It's been half a year since my last entry! I never thought it would be so difficult keeping up with a blog. I've actually been racking up frequent flyer miles and have loads of pictures taken with the hopes of eventually someday updating this blog. Well, as the saying goes...."Better late than never!" I got plenty of stories from the past 6 months that I can tell about but you'd be here all day reading and I'm certain you would rather spend your 4th of July weekend doing other things than reading about my escapades into the mysteries of the 3rd World. Therefore I'll brief you on the past half year's events along w/ a few pics too. If you want to hear some good stories...you'll have to email me to get the juice!
January 2008
Spent the New Years in Manila, Philippines.
Stayed for 2 days and went to alot of night clubs including Embassy above. I'd have a lot more pics but my camera was stolen from my office shortly after Christmas with all of my Christmas photos as well. Nonetheless, a great first trip to the PI.
End of January and parts of February 2008
At the end of January I headed back to the US for my yearly US Tour. Started off by attending a Television Conference in Las Vegas. Met up with some friends and family for a little R&R on the Vegas strip. Headed back to Cali for a day and then off to Dallas to meet up with my cousin and spend some time at his lake house. Also met up with a very good friend from H.S. after 15 years! Yup, it's been that long, certainly getting old.
Hopped back on plane for a short stay at my Sister's house in Houston. Was lucky enough to see my nieces (Emma and Lauren) and was able to watch Dora the Explorer with them (a certain highlight of my time in Houston). Spent some quality "guy-time" watching the Superbowl w/ my brother-in-law. Giants suck! but so does New England!
Jumped on another Continental Airlines flight bound for The Great Buckeye State. There I spent Vietnamese Lunar New Year at my Sister's home in Dayton. My parents and brother also were there along with my Sister's in-laws. My Mom cooked tons of food and we all enjoyed bringing in the Year of the Rat. My sister so kindly gave me a new digital camera so now I was able to take Pics!
Here's my Niece Emily
Headed back to California for a few more days before returning to Vietnam. I had to get back to Vietnam to prepare for our company's press announcement. My trip back to the US was more than I could've asked for. I was able to skip across the entire US within 2 weeks to visit with friends and family, including all of my cousins, Godson (Gerrard), and nephew (Sidney Emmanuel). Climate-wise, I was able to experience a beautiful snowfall in Ohio one day, then the California sunshine the next, and finally the scorching heat of Saigon...all within a 4-day span.
Picture from our press announcement:
As you can see I was busy making sure our guests were attended too.
In early March I spent a couple of days in Hanoi for work. Went with a few members of the consultancy team from Mediacorp in Singapore. You can't tell from the pictures but I was getting over another gout attack. Couldn't walk for a few days and was on crutches before going to Hanoi. The team was nice enough to walk along my pace. Thanks guys!
Here we are outside the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum:
Famous Vietnamese Water Puppet Show:
In March, my Grandmother's health wasn't so good. She spent about a month in the hospital. She's been bedridden ever since her stroke over 2 years ago. My aunt from the States visited and stayed for a while until my Grandmother was able to go home.
In early April I attended MIPTV, another television market in Cannes, France. You can't beat being sent to the French Riveria for work.
At the end of April I went to a little beach town in Long Hai. It was during the weekend of April 30th (better known to Overseas Vietnamese as the anniversary of the Fall of Saigon). In Vietnam however, I'll take the few days off for the holiday. I spent it with about 20 cousins, nieces, and nephews on my Dad's side of the family.
In May my good friend Raj visited from the States:
In June I was in Shanghai for the Shanghai Television Festival:
View from my Hotel Room:
Me in the City:
Just a couple of weeks ago, my uncle was involved in a motobike accident. He hit his head rather hard but luckily was wearing a full-size helmet. No one knows what happened. There were no other vehicles involved. A random lady had him brought to her house and then she called and notified us that she found him on the side of the road. It was pretty scary at first since he couldn't remember anything. He had CT Scans and other test done but they all came up negative. He was in the hospital for 2 days before the doctors said "we can't find anything wrong with him, he can go home, we need the beds for sicker patients". In good 'ol 3rd World Fashion, just a few bucks and a nice Fruit Basket later, the doctors changed their minds and my uncle was able to stay for another week. He is fine now.
Here are some pics from the hospital...just to show you the "great" medical attention that the locals get...just incase you didn't read my previous blog dated last July!
There were over 20 of us family members visiting my Uncle:
In Vietnam, patients lie 2 per bed! My Uncle's in the white t-shirt.
Finally doing much better:
These people are not dead, they're not patients either... but they're family members of patients in the "waiting room":
At this time every year in Vietnam, high school students take their college entrance exams. If you fail you have to wait until the following year to re-take the test. There are 2 locations to take the test, Hanoi and Saigon. Therefore, every year thousands of students from the countryside flood the cities during this time to take the tests. Many of the student's parents and family members come to give moral support and its also an excuse for them to visit and see the city. Business for the local markets and street stalls to say the least are rather busy.
My family has a small street stall restaurant. For this special occasion we open up at 4am! The exams begin at 7am. Here some pics from this morning:
Food all ready to be served:
It's 5:30am...ALMOST rush hour time....It's Saturday by the way!
I'd like to end this long blog with the EVOLUTION of Hip Hop Culture. My Grandfather is almost 90 years old. He's been through alot in his lifetime...countless struggles, wars, some peace....yet he always stays one step ahead and never takes a negative attitude. He knows where he stands on plenty of issues and he knows how to get his point across. Since coming to Vietnam I've learned just how great a man my Grandfather is. Just recently he asked me to help him change up his style so that he can be "one of the fellas" and "kick it with me"....so here's how that turned out.............
Had to start off with a good hat....
Then flip it to the side...
Then to the other side....
Representin' Vietnam...PEACE...Don't Sweat the Technique!
'NUFF Said.
