Rice Cooker

You might wonder why the title of this article has the title of Rice Cooker? It's actually slang for motorbike helmet in Viet Nam. From December people all over Vietnam have to wear helmets. It sounds weird that the government has to force people to take care of their own safety.

In Vietnam a few years ago, we had a rule for wearing helmets but only for those driving motorbikes on the highways but still not many people followed it, including me. I don't really feel comfortable wearing a helmut but I bought one today. For western people, wearing a helmet is something that they more than happy to do to protect their lives but for Asian people, especially Vietnamese, it isn't a habit even though they know it's good for them. I felt like I had to buy one because I have seen quite a few accidents recently between my home and the old quarter. I think it's worth spending 165,000Vnd just in case I do fall off and hit my head.

Since the policy was announced, the helmet business has been doing extremely well. I went to the Honda shop and they said they sold out a few days ago, then I went to the Protec shop, which was crowded with customers selecting a helmut to suit them. Luckily I got one for myself at a good price. I also tried to buy 2 more for my friends but the staff told me that I have to go back in a few days when the next stock arrived. The most popular brand for helmets are Amoro, Honda, Lucky Star, Protect. You can buy copies of these helmets which are made in China cheaply from 30,000Vnd instead of buying an original from 165,000Vnd. Most stuff from China is really cheap but I'm not sure about the quality.

Food In Ha Long Bay

During my work with the crew filming about food in Viet Nam I had the chance to meet some interesting people in the fishing villages and talk to them. Yes, they are very friendly and very sweet. I met the mayor of Cua Van fishing village and we filmed him fishing in the bay. I also met his and his relatives and talked to them about why they're living here and what's the main reason to keep them here in the middle of nowhere for generations. They told me they just love being here in Ha Long Bay, they love the ocean and they love fishing. Fishing also is the only skill that they have to bring in income and daily food.

The fishermen cook their fish broth in a different way with lots of herbs, a bit of stir fried and lots of water. My mother and my sister cook fish broth alot and I just love their cooking , especially their broth which is a bit sweet from the fish, a bit sour from the herbs and a little bit salty from the fish sauce. It's a really great combination, a simple dish eaten with rice dipping the fish in fish sauce with some chilli, garlic and maybe some MSG. It's quite easy to do at home.

Kids In Ha Long Bay

Kids in Ha Long Bay are so beautiful, they look really healthy with dark skin and a ready smile. Lots of kids in Ha Long Bay actually do business during the day and I wonder when they go to school. They paddle small floating baskets toward the big tourist boats trying to sell some snail shells, food and drink and also use their small baskets to take tourists around into the villages and visiting caves.

I talked to a few kids in my most recent trip back there and the number of kids who go to school is only a small percentage. Their living standards are so low that they have to help their parents earn money. Don't be surprised if you see lots of very young kids controlling their basket-boats very well or swimming very fast because they've really got used to it. This is what they do almost everyday and it's also a part of their life.

Some kids are really agressive if you don't buy from them and they will keep asking you to buy from them. It's a bit like Hoi An and Sapa when you take photos of then they expect you to buy something from them or give them some money. I usually take photos, talk to them a bit then give them some small money or get in their baskets for a ride around the bay.

Anyway, personaly I think kids should be at home, and going to school, not hanging around trying to earn money while they are still so young. They are the future of the country and I wonder if they see their own future floating around in a basket.

Back To Ha Long Bay

I went back to Halong Bay for one night and two days as I was invited to be involved in some filming for an American TV show called Diary of a Foodie. I had such a great time working and relaxing, meeting new people, and enjoying the great bay view.

We arrived in Ha Long City at about 11 am after picking up the crew at Noi Bai airport. Rob and Tom, the producers and cameramen for the show, seemed very happy to be here in the north after almost a week in the south filming about Vietnamese food. I spent lots of time taking hundreds of photos of people, boats and scenery.

I just love this gorgous place plus the great seafood that the tour company supplied on the boat. We had huge fish, big prawns, lots of big crabs, yummy scollops, fresh and tasty squid and of course some over-priced Chilean and Australian wines. Sorry but I love white wine and I can drink lots of it especially when I am on holiday :).

