This Weekend: Mui Ne

We needed to get out of town to celebrate Gavin's birthday properly.  We thought a visit to the sun-drenched coastal strip of Mui Ne was long overdue.

We headed up early Friday morning via the train from Saigon (First Class Ticket = 150,000 VND).  We got in a few hours of sun and some much needed dips in the sea.

Neon nativity scenes...  2012 has undoubtedly been the gaudiest Christmas yet in Vietnam.

A seafood feast was in order! Each trip to Mui Ne we visit our friends Viet and Linh @ Bo Ke Ngan Sao.  Once a tiny stand near a nondescript strand of seawall, our pals now have a bustling enterprise with an additional restaurant down the road.  Tireless workers and great people, it's nice to see a lovely young couple do so well and prosper.  Look for the "Thousand Stars" sign near the Km 14.5 marker on Nguyen Dinh Chieu (the main drag in town).

Clams, oysters, scallops, calimari, and a magnificent lobster along with rice and veg.  What a feast!

Saturday Sun with none of the Drakeian melancholia...  Highlights include sunbathing and swimming in the sea, a seafood feast, a sunset walk down the Fairy Stream and dancing our pants off at Pogo while our pals from the Banana Project and Bicycle Thief sang, strummed, and beat their drums.  A perfect birthday for a perfect guy!

A blurry meal in the blaring afternoon sunshine.

Kites over Mui Ne Bay.

This Weekend...

Although I was feeling a little under the weather this weekend, we managed to make it out to a few special events this weekend.  It was my dear friend Sonya's 26th birthday, so we headed her way for a painting/pizza party where much merriment was had and art work was created.

Once our collective creativity was running low and the house was filled to the brim with revelers, we moved onwards to one of our main hangouts for late night beer drinking and crab feasting: 24G.  A stones' throw from the corner of Vo Van Tan and CMT8, this has recently become a hot-spot for the young and party-inclined, both local and expat.

Ghe Rang Me (Crab Legs Drenched in a Sweet Tamarind Sauce)

The Birthday Girl

Sunday began slowly with mango smoothies in bed and a great documentary: Bill Cunningham New York.  Around three we thought it would be best to get some fresh air and visit some friends.  We first indulged in huge, steaming bowls of authentic ramen @ Osaka Ramen - 19 Thai Van Lung, Q.1.

After the late lunch we road-tripped out to the wilds of District 8.

There we enjoyed another quintessential Saigon sunset with coconut, mango slices, and fresh jackfruit along the Saigon River (specifically at Tree 1302).

To continue the birthday spirit, we made a gluttonous return to Fanny's @ 29-31 Ton That Thiep St, Q.1.  The Big Share was consumed with 10 of our pals and between our hunger and the heat the 20 scoops of ice cream went quickly!

The Big Share - 20 scoops of ice cream

Eschewing tradition, ice cream was simply an appetizer and some of us continued onwards to a barbecue feed @ the ever-popular Luong Son Quan - Beer Garden and Barbecue - 31 Ly Tu Trong, Q.1.

Famous for Bo Tung Xeo (a tender grilled beef dish), intrepid diners can sample such delights as steamed goat penis (see below).

Ech Chein Bo (Meaty Frog Legs Battered in Tempura)

Grilled Chicken during Bird-Flu Season

Vegetarian Curry with Tofu, Okra, Potatoes, and Carrots

February Love

My 27th Birthday.

 Birthday lunch @ Hana Mizuki (15A5 Le Thanh Ton, D.1)

Sake Don

Black Sesame and Almond Crunch Meiji Ice Cream

 An outpouring of birthday love from work and friends...

Warm carrot & lentil soup enjoyed in my new mug from Bangkok.

 Lots of birthday celebrations.

A gift of steaming hot bowls of Bun Bo Hue from our landlord.

Valentine's from my new 1st grade classes.

Oh and did I mention... HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! Sure wish you were here to celebrate with an iced beer!  I love you!