Anne's blog travel 06-07

Wednesday, January 31st 2007



End of the month...wow, already? I haven't seen Long for a couple of days... Seems strange. I'm sure I'll bump into him soon. I spoke to an old colleague of mine on the phone today. To be frank I don't remember him and he doesn't remember me either. But Lorraine urges me in an email to contact Andreas who worked as the Catering Manager at the Sydney Olympics for the MPC (Main Press Center) which became the MMC (Main Media Center) for Paralympics. I was only at that venue for the few weeks over the Paralympics and never really got to meet all the team. Reg of course, and Lorraine, and many others but not the catering manager. Anyway, Andreas has been living in Hanoi for 16 months or so. He's Austrian and I'm catching up with him on Friday.



That's the funny thing with event people. No matter if you know them or not, you know that you are part of the same family. That somehow you'll understand each other in that respect. So as soon as he finds out I'm in town, he urges me to contact him and catch up. So Friday it is. And as he's working for Sheraton in Catering as well, I'm pretty sure he knows his way around town. Tells me I HAVE TO go to Sapa. He went before Xmas to find himself he says. Says it's just amazing. One of the last untouched areas here and only for another couple of years. "Did you find yourself?" I ask. He laughs: "I left myself there I think." I'll get more information on that when I see him.

In truth I tell Andreas, I've been avoiding westerners/ foreigners. "Why?" he asks. "Just yesterday" I tell him as an example " I was sitting enjoying this wonderful omelet in french bread, you know the ones...a few eggs cooked with some greens, a lovely loaf of french bread with a bit of chilli sauce...- and there was another couple of westerners who had arrived before me and were eating the same thing. When they get up to leave, the lady tells them it's a dollar each or 15 000 Dong. The man objects, wants to pay a dollar for both. The lady can't speak english but she points to me so I tell the man I've eaten here before and that's the price and I can't believe it really. I'm just watching that man thinking: just give the woman the money buddy. Very reluctantly the man parts with the correct amount but not before both him and his partner voice that it's a total rip off." A dollar...

Now admittedly some people in some locations charge more than others. But that's the same the world over. I haven't seen anyone sell that sort of thing any cheaper myself and the bread alone sells for 5000 Dong (a third of the price). And she's located close to the lake in a popular tourist area. And if you aren't happy with the price, just don't go there again or ask before you buy. But please don't try and rip off the old lady who is making an honest living on the street.

So that is just an example. I'm ashamed sometimes of being part of such an ungrateful culture and mostly I still feel guilty that I'm so priviledged when most people aren't. I'm often reminded that the color of your skin, the place where you were born determines the opportunities you will be offered.

Bye for now