Laying on the roof of the boat with a glass of chilled wine, talking to friends about life, about the beauty of Ha Long Bay is a great way to release stress, don't you think? You can't expect anything more than that.

To be continued

Bale Well Restaurant

I dropped into BALE Well restaurant following a recommendation from a friend and I ended up really satisfied with a full stomach and a head full of information after a great chat with the very friendly owner, Mai. BALE Well gets its name from an ancient well famous in the Hoi An area. Many of Hoi An’s people use the water from this well because apparently there is no aluminium in it.

While Mai’s restaurant is not as old as this well left over from the Cham period, it has been operating for over 14 years, first in a tiny shed, and now in a modern two storey house. She started the business herself with four popular dishes that belong to the Hoi An region served with a very special dipping sauce made from soya beans and lots of different herbs and vegetables. She decided to maintain the simple setting she had at the beginning, of low plastic tables and chairs. During our chat, Mai told me that the reason she hasn’t changed the décor and style of her restaurant is because her customers (mostly locals) prefer it like it is. Also, it allows her to keep the price below many of the other restaurants in town, something her customers also appreciate, I’m sure.

On both my visits, Bale Well was full with a mixture of a few knowledgeable westerners and local customers. I realized that part of the attraction is the simple menu of four dishes: Banh Xeo(Rice pan cake), Thit nuong(grilled pork), Ram cuon(spring rolls), Nem nuong(grilled pork with sate). The other attraction is that prices are under 10,000Vnd per dish. It’s also possible to choose a set menu for only 50,000Vnd which is more than enough for one person and includes a bit of everything. My mate and I couldn’t finish it and we tried hard!

At the end of our meal, Mai showed me many messages from regular and former customers. That’s a good sign for her and shows that she runs the restaurant really well. Her staff is very friendly and helpful; the food is cheap and easy to order as well. In fact, you can let Mai do the ordering for you!

Set menu includes all 4 dishes: 50,000Vnd Thit Nuong - One stick grilled meat : 3000vnd Banh Xeo - Rice Pan Cake : 3000Vnd Ram Nuong - Spring rolls : 2000Vnd Nem nuong - Grilled pork with sate : 10,000Vnd for three sticks.

Open from 9.30am to 9.30pm
BALE Well Restaurant
45/51 Tran Hung Dao Street
Hoi An Town
(84)(510)864443

Noodle Soup In Saigon

Because I live In Hanoi, where pho comes from, eating noodles in Saigon is always an interesting experience. In Saigon nowadays, there are so many modern noodle shops which are nothing special but way out expensive, such as Pho 5 Sao , Pho 24 and Pho 2000. It's better to go to normal noodle soup stalls on the street or in the market where the atmosphere is from the past and the noodles are cheap. Real Vietnamese food is always found on the street even though it is sometimes not very comfortable to sit down on a low chair. But you can clearly see how the sellers prepare your bowl of noodles.

My breakfast of noodles was 5000Vnd noodle on the street near my hotel in Bui Vien street. It was super and the owner is a friendly lady who charges the same price for everyone, regardless of where the come from, foreigner or local.

If you want to try some other noodle soup, then go to Ben Thanh market where all types of great southern food is sold. It may a little bit expensive than on the street but there's no doubt about the quality. I always go to the Ben Thanh market whenever I am in Saigon.

Nam Giao Restaurant

Going to Saigon to eat Hue food is a bit weird for but I love Hue food and Nam Giao Restaurant is my favorite place to eat traditional Hue cuisine. I took my mother and my nephew there. We ordered quite a few different dishes which in the end added up to only 135,000Vnd, such a cheap place.

The restaurant is located in a small alley which is really busy especially both at lunch and dinner. The soups like bun bo Hue and cakes like banh khoai are amongst the most popular. If you're in Ho Chi Minh, it's worth stopping here for a cheap meal.

Nam Giao Restaurant
136/15 Le Thanh Ton District 1
26/B13+14 Su Van Hanh District 10
Telephone: 08. 8250261 / 8621203

Shopping In Kuala Lumpur

Shopping in KL is great and cheaper in some areas compared to Hanoi. I love shopping in shopping centres and in local markets because I can see the difference in the prices and the quality as well.

