Thursday, November 22, 2007

Tu Quy Birds..Vietnamese Folklore

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful young girl named U Tiem. The daughter of a mandarin, she was born to a rich family. She was always adorned with silver necklaces and bracelets to show her wealth and her family's power. Throughout the region, U Tiem was famous for singing. Her parents cherished her beautiful voice more than the song of the rare Can-In bird.

Many young suitors wanted to give her a don and sing together with her, but no one ever won U Tiem's heart because it belonged to a poor man named Khum Lo. Khum Lo lived in a small stilt house and was skillful at farming, hunting, and making don. He also play the flute oi angelically, which made U Tiem fall in love with him. Under the full moon, U Tiem hypnotically liste4nd to Khum Lo's flute as she waved or embroided. U Tiem san with him and accepted his don, but Khum Lo was poor in comparison with her family. They planned that after Khum Lo studies and earned money, they would get married. It might take some years, but she would wait. At home, U Tiem awaited her lover and missed him sorely.

One year later, U Tiem heard word that Hac Xam a rich and dishonest Mandarian had asked for her hand in marriage and her father had accepted. She asked her father to postpone the wedding because she was so young. That night, she shead tears on Khum Lo's shirt and flute. Two years later, Hac Xam asked U Tiem's hand once again. Though she wept bitterly, her father was too greedy to follow her wishes. U Tiem thought of her promise to Khum Lo and realized she had no choice. While everyone celbrated with a banquet, U Tiem ate ngon leaves to commit suicide.

At that moment, Khum Lo was on the way back to his village. He had studied and worked, as promised. His happiness made him feel like he was floating in clouds. But reaching home, when he found out that his lover had died, he died of grief.

Hac Xam was scornfully jealous. He had his servants put Khum Lo's body and U Tiem's body on opposite sides of a river. Two bamboo shoots grew from their graves and, reaching over the river, the tops of the bamboo trees intertwined. Angrily, Hac Xam chopped down the bamboo and used it to make cages. But the two cages rolled together and the smaller one got inside the bigger one. Insane with rage, Hac Xam burned the cages and threw away the ashes. Suddenly, two clouds of ash tunred into two dark grey birds. They were a male an female Tu Quy bird.

Every night, they called for each other, the male sang "kham", while the female sang "khac", echoing throughout the forest. When they found each other, it was day break.

Note; This taken from Vietnam Airline's Heritage magazine.
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful young girl named U Tiem. The daughter of a mandarin, she was born to a rich family. She was always adorned with silver necklaces and bracelets to show her wealth and her family's power. Throughout the region, U Tiem was famous for singing. Her parents cherished her beautiful voice more than the song of the rare Can-In bird.

Many young suitors wanted to give her a don and sing together with her, but no one ever won U Tiem's heart because it belonged to a poor man named Khum Lo. Khum Lo lived in a small stilt house and was skillful at farming, hunting, and making don. He also play the flute oi angelically, which made U Tiem fall in love with him. Under the full moon, U Tiem hypnotically liste4nd to Khum Lo's flute as she waved or embroided. U Tiem san with him and accepted his don, but Khum Lo was poor in comparison with her family. They planned that after Khum Lo studies and earned money, they would get married. It might take some years, but she would wait. At home, U Tiem awaited her lover and missed him sorely.

One year later, U Tiem heard word that Hac Xam a rich and dishonest Mandarian had asked for her hand in marriage and her father had accepted. She asked her father to postpone the wedding because she was so young. That night, she shead tears on Khum Lo's shirt and flute. Two years later, Hac Xam asked U Tiem's hand once again. Though she wept bitterly, her father was too greedy to follow her wishes. U Tiem thought of her promise to Khum Lo and realized she had no choice. While everyone celbrated with a banquet, U Tiem ate ngon leaves to commit suicide.

At that moment, Khum Lo was on the way back to his village. He had studied and worked, as promised. His happiness made him feel like he was floating in clouds. But reaching home, when he found out that his lover had died, he died of grief.

