Mommy Survey

As a mommy reading knittymommy's blog, I have been tagged:

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? it's never planned
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? yes
3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? i cried, screamed at hubby and called my mom in manila
4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? no naman
5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? i just turned 28
6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? i took a pregnancy test.
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? hubby was right outside the bathroom door.
8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? yes
9. DUE DATE? august something
10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? nope
11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? zagu and kfc
12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? the thought of getting fat.
13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? female
14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? nope
15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? from 113 to 167. take out your calculators please.
16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? yes
17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? i knew about it
18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? yes. for my first, i had low amniotic fluid and was placed in the labor room even if i was only 1 cm! during the second pregnancy, i had to stay in bed for 2 weeks during the second month because i had a blood clot.
19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? first-medical city mandaluyong; second-asian hospital muntinlupa
20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? 27 hours in the labor room for the first! 5 hours for baby no. 2
21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? reymond
22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? no one for the first. reymond was glued to the wall for the second. i think his eyes were shut. does that count?
23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? both natural
24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? are you kidding? of course!
25. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? both weighed 6 pounds plus.
26. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ? both on my 39th week
27. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? 5

I am tagging Rosabel (thru Gabby) and Maggs for this meme(?)!

Rock the Boat

Today is our last full day in Saigon. We leave for Manila tomorrow. Just when you thought naubos na namin lahat ng tour, our guide directs us to one more. We're now off to see the Mekong Delta River.



On our way there, our new guide Vinh asks us to make a short stop at the Cao Dai temple in Ben Luc town. This sect is a product of religious and philosophical traditions from the West and the East. They were not content with just one religion; they combined all (Buddhist, Catholic, Taoism to name a few) and came out with a very hard to describe belief system. The eclectic nature of this religion is reflected in their Great Temple. It combines architectural elements of a church and a pagoda in an extravagant style and with an abundance of colors.

Enough of our temple tour and on to the river we go.

The Mekong Delta is a lush, green area southwest of Saigon. In areas populated by its locals, a series of canals were built to get from one place to the other. Venice in Vietnam? Uhm, close but no cigar.







Our first stop was at a bee farm. We were made to poke our finger in between a swarm of bees so that we could have a taste of pure honey. So as not to offend our hosts, I obliged although my eyes were half closed. They also served us honey wine which didn't taste too well and was quite strong.


A short trek away is one of the many fruit orchards in the area. We were served various tropical fruits like papaya, pineapple, jackfruit, etc. As an added twist, we were asked to dip the fruits in some salt with chili. While feasting on the fruits, we were serenaded with folk music by the locals. I could not understand the songs as they were sung in their native dialect but what I did notice was that they sounded sad. Vinh explained to me that most of their songs spoke of separations between lovers, children and their parents, all alluding to events that transpired during the war.



We were then asked to ride on their version of a gondola as we traversed the canals lined with water coconuts. Along the canals were the houses of the local residents. As we made our way to the main river, the sky had darkened and I was almost sure rain would fall at any minute.




Before the rain gushed, we were able to drop by a local coconut candy factory. The candy was tough and sticky but yummy nonetheless. At exactly 12 noon, we were served lunch at a local house by the river.





The main course was the elephant ear fish. Its meat is scraped off and placed in rice paper together with some greens and mint. It would then be dipped in tamarind sauce for that extra kick. We liked it so much, Reymond had to order a second one. Coming in a poor second and third was the grilled pork and squid respectively.

As the rain fell, we made our way back to the port and drove to the city. By the time we arrived, the rain had stopped and so off we went for one last shopping trip. We walked to Saigon Square still in search of the elusive biking jersey but we didn't find any. Saigon Centre didn't have them either. We walked and walked until we tired ourselves out but only ended up with two flutes, the special bilin of our girls. Our feet were already aching so kain nalang kami.

Reymond was getting tired of all the greens and mints. Magiging kambing na daw siya. So for our last dinner, we settled on Ristorante Venezia, the Italian place right at our hotel. I ordered my usual carbonara but sad to say, it was a disappointment. Reymond though enjoyed his pizza with prosciutto. Moral of the story? Order Italian food when you're in Italy. While in Vietnam, it's safe to just eat the local food.

We didn't have the strength to go out anymore. We packed our bags and rested for our flight home early the next day.

For those planning a vacation soon, Saigon may be the place for you. Its a destination just waiting to be discovered.

Cu Chi Cu Chi

To see is to believe.