I went to one of the local markets called Central Market and actually loved it. I feel shopping here is very easy and I can play bargaining games as well :). I was really lucky that I found a clearance shop and they sold all their things with a fantastic discount and I of course spent lots of time (and money!) there. I bought quite a few items like masks and wall hangings from them and I am very happy with the quality as well. I also stopped at an Indian shop called Little Kashmir which sells stuff made in Kashmir and other parts of India. This is a great shop with all beautiful hand-made stuff reasonably priced. I feel regret now because I should have bought another wall hanging or another blanket. Their stuff is carefully made with so much detail. Check this shop out if you have a chance.

Shopping centers in KL look like other shopping centers around the world but they are all located in huge tall buildings. The difference is that they have a variety of stuff at great prices and the salespeople are really friendly. Clothes and cosmetics are cheaper and better quality than some other countries and I've also seen many Vietnamese in those shopping centers. I talked to some of them and they also feel a bit cold walking around these places, with the airconditioning turned down really low? Shopping in Malaysia is a very pleasant and cheap experience.

Sapa, Buy From Me

I love Sapa not because of the cool weather, but because in Sapa I can see the different ethnic minority cultures living with each other in peace. One thing which really surprised me was that most of the young minority girls get married when they are really young. I talked to many different girls and ladies selling their handicrafts and most of them have a few kids at just 20 years old. It's difficult to imagine how they can possibly have a decent life when they have to be constantly concerned with selling their products to earn their daily income which is so dependent on tourists' moods.

Most of the minority women selling handicrafts speak English quite well and with western accents which amazed me, and of course, they also can speak Vietnamese but sometimes not really well. They were teasing me heaps when I was there and most of the time I told them I am from Singapore but they didn't believe me.

Most tourists try to help them out by buying something BUT when you buy from one girl, a few minutes later, ten other sellers will come and stand around trying to show you whatever they have. "You buy from her, not from me, it's not fair" or "You took photos of me then you should buy something from me" are common complaints. Some of them are really agressive in the way they speak and they try to put their products on your body and also they give a very high price. I have practiced my shopping skills heaps before here, so I bargain really well but always give them some extra at the end.

To be continued

Coming Back to Sapa

I went to Sapa last weekend with some of my ex-colleagues who I used to work with five years ago when I first arrived in Hanoi. This is the fourth time I've been here and it always feels like the first time. Sapa is such a beautiful mountain town with beautiful scenery and the friendly people impressed me so much.

We went on Friday the 13th and my friends said this was not a good day but I'm not superstitious. We bought tickets ourselves and we made a big mistake as we ended up with six hard beds in a fan-only compartment and it was really hot, at 37 degrees. Oh my god! But it wasn't really bad when the train started moving and it was actually pretty cool early in the morning. We also couldn't book the hotel because most hotels I know were full, probably because it was the weekend!

We arrived in Lao Cai at 5 am and took a mini bus with 10 other people up to Sapa. It cost 25,000Vnd and took 30 minutes to reach Sapa on a cool rainy morning which we didn't expect. Nice and different from the weather in Hanoi. After half an hour walking around looking for a room, we found a guest house which was clean with a good view and it cost 180,000Vnd per night.

Tobe continued

Food In Malaysia

I realized that Malaysians think food is like sport by the way they talk together. They talk about food all the time. I understand now that Malaysia is a country of food. You can try all types of great food here from Western to Asian. I was very surprised about how may KFC and MacDonalds there are around Malaysia and they seem to be popular. These fast food restaurants are always busy! I wonder why they love fast food while they have hundreds of fantastic options available.

I did make a dumb choice for one of my meals, however. I had a chicken omelette with beans for my breakfast at the shopping center while I was waiting for my mother and sister. It was horrible and afterwards, I couldn't believe that I chose it. It was supposed to include a cup of tea but my tea never came. I should've known before that never eat anything in a shopping center.

I stayed in Malaysia for a few days and I tried so many different cuisines from local, Chinese, Indian to Muslim food. I love food so I don't mind trying new things but, to be honest, I ate too many curries of both Malaysian and Indian style. One curry was so hot that it brought tears to my eyes, at Madam Kwan's restaurant, even though I'd told the staff to make it mild. I suppose my idea of mild is different to theirs!

