THE UPDATE

How on earth do I begin to summarise the 3 months since I last updated this blog? And not breakdown doing it? To be honest I’ve been avoiding doing this update as putting it up here makes it so… official. However on Saturday night at a club I got recognised from my twitter account and this blog… so I figured it was time to set the record set.

Firstly, soon after I was released from hospital I flew to HK to visit my Fiancé for the weekend. I returned on the Sunday night.... single.... after discovering that he had been leaving with a French girl. That pretty much sums up that situation.

Since that time, he has returned to VN, only to discover that I had started dating his friend/arch rival already. In hindsight, probably not the smartest idea in the world. At the time though, I believed that ‘fate’ had delivered me an amazing guy and the previous Nigerian footballer had just been a training run. Turns out that was not the case and after a couple of months the new guy decided he liked his previous Vietnamese girlfriend better. Leaving me to deal with not only being single in Saigon but now being outcast from ‘da boys’ I once considered my other family. I can't say I handled the whole the brilliantly, and hence the it is mostly my fault that even after the relationships ended the friendships did also. No doubt years from now, the boys will all be good friends again and look back laughing at that aussie girl who got in the middle of them.

For me, it’s certainly made life a bit different in Vietnam and not always in a good way. I guess in a way I kind of had two different worlds here – my expat-style advertising life and my down to earth fun life with the footballers. The only times they crossed over were about 4am in Go2 Bar. I liked that and I enjoyed my time getting to know that world. I learnt a lot about Nigerian culture, food and people and also became more spiritually aligned as I was introduced to alternative forms of Christianity. I also had a lot of fun with them and of course… experienced great love. Twice over.I was also inspired, at least by the short and sweet romance to learn Vietnamese and get fit again. Heartbreak is also great for dropping the kilos so I’ve discovered – along with crazy diet pills.

Thankfully I have also had a fantastic work crew and company which has kept me going and made things not only bearable but entertaining and fun too. I’ve also been fortunate enough to score a new position which has meant a lot more responsibility and the opportunity to build my dream team. My first task was bringing over my old account manager from Oz, and she arrive at the end of May. It was worth the wait and she’s been a god send to me and the agency. I’m incredibly grateful to work at such an awesome company, with cool people on great clients.

That pretty much brings things up to date. I will try to update again soon with some more recent pictures and less dramatic (hopefully) news.

Photo montage for this post is a tribute to my favourite boys and a reminder of the good times I enjoyed with them. They'll probably hate me posting these online - but this blog is my story and this is a chapter of my life in Vietnam that I'm proud to say I lived, and loved, and learnt from.

Lonely & Apollo after his brief visit 'home' to Saigon from HK.

Apollo & the coolest dude in Saigon.

My HK boys saying goodbye to me at the airport.

The HKFA brigade. 3 Gorgeous boys.

Posers... but so hot.

My 'brother' Lonely, Mikey Mike and I clubbing in Saigon.

These 3 look like actual brothers, not just bros. Lonely, Samson & Uwanaka in Saigon.

The best dressed man in Vietnam. The infamous Foreign Nigger.

The Devil in White. Beautiful.

So many snuggle shots to remember - but I love this one.

The boys enjoy Nigerian Chicken Stew at my place. Such a great day.

So many sweet innocent soccer players on this page, this one aint one of them. I admit it. I like bad boys.

Another favourite shot - Lonely & The Devil on my sofa. Looking so happy.

Foreign Nigger & Lonley watching the game in Tay Ninh.

The final word. The one I'll miss the most.

CLIENT LOYALTY

For someone who has been in Advertising now for almost 12 years, I tend to be quite loyal to my client's products. I still buy Bond's and Berlei bra's over other brands and keep a keen eye on any news relating too RSVP. Since working in Saigon, I've been working on a huge beverage brand... so that one is pretty easy to stay loyal too. My other client however is a large French-Vietnamese Hospital. It's a new account for us and a product that is quite difficult to get your head around. I've done the hospital tour, read all the brochures, met the doctors, sat in the lobby... but nothing is comparable to being a patient yourself. Which, unfortunately I ended up being this last week.

