THE TOP TEN

After watching so much Letterman lately I thought it was about time I did a 'Top Ten' things I love about living in Vietnam.

Here goes...

MY TOP TEN THINGS I LOVE
ABOUT LIVING IN VIETNAM

NUMBER 10. FOOD. GLORIOUS FOOD.

Fresh, Flavoursome and Fabulous! The food in Vietnam is just amazing. I personally could eat Vietnamese food 3 times a day for a week with not a worry. I just love it. The best part of my time here has been spent trying strange new foods and trying to figure out what animal/plant they came from. My favourite so far is Bot Chien which is fried rice flour cake with egg. Serves with a salty sauce on Papaya. It is the VN equivalent of fries I guess... street snack food. It's SOOO good.... and so bad. I put on 13 kilos in my first year in Vietnam. I've lost 10 of those now but still can't resist a 4pm hit of Bot Chien if the staff order it. O... and that's the other thing. Food is delivered... all food. Sushi, Burgers, KFC, Salad. Just about every restaurant offers free delivery and thanks to Motobikes it's delivered hot and fresh within minutes. Last but not least - the site of a fresh cut dragon fruit still amazes me. What a beautiful sight.. the hot pink shaped skin and the white flesh with black seeds. Is it food? or Art? God was feeling creative that day.

NUMBER 9. NAUGHTY NIGHTLIFE

Some hate it but I love it. The party scene in Saigon is best described as 'Random' in my opinion. You just never know what to expect and there is something for EVERYONE - as long as you have an open mind and the right attitude. So many expats complain about the nightlife here but I have had many more fun nights out here than I ever have in Sydney or elsewhere. It's not about posing or 'being seen on the scene' - there are the same crowds at the clubs every weekend. I love the tackiness, the mixed crowd, the relaxed attitude. I love that the music can switch from Akon to Abba. I love that I can go to lunch in cargos and flip flops and end up in a club at 2am wearing the same thing and no one cares. I feel like I'm on holidays here and can be dancing with backpackers and CEO's and expats and locals all at once. It brings out the naughty in me...not that it takes much to do that. It's random... and that's why I love it.

NUMBER 8. PRETTY PRETTY EVERYWHERE

From silk lanterns to intricate decorations on my cocktail - the Vietnamese are skilled and artful and have a knack for pretty things. It's a girls dream. Pretty jewellery, Pretty bags, Pretty nails, Pretty motobikes, Pretty everything. So often I am amazed at how pretty and beautiful the smallest details are. From the chopstick handles to the way they package my lunch. I've never been a really girly girl but it's easy to feel feminine and pretty here when wearing dangly earrings, holding my silk fan and strutting in my customised pink heels. All made and bought in Vietnam.

NUMBER 7. SMILES MAKE ME SMILE

My first advice to anyone travelling to Vietnam is "Smile. You'll be amazed at how many you get back.". No matter how bad a day I am having or how frustrated I am here - I find that if I just smile then everyone around me does the same. As a rule, Vietnamese LOVE to smile. Big smiles. Real smiles. Infectious smiles that make me smile back. What a fantastic way to live. Surrounded by smiles.

NUMBER 6. MY SANCTUARY IN SAIGON SOUTH

Some might think living in the clean, prestigious area of Phu My Hung is a cop out - I don't. I call it my Sanctuary. There are weekends when I don't even leave it. Whenever I drag my expat friends "all the way" out there they love it. Yes - it's 30 minutes in peak hour traffic from the centre of town (10 minutes at night or 20 minutes on a bike) but it's worth every minute. With parks such as this opposite my building, clean water, fresh air and generally 3 degrees cooler than the rest of the city - I ain't complaining. I also love that people in PMH are generally relaxed and happy. From the security guards to the lovers who kiss and cuddle by the river. I can't wait to go home to PMH and I appreciate it more everyday.

NUMBER 5. DA BOYS

This one is a given considering I have just started my latest attempt at dating a Nigerian footballer in Vietnam. Call me crazy (I may just be) but I decided at some point that I'd rather go for 3rd time lucky than live with the regret of passing up the above opportunity. So far no regrets. I get to experience not only living in my favourite Asian country but also get to learn about a vastly different culture. I am genuinely falling in love with West African culture now - from the spicy as hell food eaten by hand to the smooth grooves of P Square. I feel honoured and proud to call these guys my friends and I am grateful to God that he has given me my man.

NUMBER 4. CUP OF CAPHE SUA DA

I like my coffee the same way I like my men so it's appropriate that this comes next. Strong, Sweet and Intense. Caphe Sua Da is no ordinary coffee. It makes a skim latte look like a joke. For me, Caphe Sua Da represents everything I love about Vietnam. It's so concentrated and overwhelming that it has the ability to tip you from being intoxicating high on life to agitated with just the smallest overdose. Served warm it's too much to handle - but throw some ice on it and it's suddenly a refreshing treat.

NUMBER 3. MAGICAL MASSAGE

I spent over a year in Vietnam looking for a half decent massage - then I discovered this place. For someone who is addicted to massage and spent a fortune on it in Sydney I was always left disappointed by the massage in Saigon. It was either half arsed with no pressure but in a beautiful environment or painful but decent in a dodgy joint. I refer to the former as 'Basting the chicken' because I often feel like the massage girl is simply rubbing oil all over me ready to shove me in an oven and roast me. It drives me insane and I've walked out half way more than once. The latter is often just a foot massage but at least I can FEEL them and although sometimes left bruised I get my moneys worth. Enter GOLDEN LOTUS. With new premises my friends like to call this place 'The weird uncomfortable massage place' because although set up like a foot massage place they make you change into shorts & a tshirt and then give you a full body oil massage - but in a public room on chairs. It includes them sitting behind you and throwing you over their knees. The best bit is when the walk on you. I get the 2 hour 'special course' every weekend which includes a cucumber face mask. Orgasmic.

NUMBER 2. THE STREETS OF SAIGON

Another one that may surprise anyone who has travelled to Saigon. I love the streets of Saigon. I love the traffic, the noise, the smells. For me, the beep BEEP BEEP beep is like a constant symphony of Saigon. This city constantly sings with it's own song and I love the rhythm and flow of it. Cruising the streets on my motobike makes me want to scream with joy. There is no better feeling and I have, on many occasions, had a crap day and spent an hour throwing myself into the swarm of bikes that swim through the streets and felt better for it. Nothing compares. It's (almost) the best thing about living in Vietnam.

MY NUMBER ONE FAVOURITE THING ABOUT LIVING IN VIETNAM....

THE CLIMATE!

I hate the feeling of being cold. I hate wearing layers of clothes. I hate shivering. Living in southern Vietnam all these are a thing of the past - or at least they come with an OFF switch for the air-conditioner. I love the weather here. I never have to check the forecast it's always HOT and sometimes HOT & WET. It's usually somewhere between 28 and 33 degrees. When there is a slight breeze in the evening it feels like warm kisses against your skin. This weather makes you want to be outside - it's why Saigon is such a 'street side' city. Even on the hottest, most humid intense days - I still love it. I love the feeling of the sun burning onto my back, I love the feeling of walking into an air-cond building. From the bright sunny mornings where the blue sky to the sultry sunsets and tropical evenings. I love living in Vietnam. Everyday.