From Vietnam with Love: Vietnam

Saksinee 的个人资料From Vietnam with Love照片日志列表更多

工具

帮助

日志

摘要

排列方式：

<< 第一页 < 上一页下一页 > 最后一页 >>

8月22日

ONCE UPON A TIME ON PLANET EARTH

Once Upon a Time on Planet Earth

A project by Ron Modro

http://www.littlebookofman.org

Once Upon A Time On Planet Earth, on August 6, 1945 at 8:15 AM, the first atomic bomb was dropped on a civilian population in Hiroshima, Japan, killing 80,000 people instantly, and at least 60,000 since then have died, thus marking the beginning of the Nuclear Arms Race.

Sixty-two years later, on August 6, 2007 at 8:15 AM, participants from around the globe took a single photograph.

“The belief that a single human being can make a difference, gives life to this innovative project. Remembering a single moment in history is the very essence of this global photographic endeavor.”

“Once Upon a Time on Planet Earth” is the contribution to today’s global dialogue - an essay from the unique and collective perspectives of the photographers who have chosen to participate in this experience.

I am one of them. I have decided to join this project since March 18, 2007. I had almost lost it because of my moving but I am glad that I still could make it at the last minute. I know many good people through this poject...some of them become good friends. Thanks so much to Ron to give me this opportunity. He's a good friend who has a very good heart. Let's hope for the better world...

August 6, 2007 at 8:15 AM, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This country has a long history of war and troubles regarding nuclear power and weapons. Many people are still dealing with the memory of the damages brought by decades of turmoil and, the pain that war can bring. Since the end of the Vietnam War, thousands of Vietnamese are still being killed every year from contact with unexploded landmines that were left behind after the war. The survivors, their environment and their children and grandchildren continue to feel the effects of Dioxin and other herbicides used to defoliate the land. There is nothing positive about such destruction; “their scars” run much deeper than “ours” do.

I have always believed in Love and Peace wherever you are, and whoever you may be. It is important that I teach my son about these things, even though my son is just four-years-old. Today, I decided to take him to the Vietnam War Museum for our photoshoot, to teach him about war and the effects it can have on your fellow man. I want to teach him to live in peace, and to share his love with the rest of the world, if possible. This is the photo I decided to take. My son, learning about the horrors of war.

ImageShack

It was announced recently that Russia plans to help Vietnam to build its first nuclear reactor. Personally, I do not like the idea. There are many questions that come to mind: “What will we do with the Nuclear Waste? What will happen if there is an accident and the core has a meltdown?” We have seen these things happen in our lifetime with Three Mile Island in the United States, and at Chernobyl in the Ukraine.

The Future of our children is at stake, and when I think about the world we will leave behind for them, I only have more questions. When will we find the answers? What will I tell my four-year-old son? His future is in my hands and I want to make a difference.

I have traveled to many countries in my life. I have seen many places and met many people. However, I want to see more, to know more, and to share more. To me this world is getting smaller each and every day. I would like to see more love and more peace. Today, I teach my son; “Love is in your heart, not to stay, but to share (for the better).”

(A')

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Please visit http://www.littlebookofman.org for more photos from around the globe.

6月12日

Bye Bye 5 + 6 !!

I remember about the same time last year. I wrote the blog here in this space "Bye Bye & Good Luck". That blog was for friends who moved away from Ho Chi Minh City in year 2006.

Today...again ... I also would like to use this blog for saying goodbye to my friends who are moving from Ho Chi Minh City to some where else in this year...2007.

First good bye is for the Royal Thai Consul General, Mr. Sompong S. and family. In Ho Chi Minh City there isn’t Thai Embassy but Thai Consulate. This place other than an office is kind of a center, a harbor, a meeting place and a home for Thais. Mr. Sompong and his wife which well known as P’ Tuen in our Thai group in Vietnam is a very nice couple, very informally and very friendly. There are so many activities providing from them for Thais to participate including Sunday Class, teaching children speak Thai by P’ Tuen using her own leisured time. They always help and advice to Thais without any hesitates. But too sad that they are leaving back to our home country very soon for good.

Second good bye is for 8 Thai Friends (P’ MamBP, P’MamSummerset, P’Jai, P’ Mol, P’Pea, Kwang, Nong Ple, Nong Keng) who also have to move away following their families and their responsibilities.

Last good bye is for Mr. Keith and Mr. Peter who are moving to Dubai for better future after 4 years in Vietnam.

This is called life, isn’t it? Nothing I can do to make them stay here any longer. But the best I can do at this moment is to say goodbye and wish them the best of luck in whatever they do and wherever they are.

For my Thai friends, I do believe in our nation (the land of smile), in our Thai heart (a good heart) that you will be loved and this thing will make you safe and succeed in every which way.

And to all my friends, please remember that our friendship will never be forgotten. I will be here on my space telling my journey and sharing my thought and feeling. It may not be forever but will be as long as I can.

Please keep in touch and look forward but don’t forget to look back sometime.

...Thank you... for the joy and support

And the good old days we shared…

Wish you a good feeling following your way

Not only today... but forever…

Bye Bye to All...