A couple of weeks ago I had a pretty bad flu. After a late night meeting I got home to find I had a fever of over 39 degrees. By the next morning I was in full flu mode. A couple of days later I went and saw a Doctor at the Hospital who said it was most likely just an annual flu and got some tests done... went home and laid low. A few days later, as predicted, I was feeling better and headed back to work. More late nights and within 48 hours I was back in bed with another fever, headaches, vomit ting and the works. This time twice as bad. I headed back to the doctor for my follow up appointment... he took one look at me and admitted me to the ward. They couldn't ever quite diagnose what the problem was. Just some kind of virus/flu/infection. I was put on an IV drip, Anti-biotics and Painkillers etc. The hospital itself was great. The rooms are nice, food (not that I could eat it) looked ok and it's run very well. Unfortunately they only had a shared room available and I just couldn't stand it. Especially when the 'relatives' were going to sleep the night in the same room. I got moved to another double room with no 2nd person and that was better. On the third day, I had to share again... this time with an old lady halfway into the next life... and I lost the plot. I insisted I would be better off at home in my own lovely apartment and after much who haa with the doctors was allowed to leave.

So, now I feel fully immersed in my clients brand and product. I feel I truly understand them from a consumers point of view and some of the challenges they encounter. Although ending up in Hospital... in Vietnam... is by no means fun... it was an experience that I feel I have learned from. So it's not all bad.

The biggest lesson of all was that I really need my future Husband here with me. It was awful being alone and so sick and him not even being able to come and visit me. As his season is almost over we are in the process of trying to get him a visa to come back to VN. Not an easy task at the moment. Please say a little prayer for us when you have a moment. We need all the help we can get.

I have had another full week off work and arrived back yesterday morning to chaos. My test results are still not all clear and I am heading back to the Hospital again this afternoon to get more done. I have parked my bike for a while as I am worried about inhaling all the Saigon germy air whilst my immune system is still recovering. The next few weeks I will be keeping very quiet and attempting to get back to the strong, healthy Aussie girl who arrived here almost 1 year ago.

BIKEY BIKE GO DOWN

It was bound to happen at some point... my first accident on my bike.  Thank the lord it was relatively minor and right outside my apartment building.

It was late, around 9pm and I was coming home from work after another long day.  I turned left into my apartment building driveway and two kids on a big bicycle came up the inside of me...on the wrong side of the road of course...and with no lighting/helmets.   The bike was far too big for them... as is normal here and they couldn't stop in time and hence crashed straight into me.

Bike went down... I went with it.   

Luckily I wasn't going very fast and the bike simply fell over sideways... not a big skid or anything.    I pretty much fell on top of the two kids on the bike but they weren't hurt.  I was more bruised from landing on their bike than anything else.   I jumped up and the security guards from my building came racing out and once they saw the kids (and I) were ok... they started yelling at them.  They promptly got on their bike (which was just a bit wobbly) and rode away.  If the guards hadn't been there I am sure they would have wanted money.. but whatever the guards yelled at them in Vietnamese made them run for their life.

They helped me up, checked my bike, which just had a few scratches and my broken mirror and I went on my way with them surrounding me coo'ing "Khong Sao Madame... Khong Sao" (it will be ok).

I got my bike fixed over the weekend and my grazing was pretty minor.  The bruises are damn impressive... massive big blue/yellow/green stunners.   I was pretty sore over the weekend but I am ok now.  Quite proud of my war wounds and very grateful that I am alive to tell this story.

Just another day in Viet Nam.

CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES, COME ON, LET'S CELEBRATE!

So many celebrations... so little energy left.

Well the last month in Saigon has been even more exciting and eventful and seems to have really hit a high! My head is in the clouds and it's been lovely.

Work has been frantic, but with great rewards and overall very enjoyable. Leah came over to Vietnam for Christmas to visit her man. Christmas here is just bizarre. Depending on what your definition of Christmas "Spirit" is... it could be good or bad. For me, Christmas is about not so much about fairy lights and tinsel, although I love all of that too. It's more about giving back, to family and friends. Reflecting on the year that has past and sharing the love. It's not even about presents, it's about people coming together and enjoying each other's company. it

's about celebrating and being grateful to God. As a Christian, it has deeper meaning... but overall it's a spiritual time.

The streets of Saigon were beautiful, billions of fairy lights, masses of tinsel, every hotel, shop, business decorated to the max. There were trees and snowmen and every little kid seemed to have a santa suit. It was the most "Christmasy" place I have ever seen. There was however, in my humble opinion, no spirit. It's great that vietnamese love the chintz and glintz that is Christmas - but all the things that mean "Christmas" to me, for them, are saved for Tet (Lunar New Year). This is when they travel home to visit their family to celebrate the new year. All the meaning and feeling is saved for that. Christmas in Vietnam is nothing more than material. It's bling bling bling, but with nothing underneath. It wasn't Christmas for me.

