Anne's blog travel 06-07

It's wet with a light drizzle this morning around the lake. Weekends start slower and there are often less people around the lake and with the drizzle, it's even quieter this morning. The Qigong class seems to have been canceled.

Otherwise it's usually the same everyday. Crowded on the West side because of the classes, the badminton courts and nets and the numerous walkers; less crowded on the East side because of the presence of only pedestrians. Usually by the start of my fourth lap (around 7:30am or so), the Qigong classes have just finished. They attract a large number of participants. By the 5th lap of the lake, the badminton nets are coming down even if a few people are still playing together. The last couple of laps are always quieter because of that. The badminton nets are also used to play another games which seems to be a cross between hacky sac and badminton. They play with what looks a bit like a badminton shuttle but the end or center of it is a small sand or grain filled pouch. They use their body to stop the oncoming shuttle and their feet to pass to the partner or over the net.

No matter what game they play, I must say it always looks fun. Often a badminton court (smaller than regulation size) will find four players on each side.

The day clears up after a couple of hours. Last night the night markets are on again and the whole area leading to the Dong Xuan Markets is full of people. The days are counting down to the New Year in the same fashion as they countdown to a sporting event. No, there aren't any big mascots out there with a countdown clock letting everyone know how many days or hours are left (but if there was it would be a big PIG). But, more so, everybody knows intrinsincally. Whole streets have been devoted to the sale of New Year decorations. At night, the sight of these streets is simply amazing, all lit up with one store/kiosk front after another filled with Red and gold banners and posters, and all manners of objects which may be used for decoration. TET in Vietnam is big stuff.

Next Friday night is the official New Year night. I'm leaving in the afternoon but part of me will be right here just the same.

Bye for now