The Cu Chi tunnels are a series of underground networks used by the Vietcong first against the French and later on to protect them against the Americans. Inside the tunnels, the Vietcong had their meeting rooms, sleeping quarters, water pits, kitchens, mess halls - name it, they had it. The Vietcong practically lived in those tunnels. Its no wonder these people were able to survive despite the devastation brought about by the Vietnam war. They are strong, resilient and fiercely loyal to their cause. The Americans were physically bigger and stronger, far more superior in their weapons and technology. Yet, they could not stop the eventual fall of Saigon.

Cu chi is an hour and a half away from the city. Along the way, you will see endless rows of rubber trees. Our tour guide Sang says that the rubber sap is one of the major raw materials produced in this province. Upon our arrival, we are made to watch a 20-minute video on the intense fighting that occurred in that area during the war. It was obviously made by the hard core Vietcong as it was awfully one sided.

After the film clip, we go through an underpass which leads us to the tunnels. At an obscure location,we were asked to look for the entrance of a tunnel which was hidden well on the ground. Once we discovered it, a Cu chi 'hero' (a label given to the residents of this province) demonstrated how a person could actually fit into that small hole. Ahem, please take note of the brave volunteer.




Along the trail, there are tanks and bomb craters left behind by the Americans. There were also mannequins dressed in the authentic black uniform used by the Vietcong with their sandals made out of rubber tires. We were also shown the crude weapons and traps set up for the Americans.



For the benefit of the tourists, entrances to a few tunnels were widened to accommodate those who wanted to try walking through them. I don't know what possessed me but I followed Reymond through the first tunnel. It was dark, hot, constricting and I was almost out of breath. At the first exit (30 meters), I came out all sweaty, very relieved to get out of there. Reymond, maybe a Vietcong in his past life, finished the whole 60 meters. May tama.



As if that was not enough, he took on a third and even more difficult challenge of going through another tunnel. This time, the tunnel was not altered in any way. It had not been lit and it was not widened to preserve its original state. A Cu chi hero had to be called in to lead the way. Sang directed me to the end of the trail which would open up to a meeting room. While waiting there, I was getting anxious because it was taking a long time for them to tread some 60 meters. As Reymond appeared from the tunnel, I heaved a sigh of relief. The only reason the picture appears bright is because of my camera flash. The room was dark and you could not see a thing.

It was a remarkable experience for us and we hope that we can share it with the girls when they're old enough to understand the significance of these tunnels.

We were back in the city by 1:30pm and even if I pleaded with Reymond to go to the hotel first, kain daw muna kami. He asked Sang to bring us to an open air eatery (turo-turo) along Hai Ba Trung so that he could let go of his inner 'temple' (please see HK blog on friendster for details). They served us draft beer placed in plastic containers. We also ate ubod ng anghang na squid, fish, prawns and fried rice. Masarap naman but the eating conditions were harsh. At least in Temple, it was a December evening and the weather was cool. We were eating spicy street food with no aircon on a hot and sticky day in the middle of the afternoon.

But the ordeal would soon be over. We walked back to our hotel, said our goodbyes to Sang then took our afternoon siesta.

We were feeling much better by 4pm so we left our room to do an errand for Marissa. Smarty pants Katrina fails to bring the email Marissa sends and instead just memorizes the instructions given. After about 30 minutes of walking with the store nowhere in sight and Reymond giving me the evil eye, I force him into a cab and lead him to Diamond Plaza to take his mind off strangling me. We were advised to go there to look for biking jerseys. Luck is not on my side as there were no biking jerseys in the mall. To calm him down, I thought hearing mass at Notre Dame would do the trick. The whole service, including the hymns sung were in Vietnamese. Kawawa naman ako.

After mass, we walk back to our hotel to get the email. Thankfully, we get the add right and the owner, Pauline, even waited for us to arrive at 6:15pm (they close at 6 on Sundays). Not only were we able to get the pajamas Tere ordered, Pauline even directed us to a resto that she claimed would be better than Nam Phan.

Dong Pho was all the way at Ho Xuan Huong in District 3 so we had to take a cab there. The resto was beautifully decorated. It had a warm and comfortable atmosphere. Ordering though was an extremely difficult task as the owner/host only spoke French and Vietnamese. Yikes. Its a good thing the menu had english transcripts.





For starters, we had yummy spring rolls, baguette with crab and shrimp pate, rice flour pancakes with shredded pork and shrimp. Yum. I even had pho with pork dumplings to finish off our hearty meal. Reymond, on the other hand, had sweet pork ribs with rice. This resto is a must try. When we got the bill, we were floored. We had spent 234,000 VND which was about $15.00. What a steal.