My darling boy was meant to come and visit for Christmas but unfortunately could not make it. Instead, I booked a ticket to fly to HK to see him on New Year's Day. As the flight left at 6am it meant NYE was fun, but low key. Just celebrating with Leah and Nelson at a great spanish restaurant with a live band. Very nice.

The trip to Hong Kong turned out to be one I will never forget. Of course, it is always wonderful to see my man, but this time was extra special. Unfortunately I was so busy that I spent almost the whole long weekend working - and I am serious, I worked from 9am to 9pm almost everyday I was there. My darling mr Apollo did however manage to sneak me out for a casual dinner on the Saturday night. It was all a decoy however for what he really had planned... a

proposal.

So I left Hong Kong with a gorgeous ruby and diamond ring on my 4th finger and thrilled that I am soon to be his wife. I am humbled and honoured to be his girl.

Returning to Saigon there was much celebrating about the engagement, followed by my birthday the following Friday. I have to say it was one of the best weeks of my life. Despite working insane hours, it's been fantastic.

As they say... a picture says a thousand words so I will let the pictures tell the story...

Leah and I, ready to end the year on a high.

Whistles are fun.

Two Aussies and a naughty Nigerian.

Back in Hong Kong with my man

The moment after THE moment

The stunning ring. Pink ruby and diamond band

The lovely cake the crew at work organise for me. So sweet.

Loving the pornstar earring that Hai gave me for my birthday. The tiara stayed on all night.

My mate Mike.

The gorgeous Hai... my dancing King.

Henieken is fun.

But this was what really deserved celebration. :)

SLOSHED IN SAIGON

OK,  not much really to update. It's been 6 and a half months now and all seems to be travelling well.    The best thing has been now riding my motobike.   I am loving it.   I zoom into work everyday and can easily pop in and have dinner somewhere on my way home.  I tend to stick to places that I know I can park at for free and where someone parks my bike for me (high gutters are still my enemy).

My darling boy and I are still going strong long distance.  I have been to HK twice now and he just came back to Saigon this last weekend.  We hope to be together for Christmas or New Years too.

Most of my life here is taken up with work as the role and agency is rather challenging.  When not at work I am either recovering or partying.   I'm made some lovely friends here but unfortunately they seem to be mostly male (not that I am really complaining). I am now on a mission to try and find more female friends!

Of course I still miss my doggy and my family.  I've never not had a pet so I get bad fluffy animal cravings and nothing can replace my suki dog.   I would love to go home in the next few months but I want to bring my man with me so we are waiting to see what happens.

My Vietnamese is not really improving.  I learn a word or two here and there but really want to get some formal lessons now and sort it out.    I know enough to get by are rarely find myself stuck in a pickle.  My vocabulary tends to now involve my bike.  I recently learnt the words "RuaXe" for "Bike Wash" but have not actually got around to washing the bike!

Anyway, here's some photos of fun times over the last few months in Saigon.   Looking at these makes me want to detox!

At Lush - where I met my man, almost 6 months to the day.

With my dancing king Hai who works with me.

Having a nice dinner and bottle of wine at Vasco's to celebrate Apollo's return.

Roadside Romance - a sweet gesture from Apollo on our way home.

The most lethal beer in Vietnam.  BA BA BA (333)

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At Rio Saigon with a strang mix of Aussie & Vietnamese friends

Leah, in town to visit her man (Apollo's friend)

Advertising guru does promo girl pose

Hanky Panky in HK

Well, my it's been over a month since my beautiful man left me for a team of soccer players in HK. Last weekend I went over to see him and gosh, I have to say it was VERY nice to be back in a cosmopolitan 1st world city.

I actually got a tad homesick as they drive on the correct side of the road (same as Oz), the roads and signs look similar and it has the same kind of 'feeling' as Sydney. Well... at least more like Sydney than Saigon.

I've been a little sad since I got back, not only missing my darling but also just back in the chaos and crazyiness that is Saigon. I had almost forgotten how challenging living here is after being able to jump on a train in HK or walk down the street without having to think about where you are stepping. It made me really appreciate the little things I miss and made me so very conscious of the less the pleasant side of living in Vietnam.

