Latest posts

  • My Hero - Professor Connie So

    A great Asian American Studies professor from the University of Washington who inspired us all. I owe a lot to Professor Connie So for her efforts and patience in…

  • Psychogeographics of Privacy in East/West Cities

    An interesting project that will be conducted in Saigon the next couple of months: Project Description This project explores the shared psychodynamics that are involved…

  • Saigon Tet Flower Festival

    Here are some shots from the Saigon Tet Flower Festival: http://127.0.0.1:8091/?page_id=273

  • Hole in the Wall

    Well well, now I have seen everything in Vietnam. About 2 pm yesterday, my neighbor rang my doorbell. I opened my door and she immediately walked into my house which was…

  • Women's Day at Volcano

    Women's Day is a big holiday here in Saigon. The streets were packed with guys taking their lady friends to dinner last night. Lots of chocolate and flowers were…

  • Tet in Saigon at Night

    On the first evening of Tet, a group of us headed to the Sheraton Hotel for some dancing. Eventually we made it to Apocalypse before heading to Hoang Tanh for some…

  • Another Update Coming Soon

    Yeah, yeah, been quite busy. Many updates coming soon, I promise :-)

  • Quan Am - My Protector

    Quan Am (Kannon in Japanese), is known as the Goddess of Mercy. She is also the protector of my animal sign, Nezumi (Mouse/Rat in Japanese). I have a shrine in my house…

  • Construction Mess Part IV :-)

    Well, the two houses were completed last week. The mess and dust have disappeared. Now I just need to thoroughly clean my house once a week :-) The houses look very…

  • Year of the Pig Horoscope (For Rats)

    Rat Overview Things are looking up for the Rat, as the Pig is a lot friendlier toward you than the Dog. You have a tremendous advantage of quickness over the Pig, so you…

  • Yamaha Nouvo Beauty Treatment

    Every six months, I take my motorbike to the Cat Decal shop in District 5 to get the plastic removed and replaced with a new plastic covering. This is how I am able to…

  • Pizza Hut in Saigon

    Okay, I finally tested out the Pizza Hut in Diamond Plaza with a friend. Actually tastes like Pizza Hut pizza :-) The service was excellent and the prices actually a bit…

  • Pets from Vung Liem

    The pictures speak for themselves :-) (I am going to bite you...) (No, I AM going to bite you!!!) (Help, my foot is stuck on this string...) (Oh my God!!!) (Sure, no…

  • Another Saigon Morning

    The weather in Saigon now is very crisp and cool. The morning reminds me of the early Spring coolness I remember in Kazakhstan and from my hometown in Centralia…

  • Back in Saigon and Tor

    I returned back in Saigon yesterday afternoon after spending some time in the Mekong Delta attending a funeral. I will update some interesting pictures from my trip to…

  • Rush Hour - Saigon-style

    I normally try to avoid riding my motorbike in Saigon during rush hour. Scenes like this could test anyone's patience, including mine :-) (A traffic jam near Pham Ngu…

  • Japanese Food and Dancing

    I lost a bet nearly two years ago with Hanh and Phuong. It was now time to pay up after this long time. Since I lost the bet, I had to take them to a Japanese buffet at…

  • Construction Mess Part III

    Well, my neighbors house is nearly finished, a second one has a couple more weeks to go. The dust from my neighbor's house has finally subsided. The landlord sent over…

  • Penguin Trash

    No one has explained to me the meaning of using penguins as trash cans in Vietnam. You see them in the parks and now you can buy your very own penguin trash can at…

  • Beautiful Saigon

    If you are lucky enough to work in one of the many tall buildings in Saigon, you will get an awesome breathtaking view of the city. With the Saigon River in the…