Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Vietnam Overview
I'm not sure it really comes across in the journal, but our trip to Vietnam was absolutely wonderful. I couldn't have expected any of what happened there, even though James had planned much of it out.
It is hard not to start talking about the trip without beginning it with the negative sides of the country though. There is a heavy weight on the people there, and you never stop feeling it. Tourists are treated with a kid glove attempt at people handling that separates you from the reason you came in the first place, to get into the culture and get to know people. As a tourist you are also preyed upon heavily and taken advantage of, more so than other places I've been to. Other countries are taking advantage of Vietnam because it is so desperate in some ways and you can see it along every road, giant factory after factory of loose law and cheap labor. You can see it in the countryside where the wildlife no longer exists because of poaching and habitat destruction. I've never been to an outdoor environment so devoid of wildlife. Cities usually have more wildlife than I saw in the forests. Everything is very very dirty, garbage in every place.
There of course is A LOT of good and people keep clean and are always sweeping away debri. For instance, as a tourist, your dollar goes a long long way in Vietnam. That is a good initial attraction. Many of the tourists we met were there because Vietnam is so affordable. You get to meet lots of people from many parts of the world and everyone was awesome. Also, if you like Obama, be prepared to hear how much everyone else in the world likes Obama. The people who live in Vietnam are awesome. Even though plenty was lost in translation because I don't know any Vietnamese you can tell. They are tough, hard working, and funny. Though there is always an air of caution, and like I said a weight over it all, because life can be very hard there and the govenrment is interesting. I know it is out of necesity, but exploring the towns and looking at how inventive people have been with the limited resources is really cool. I've never seen so many practical and varied uses for bamboo before. Vietnam is incredibly beautiful in stunning ways. The terrain is diverse and has enormous history. I loved Ha Long Bay, even though I had to eat so many french fries. Though the wildlife was starkly absent, there are domestic animals everywhere adding livliness. Plus... The food is really fresh. I ate some of the most delicious dishes I've ever had there for less than a dollar.
If you can afford the plane trip over, you should go to Vietnam. It is fantastic. Don't spend more than two days in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh though, it's cool, but the rest of the country eclipses it.
It is hard not to start talking about the trip without beginning it with the negative sides of the country though. There is a heavy weight on the people there, and you never stop feeling it. Tourists are treated with a kid glove attempt at people handling that separates you from the reason you came in the first place, to get into the culture and get to know people. As a tourist you are also preyed upon heavily and taken advantage of, more so than other places I've been to. Other countries are taking advantage of Vietnam because it is so desperate in some ways and you can see it along every road, giant factory after factory of loose law and cheap labor. You can see it in the countryside where the wildlife no longer exists because of poaching and habitat destruction. I've never been to an outdoor environment so devoid of wildlife. Cities usually have more wildlife than I saw in the forests. Everything is very very dirty, garbage in every place.
There of course is A LOT of good and people keep clean and are always sweeping away debri. For instance, as a tourist, your dollar goes a long long way in Vietnam. That is a good initial attraction. Many of the tourists we met were there because Vietnam is so affordable. You get to meet lots of people from many parts of the world and everyone was awesome. Also, if you like Obama, be prepared to hear how much everyone else in the world likes Obama. The people who live in Vietnam are awesome. Even though plenty was lost in translation because I don't know any Vietnamese you can tell. They are tough, hard working, and funny. Though there is always an air of caution, and like I said a weight over it all, because life can be very hard there and the govenrment is interesting. I know it is out of necesity, but exploring the towns and looking at how inventive people have been with the limited resources is really cool. I've never seen so many practical and varied uses for bamboo before. Vietnam is incredibly beautiful in stunning ways. The terrain is diverse and has enormous history. I loved Ha Long Bay, even though I had to eat so many french fries. Though the wildlife was starkly absent, there are domestic animals everywhere adding livliness. Plus... The food is really fresh. I ate some of the most delicious dishes I've ever had there for less than a dollar.
If you can afford the plane trip over, you should go to Vietnam. It is fantastic. Don't spend more than two days in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh though, it's cool, but the rest of the country eclipses it.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Vietnam Journal 1
So I didn't get as much drawing or writing done as I'd intended, but I'm posting what I did get in batches. Here's the start of the trip and an extra page from earlier in Seattle.
Vietnam Photo Album
We are back!
I wrote a journal that I'll try to have scanned in later. I did a little drawing, but...don't get your hopes up!
Here is the photo album.
I wrote a journal that I'll try to have scanned in later. I did a little drawing, but...don't get your hopes up!
Here is the photo album.
 |
| Vietnam 2008 |
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Vietnam Trip
Starting today I will be away for a couple of weeks(back on the 27th). I wouldn't expect any activity here, but I may find an opportunity to post an update. James and I are traveling to Vietnam and I'm going to try my hardest to draw the trip. So when I get back there should be a bunch of art(provided I'm not a bum about it).
I'm very excited!...
Did I mention I'm scared to death of flying? Ruh-roh.
I'm very excited!...
Did I mention I'm scared to death of flying? Ruh-roh.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Random Recipe
Sooo... Several weeks ago we bought some fresh beets. I decided to cook them today, but the greens that I would have used for salad were beyond floppy. They weren't rotting or anything yet so I couldn't throw them out. I decided to try cooking them in a pan and the random recipe I made up actually worked out to be very very tasty! It brings out the sweetness with the awesome contrast of bacon! My Southern side is showing... :)
Beet Greens
Ingredients:
Washed greens from 3 large beets (this is a great recipe for wilting greens, you could probably use it for collard greens and other tough stemy veggies too)
2 tbs Butter
2 tbs Olive Oil
3 tbs Precooked Ground Bacon
Salt
Black Pepper
Cut beet greens into 1in pieces, stems and all.
Heat butter on medium high heat until melted and bubbling.
Stir in beet greens. Keep moving greens around in pan so they don't burn. ( I will let them rest in a pile, then stir and turn them, then pile them up again)
When butter is absorbed add olive oil and bacon.
Cooking time is about 10 minutes or until stems are tender.
Add salt and black pepper to taste.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
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