Although things have been getting easier over the last 5 months, it's still hard. I can now ride my motorbike pretty well. I even rode it into District 1 by myself a couple of weeks ago to meet friends for dinner. I picked the worst possible time tho... a Sunday night... thinking it would be quiet... but NO... I'd forgotten that EVERY couple in Saigon rides into District 1 on a Sunday night to do just that... ride around... and sit in parks and cuddle. Then it started to rain. I was proud of myself for doing it but wouldn't be rushing to repeat the experience.

Things have fallen into a pretty steady routine now. Each morning I get my skim latte at GJ's still, they order a Taxi for me, I get to work... get a Taxi home, usually order in or eat by myself at Cafe Terrace. A couple of times a week I catch up with friends for dinner or go shopping (which I still HATE here), weekends fly by and then it's Monday again before you know it. Every day is hot, most days with rain. You never have to check the weather here... it's either going to be hot and wet or hot and dry. Usually a combination of the two.

One thing I LOVED in HK was shopping! Such a cliche I know... but it felt so good to buy things off the rack.. that fit my size 14 figure, and not be told how "very fat" I am... and not have to bargain... and pay with a credit card. Aghhhh. I never knew how good that would feel until I couldn't do it anymore. I shopped up a storm on clothes so at least I have some new things to wear to make life seem a little less groundhog day.

Anyway, I'm heading back over to Honkers in late October to once again watch my love play football. I've even secretly been studying the rules of the game so I at least understand why they are all running around and who's doing what.

So here's a snapshot or two from the wonderful world that is Hong Kong:

I love this photo. This is my man. Doing what he does... and getting paid for it. I'm so proud of him.

Together again... It was great to hang out and just 'be together' again.

Maccas... I thought I missed it more than I actually did. It wasn't THAT good when I finally got it.

My new favourite shop... H&M. Clothes were funky, comfy and FIT. Nice prices too.

Yes... I did a lot of credit card signing! But hey... it was nice to be able to for a change.

A few (too many) cocktails were drunk...

But in the end... this was all I was there for. :)

ZOOM ZOOM

Sorry. Really am bad at updating this.

Ok. So... Lots has happened in the last month or so. My darling boy got a contract with a team in Hong Kong so has gone over there. We will be going back and forth regularly to see each other and we have both committed to making it work in the meantime.

It's been very odd not having him around. I have pretty much reverted back to being the 'expat' I was when I arrived. Eating a lot at Cafe Terrace and catching taxi's everywhere. No more commuting to work on the back of a motobike or nightly dinners at Ben Thanh markets.

I still try to go out with friends etc but it's different again now. It's like being single... without being single. I'm not complaining though - I'm happy he's part of my life still so just have to deal with Taxi's.

Remember that shot of me riding the Yamaha Nouvo? Well luckily I had some lessons because now it's just me and my bike. I could only ride it around the carpark at first - and even then I sucked. A friend of my man's got it fixed for me so it accelerates better and now I can zoom around Phu My Hung. I still can't really take it on my roads - I tried - it wasn't pretty. My aim is to get good enough and confident enough that I can ride into work and back - but slowly does it. There is no rush and my original plan was always to just ride around expatville so I am proud that I can do that. :)

Here's some photos of fun and game is Saigon over the last month or so...

The lovely Leah came to visit... and will be returning again soon.

We kicked the boys butts at Pool at the 'pub' in PMH called "the Tavern"

I tasted African food - and was pleasantly surprised. Especially the weird banana thing. Not sold on 'goats head' though.

This is what you do when the Agency loses power for the afternoon - sit on teeny weeny stools and drink "Caphe Sua Da" on the street.

Getting sad in the days leading up to "Operation HK"

At the airport saying goodbye - but not for long!

Drinking Pina Colada cocktails at the Caravelle.

Hanging out with friends, partying it up in Saigon.

Back down to earth again - Photo shoot, Vietnam style. :)

ADLAND IN VIETNAM

Adland is Adland. No matter where it is.

I'm sure it's the same the world over. It rarely changes... same shit.. different view out the window.

Sometimes at work, I can easily forget I am even in a Vietnam. It's the same processes, the same challenges and the same rush of excitement when something goes well. Same deadlines. Same Same.

My brother said to me when I was looking at this role "what do you know about advertising to Vietnamese" - well.... I know a lot more now than when i started here and obviously their are some cultural differences but really... it's not that different at the core. We have some completely local clients, who hold meetings in vietnamese and I get translated too.. but most big brands are in English.

