War education in HCMC is intense. Going through the cu chi tunnels, you have to admire the Vietcong's tenacity. The tunnels are super narrow- I was super worried for this guy that was slightly on the big size. There were section I felt I would get stuck in. I had claustrophobia after the 180 meter crawl.  A worthwhile endeavor, I recommend everyone to go as their top choice. Every hotel has a half day tour for around 20 dollars, with additional money if you want to come back by boat. The bus tour drops you back by the war museum, which I must warn potential visitors. The images are graphic -pieces of bodies blown to bits, bloody shots, deformed bodies and faces, and other acts of cruelty that are stomach turning. There are stillborn fetuses on display. Agent Orange's side effects seems to linger generations after its use. The museum spawned in passionate anger towards the US left no gruesomeness censored. 

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Air pollution from exhaust from motorbikes are uncontrollable. Huge headache from windows being down from airport taxi. 

Night market was so-so. Very small but a variety of selections. 

Vietnamese food is excellent. Ban Chu on the street stalls were soooo delicious, and for less than 2 USd. Cuc Guan Quan, an amazing Vietnamese restaurant hidden in the suburbs of HCMC was spectacular - food and drinks wise. 

The Mekong Delta cruise that was highly recommended by friends turned out somewhat disappointing. Our tour guide seemed new - he really didn't know what he was doing or going. He was also aggressively pushing us to buy everywhere, and "recommending" specialties. While we had some good stops and pictures, most of the trip seemed like an attempt at tourist traps everywhere: every stop had things to sell, "special" "famous" "delicacies" at every stop. Lunch was quite terrible bc they were trying to get everyone to buy the premium dishes. The bus ride to the delta was close to 3 hours as well. Overall, not terribly worthwhile unless you have nothing else to do in HCMC. 

MORE SEXY - Canto Style Wedding

As we are trying to walk down this bridge in Guangzhou attempting to do a segment of PSY gangnam style - the over-jealous Chinese photographers can utter a few words in English, yet they scream "MORE SEXY!" at Michelle and I. Michelle gives the photographer a disapproval look and we re-shoot. Only for Ye's wedding would we endure this.

Ye's wedding party. Looking good. 

All of us who were there for Ye's wedding knew each other since high school, college, and professional life. That's 12 years. He was roommates with at least 1/2 of the wedding party - we've all known each other - fought with each other - probably knew too much about each other. I am so happy to have had the chance to shared this adventure of some of my closest friends.

Hiking in our matching bar shirt. 

Yea... a little slow morning after KTV.

It's surprising how nothing has changed much. I think we all were a little older, but not more mature. We got excited about KTV when we realized the beers were only 4 RMB each. We still gossip about the same old people, did you hear about him, her, them? Having spent such an amazing time with them: from the games in the wedding, the matching Boxing Cat Brewery t-shirts we bought  to hike, the crazy train station in Hangzhou where I swore there was no air con, and to hotpots, dim sum, and McDonalds in China, I had such a great time - and realized how lucky I am to have grown up with such intelligent and kind people around me. On the train ride to the wedding, Michael told me "I didn't realize how rare our friends are until I left. There are really not many people like us in this world." Thanks Ye, Peter, Bryan, Cheng, and Michelle.

Singapore - hub of Asia

Singapore is truly one of the greatest place to live if you have the travel bug. Kicking off this weekend, I will kick off a crazy tour: Ho Chi Minh, HK or Sydney, Shanghai, Penang, Sibu, Bali, and Dubai. Here's the end of the year rush... of weekend travels. I hope I don't lose my passport along the way.