First of all, I need to thank my lucky stars and GOD that I made it safe and sound into VN. We heard of the typhoon that hit two days before and another was on its way...as we were flying in. Not being a true flyer which I should be good at by now I was a bit nervous to enter. The weather in Taipei was crappy and it was pouring. As we were finally ready for take off we are cruising down the runway and I swear we were not making it up and would have to land in the rice fields. I have never had such a horrid take off...I think I started saying Hail Mary but couldnt remember the words. It took us a good five minutes before we got out of the turbulance and I was ready to hit the restroom. The rest of the flight was really bumpy. We fly many different airlines and this one was like heaven. We had seats that reclined and great movies to chose from. The food was phenominal for a plane, either that or I was very hungry. After a two hour flight and a rocky landing, we arrive in Vietnam. The bus ride to the hotel was about 20 minutes and I was snapping away on my new camera. VN is FULL of scooters which is the basic mode of transportaion. Vietnamese are so friendly....they were waiving at us as we would pass them. One woman spotted us that was a host in a restaurant and she actually posed. The clothing they were is unbelivable. They wear dresses with slits up to the ying yang and pants underneath. Mind you they are all of about 5 foot and 75 pounds, so they always look amazing. If I were a man, I would look for a wife here. No doubts!
God I love VN! We arrive into the city around 1:00 pm. I actually had a day off during this portion of the trip. I had two things in sight...shopping and finding a tailor to have a dress made. Being that I am waaaay over the weight limit already, I decided not to have "clothes" made, but a cocktail dress for a party that I am going to when I get home. So, I hop into the shower and start to think about where I want to go. I look out the window and remember how overwhelming it is to get around VN, I start to get a headache. I meet up with another guy on the tour and he's going shopping so we end up going together. I told him about the dress I want to design and he said he would help me there, if I helped him shop. Sold!
We go to a famous tailor around the corner from the hotel and start the process. If I had known what a process this was, I wouldnt have started. I mean, these people are professionals, they make clothes all the time...couldnt this be simple? I start to describe the dress I wanted made and if I had a dollar for each face, and each expression, I would have not had to pay for the damn dress. So, after much debate, she calls a male tailor from her other store who comes over to this store and she describes the "type" of dress I want. After they speak their native language for a bit,out comes the measuring tape. HELLO boobs, hello other customers, and hello Hips...Jesus, these people have no privacy! After a lot of measuring and him giving the measurements in Vietnamese, which I swear they were laughing at me, I have another apointment to come back later tonight and again the next afternoon. Mind you, the next afternoon I leave!!! After giving out my measurements to Roger (hey, someone had to hold my purse while he measured me IN the middle of the store) we go to the market which was my next big mistake. I remember last year I was grabbed so damn hard they left a mark on my wrist for a day...what am I doing? And, already with headache..
Roger is funny. He will pay whatever, I say no. We found a bunch of great silk prints he needed to get for people. Had I had money on me, I would have bought a few as well. After much debate, and the damn woman not going down in price, we leave. Of course, they shout something down the ailes and we white people, are being starred at...of Course we are, Missy cant get out of a damn market without being stared at or grabbed at! Oh, let me explain the market for those of you who have never expereinced such chaos. Its an indoor building in which there are items being sold, but you dicker. He didnt want to dicker so she wouldnt go down in price, we went back to her 2 more times, but he wouldnt budge..Now that's a serious shopper, I would have bought the first time! Now What I want to know is where they get the stock they have. They have crap from everywhere and anything you could want from clothing, jewerly, hair items, colognes, hand bags, gadgets and gizmos...EVERYTHING..! Oh, and then there is the food courts. This is where I lose it. Imagine your garbage sitting in solid 100 degree heat for 3 weeks with mice running around and who knows what growing in the bins. Thats the smell inside the food stalls of the market. I did not want to put my hand to my nose, I mean, I AM in another country..communist might I add, so I was trying to be polite. I had to step up the pace however as I was getting very, very ill. I think half of the stuff was still alive, although not sure. After I saw the jellyfish being quartered at the last market, I didnt need to stick around to see what other animal would be diced. Absolutely down right disgusting. There went my appetite and with the bitches grabbing at you with the only piece of English language they know...Madam, what you looking for, Madam, come here...I HAD to get out. So we leave and start shopping in the little shops along the street. Roger had to get back, and I was glad to leave so I head back for some much needed asprin.
One of the other girls was not doing the fair that night, so I called her to see what she was up to. I had another fitting for my dress so we went to that, and...yes...I went back to the darn market. I think it was worse this time around. I looked for north face items but being overweight already, I could not purchase them. I left with nothing...and that is a rarity. It was downpouring so when we got back to the hotel, I scrubbed my black feet and threw out my rubber flip flops. It was time for them to be tossed anyway...it was no loss. Walmart 2.99, I can get more!