(A')

P.S. see more of your photos in my photo album - friends & Others

3月30日

Kiss and Don't tell

West Lake or many other places in Hanoi (or Saigon River in Ho Chi Minh) are famous spots that many tourists come to enjoy the beautiful views, but at night many young Vietnamese couples can be found sitting on their motorbikes, on the fence or behind one big tree, kissing openly.

I thought that my eyes were playing games on me because it seemed that they didn’t care about anything that was happening around them, or even whether anybody was watching them.

Like me, many people want to check out this strange occurrence out of curiosity. People know that Vietnamese is an Eastern country and that the Vietnamese have a private, public life. I talked with some Expats about these scenes because I understand they are common in their countries. However, they all answered they don’t like watching it. They explained the Vietnamese have a long standing culture and they highly appreciate it and want to discover all its beauty. Furthermore most of them think that the Vietnamese should have opened their minds to this behavior, and it should occur outdoors where surroundings are more romantic and beautiful.

What do the young Vietnamese think? They know that the Vietnamese are very private. They don’t want everybody to witness everything that goes on in their lives. However, it seems that they have no place to display their own love. They can’t do so at home because their families watch them and don’t accept. Another reason is that West Lake is a fantastic and romantic place to go on a date. That’s the reason why the youth choose places Like West Lake, Hoan Kiem Lake or parks in the evening.

(Ly Nguyen)

3月16日

My Visitors

Last Tuesday... I had a chance to meet my old friend, Mr. Ken Dobrich, from Australia. We used to work together for the waste water treatment project in Thailand about 5 years ago. Can you believe that??? 5 Years !! I had not seen him for 5 years but he still looks the same to me...He was on his trip from his home country to Vietnam and Thailand. So we met here in Ho Chi Minh City for a nice dinner together.

I had a very good time and felt so good to see the old face ( if u know what I mean). That's why I am sitting here and writing this blog and thinking to drop some words to all my lovely vistors in VN.

"Mr. Saengtong" who is also an old friend from Joint Venture and now is working in Vietnam came for dinner together too.

"Nong" an old good friend from CMU... 14 years....of our relationship....

"Kai" also my old & good & closet friend from CMU too....man!! 14 years...cannot believe I can handdle you this long...

Just want you all to know that I was very happy to see you again after long long time...Thank you for your visitting and welcome back any times...amd most of all....I really miss you here ( Atom miss you too).

Take care until next time,

(A')

P.S. Welcome all friends, who are planning to go somewhere but don't know where.... friends who told me long time ago that you would come..... friends who promised me that we would see each other again before we die.... and friends who ever think of me...(sometimes)...

3月2日

Lunar New Year 2007

LUNAR NEW YEAR (TET)

I wrote this one so many days ago but was too busy to put in here.

Well, hope this is not too late to say Happy Lunar New Year to all.

This is the first year of my 3 years in Ho Chi Minh City- Vietnam that I have stayed during the TET. So another experience to share:-

TET – in Vietnamese Language or Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important Festival and the Big time Holidays

for Vietnamese people. This Festival sometime between late January and early February (depend on Lunar Calendar).

The Vietnamese, wherever they may be, are all thrilled and excited with the advent of TET, and they feel an immense nostalgia, wishing to come back to their homeland for a family reunion and a taste of the particular flavors of the Vietnamese festivities. Although officially a three-day affair, festivities may continue for a week or more with every effort made to indulge in eating, drinking, and enjoyable social activities. It is also a time for paying respect to ancestors and

the elders. Gifts of food are made to friends, neighbors and relatives in the days before TET.

This custom has become sacred and secular and, therefore, no matter where they are or whatever the circumstances, family members find ways to come back to meet their loved ones, gather for a dinner of traditional foods like banh chưng

(a square cake made of sticky rice stuffed with beans and pork), măng (a soup of boiled bamboo shoots and flied pork)

and xai gấc (orange sticky rice).

Everyone is in a rush to get a haircut, buy new clothes, spruce up their homes, visit friends, settle outstanding debts, and stock up on traditional TET delicacies. Businesses hang festive red banners which read "Chuc Mung Nam Moi"

(Happy New Year) and city streets are festooned and lighten up all over.

My maid, who worked for me for already one year, disappeared right after I paid her a monthly salary plus bonus for TET (which not an agreement but I paid from my kindness) without saying a word. I guess that because she doesn’t want to work for me during the TET. And yes, there are many cases like this happen before TET. Vietnamese people no matter what they have to go for TET. My past maid even asked me for one month off to go see her husband in Hanoi. There are

so many people get sick at the same times (just an excuse not to work). And after TET you will see many people are looking for job again after one month vacation.

I go to the city walk one evening to join the festival. There are so many people and so crowed for nothing. I mean… there are nothing much going on or a whole lot to see but for the reason of no where else to go (they all are closed for the whole week including supermarkets) plus the spirit of TET these make Vietnamese still can enjoy a lot.

