a busy school week. I wish I had a chance to pick up tourist guide books to familiarize myself with the itinerary. Thank goodness my cousin Tsina helped us book our hotel and set up the itinerary for our trip. We are all thankful to her.

When traveling abroad, I know the importance of preparation. I wish I noted the number and address of the Philippine Embassy at the very least. I wish I knew how helpful it was to buy a local SIM card and not rely on international roaming services. These could be helpful in times of emergency. I wish I learned useful Vietnamese and Cambodian phrases in advance, like "hello" and "thank you." In short, there were a lot of things I should have done.


I crammed my things into my suitcase and reminded myself to travel light.I showed my younger sister Angelica  how proud I was that I was able to pack my suitcase light, she frowned.

"Kuya! Is this the way you pack light?! Let me help you."

She halved my suitcase load with an evil smile. 10 t-shirts down to 5. 6 shorts to just 3. She discarded my running shoes and replaced it with comfy slip-on.

"I know you want to run in foreign land, but you will be walking the whole day that jogging will just be extraneous. It is okay to reuse clothes, there is always laundry service, if you ever need it."

I would later find out later that she is right. It was a good advise that I took. The plane ride was a breeze thanks to my comfort kit. I'm very proud of my comfort kit (made up of an air pillow, a sleeping eye cover, and blanket.) The flight was as good as sleeping in my own room. The cabin crew were hospitable and cute,  but noticeably trying to fight out stress and being sleepy.

Vietnam touchdown. Two and a half hours later, at about three in the morning, our plane landed to Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The airport is located about four miles from downtown Ho Chi Minh City. At the immigration counter, I flashed my grumpy passport to be stamped on. The immigration officials there could use some smile. They should go to our country. It's more fun in the Philippines.


We had to exchange our US dollars to Dong as our first agenda. It is safer to exchange your dollars in a bank or bank accredited exchange. Be careful when you're exchanging your dollars there.  Some money changers offer attractive higher exchange rates, only to find out later they charge a commission fee. That commission fee is written in the signboards in a microscopic print. It is misleading. A group of Filipinos computed their money exchange and realize the difference. They went berserk. That's when I realized Vietnam is not perfect, they have dishonest merchants, too.


1 US Dollar can be exchanged for 20,000 Dong. "Dong" is their local currency. Yeah, it sounds funny, I know right? I've even composed a song in my head I entitled "The Dong Song." First line goes, "That dong do-dong dong dong!" 


My 100 USD was exchanged for more than 2 Million (2,000,000 d) Dong. I was an instant millionaire, can you believe it?! I remember Forrest Gump once said, "You only need so much money in this world, the rest is just for showing off." I tried to be humble even if I was already a millionaire, *wink.

Our airport transfer service from the hotel was waiting for us outside. Our destination was the  HongHoa Hotel in downtown Ho Chi Minh.

At HongHoa Hotel room.

The hotel is known to budget travelers. It is walking distance to the famous tourist destinations. After settling down, we took a nap, at around eight in the morning, it was time to explore the streets. At 17 dollars a night, it was a steal. The hotel has all the basic amenities you need including WiFi. The comfort room even has a bath tub.

The first photos of our trip feature the streets of Ho Chi Minh.

The streets of Ho Chi Minh. Red flags galore.

There were red flags with stars and hammer and sickle everywhere. The city was probably commemorating a historical event. Ho Chi Minh reminded me of the streets of Malate, Manila. The weather was cloudy and humid just like our weather in the Philippines.  

The streets of Ho Chi Minh were not as spotless as you would expect it to be. You would see occasional trash here and there. We have cities here in Philippines that are cleaner. Motorcycle is the primary mode of transportation there, few people have cars. Even ladies wearing skirts and dresses use motorcycles. 

Local fruit vendors with the very iconic Vietnamese conical hats.

There were no shortage of fresh fruits in Vietnam. Lanzones, mangosteen, mangoes, coconut -- they sell it at prices comparable to what we charge here in the Philippines. It seems fruits in Vietnam are very sweet and tangy. 

Tita Corazon, Tita Milkah, Coconut vendor, Imelda my mom.

