http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Alisa/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Alisa en-us Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:05:49 BST Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:05:49 BST This will probably be my last post for a while... it's not that I'm giving up on the 'travel blog' world but since the last time I was travelling it was to Phan Thiet to be fitted for another maternity dress I think I ought to be realistic with myself. I'm relocating to the following address alisagreenwood.blogspot.comThanks for checking me out over the past year for your kind comments and wo http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-102897.html To quote the great Gandalf a wizard is never late he always arrives precisely when he means to. If I was a wizard I would throw the whole wizarding world off kilter for sure. It's been months since I've last updated my blog. Sure I could say I've been busy cause I have a new job a new house etc. or I could go into more details like with my new job it's harder to find the time or the int http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-85705.html It's been a roller coaster of a time here in Vietnam so far. I've been on many beach vacations river boat vacations to water parks zoos that made me cry made lifelong friends lost friends who've moved away and made new friends. I've eaten at street stalls on blue plastic chairs while I was surrounded by an army of rats ready to take me out at the knee caps for finishing my meal without shari http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Mui-Ne/blog-67571.html It's been an interesting past five months. I've learned to like myself more... I've learned to like dentistry Cockroaches and Rats don't scare me anymore. Don't get me wrong I am not going to jump at the chance to sleep with one in my bed but I don't jump as high. I have learned to communicate without speaking... and understand someone even though their words are foreign to me. As a 'nguoi nuoc http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Vietnam/Mekong-River-Delta/blog-65340.html It was a hot evening... I had lived in Vietnam for nary a month and we were sitting under an umbrella at Highlands coffee behind the opera house in down town Ho Chi Minh City. My roomate Martina and I had just finished a 1.5 hour bickram yoga class and we were still sweating despite ourselves. I was unfortunately dressed in my classiest pair of trekking shorts and oversized tshirt she still in http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-61938.html My mother sent me an email the other day... and she commented on what I am doing with my life. She said it seems very exciting and that there never seems to be a dull moment. I have been thinking about this and have came to a conclusion. I think it's impossible for there to ever be a dull moment. If you pick any moment in time... RIGHT NOW for instance and you really think about it this exact http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-55905.html I think the pictures speak for themselves. LOL Alisa http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-54805.html I have been putting off updating this blog because of too much craziness at work and trying to figure out what my grand plan is. stay or go live or love eat or drink Sometimes it's hard to think about the big picture... there are so many little pictures. However alot of people have messaged me since my last 'introspective' post and asked if I was feeling okay... if I was sad or lonely Res http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-54787.html The following words are exerpts from my personal diary. March 15th 2006In the distance a stray or kept dog barks steadily seemingly guarding against the encroaching enemy. The parallel between rats cockroaches and humans is begging to be made by someone. All three capable of survival under the most dire circumstances with their habitat consisting of cement trees paved rivers and the odd oasis o http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-47826.html Today Former Deputy Prime Minister John Manley to Maple Healthcare for some treatment. He is in HCMC on business and we spent 25 minutes talking in the lobby while his wife visited the dentist. Imagine traveling to Vietnam to get your dental work done... Word has apparently spread about how high quality but cheap it is. Anyways very interesting guy Ottawa native graduate from Carleton Deputy http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-45633.html There is a huge Australian population here in HCMC and each year they celebrate in style by renting The Saigon Water Park and inviting thousands of their closest friends to an openbar nonstop food party. ltltltI think I love it heregtgtgt I didn't manage to find the Vegemite apparently it was hidden and only the auzzies could have it. Either way I'm definitely going back http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-45629.html It's been a busy two months... and I'm sorry I haven't posted lately. Alot has happened in the last little while Been to Nha Trang for a weekHad my teeth whitenedLearned to drive a Vespa on the streets of SaigonPlus a whole bunch of little things that I haven't even thought of but have affected my life and my in ways I'll never know. I'm reading this book right now called A Lesson Before Dying http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-43548.html So it's the first day back to work after Tet holiday. Last night I took a bus from Nha Trang to Saigon. It was supposed to be an 10 hour bus so when we left at 8PM we should have arrived at 6AM... but we were actually early so it was only 8 hours of cramped uncomfortable hot sweaty sleeping on a bus. Oh well it only cost 180000 vnd or 13.84can so I shouldn't really complain. Besides I wa http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-39622.html Election day in Canada is starting... and I'm about to head home from work for the day. Glad I already voted because I think finding a polling station here might be abit of a challenge. I have been having a fantastic time so far and I apologise for my tardiness in posting pictures but it's just been really busy at work then really hectic in the evenings then this past weekend was spent on a http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-36079.html For those of you who know me you will agree that I am not often at a loss for words. Today I am struggling to speak. This place has changed me already. Ho Chi Minh City is an unbelievable intense terrifying breathtaking and peaceful place all at once. I arrived yesterday afternoon and was met at the airport by my boss Andrew and I had my first experience on the roads of Ho Chi Minh City. http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-35423.html So there I was... an East Coaster in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia... sitting at the airport after being in transit for almost 20 hours. I would have passed out had I just sat there so I did what I told Trevor I would do I journeyed to the Petronas Towers. Now that comes across as nothing big but in a city that size with two huge carryon bags and 3 hours sleep it was a challenge. FYI most Mala http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Malaysia/Selangor/Kuala-Lumpur/blog-35419.html So... this is it I leave in three days for a flight to the other side of the world. It's a solo journey to Southeast Asia... and I'm going to be working in Ho Chi Minh City for six months. I am SO excited. I just got off the phone with a wonderful friend of mine... Kayte... and she is about to embark on her own amazing journey across Canada with her boyfriend Jay. I wish them both the best... an http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/Nova-Scotia/blog-34553.html