I also enjoyed some great stir fried noodles and grilled chicken with sate at the local Chinese restaurants and a fantastic Indian buffet at Nasi Kandar Penang. All in all, there's a lot to choose from in Malaysia.

Singapore

This is the second time I've been to Singapore and I think it's just too organized and too clean for me. Of course, Singapore is a really nice city for shopping and very secure but I feel it's a bit boring.

All that I could see were tall buildings and people walking past really fast and hardly anyone talking together or smiling like in Vietnam or some other Asian countries. Maybe Singapore people are too busy with work and always on the move?

Most Asian people who come to Singapore love it because it's really modern and there are so many shopping centers which they don't have in their own countries.

Architecture in Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia is such a multi-cultural country which includes Indian, Muslim, Malaysian and Chinese people. This had had an influence on the architecture that is easily recognized in the cities throughout Malaysia.

On the way to the city from the airport you can see the most colorful part of Kuala Lumpur wherethere are several big tall buildings with different shapes. When you get into the city center, each districts buildings seem to be a different colour and I think this is related to the people who live there.

China town has lots of similar houses with lots of charactor on both the side and the top of the houses. there's lots of Chinese writing on the signage on the houses, too. It makes this part of town look great and different to other parts of KL. I love China town alot.

If you walk into the Merdeka Square area, you can see some beautiful Muslim buildings with hundred of years of history.

Between these places, there are hundreds of old churches and Indian temples and also lots of tall modern buildings. This gives Kuala Lumpur a lot of character as far as the architecture goes. Come to Malaysia, go to Kuala Lumpur and you will agree with me that KL is quite a unique Asian city.

Bars in Kuala Lumpur

Sky bar is such a great bar located on top of Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. This is a really nice bar with simple decoration. Drinks are a little bit expensive but it's worth every penny. My friend had to make a reservation in advance to make sure that we have a nice table with great city views and a view of the PETRONAS Tower. When we arrived there, I was so pleased with our seats and the view. We also had seats in front of the swimming pool with lights on, the surrounding are just really nice. The bar was full when we arrived but it wasn't noisy at all, the music was low and people were talking together gently which made a relaxing atmosphere for conversations with friends.

Luna Bar is another night bar which is on the top of the Pacific Regency Hotel Suites. A very nice bar, but the cocktails were really bad and really expensive. We thought about a beer instead but ended up trying four different cocktails which were quite disappointing. It was a shame because they had everything, nice swimming pool, great location, friendly staff, amazing view. I do love the toilet there to be honest. This is the best toilet I've ever seen. I felt like I was peeing down the tower through the glass. I would come back to this place just to check out the toilet again for sure :).

My friend wanted to show me all aspects of the nightlife. The Queen was another stop and this is one of the most popular gay bars in Kuala Lumpur. The night life in KL is just amazing, so wild especially if you come to this bar. It was so crowded with young people around, dancing and smoking. Beer and drinks here wasn't expensive at all. This is a really late bar which people come to from 11.30 pm till 4 am.

Transportation In Malaysia

As I mentioned in the previous post, Malaysia is a really modern city and they have great transportation system. It helped me so much to travel around KL. I used the 'Hop On Hop Off' bus for my city tour. I paid only R$38 for the whole day! The bus also provided head phones with recorded information about all of the stops. You can get off the bus at any stop and get back on 45 minutes later.

Traveling around KL by taxi is not a good idea at all because of the cost, especially from the airport. There are quite a few different levels of taxi for you to choose from budget taxi up to deluxe. I took the premier taxi - a very old Mercedes - and it cost R117 which is over $30 and I couldn't even wind the window down. But it is possible to make a deal with the taxi driver for long distance trips or even inside the city. A friend told me that later.

The normal bus system is another good option for getting around KL. They provide big buses with air conditioning, which are clean and comfortable. For less than a dollar that you can travel from one place to another. The local bus from KL to Melaka was really nice and there was plenty of leg room and it was a pleasant trip. But I wasn't happy with the mean bus driver from Maleka to Singapore at all. He was so rude by the way he spoke to everyone but the trip was fine. Thank god I made it to Singapore.

The sky train is also a great to get around KL for both day time or in the evening. It's really clean and not really fast so I could see everything happening out the window.

All in all, the transport in KL is pretty convenient.