The tale of the traveling titas. While I was doing my best to pack light, they seemed to be doing the opposite :) hehe ok lang. I don't mind carrying the extra weights.

My mom with the garden sun flowers at Notre Dame Cathedral. 

Yours truly with a tourist police in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral. Whatsup brother from another mother! :)

It's my first out of the country experience is like being transported to a parallel universe. I felt like an alien, everything was familiar yet so new.


More stories of our adventure in my next posts. 


Till next time,  Ciao!


-Rah

Race Report: Nat Geo Run 2012

Last Sunday Bong and I ran the Nat Geo Run 2012. It was my first 21 kilometer run. I woke up at two in the morning and prepared my self a banana and half a cup of coffee. It's all that I eat before a race. Anything more than that and my tummy feels fugly.

I am thankful to Noelle of Kikayrunner.com for sponsoring this race. She was patient with my E-mails. She even gave me tips on how to train for my first 21k.

At 4 a.m., we arrived at BGC and started doing some warm ups, knee highs, butt kicks, loosening up those tight muscles. I also did my last minute bathroom breaks.

Bong and I waited at the middle of the pack of the starting line for the gun start. While there, I noticed that were so many foreigners. The front line was like a delegation from the United Nations. It was estimated that eight thousand (8,000) people showed up for the race. There were some African runners too, but I really can't see them because it was dark. I was interested to find out sana if I can recognize them from previous races. It has been said that Kenyan runners are making a business out of the running scene here in the Philippines.

With cameras in front of the starting line, it seemed like a photo shoot for United Colors of Benetton. "How sosyal naman this race, international 'tol." - I told my running mate Bong. I was expecting that NatGeoRun 2012 (with its super mahal na registration fee 1300Php) would at the very least be at par with international standards.

At gun start, everyone was running so fast. My friend Bong was pacing me. He's the faster runner between the two of us. He was very patient with me. He didn’t have to, but he waited for me in times I had to recover from running.

We ran steady for thirty (30) minutes without water breaks, and how can there be water breaks when there were very few water stations? I told Bong, "Bro galit ata organizers sa water stations eh. Ang konti at ang lalayo ng water stations." You can count the water stations with your fingers.

At fifth kilometer, I was thirsty and really felt the need for a water break. I had Gatorade in my kidney bottles but I wanted to reserve it for the latter part of the race. But wait! Is it really the fifth kilometer or tenth? No one really knows because through out the whole race, there were no kilometer markers! All the race had was arrows, directions, telling runners where to turn. The lack of distance markers made it hard for runners to pace and plan their run.

It was supposed to be Earth Day, but there were almost very few efforts to promote how to conserve mother earth. The giant screen before the race started merely featured NatGeo program ads, but barely any information about Earth Day. The streets were a mess with water bottles and paper cups, too. A lot of runners just indiscriminately threw their paper cups on the road. A lot of runners seem to have forgotten that it was Mother Earth's birthday and the race was an environmental advocacy. Part of the blame goes to the organizers, too. Very few trash bins were provided.

Somewhere in the race, (No distance markers, argh.) someone shouted, "Last 3k!" I felt that I still had the energy to push  my speed to the max. My NatGeo jersey was drenched in sweat and was sticking to my body. Since it was really slowing me down, I took off my shirt off and tucked it behind me.

Finally, the finish line. I saw a stranger walking five hundred meters away from the finish line. I told him, "Kuya, konti nalang, kaya natin to." He told me, "Oo nga bro. Kaya natin ito!" Then he took a walk break, while I maintained my steady pace. 10 seconds after, he sprinted towards the finish line surpassing me. Talk about giving someone a boost! :)

At the finish line, I saw Avril taking my photo. I wanted to hug her. She was so supportive. She's all I wanted to see after the race. Natanggal pagod ko.

A guy in a cap stopped me and gave me a finisher's medal. I didn't expect that there was a medal. They didn't announce they medals will be given to the finishers. It was my first medal ever. Sweet victory. A new mile stone in my running career.