We took a cab back to District 1. Walked around a bit in a vain attempt to burn some calories. After five minutes, we decided to call it a day. Time to recharge....

Good Morning Vietnam

Every morning here, We are blessed to have this beautiful courtyard as our backdrop to start the day. After my breakfast pho, eat all you can pomelo and heavenly Vietnamese coffee, we prepare for the long day ahead.

We meet our tour guide, Sang, at the hotel lobby by 8:15am. We are assigned a guide AND a private car with a driver to take us around the city. Naxxxxx.

Our first stop is the Notre Dame Cathedral. It may not be as massive as its namesake in Paris but it was just as solemn and as lovely.

In the immediate vicinity of the church is the Central Post Office. Right in the middle of the hall is the imposing picture of Ho Chi Minh.





A short distance away is the Reunification Palace. This was the last bastion of power before surrendering to North Vietnam in 1975. The famous picture of the tank going thru its gate eerily resembled our own famous uprising in 1986. The surrender of Duong Van Minh in 1975 signified the country coming together to become the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Next stop is the War Remnants Museum.
It was truly depressing and heart wrenching but the pictures and relics on display were real. All the killing, the abuse, the pain inflicted on this country - it truly happened. This museum was a reminder of that terrible event in history and it was placed there to constantly remind us that it should never be repeated again.

On to happier thoughts.

Sang brought us to a factory where Vietnam's most famous product, lacquer, is made and sold. It was quite inspiring as the products were made by those handicapped by the war and those disfigured by the after-effects of the chemicals used during the war. So many lacquer products in one room. Even if the products were more expensive here, I happily gave up a few dollars to purchase some items.

After shopping, we visited the Jade Emperor Pagoda. Beautiful kung beautiful but Reymond was about to have an asthma attack with all the incense burning inside the temple. Heehee.

So off we went to see the Saigon River. You had cargo ships at the far end, ferries with cars and motorcycles on board and a hundred others waiting by the wing.


From there, we walked along Dong Khoi where I chanced upon Authentique again. I was drawn to the store and before i knew it, I had two baskets on my way to the cash register.

At 1:30pm, we finally found our way to Le Mekong on Dong Du. In direct contrast to Lemongrass, this place had a very low ceiling. Coming from someone who is 5'2, you can just imagine how low it was! The most intriguing dish served to us was tender beef with onions in broth served inside a coconut husk which was currently lit with fire at the bottom. Gets? Well, it looked weird but it was yummy. The rest of the meal was delicious as well - just not as intriguing.

We had pictures taken at the Municipal Theater and the Hotel de Ville/People's Committee Building before heading off to the Cho Lon District.








Cho Lon otherwise known as Chinatown is buzzing with activity. Similar to our Chinatown, you could find anything and everything at this place. The most famous market at the area is Cho Binh Tay. This is for the wholesalers. Cho Lon also houses the Thien Hau Pagoda.






















For those who don't want to buy six of the same kind, Ben Thanh would be more your cup of tea. As one ad states, the only things NOT sold here are automobiles and real estate. It is a maze of chaos with people tugging---literally pulling you to come and see their goods. I enjoy a good bargain. I just don't like being pulled at. After purchasing a few items, we decided to head back to the hotel for a well deserved rest.

Two hours later, the sky is pitch black and the rain is POURING. The conditions were gloomy but how could you not go out on your 7th year anniversary. So we get dressed, borrow an umbrella from the front desk and head towards Nam Phan for dinner.

Nam Phan on Le Thanh Ton is on the street behind our hotel. It is, as they call it in New York, on the 'upper east side'. The resto is a refurbished old house with beautiful interiors and lovely decor. The food is excellent although a bit pricey. So despite the rain outside, we enjoyed our dinner immensely. One dish that particularly tickled our taste buds was the seafood salad that had generous servings of greens, prawns and squid. We were asked to dip it in some fish sauce (a.k.a. patis) and to place it on top of a shrimp cracker (a.k.a. kropek) before taking a bite. It was delicious!


After Nam Phan, we had an after dinner treat at Highlands Coffee in front of Park Hyatt. Highlands is a local brand and they are reputed to serve the best coffee accompanied by some great dessert choices. I had the honey caramel cheesecake which was divine. No caffeine in the evenings for me so Reymond would be the taste tester for the moment. The coffee is brewed and dripped direct to your cup. Reymond found it a bit too strong but he says coffee in Vietnam is unique and rich with flavor. After our nightcap, it was straight to bed for us. Long day tomorrow....