What the fuck is Anthony Hopkins doing on American Idol?

Really. The man was in the front row in the audience. (Also, it's not really a habit of mine to watch American Idol but I just so happened to have the channel on...) I wish he would have gotten up to sing, or maybe, recite the ingredients list on the back of a can of Spaghetti O's!

Oscar worthy!!

Anyway, Sir Hopkins isn't the topic of this particular post. I wanted to share some photos and video of a water puppet show I attended in Ha Noi. You'll be happy to know our friend tagged along:

Prior to the show, our friend enjoys a frothy cappuccino

Enjoying the water puppet parade!

So fiery!

Our friend wanted to purchase a water puppet--but didn't have money!

A splendid time was had by all!!

Endless Love: A Chocolate Romance

It was a Friday night and the outside world was a-swarming with cyclo gangs and their cries of "CYCLO?? WHERE YOU GO??"; German tourists with the fanny packs and capri pants sipping mango shakes; and young backpacker rats singing Justin Bieber at the top of their lungs at various bars along lining the street.

And given what happened earlier in the evening with Li, who would have thought that my feelings of mild loneliness could be quickly assuaged with a Vanilla-Chocolate Endless Romance ice cream cone? Now, I know, I know--comfort eating brings no comfort. But the little old lady's (who sold me the cone) compliment that I had "nice eyes" and that my Vietnamese was very good sure did!

Post Chocolate Bliss

Yum!!

Now, if you know anything about me, you'll know how much I love chocolate. Here are just a couple of the Chocolate-y things I enjoy: 

1. Hot Chocolate "You Sexy Thing" 

and

2. Ligeti 

I believe in miracles: He brings the heat!

 I cannot wait to see this cat; I will have many treats...

Not-So-Fun Fact(s): Loneliness and Lionel Both Begin with "L"

About three days ago, I befriended one of the waitresses who works at a local cafeteria I frequent. Her name is Li. She started talking to me, asking me where I was from, and what I was doing in Vietnam. We had had a nice conversation and she told me she had been very happy to meet me. We traded phone numbers, and I returned for dinner the last two nights in order to say hello and ask how her day was.

What I noticed, though, was that she had a habit of telling me I looked really lonely. Whenever I saw her I made sure I was bright-eyed and bushy tailed because, well, I had made a new friend and was excited to speak with her. But her first words would be, "Oh you look lonely. Are you by yourself? Where are your friends? Why are you here alone? You must be bored."

Now, keep in mind, I had already answered these questions the first evening I spoke with her. I told her I am here alone studying, I am a student, I have a couple weeks left in the country, my friends are back in the United States--as is my boyfriend-- and of course I cannot wait to get back.

Tonight, I had another run-in with Li. Unless this woman forgot that we had already talked about this, she seemed pretty keen on beating me over the head with my perceived loneliness. But to a certain extent--she is correct.

I am lonely.

Now, Wikipedia says: "Loneliness is an unpleasant feeling in which a person experiences a strong sense of emptiness and solitude resulting from inadequate levels of social relationships." Well, I certainly don't feel empty, nor do I think I have inadequate levels of social relationships. Naturally, I'd love to share these wonderful experiences with my loved ones. Of course I'm tired of eating crepes with lemon sugar by myself. Of course I'm tired of walking along the Perfume river by myself.

But you know what? It's ok. It's really ok. I will be home so soon. It's not even an issue. But when someone keeps bringing the damn thing up like it's the only thing she's got to talk about cause she can't talk about anything else--it gets really irritating. Still, I'm not depressed. After all this, though, I'm discouraged from even showing up at that cafeteria to enjoy the one thing that should bring me some pleasure in my life right now. I'm afraid that this woman is gonna come and shit all over my crepes! I don't need that. This entire study abroad program was one huge exercise in avoiding getting shit on my crepes and you know what?  

I got shit on my crepes.

I just want to eat my dessert in peace and think about the beautiful things I'm gonna see as I travel back to Saigon. Until then, I will be listening to my Lionel Richie playlist because honestly, the man knows how I feel.

Fun Facts: America's Got Talent and Timur Bekbosunov

Over the course of several months, Ted has received lots of favorable praise on his reviews of the L.A-based act, "Timur and the Dime Museum". (You can read one of his reviews here: "Blurring Musical Boundaries".)

The group has recorded covers of two very well-known songs, specifically David Bowie's "Life on Mars" and Nine Inch Nail's "Closer". What some may or may not know is that some time ago -- and I imagine it was some time ago, as Howie Mandel had apparently made his "comeback" after hosting the game show "Deal or No Deal", starring as The Sandman in the 2002 obscure children's film "Hansel & Gretel" (don't ask why I know this--but I saw the movie three times in one day with my niece and nephews), and going public with his obsessive compulsive eating disorder disorder and fear of germs -- Timur had made an appearance on Mr. Mandel's show, "America's Got Talent".

Of course, with only about 30 seconds to show off your featheriest of feathers and your spats-iest of spats, the pressure to perform and gain the support of the Taco Bell "Mexican" Pizza-eating American public is understandably... difficult.

I think it may have just been the song choice that put the judges off, and sure, Mandel was being his nasty little bald neurotic self, but certainly the costumes and theatrics were impressive.

Anyway, that was then and this is now--and I am happy to hear that Timur has garnered a rather large following and that his act is planning to tour throughout California, and perhaps abroad. Ted sent me a picture of Timur, taken from his show earlier this evening in L.A-- and it looks like Timur may have gained yet another fan.

