You're coming to Vietnam, can you bring.....

I moved to Vietnam in 2012 and when I arrived I realised that the stores here were so bare and didn't carry half of the things I needed for day to day living.  There is no such thing as a Target, CVS, Home Depot or Ralphs, we were shocked.  Whenever I wanted to cook a meal (which is rare) I felt like I was going on a scavenger hunt!

When friends decide to visit I made them earn a free stay with me!  Can you bring:

• Protein powder
• Tampons
• Dayquil
• Neosporin
• Victoria Secret Bras
• Lotion with no skin whitening chemicals
• Workout gloves
• DOT helmets
• Dog treats
• and the list went on

It's 2017 now and the list has reduced significantly but if you're coming don't be surprised if I as you to bring ice packs, more tampon, and safe to eat dog treats...these things still aren't available.

Maids

Living abroad in a developing country allows you to have maids and not burn a hole in your pocket. Now as great as this sounds, I am in a very bad situation and I'm sure all of you will agree that I'm to blame.

I have hired a Filipino maid that is obviously taking advantage of me.  She is always asking for advances and always in need of help.  It's really frustrating and really awkward but I can't say no. The advance has been increased to about $700 usd.  She is a single mom with 4 children in the Philippines and she is independently putting her children through school.

In my mind, that is not that much money for a person in need, but when she constantly calls in sick or makes last minute changes, it drives me crazy.

Since the new year, she has called in twice; sick and now she is unable to come for other reasons.  I have already made dinner plans which I now have to change.  The impacts are minor but I just think if I'm doing you a favor wouldn't you try to help the person who is helping you?

I need to let her go and just take the loss.  The only concern is Tet is coming up and I need a dog sitter.  Might have to sack her after Tet.

First world problems....

Travelling

Travel turns every simple daily activity into an adventure, whether that’s finding your way around a new place, finding somewhere to stay or your favorite café in a new town or just trying to communicate in a foreign language. Everything becomes new and exciting, like being a child again!

Ramping up to the Holidays and a career change?

I've been drinking so much, I think I put on 2 kilos just from boozing.  Is that possible, I don't drink soda though! Speaking of alcohol, I think I might consider a career change.  Paul healed this woman named Jenny who is a wine Ambassador for Pernod Ricard. Paul told her how much I loved whisky and that I was looking to do anything else outside of office work and you know what, she agreed to meet with me and basically give me the run down as to how to get into the business.

1st step, get educated.  Apparently there are wine and spirit classes you can take beginning with level 1-4 and you can even obtain a "diploma" which I hear are really hard to get.

So here is the link in case any of you suckas wanna take the class with me.  It's about 1k usd for 7 days each level and you have to pass the examine to move up to the next course.

Angela!  do it with me!

https://www.wsetglobal.com/

I think I wanna do it, even if I don't get into the bottle distribution industry I'd love to be a wine and whisky snob!

In the classes they make you spit each tasting...I didn't know you could do that...I have been to so many tastings and can't ever remember anything because I get so drunk...so I guess I'll have to spit at these classes!  (the photo has no relevance to this blog, it's just a great photo...Cheers~)

The proof of a fantastic bday idea....cyclo party!

Hi Guys,

We survived! The plan was 16 bars and we made it to 12, and then an after hours club...surprisingly Paul and I opted out.  We had work the next day and I had a job interviewish....

Here are the pictures to prove it, one guy had a great idea and brought a beer bong.  It's been a while since I've done one, but what do you know it's like riding a bike!!  Nailed it and got it on video.

I remember the 4th July parties in Newport Beach in my twenties and there was a long ass one from the 2nd floor funneling down to the ground floor and I totally knocked out 2/3 beers in one gulp.  I think that's when Paul fell in love with me....

Highlight of the night, pie in face....the passengers got so drunk they started riding the cyclo drivers around in Saigon traffic!

Cyclo Chariot Racing

The best way to see Vietnam is on a cyclo and the best way to have lots of fun is to RACE cyclos!

Today is a friend's bday and during a pool party while intoxicated he came up with this grand idea of racing around Saigon to 16 different locations on cyclos and downing a beer at each location.

The race begins today with 20 people meeting at 1:30pm and it will continue until the first person hits the 16th bar.

A map has been sent previously, and as the competive person that I am, I've already created a route, printed in colour, translated and laminated it.  It's gotta be rain proof!

I think I'm gonna win...my max is 10 beers, never 16, I wonder if that's where I'll lose the advantage. Gotta go and hydrate!  Paul will be filming on his go pro and when I figure out how to download footage I will.

Cheers!

Upcoming Trips and a Wedding..

My sister is coming for Christmas and I can't wait to hang out with her and Kris her hubby, we are going to Danang and will go on your fun beach tours!

Right after, my cousin  Billy is getting married to Hien, a Vietnamese woman he fell in love with a year ago and the ceremony takes place 30th December in the country side of Vietnam, families from USA and Australia will gather for the union, should be wild!

In January Paul and I are going to the Phong Nha caves, if you haven't heard about it google it. Basically it's the biggest cave in the world, it was discovered by a farmer about few years ago and guess what it's in Vietnam!

"Phong Nha has been voted as one of the most wonderful caves in the world for a number of reasons: for its longest underground river, for its most beautiful underground lake. for its highest and widest entrance, for its most beautiful and widest dry cave, for its most beautiful sandbank and reef, as well as for its most spectacular stalactites, stalagmites and longest water grottos." -Lynapedia