I felt happy running my first 21k. For some people, there are more important things to do than just running. I don't blame them, I mean, whatever floats their boat, I am not running for them. Instead, I am running because I believe running makes a better person out of me. It's for my Boo. It's for my friends. It's for that 2013 one sweet day. It's for those who believe in me. It's for the things I believe is right. It's for God, my offering, my gratitude.

Pre-race rituals, visualizations, inspirations.

Bong, my running mate, and yours truly.

I heard someone shout, "Last 3k!" and I ran like hell.

Bling bling with Avril my love.

Finishing strong.

Lastly, I just want to share a quote from Ron Clarke

“I still cannot define precisely my joy in running… Who can define happiness? To some, happiness is a warm puppy or a glass of cold beer.  To me, happiness is running in the hills with my mates around me.”

Have a great day everyone!

Special thanks:

Avril, you are my soulmate.

Noelle of Kikayrunner.com for sponsoring my registration :)

Bong Cendana my running mate

Glenn and Sigue Correr Runners for the photos

Iron Board Surfing and On Fasting

Iron board surfing ROCKS! I can’t wait to rush some splash into the waters with my SUPER COOL THERMOCafé! It’s going to be a great summer!

Just wanna share a photo we did for a Thermos Promo. Wala lang, pang kulet lang. Hehe. And because our kabayo ng plantsa was wet, our uniforms were gusot for a day. Haha. I hope Thermos recognizes my effort for this pic. Ikaw nga magpapicture ng topless?! *wink :)

Behind the scenes:

Wakeboarding in the garage, anyone? :D

***
On Fasting

I am eating my last full meal before I go into fasting and abstinence tomorrow. You see before Jesus died on the cross, he struggled. I guess I want to share His sacrifices in some way, too. It's a way of going back to basics. Some say there are benefits you can get from fasting --

Due to the lack of incoming energy, the body must turn to its own resources, a function called autolysis. (2) Autolysis is the breaking down of fat stores in the body in order to produce energy. The liver is in charge of converting the fats into a chemical called a ketone body, "the metabolic substances acetoacetic acid and beta-hydroxybutyric acid" (3), and then distributing these bodies throughout the body via the blood stream. "When this fat utilization occurs, free fatty acids are released into the blood stream and are used by the liver for energy." (3)The less one eats, the more the body turns to these stored fats and creates these ketone bodies, the accumulation of which is referred to as ketosis. (4) Detoxification is the foremost argument presented by advocates of fasting. "Detoxification is a normal body process of eliminating or neutralizing toxins through the colon, liver, kidneys, lungs, lymph glands, and skin. (http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1834)

I am not sure whether this article has a scientific basis or not. But it seems people who tried fasting concur about its benefits.

I also want to try Visita Iglesia. I haven't tried it. After grueling weeks of studying and activities, I think it is time to devote one day for spirituality naman. I will tell you how my fasting experience on Sunday. Tomorrow I'll also refrain form the usual comforts muna, like coffee, sweets, internet, etc.

May you have a meaningful Holy Week guys. God bless.

Partying then Running

Videoke party the night after our midterms. (2:00am) With Helene, Karen, Avril, Abby, Jalyn, Kaylee, Bong, and me (taking the picture)

At 3:30 a.m - went home to sleep.

Then at 5:30 Avril, Bong, and I went straight ahead to the CCP grounds to run the Yakult 10 Mile Race.

It's my first 10 Miler. So to speak it's my best time at 16k :p

I don't recommend partying the night before a big race. :)


Thank You:
Angelica, for inviting me to the Yakult Run
Francis and Karen for the pics.

The ‘invisible religion’ of the grade-conscious - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

The writer discusses the "invisible religion" grade conscious students create and its probable social consequences. I couldn't agree with the author more! He really has good point, so I am sharing his work to you from its original link. Enjoy. :) - rah

The ‘invisible religion’ of the grade-conscious - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
by: Gerry Lanuza

SO YOU think that student with lower mental abilities are the ones who usually cheat in school? You're wrong! Researchers have suggested that students who have higher goals and experience higher pressure to succeed are more likely to cheat.