One thing I have observed and I really don’t like is they are closing some streets around the city walk, not allow any cars and any motorcycles to get in, but in the mean time the main street the one having the festival and thousand people walking to see the decoration are opened and allowed all vehicles to get in. So I don’t understand what the point of doing that. It is a big mess there with all crowd, motorcycles, taxis and buses. They shouldn’t allow any vehicles in the main street of this festival.

This is the sixth day of this year TET. I still have foods to eat after stock like 10 cows in my fresh and 10 big boxes of instant noodle in my kitchen. The supermarkets will re-open tomorrow and things will be normal hopefully next week.

But my recommendation is not to stay in Vietnam during TET if you are not Vietnamese and don’t have to. Take a trip some where else to be more fun and more convenience.

(A')

18:51 | 添加评论 | 固定链接 | 写入日志 | Vietnam

2月9日

Living in Vietnam (Do you have your blue book ready?)

Just my experience to share

If you are the foreigner who is working and living in Vietnam or you are planning to, please read this very carefully. Something had just happened to me and my family tonight 3 hours ago and now 3 o’clock in the morning but we still cannot sleep at all. We are a family (a father, a mother and a son) currently living in the nice apartment in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This apartment and others in this area are belong to the company name Phu My Hung and well known in Vietnam as a high class and rich area, mostly living by expats from many countries with their family. My husband is also an expat (Senior Engineer) .

I have lived my life for almost 35 years. I have been in many countries around the world. I have been living in Vietnam for 3 years but!!!Tonight!!! The only night, I have had experience some awful thing for the first time in my life in Vietnam. And I would love to share this experience with you and others in this civilized world.

My family and I were sleeping quite deep and good while someone knocked on my door at late!!! Midnight!!! (12.15am). I, myself, opened the door because I saw (through the cat eye) the security of the building who I know his face very well. First of all I was being worried and thought of something bad may happened. After I opened the door I saw 5 policemen that even frightened me up. One of them told me that they wanted to check my Blue Book!!! Gosh!!! Jesus Christ!!! Can you believe that!!! At Midnight!!! If you are foreigner living in Vietnam, you have to know that the blue book is a record of the place and period of time you are currently living in Vietnam. I know for sure it is the law to have this book but I am not quite sure that they have mentioned in the law to knock every doors and have it checked at Midnight (and some other buildings at 2am and 3am).

However I took a minute to get myself back together and woke my husband up. It took us about 10 minutes to think and find the blue book with the sleepy heads while they came in our small room and waited. In the same time my little boy was being awaked and cried so hard for daddy and mommy.

Luckily we found it and handed it to them. We have everything completely right and very legal. Then they are happy. After that they told me to sign a piece of paper which I couldn’t understand the meaning because it is written in Vietnamese. Before they gone, I had to ask them the question I have had in my head since the first minute that why you came this late just to do this. They said to me “if you are foreigner living in Vietnam, you have to accept this. This is the way the police do in Vietnam with everyone and quite normal. And the police are also very tired.” Only God knows how much pity I should have for them.

May I ask you, if the same situation had happened to you and your family, how would you have felt about that? Please imagine these for fun, you and your family are good people with clean hands and have never had whatever record involving in any illegal stuff at all. The police knock right at your door in the middle of the night while you are doing whatever you are doing in your very private time at your very private place just to check your living record. How about if you have big family about 10 persons all together, and all of them have to wake up for that. How about if you have 2 or 3 babies get up and cry after that for an hour. How about if you are bad luck enough you couldn’t find the book or even have one. How about if you couldn’t speak any Vietnamese or any English and also couldn’t find any help from any one at 1 o’clock at night. I wish I could laugh about that.

You may not exactly know how to feel but I do. First, I was worried, frightened and shocked. Later, I was wonder, mad and upset. Now I am very upset, oppressive and cannot go back to bed (almost 5 am now) thinking about my civil right and trying to find the impartiality with this situation in this society.

Please be warning that this case also could happen to you at any times in Vietnam. (But I wish you not). Is there anything we could do to prevent this and protect our civil right as a civilized man. Have we done anything criminal or harmful to this country? I don’t think so. We come from a peaceful and civilized country and may be from a wealthy family. We are well educated, having a good job here and working for this country. We always go and play by laws and rules here. But they treat us without any respect like a criminal one, to conceal themselves to catch us alive.

I don’t mind at all if they come to check the blue book during the day time or even not late than 8.00pm. I would give them a very good corporate indeed because I have nothing to hide anyway at least they know how to work and where and when and with whom. But if you may ask a 5 years old boy, he will know better that checking the living record at midnight is very un- appropriate and un- necessary thing to do period.

If this is the common way and quite normal thing here, is it the time to start something new even better? Why we have to let someone have all the powers to do something like this to somebody without any concern and right adjustment at all. Now Vietnam is a well growing and fast developing country. But if they keep doing like this, somehow they will get stuck and will not be able to reach they goal for sure.

Finally, I believe that I am not only a foreigner here who has to face something like this. I would love to see our sprit after a well consider as a comment and writing support from all of you who are already be a civilized man hoping that one day we will be treat as a civil human in an appropriate way in Vietnam.