Hiking Scenic Hills

I love all the hilly and mountain paths that are available for exploration in China.  The city planning or park upkeep is immaculate and the best park about a place like this is there is hardly ever another hiker on the trail.  We did happen upon a group of 5 randomly but I hardly doubt that more than a handful of people walk through on average daily.  These trails will keep for probably another two decades before it needs to be repaired but the fact is it's there for everyone to enjoy.

It's common to see iconic bamboo groves and forget that a city is less than a mile away. There are somethings that are definitely appreciated and well preserved.  I didn't see it on this trail but I've seen older generation come through and pick wild herbs and plants and it reminds me of when I lived in Hawaii where I would see old tutu's teaching the next generation about harvesting wild plants.  It's nice to see something familiar here as well.

One of the things that I appreciate about China is the ability to live in a small city (it's referred to as a small town by the locals but with the population of 3-4 million), and still get away from it all.  I don't live in a huge city by all means, but even in a place like Shanghai, I can still fine greenery and beautiful parks.

Bumrungrad International Hospital

Many of you may have hear about how Thailand is famous for their medical services and tourism.

Well, I am in the process of seeing what it's all about.

I've heard for years that Thailand is the place to go for extensive dental work, world class surgical operations and other medical needs.  I had never needed to make us of their services because I have a very reliable dentist back in my hometown that I've been going to regularly since I was a kid.  Now that I live out of the country, I might as well see what it's all about.


Upon walking into the first main building of Bumrungrad International Hospital, the open lobby is open and rather fancy like one would expect from a first class hotel.

As a new patient, I was directed to go to the second building to register as a new patient.  The second building is even more impressive.

Heck they even have a Starbucks:



and a McDonald's:

\

and a food court:





Getting back to why I am here...

I remember when I was sixteen and my employer came to Thailand to get dental work and one or two root canals done.  She raved about how amazing the experience was and how cheap it all was.

Here, I am getting a cleaning done on my teeth but needed x-rays done so, the grand total was roughly 4,500 baht (at this moment roughly $131.00 USD).  You can check to see what the actual exchange rate is for USD but since I have no insurance in the US I am pretty sure this would be a whole lot more expensive than what it is now.

I also have to get a filling in a day or two so I know it will cost me about the same amount as today if not slightly more.

I am thoroughly impressed with Bumrungrad and would definitely come back for yearly visits when I am in town visiting friends.

Crucial Step for Accepting a New Home: Travel

I've talked about how it's important to get to know your new home and to keep active.

After about 6 months of really getting to know your new home, I think another crucial step to feeling at home is to leave it for a bit.

Go Travel.

I don't mean go to a place that feels even more like home than your current one but go somewhere new and enjoy being on vacation from your new home.  It doesn't have to be an expensive trip and it doesn't have to be far, but leave your current domicile for a few days and give yourself a break.

I recently moved to China and have done stay-cations within a two hour vicinity of our home for a short period of time.  Usually, two days is enough of a get away to feel good about coming back to your home but going on vacation for an extended stay, I think really helps you realize where your home is.

We are spending 21 days in Vietnam and going through the motions of readjusting to this new country, language and culture.  Granted, there are more English speakers here than in China but it's still a very foreign place for us compared to the home that we've had for six months.  Six months is not long by far, but it's long enough to have a connection to a place.

While we're having fun exploring and checking out new sites but even that gets exhausting after a while.  Once you start slowing down with your traveling and if you get sick, you realize you're tired.

At that point you just want to go home and then you realize you think of your new home as that go to place you can't wait to return to.

It may be something simple like, 'I want to sleep in my own bed', or 'I can't wait to go home and eat at my favorite chicken stall' and let's not forget, "I just want to plop down in front of my TV and play some video games, cuz I'm pooped!'.

You start to realize that you've made a comfortable place for yourself to return to and want to go back to your new home or HOME because that's what you've made it into for the past six months.

Sometimes it takes leaving home to realize that you definitely miss your own space and comforts.

Food for thought.

Almost a Decade Later in Saigon (late posting from 2017)

It's been almost a decade since I was last in Ho Chi Minh City also known as Saigon.  It felt like a homecoming of sorts being back in a place that I hold dearly in my heart during my early 20's.

I've come to realize that city's change and grow just like the people and it's quite possibly very smug of me to say I grew along with it, but both the city and I are definitely not the same entities we once were almost a decade ago.

We met some amazing couch surfers that ran a motorbike tour company.  They were younger college age students, and they had such great outgoing personalities and as a group, showed us around Saigon on their bikes.

 ( Continuing blog from 2017 )

In the above picture at the cathedral, there was a makeshift eating area that was unsanctioned by the police so everyone had plastic stools to sit on and the cooking was done over small bbq or hibachi like setup.

When the cops showed up, they gave a warning siren when they parked and you will never see anyone pack up all their chairs and cooking set up so fast and run!

Since Harry and his crew were nice enough to show us around, we told them about one of our hobbies GEOCACHING and they were excited to try and help us find the cache. 

Needless to say, we found it and had a great time with our new friends.

I took a lot of photos on the bike so, you'll have to forgive me that they were all blurry and out of focused.

I had a greater time this time around with CS and we made a great friend that invited us to stay with their family during Tet.

CouchSurfing has changed a lot over the years and I know the community has shifted gears to a more AirBnB style but I will always remember interactions like these VERY fondly.

Pics from 2008 trip to Saigon

Sorry the formatting is pretty clunky.  Until I figure out how to better display photos on my blog, this is how it's gonna be.

Gettin' Some Pearls

Apparently you can get pearls in my town if you're willing to shuck the oysters yourself.  It's not expensive and the haul is worth the time.  

If you look foreign, this is what your crowd will likely look like if you do this in our area in Shaoxing.

It takes a bit of time to feel around within each shell for the jewel but it's definitely worth it once you start to see the different varieties you can collect.

The owner will help you out and she's really fast.

All in all it may take about 20 minutes at most for about three oysters.  The pearls are far from perfect, but you can still enjoy the process and have a fun souvenir or gift for others.