A Day at Dam Sen Amusement Park

As I am procrastinating on writing my research paper, I came across some photographs of me and Amanda at Dam Sen amusement park in Sai Gon. I believe it is in district 11--about 20-30 minutes away from the center of the city by cab ride. Here's a sample of our frolics!

Good Morning!!

This last week I've been having trouble sleeping. Here's what happened,

Friday night I was attacked by bed bugs in the mattress of a questionable hotel-room inside a guest house in Hue City. I don't know why I agreed to stay in that particular room in the first place, as one had to walk down a gated alley into somebody's courtyard in order to get access to the room. I also don't know why the broken air conditioner, the musty smell, and the general lackluster-ness of the room didn't send me strutting in the opposite direction. But after spending seven hours at a spirit possession ceremony in the mountains just outside of Hue City, I think all I really wanted to do was just rest in a comfy bed...

Well, I got little rest--as the next morning I woke up to scattered ruby red bites along my waist, my chest, and most horrifyingly, my face!

To make a long story short, I now live in a new room, yet must sleep with all of the lights on in order to confuse any bed bugs that may have followed me--and to calm that general feeling of creepy crawlies on my skin. I hope to get over such a habit when I come home to Ted--but he is a heavy sleeper, and may not care that I ask to keep my two dozen nightlights on.

Thus we come to the problem of the last several days--

I've been having a difficult time falling asleep, though I force myself to go to bed fairly early. I think I got into a bad habit of staying up very late (out of my fear of the bugs, mind you), and then waking up late, and then napping in the late afternoon in order to catch up on much needed rest. Now I seem to have fallen into a cycle of staying up late, waking up late, taking four hour naps in the afternoon, and STILL feeling incredibly exhausted.

Today, though, I tried a little change. Instead of sleeping in until 9:00am, I forced myself to wake up at 7:00am (which was actually more like 8:30am). After showering to a Beach Boys "Love You/15 Big Ones" soundtrack, I packed my laptop, my books, my wallet, and made my way down the street to use the fantastic internet at a mediocre restaurant. I like coming to this restaurant because the internet is super fast and the owner lets me sit at the balcony so that I might have privacy and feel the cool Hue City breeze in my hair--But what I don't like is the tourist-friendly versions of what passes for Vietnamese food served here. It pains me to pay twice the price for a dish that is... pretty fucking nasty. Last week, though, I learned my lesson--and come for breakfast only.

Breakfast happens to be really decent for the price: a generous four egg omelet with cheese, tomatoes, onions and a fresh hot baguette is only 2.50 USD. And if you know anything about me, you'll know how much I love my eggs. In fact, there's an entire song dedicated to the love of eggs!!  (In Korean and in English!)

I think that video pretty much sums up the gentle admiration I harbor for eggs.

Today is a day full of work--but I know that crepes with lemon sugar, or perhaps, an Endless Love vanilla-chocolate ice cream cone will be my welcome reward.

Down Memory Lane

As I reflect on these past few months, I find that I am incredibly blessed. Not only am I doing so well in school, but I am traveling in an amazing country, and will soon come home to my awaiting family and the arms of my wonderfully sweet boyfriend (Hello Ted, honey!).

This evening, as I enjoyed the gentle sounds of The Four Sisters' "Shima Musume", I decided to revisit the photographs I took from this past summer 2010. I was feeling nostalgic, as my anniversary with Ted is coming up in the next few weeks--and being in Viet Nam--was just a bit homesick, longing for my familiar comforts.

Perhaps one of my favorite memories I came across this evening was of the crocheted amigurumi I had made for Ted's birthday in July. Being a huge fan of the Mother/Earthbound games, Ted expressed to me his interest in a Mr. Saturn plush toy. Given my skills in crocheting, I thought, "Well... That shouldn't be too hard! And if I mess up, well... I'm sure cookies will make a fine substitute." I found a pattern online and within two days of dutiful crafting, I had created a Mr. Saturn plushie! But for Ted's birthday, I felt I should make more--I couldn't just give him that. So I decided to crochet a little cat, a cuppy cake, a bowl of sushi and rice, a Totoro (My Neighbor!), and Link from the Legend of Zelda. I was so happy and proud of my work that I almost didn't want to give the plushies to him! But come the weekend I went to visit and celebrate his birthday--his reaction had made it all worth it. He absolutely loved them! And I was so glad that they would have a nice and safe home on top of his bedroom bookshelf.

I have more ideas for stuffed crocheted toys--and this summer will be the perfect opportunity to sit down with some yarn and craft up some cute things. Ted's collection is sure to grow!

It likes flowers too

I was fortunate enough to snap a shot of these beautiful flowers in a botanical garden in Cu Chi.

The Strangest Thing...

Is that this person seems to have followed me from the U.S to Viet Nam. Here is a photograph of my friend Abe and I celebrating the baking of a successful chocolate banana bread:

Cu Chi Tunnels

1st sighting: Dai Hoc Kinh Te, HCMC

Greetings fair reader!

Since February I have been studying abroad in Vietnam. I have seen many beautiful green rice fields, exquisite marble mountains, ancient citadels, and sacred religious sites. Along the way, I have made many friends--and of course, have had my share of delicious food. In fact, I took many photographs of my travels so that I might never forget this splendid time in my life.

However, I realized there was something rather peculiar about my photographs. I'll post them here, and you may judge for yourself.