Hac Xam was scornfully jealous. He had his servants put Khum Lo's body and U Tiem's body on opposite sides of a river. Two bamboo shoots grew from their graves and, reaching over the river, the tops of the bamboo trees intertwined. Angrily, Hac Xam chopped down the bamboo and used it to make cages. But the two cages rolled together and the smaller one got inside the bigger one. Insane with rage, Hac Xam burned the cages and threw away the ashes. Suddenly, two clouds of ash tunred into two dark grey birds. They were a male an female Tu Quy bird.

Every night, they called for each other, the male sang "kham", while the female sang "khac", echoing throughout the forest. When they found each other, it was day break.

Note; This taken from Vietnam Airline's Heritage magazine.



Vung Tau, Vietnam
November 2007


Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam
November 2007


Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam
November 2007



Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam
November 2007


Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam
November 2007



Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam
November 2007


Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam
November 2007

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Improvements...

It's officially been over a week I've been in Vietnam and only a little under a week left before I head back to work, to studies, to B-school applications, to family.

Within this week's time, I've notices improvements;

- Language; Learning (in my case, relearning) the Vietnamese is always better, if the teacher is cute. The better looking the teacher, the more attentive the student is. The more interactive the student becomes with the teacher. hehe...

- A smile and a wink; Easily translates across the majority of humanity's languages.

- Crossing a Vietnamese Street; It was a tentative first few steps, but with more crossings, the more normal the event becomes. Advice, the larger the automobile, the more right a way it has. No sudden movements, nor sudden dash.

- Cuisine; Yes, there is a difference between the Vietnamese food from the homeland and the Vietnamese food in the States. Slightly different, but noticeable. Not a problem, I plan on sampling as much as possible.

- Etiquette/Manners; Having tons of money does not equate to having manners. These two concepts are separate.
My last trip (was my first time ever) back to Vietnam was with my father. I've lost my father to cancer since that trip, but the lessons learned and time spent with him was an experience that vibrated to my soul. That experience taught me the value of culture, heritage, and family.

This trip is filled with different experiences that only another Viet Kieu could understand. Sorry...only another person returning back to the country of their heritage. My travel buddy, Mr. M, this is his first time out of the States and first time back to Vietnam since we fled as boat people back in 1975. We were on the same boat. He is learning a lot. I can see it. I'm excited and happy for him.

Note; Viet Kieu is term for Vietnamese person that fled the communist government and living abroad. Now it has become slang for any expat Vietnamese going back to Vietnam.


Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam
November 2007




Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam
November 2007



Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam
November 2007




Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam
November 2007



Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam
November 2007




Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam
November 2007



Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam
November 2007

Monday, November 12, 2007

Sights and Tastes of Vietnam...(nonMBA)

Flight; 14 hours Los Angeles to Taipei, 4 hours Taipei to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh)

First taste of Vietnam; Two coconuts drinks from street vendor

Crossing street; Realization that I'm in Vietnam and my Vietnamese language skills needs drastic improvement


Refreshing beverage
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh)
Nov 2007


Cross at your own risk
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh)
Nov 2007


Communist Patriot
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh)
Nov 2007


Street Vendor
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh)
Nov 2007

Monday, November 05, 2007

Remembering a free weekend...nonMBA

I'd completely forgotten what a free weekend was like, but that didn't stop me from re-doing all the activities.

Sat;
Surfing - Nothing like two hours of surfing, to cleanse the stress from a weary soul.
Texas Hold'em (TH) - Nothing like a few hours of TH and trash talking with friends to reconnect.

Sun;
BBQ - Nothing like a half day of beers , grilling steaks & salmon, and "the game" of the NFL season 2007/2008' (undefeated Colts vs undefeated Patriots) on the tube.


Next post will be from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam. Yeah...hitting the road for a trip across the big pond (pacific ocean) to rekindle my spirits and Vietnamese heritage.



Post surf hair style
Huntington Beach, CA
Nov 3, 2007

Post surf hair style
Huntington Beach, CA
Nov 3, 2007


Huntington Beach, CA
Summer 2007