Cheating in itself is a form of religion if one follows Kierkegaard's definition of the "religious." For cheating suspends the ethical demands of a student in the name of a higher "cause." Of course, that's a perverse rendering of Kierkegaard's analysis of Abraham"' faith. But cheating is just the tip of the iceberg. For it is being grade-conscious that is the "true" religion.

If we define religion, in the manner of Paul Tillich, as "the state of being grasped by an ultimate concern, a concern which qualifies all other concerns as preliminary and which itself contains the answer to the question of a meaning of our life," then, indeed being grade-conscious is a form of religion. (This is just the existentialist way of paraphrasing Matthew 6:21: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.") Religion demands martyrdom. Students are willing to commit suicide because they would rather be dead than live a meaningless life with a grade point average lower than 95.

Like any religion, being grade-conscious has its doctrine: Grades are objective, and a teacher's personality does not count for she is just an instrument for dispensing the sacrament of grades (Catholic doctrine of ex opere operato).

It has also its myths: Grades are the ticket to success, grades define one being, and they predict one's income later. Next, rituals: Students collect their class cards, compute and compare it with others, and they are signed by parents.

Prayer is the most important element of ritual. Students offer supplications to their teachers and school administrators. Countless letters and appeals pile up in the principal?s office before graduation. Why? Because students believe that miracles can happen (who knows whether the graduation committee will allow a student to graduate with honors even if she has a grade of 3 in PE or if it will let a pregnant girl graduate with honors.).

Grades also have an experiential dimension, transforming the lives of students and making them competitive, aggressive and ever watchful of the behavior of their classmates and teachers. It affords them what Abraham Maslow calls the "peak experience" or ecstasy.

Grades can either be depressant or stimulant. But like any other entheogenic drugs that induce a religious high, they can become addictive as a stimulant. Their depressing effects usually lead students to detach themselves from the rat race of the academic jungle to avoid further pressures (the nominal or the ritualist students). The grade dependents or the "religious" however cannot live without the competition and the rewards.


Finally, grades have their own community dimension: families celebrate their children's success, special gifts are given to students with honors, trophies and medals are dispensed sacramentally, and the "chosen ones" are recognized through elaborate rituals at the end of the school year.

All religions have an Apocalypse or stories about the end times. Students only find out about the true meaning of grades when they graduate and they are already working. They realize, quite painfully at first, that grades are not as important as the skills they have, the social networks they are connected to, and of course the kind of schools they went to. And yet, ironically, these same students who have gone to the other side, who have seen the obnoxious face of the promised "beatific vision" continue to indoctrinate their children into the "invisible religion" of their great ancestors. Thus, passing successfully the memes of the grade-conscious.

As a Marxist Christian educator, I have to struggle against this kind of idolatry that obliges students and teachers to embrace this false "invisible religion." But as a Marxist, I see this "invisible religion" as a mere imaginary flower in the chain of contradictions that is generated by the primary contradictions in our society. Our competitive society is becoming more and more obsessed with being on top so that many young people are very willing to make the
leap of faith" to any religion that can promise them cheap grace!

Happy graduation to all the believers!

Gerry M. Lanuza is an associate professor at the Department of Sociology, University of the Philippines in Diliman, where he teaches Sociology of Religion, among other subjects

Klowee the Cat's First Awesome Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday Klowee's Happy Birthday Candle! Blow ! blow!

1 year old na.

Wala na kasing ginawa kundi kumain at matulog. :)

Our School on a Hot Day

A view from where I study.

BenCab Museum Baguio 2012

Flower Power at the BenCab Museum.

All the pretty ladies.

Crawling then flying.

Testing the waters.

Faces of Baguio

With the great artist Benedicto Cabrera "BenCab."

Just plants at the garden.

BenCab's Dog.

BenCab's other dogs.

At Cafe Sabel BenCab Museum.

Art Appreciation 101.

Good dog!

Balancing act.

Karate Kicks at BenCab Museum Garden

Murals outside the BenCab Parking Lot

Etits.

Outside the BenCab Museum with Jalyn, Kaylee, Rah, Avril, Tessa, Jane, Janice, Bong (taking the pic).

Ang Lakas!

Buhat.

Bulols :O

Girls jump shot at the BenCab Garden.