The Bazaar

 Over the past week I had noticed a growing amount of makeshift structures being built in our local park.  I wasn’t sure what was occurring, but it looked as though Le Thi Rieng was slowly transforming from a dingy, urban green space into a grimy refugee camp (or the American euphemism – a tent city).  As the shanty town grew, hordes of people began to mill about and boxes sprang open littering the surrounding area with knock-off apparel. I then realized that only one thing could be happening: a street fair.  Sure enough, the sign went up Friday announcing a week of festivities going on in the park.  On Saturday night, after work, Gavin and I headed over to scope the merchandise and take part in the revelry.  The park was crowded with people of all ages both selling and buying various incarnations of crap.  We arrived with unrefined, naïve expectations: maybe some local artists’ would be displaying their oil paintings or handmade pottery.  Albeit, this was not the place to find anything original.   

We wandered in a daze from booth to booth, examining useless plastics while suffering from sensory overload.   

For sustenance, we turned to faux-shrimp skewers and potato dumplings. Vietnamese fair food is analogous to its American counterpart in composition and flavor - greasy and generally tasteless.  We bought some items here and there. 

Gavin found toothbrush holders shaped like animal heads that are currently attached to our bathroom mirror.  I bought some wooden 3D puzzles (crocodile and human cadaver) and a stuffed animal pencil case named Metoo.  We also found some cute baby booties for friends back home.  

There were whole booths piled high with kitchen utensils , where I got a ladle and a strainer. 

Gavin bought a bag of dried, spicy squid to complement his beer intake.   

There was an overwhelming amount of underwear being sold, yet we passed on the local custom of frantic pile digging.   

 Imitation watches and sunglasses choked the aisles between the tents and on the way out, we even stopped to admire large-scale psychedelic holograms of typical awe-inspiring images: random infants, kittens, gloomy Madonna holding emaciated child, etc.   

To top off this slovenly affair, we stopped at the local KFC franchise before heading home.  I dragged Gavin in and threw him unwillingly into a booth – his stream of muttered invectives finally dammed off by a vanilla cone moonlighting as a pacifier.   

 No wonder students always tell me that KFC is their favorite food group.  There is no finer pairing than Popcorn Chicken and soft-serve ice cream.

A Day Worth Writing Home About

Gavin and I decided to escape the heat for the afternoon and head back to one of our favorite parts of Saigon: Van Thanh Park.  The park is located on an island in the heart of the city.  It is an oasis from the crowded, dusty streets.  It has a wonderful swimming pool in the center of the park, where you pay a mere 30,000 VND for all-day access.  The adjoining restaurant serves cold beer, fresh coconut juice, and iced coffee right to your poolside chairs.  We brought our Ipod and portable speaker for some entertainment along with books.  The water was cool and the slight breeze after a dip made me feel like it was winter; that is until I looked around and realized I was in my swimsuit, surrounded by palm trees.

On our way to the pool we had our first motorbike accident.  We were t-boned by a young woman as she haphazardly tried to merge into traffic.  There were two real victims of the crash: my foot, which was crunched and beat up a bit, and the poor girl who was ripped a new one by Gavin.  I'm fine now, just a bit swollen.  She is probably still crying.

Last week, we went to dinner with some friends at a chic modern restaurant called Papaya.  We had a monumental feast, both the size and quality were overwhelmingly tasty.  When we realized how close we were, we headed back to Papaya after the pool.  Gavin and I managed to wolf down the sizable meal documented below:
Papaya salad with strips of crispy pork, mint leaves, and peanuts

Lightly fried, crispy sea bass with a sweet passion fruit-citrus sauce

Tofu squares sauteed in hot chilies and lemongrass

  Spicy barbecued squid with lime garnish

It's Been a While

Due to a crazy schedule, unforeseen illnesses, impromptu doctor visits, new classes and additional working hours, Gavin and I have hardly had a second to rest our feet, let alone write a blog.  Here are some pictures to ease your mind and tempt your palette.

We had a wonderful lunch of noodle soup followed by a "bitter gourd" stuffed with ground pork.  

 Finished off with a Mango Smoothie.

A trip to the pool in Van Thanh Park to escape the heat and get a little rest and relaxation on our day off.  

Gavin showed off his tricks for the camera!

 Soft-shell turtle (Ba Ba) on a menu.  Poor little guy!

A dinner with friends including Patrick, posing here with one of the wait staff.

 Dinner included large river clams with a fresh peanut and mint sauce and a slow cooked tamarind and pork dish.

Teachers Day came on the 20th of November.  Good teachers were rewarded with roses, money and gifts.  I received several long-stemmed red roses, a new wallet, cards and 100,000 VND.  Gavin was given nothing.

A late night meet up with our friend St. Paul Joe and his Vietnamese friend Vien at the Railroad Shellfish Restaurant included a smattering of dishes.  Pictured: whole crabs slathered in tamarind sauce and deep fried shrimp.  The fried leaves on the second plate are said to cure the flu and other tropical maladies.  Unpictured: fried chicken feet and calamari rings.

A trip to the store to buy new, hideous, sheets for our bed.  Notice that a set of sheets here includes only a bottom fitted sheet, two pillow cases and a long round pillow case.  Gavin and I have gone native: we haven't used a top sheet for nearly two months!

When you get sick in a foreign country all you want is a little taste of home.  I cooked up a package of Barilla spaghetti and sauteed fresh garlic in a little olive oil.  I added some cabbage and steamed broccoli along with a jar of tomato sauce.  Sprinkled some faux-parmesan cheese on top and we almost felt like we were at Luciano's! 

Gavin posing with his students.

Mixed Seafood and Beef Pho.

Gavin finally tries a flattened squid from one of the street vendors. 

 First you pick your squid, Gavin chose a medium sized one.

Then the squid is heated and flattened again.  Finally it is shredded and served with the sauce of your choice.