Lets Go Kiddo

Yesterday morning I was walking with Kiddo to school.  There’s a thing here with babies where the will take them out and not have bottoms on.  Just Winnie the Poo’ing it.  The why or what or reasoning behind this escapes me.  I’ve read that it is a relic of the past, but it also stems from a want to eliminate diaper rash, especially in the humid summers in Shanghai and some other regions.  However, it happens and we’ve just kind of gotten used to seeing it and we all roll with it.   So, Kiddo and I are walking and she’s holding my hand telling me something Kiddoish and we’re just having a walk to school.  Normal day.  Suddenly, “Well, there’s a naked baby… that’s a bold choice.”  I cracked up.  Her use of language is too much some times; or should I say that her word choices are, sometimes, a bold choice.  HAHA Besides that, Kiddo had a play date on Sunday with good friend H.  She and H are in different classes this year, s...

**** Please note: Parts of this were written in Vietnam on different days and some waiting on my flight and some while back in Shanghai.  Please roll with the reference to days or timeframes.   It’s the pace and the frenetic energy that always grabs me.  It’s indescribable, inimitable, and unlike any other city in the world.  HCMC (Saigon) is my place in the world.  My metaphorical home.  Everything about it makes sense to me and makes me feel like I am part of it; that it flows through me and is part of me.  Sure, I will admit, that is outsider syndrome, as I am on outsiders looking in.  Yes, maybe if I grew up Viet I would see things a whole lot differently.  However, as a visitor it’s a place I never get tired of going back to again and again.   There are problems, don’t get me wrong.  A million and two scammers looking out for a white face or foreign person to try to get over on.  There is infrastructure problems. ...

Day 3 - Ending I headed back to 3B and it was nice, but before that, I found tacos.  Yes, tacos.  And not like in BKK tacos.  Also, not like in LA or Zihau tacos.  Vietnamese tacos are tacos, not some “scratch the itch” type taco, but it’s also not Mexican.  It’s just very very Vietnamese.  I think that, because if the bread and the French influence in cooking, they got good at tortillas and also fusion type cooking ideas.  That blended into the Vietnamese taco.  Also, the spice and seasoning is a little off.  It’s not wrong, just more SEA and not Central America.  It’s good, trust me on that and if you ever get a chance to try; do so.   After that, it was back to 3B and trying some tapas and hanging out with a small expat crowd.  It was nice.  Nothing of note, besides the tapas were wonderful.  Very much Barcelona style with tomato rubbed on the bread and then drizzled in olive oil.  At least, I’m told it w...

Day 1- Got to the airport in Shanghai and had plenty of time, so I was in no rush.  Good thing, too.  The airline I flew, Spring Airlines (not recommended) didn’t have a check in counter in the International terminal, so I had to hoof it to Term 2 and check in.  Only to find out that my carry on was too big to fit their tiny specifications and then there was the ridiculous weight limit.  3.5kg!  SERIOUSLY!  They had me check my laptop bag as well and good thing I did that first, because after I pulled some items out of my now, checked bag, that wouldn’t have fit either.  I mean, are you kidding me.  So, I paid, but the flight and hotel were covered by rewards points, so who cares if it’s now a $20 trip.   Once I hoofed it BACK to the International Terminal, I needed to go to the expanded terminal G for the flight.  That meant a train ride.  Thank goodness I got to the airport early.  I finally got to where I needed to be an...