Holiday in Vietnam Part One

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Last December the weather quickly cooled in Yokohama and the Rising Family™ swapped winter coats for shorts and sunglasses, then set off on an adventure to spend the Christmas holidays in Ho Chi Minh City. Little did we know our journey would be filled with chaotic tourist bus and water ferry rides, bargaining battles in the markets, and a quest for the perfect Banh Mi sandwich. Forget turkey and mashed potatoes, we were about to roast ourselves under the blazing Vietnamese sun.

Day 1
We woke up early and by 04:30 were headed toward a long-term parking lot near the airport. In short order we were all set and ready to board our flight to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). The journey started, tally ho! The flight itself was a breeze. After we landed, we quickly navigated customs and immigration followed by a taxi ride to our hotel, which was right in the downtown core. We headed out in the evening to embrace the bustling energy of the city and experienced a local event called the Hozo Music Festival. I heard Vietnamese rappers! Also, we had our first taste of local street food while soaking in the sights and sounds. There were lots of tourists, but plenty of Vietnamese folks, too. Lady E. was gregarious in talking to vendors and having fun amid the new smells and sounds.

Day 2
We dedicated the day to exploring HCMC aboard double-decker buses, opting for hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tours to recon major tourist attractions. We took three of these bus routes to decide where we wanted to spend our time. Encompassing views of famous historic buildings and museums, and a bridge tour with panoramic views of the Mekong river at dusk, we saw many of HCMC's tourist spots and gained a better feel for the city. Nearing dusk, we stepped off at the Ben Thanh Market to check it out. It's an amazing marketplace, with 1,600 booths and 10,000 visitors per day. Shopping generated some minor squabbles between our daughters. Still, overall it was a day to savor the city skyline and sample more of the tasty and cheap street food.

Christmas Day

I often had passion fruit and mango for breakfast. And I savored Vietnamese coffee nearly every morning during this trip. It's a decadent way to begin the day. On Christmas morning, Naomi and I arranged travel plans for the coming days while the girls watched music videos in their hotel room. 

We started walking around HCMC. Despite the 34-degree heat, we eagerly explored the core of the city. Midway through our trek, my wife and daughters indulged in nail treatments and foot massages. We walked all the way to Tan Dinh Roman Catholic Church, one of the city's iconic tourist spots. The reason is its beautiful pink and yellow colors, which are a feast for the eyes. No Christmas Mass was possible, though. Marina dubbed it the “social media church” due to the crowds of selfie-snapping young people. The history of the church, and its architecture and colors, were compelling. On the way back, Marina got a mango slushie at the Ben Thanh Market. While we stopped to eat, a cockroach flew onto my arm, then to her overalls, causing a mild freak out—this added a touch of hilarity to our Christmas walkabout, and I laughed my ass off. We walked over 12 kilometers and capped the day with a nice Christmas call with relatives back home.

Day 4

We ventured outside HCMC by taking a 90-minute morning fast ferry via the Saigon River to Vung Tau on the coast, fulfilling my long-standing desire to see the Mekong River Delta. After a relaxing time at the beach, we returned. All of us wished we had more time there. It's a beautiful town.

- To be continued, see Part 2 -

Honoring Mom Ten Years On

"Life is for the living." It's something my mom would say long before she herself became ill. Today marks the tenth anniversary of her death. As I look back and collect my thoughts, I'm drawn to fond memories that highlight her vibrant spirit, admirable character, and the lasting impact she had on those she loved.

I often catch myself echoing the parental wisdom I heard during my childhood, passed down by both my mom and dad. "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." When necessary, she'd remind me: "Honesty is the best policy even though it's tough sometimes." And of course, the classic old saw: "If your friends jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?" One original life lesson was to occasionally do something wacky on a whim and not worry about what others think because "Who cares? Nobody remembers embarrassing details after a few years." As I approached adulthood, her guidance was steadfast, for example with this perceptive offer during my teenage years: "If you drink too much, don't drive home, and call me. I'll pick you up any hour. You get one free pass."

I find comfort in the zesty way she lived her life. Her love for maintaining a welcoming home, nurturing a beautiful garden, and being friendly to strangers remain enduring examples. She always showed remarkable resilience during the inevitable tough times everybody experiences in life.

Some of her original quips bring her presence closer: "Let's just stop for a quick tea and a smoke." When skiing: "I'm cold, so I'll go and have tea at the chalet for a bit. You guys go ahead and have fun." (That meant she was done for the day, heh heh.) And who could forget her annual declaration that Thanksgiving dinner was her favorite, soon followed by her willingness to bake endless batches of shortbread cookies for Christmas.

Although my daughters only had a short time to experience their "Canada Nana," I'm heartened when they remember the mementos she gave them. Nana adored them and thought ahead.

Her legacy of love, strength, and kindness continues. Ten years may have passed since she left us, and we miss her, but her spirit lives on in the way we live our lives to the fullest. As I honor her memory, I take equal measures of delight and gratitude when thinking about the past. That, I believe, is a true tribute to her.

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