Of course, being a communist country you need to be extra sensitive. The Vietnamese are also a unique race, however I am lucky enough to have had great interest in them and therefore have a better understanding than most expats here. I always joke that I was vietnamese in a past life... but you know... I think it might be true. I really have a strange connection with these people, their food, the weather, everything. Given that I was born in 1978 when a lot of Saigonese were fleeing their countries for a better life in Australia and other countries... and never made it... you have to think twice about the possibility?

Anyway, Vietnamese past life or not... I'm an Aussie girl trying to get my head around this market and attempt to break the rules.. just a little... in this world of ultra safe cheesy advertising. This will depend how brave our clients are and so far so good.

I've been blessed with a brilliant, smart (arse), account manager who I refer to as 'star' and after a few teething problems the new team are coming together well and we are starting to feel like a real agency. More recruits joining every day and I've had the pleasure of hand picking my team. The agency culture itself is the perfect combination of ideas and creativity driven but results are why we are here. It's not arrogantly creative at the expense of the clients. It's run by smart, innovative people who also know how to have fun. Who could ask for more?

Meetings and daily correspondence between the two offices (Cambodia and Here) are Skype based and it actually all works pretty well. Thank god for technology.

We even moved into our new home which was custom built on top of a sports centre. Quite odd, especially given I am dating a footballer, that the view out my window is of a soccer field. I can't escape it. No matter how hard I try. Thought you'd like to see some abstract pictures we took of the new joint.

Me contemplating the culture - or trying not to look out the window. Could be either.

Funky red lights... how very Adland!
Some crazy team members. Good looking to boot!

We took the roof... and made an agency... quite clever really.

My american mate at his best... thinking hard and grooving to the beats he provides for the agency.

We are getting stools for this table but I like the TV!

My Star.

A nice place to sit and have lunch... delivered... from the cafe next door. NICE!

SAIGON SUNDAYS

Wow. I'm really bad at updating this blog aren't I? Well, I still don't have my camera fixed but I took some photos on my phone over the last couple of weekends to show you some of the fun we get up too here in Saigon on Sundays.

It's rainy season here at the moment so we have been getting totally drenched on the moto-bike. We've been renting a bike on weekends but now have one for the month. It's not very sexy but it's got bigger wheels that the little scooters so it's easier for me to learn to ride on.

Weekends have fallen into a nice routine now. They usually involve going out on Friday night, either to a big party or club or just dinner and beers with mates. Saturday morning is spent going out for breakfast somewhere locally and then at home chilling out whilst my boy watches his beloved wrestling (not my thing).

Afternoons are filled with shopping or working out or catching up with friends. On Saturday just passed we went and watched a football (soccer) game and then had dinner at a VERY local, foreigner un-friendly place afterwards - but boy it was fun! hehehe. The boys knew just enough English to get us by and it was so nice to not do the expat thing.

Sundays are spent at church. English Mass is at the ungodly hour of 9.30 and in the city at Notre Dame cathedral. There is an amazingly eclectic congregation. Lots of tourists and Filipinos and Africans and Westerners. I find it all fascinating. Afterwards we usually hang out in town and get a massage or shop or just chill out. It's a nice time to just reflect etc.

In the afternoons I've been doing my bike riding lessons. I am really crap... but I get better and better each time which is good. I can't wait to have the freedom to buzz around on my bike. It's bloody dangerous but I will try and be careful and I can't live my life being afraid of things like Vietnam traffic or I'll never survive here.

Sunday nights... of course... as per my usual routine - are spent at home. Preparing mentally and physically for the week ahead. Because come Monday morning.... Its ON!

Anyway, here's the photos as promised. Unfortunately I was the one behind the camera most of the time so you'll just have to look at this hot man instead! (bummer!)

Melting in the sun outside Notre Dame after church.

Touristy shot of us outside Notre Dame Cathedral.

My very own personal Xe Om (Moto Taxi) driver - and the best instructor ever!

Yes. That is me. Riding a motorbike - with NO helmet!

Safer this way I think... just using it as a seat. :)

The good natured one being hassled to buy chewing gum outside Ben Thanh Markets after our shopping excursion.

Some of us spend Sundays getting hot and sweaty in my gym....

Some of us get cool in the pool!

A nice romantic dinner at home... the perfect Sunday evening.

Made more perfect by forcing a half naked man to do the washing up!

Aghhhh. Bring on the next weekend I say.

EXPECTATIONS

Well, I guess it's time to update you all on some news that is really making a significant impact on the way I am experiencing life in Vietnam.