My friends at home have graciously agreed for me to skype in and see them all in one location...imagine that...Codders!! Ha...Anyway, it worked out, I packed the night before and was able to see my friends and say hello for a bit. High school visits were not fruitful, so I think next year, I have to skip HCMC. OHHHH, So the dress...
After the second try on/fitting there were more alterations. I really cant explain the dress until it is seen, it will sound like I am going to work on a corner in Harlem so lets just say you really have to see it to understand. And, I actually added more to the dress (basically to keep myself in) but it really spruced up the whole dress. I cant wait to wear it! Invisible double sided tape, here I come!!
So after the last visit of the day I literally had 10 minutes to go over, try it on, fix any last minute details, pay and get on the bus to the airport. I made it! And, yes, I purchased the dress. I had to bargain for it, and I actually ended up winning!! Next stop...Singapore~
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Taiwan= Nakedness?? Not I...
So we arrive in Taiwan to the hotel around 9:30. It's a very nice area but the city seems much different than our previous stops. There definately is a lot more poverty here but also wealth, so pretty much the same through Asia. There is a "cultrual" activity that we always take part in during the trip with Linden. Last year was the night safari in Singapore, which I really enjoyed. This year we are able to go to hot springs in the mountains of Taiwan but on the bus Cathy announced on the bus that we were not able to actually sit in the springs but could walk around the national park. now had I packed sneakers, I would have been a little more inclined to go but since I only have heels and flip flops and sandals, I was not about to trek around the hills in any of the above. I got up and did emails and went for coffee while my lindenites traveled to the springs. I was checking email when I noticed on facebook a post from one of the guys on the tour that had gone to the springs. He said hot springs=nakedness. Yes, you read that right. THANK god I didnt go to the springs as they all had to go in NAKED!!!! I like everyone on the tour, but I sure as hell do not want to SEE everyone on the tour. The men were seperate from the woman and I guess all of the women did it and only 3 men went in. I was actually surprised when I learned who did not go in, but I dont blame them at the same time!! So, thankfully I did not go...it was really raining out anyway, it would have been relatively miserable.
We had a school visit in which we had to load a fast train for an hour and a half ride. Not being thrilled to travel 3 hours for a hour long college fair, we loaded the bus anyway. The train was neat/ It was fast, but still wasnt worth the long journey. When we arrived we were met by the counselor Leif who was very accomodating. The school was up on a mountain so we were able to take in some great scenery on the way. As we were approaching the school Leif told us what renovations were in progress. Ok, so schools here are nothing like American schools. There is a 5 star chain hotel being built, a shopping mall and what else? hot springs going through the hotel. Yes, more hot springs. We (the tour leader) agreed that next year we would look into staying at the hotel and doing visits in Southern Taiwan rather than in Taipei. Guess I will have to be more prepared! At any rate, the school visit was ok, we will be going back again next year. We have 2 visits on Monday and then another US fair which attendance is not expected to be stellar. So, we go to the hotel lounge and have a drink. I ate lasagna as I was starving..it was ok- nothing like home. I went to be around 10 as the trip is slowly catching up to me and sleep is not on my side. Well, the fair was also not on my side. I was not feeling well and after only 30 registrants, it made for 3 long hours. Off to bed I went. Oh, and I guess Linden paid 20,000 dollars for the venue...yes, that was American dollars. So, we get charged for basically a shit fair. Oh well, we now know that next year we will be staying in the hotel in I-Shou with the hot springs. Better start working out now! Ho Chi Minh City...here I come!! you know how you say I love NY?? Well, I LOVE HCMC!!!
More to come!
Miss
We had a school visit in which we had to load a fast train for an hour and a half ride. Not being thrilled to travel 3 hours for a hour long college fair, we loaded the bus anyway. The train was neat/ It was fast, but still wasnt worth the long journey. When we arrived we were met by the counselor Leif who was very accomodating. The school was up on a mountain so we were able to take in some great scenery on the way. As we were approaching the school Leif told us what renovations were in progress. Ok, so schools here are nothing like American schools. There is a 5 star chain hotel being built, a shopping mall and what else? hot springs going through the hotel. Yes, more hot springs. We (the tour leader) agreed that next year we would look into staying at the hotel and doing visits in Southern Taiwan rather than in Taipei. Guess I will have to be more prepared! At any rate, the school visit was ok, we will be going back again next year. We have 2 visits on Monday and then another US fair which attendance is not expected to be stellar. So, we go to the hotel lounge and have a drink. I ate lasagna as I was starving..it was ok- nothing like home. I went to be around 10 as the trip is slowly catching up to me and sleep is not on my side. Well, the fair was also not on my side. I was not feeling well and after only 30 registrants, it made for 3 long hours. Off to bed I went. Oh, and I guess Linden paid 20,000 dollars for the venue...yes, that was American dollars. So, we get charged for basically a shit fair. Oh well, we now know that next year we will be staying in the hotel in I-Shou with the hot springs. Better start working out now! Ho Chi Minh City...here I come!! you know how you say I love NY?? Well, I LOVE HCMC!!!
More to come!
Miss
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