Back from Vung Tau!

I got back from Vung Tau and then I was very busy! Today I get to rest a little bit after a somewhat stressful week. Things are changing at my school very quickly after some new leadership was apparently brought in, and I'm not totally sure it's all for the best. We'll see how I feel about things several months from now.

Overall, Vung Tau was pretty nice. I was VERY glad to get out of the huge sprawling city of Saigon for a bit. The countryside was quite beautiful. I really, really missed seeing things like trees, hills, and water. I went with my friends Brian and Olivia. Traveling alone can still be fun, but it's so much more satisfying to share your experiences with others. We got there by taxi, although it would have been better to go by bus. We live and learn, I suppose...

A View of Vung Tau from a Hill.

We arrived on Monday evening not long before the sun set. The city is quite striking at night, but my camera is terrible with low-light situations! I should really purchase a new one soon. We had dinner, talked, and walked around. I can't think of many things that are more relaxing after dealing with the stress of working and adapting to a new life.

The next morning, we had breakfast and went for a swim. The beach was kind of dirty, but I momentarily ignored my need for cleanliness and enjoyed the warm waters of the South China Sea. We had an interesting interaction with some locals. We sat in some beach chairs for about an hour and a half. No one was around or bothered us until the end when we were asked to pay an enormous fee for using the chairs! We left in an awkward fashion. I would have been happy to pay a bit (not the full amount!), but I forgot to in the confusion. Lesson learned for the future: Always agree on prices before using any services around here! (if you can find someone, that is)

Oh...Have I mentioned how aggressive Vietnamese cats can be about getting a bite to eat? I was of course scared for my life.

In the afternoon, we walked around a lot and did some sightseeing. We went on a cable car ride to the top of a mountain, saw an old French lighthouse, and enjoyed some inexpensive local food. Vung Tau is famous for a colossal statue of Jesus, but we ran out of time to see it. We took some pictures from a distance though.

Old French Lighthouse from 1910

There are some beautiful temples all over in Vietnam!

That's a lot of pictures for one post! The next morning, we caught a bus back to Saigon and life went on as normal. Where do I want to go next? Perhaps Phu Quoc Island? I just love tropical islands! I hear the beaches are nice and clean, I could go hiking in some tropical forests, and there's great seafood!

Vung Tau

Today I'll take a hydrofoil down to Vung Tau. It should be interesting! I'll post pictures and other things in the coming days. Finally I'll be able to see the beach. I haven't left Saigon at all since I've been in Vietnam, so I'm really looking forward to this. I'll be going with a couple of friends from my CELTA course.

Also, I'm finally moving into an apartment. Goodbye hotel living!

Before the Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival is next week. There are already sights to see this week with fewer crowds too! I took some pictures. I'm afraid that I don't know all that much about this festival. I'm too busy to write much today (compared to yesterday), so I'll just post a couple of pictures and get back to work!

Colorful butterflies!

A crowded street with many lanterns and other things for sale in Saigon's Chinatown.

Still Getting Settled In...

Apparently it's very common. Almost everyone experiences this after living abroad for a while. The culture shock! Don't get me wrong. It's still a very exciting adventure and I have no regrets! Sometimes I just feel frustrated trying to do something that was easy back home. For instance, I know where to find some decent ice cream in the US. I had access to a kitchen. If I needed help, I could ask anyone on the street and understand them easily. Here....it's not quite the same. Also, I get an overwhelming amount of attention sometimes. I stand out. I get tons of messages on Facebook. Women can be almost aggressive trying to get me to date them.

The next step is to continue making myself more comfortable. I want to get an apartment with a balcony and a kitchen. That way, I can do bring back some of my former hobbies like cooking and growing strange houseplants. Also, I strive to have a mix of Vietnamese and Western friends.

I'm still learning how to drive a motorcycle. It's gotten much easier and I can drive on a number of roads without any problems. I hope to actually buy one soon! It will cost a few hundred dollars.

Teaching....It can be interesting sometimes. Teenagers are the most difficult to handle while kids can be fun. It was incredibly terrifying at first, but it's getting easier.

I might go to Nha Trang in the near future. It's about time to head to the beach for me!