Before I begin, we need to first go back 4 years ago. This was when I first came to Vietnam. It was a trip with my Mum and whilst I was here I met with a few agencies. One of them was run by a great woman who is very straight down the line. She told me then that although she thought my skills and experience where great... she didn't think I would be happy in Vietnam. One of her hiring policies was to not bring single women from 1st world countries as they tended to not last. Just told me straight up that "Vietnamese men only want to date Vietnamese girls and Western Men, only want to date Vietnamese girls, and pretty much every single/divorced or even married man here... wants a Vietnamese girlfriend." Her advice to me then was that as a 26 year old single girl, Saigon was not the town for me.

This really affected me and was a big reason why I hadn't moved to Saigon earlier. I always hoped that I would meet someone and then move over as part of a couple. That didn't happen but by the time this opportunity arose again earlier this year I was pretty anti-men after a string of pretty screwed up relationships. I think my friends and family would agree that I am a bit of a loser magnet when it comes to my choice in the opposite sex. So being single and heading to Saigon this time around didn't really bother me... in fact I wanted to revel in my singledom and do this 'on my own'.

So upon arriving here almost 5 weeks ago now, I had strong expectations of what 'single life' in Saigon would be like. I'd found quite a bit of mischief to get into when I was here for my interview and came with a fully open mind... as long as it didn't involve anything too serious. After all, I wanted to do this 'on my own' and not have life complicated by man problems. The first weekend I was here I was doing a lot of thinking about the past men in my life and felt an overwhelming sense of dissapointment. I am yet to find someone who actually lives up to their promises.

2 weeks into being here, I went clubbing with a friend of mine from work. An American guy who I hang out with a bit. He's cool. We were looking for some mischief but hadn't found much so were just hanging out in the back garden of one of the clubs. Sussing the scene, perving, as you do in a nightclub. Suddenly this group of people walk out the back. Two black guys and two white girls. Good looking guys and pretty ordinary looking girls. I was feeling cheeky so decided to smile at the better looking guy and was surprised to see he smiled back. I won't go into the details... but let's just say I left with his phone number and it went from there.

So my last 3 weeks in Saigon have been anything but 'solo'. I've had the pleasure of discovering this crazy town with my own personal tour guide - who just happens to be a hot looking Nigerian soccer player. We have been renting a moto-bike on the weekends and burning around town. It's been so much fun. At first I tried to resist it all as I was determined to do this on my own, but eventually I gave in and just let life take me on this slightly different path. Now I can't imagine how boring it would be in this city all by myself. I managed to make some great friends through work but now I also have my own wonderful life outside of it. I've always hated eating alone, and now I have someone smart and funny and chatty to eat with. We discover all the restaurants and bars and cafes together. He's a great guy and most of all fun to be with so we can still be silly and do things like going bowling with friends, or mucking around in my pool or even staying home and watching cartoons. I've never grown up so it's great to have another 'kid' to hang out with (even though he is older than me). The fact that we are both besotted is kind of nice too. Saigon is so romantic, pretty lights, soft breezes, love songs... it's very easy to get wrapped up in it. Sometimes I feel a bit like I am in a UN conference... I am learning about not only Vietnam, but Cambodia, New York, San Fran, China, Manilla and now Nigeria. Being Australia suddenly seems so... simple.

He gave me my first scooter lesson on Sunday. I sucked. I can't balance it right. I really want to get my own bike to buzz around Phu My Hung. Not sure I would venture into the centre of town on it for a while but it's such an integral part of life in Vietnam I really need to embrace it. Yes... I know what you are thinking... it is dangerous... but so are taxi's... and crossing the street... and drinking the water. Right now I am just enjoying wrapping myself around my new man as he negotiates the traffic and let's me enjoy the sights and sounds of Saigon. Sigh. I'm certainly not complaining.

Ok, I'll stop raving about how great he is now. Certainly life in Saigon is now completely different to what I had planned. I rarely have a night alone and any 'fears' I have are quickly alleviated. I did get quite homesick on Saturday night after talking to my friend on a video call online, but by the end of the weekend I was feeling better. I got a new little friend to sit on my desk at work. Meet "Sydney" the Kangaroo and her joey "Yass". Check out the crazy caramel flavoured mints too... Cara Mints! Sorry.. my camera is still not well so this has been taken with my phone. I will be sure to sort that out soon so that I can update you all on some piccies.