A driver's theory

Driving. England. Vietnam.

Let's look at the differences.

I'm currently learning to drive, and before you can take any practical tests you have to pass a theoretical test, a multiple choice exam where you need to score 43/50. Also required is a 'hazard perception test' where you watch 14 video clips and have to click the mouse when you see a hazard developing. Points are scored based on your reaction time to the hazard, from 5 to 1. To pass this puppy you need 44/75 points.

I really wanted to share some of my test questions for a couple of reasons. One is comdey value based on our shared interest in Vietnam and our tounge in cheek knowledge of its roads, two is highlighting some of the more patronising questions I've had to suffer. This is the way people are treated in my country...

Hopefully you can read these questions, if not use Cntrl and + to zoom in.

This one is designed to test your 'attitude'.

This one asks what you should do if your car breaks down on a level crossing (basically on a railway line) and the bell starts to go off...

Two for a little Saigonese driving style humour now....I have selected the appropriate answers.

What do you mean "that's not the right answer.."!.

A British Summer

Home away from home

A month in England is now gone, and I can't say that I am missing Saigon. Don't get me wrong, guaranteed sunshine and warm temperatures, cheap restaurants and bars, of course they are missed. But that is missing the lifestyle, not Saigon. Saigon to me is being stuck in a traffic jam in a shirt and tie at 7.30am already hot under the collar. It's reading reports of failing infrastructure, suffering, incompetent governance and corruption. It's witnessing in front of your very eyes the misery and inconvenience caused by the aforementioned list (I'm grateful to have missed the floods the other week of which I have heard horror stories). Saigon has a 'boy who cried wolf' problem for me, no matter what you read about 'improvements'...it is hard to believe. Yes, after three and a half years, I am a Saigon skeptic. It's appeal as a tourist is undeniable (Connections) and I will espouse them to anyone. It's livability is in serious decline, mainly due to traffic conditions and air quality.

It is unlikely Chi will convince me that it is worth living in the city again. I'll be off to stay in the burbs just outside Disneyland rather than in it (this is an analogy I just can't get out of my head..).

That was completely off topic, what I really wanted to post about was the effortless glide that Chi has made into life in England. Her cooking has taken my household by storm, we even have a special chopstick compartment in the knives and forks drawer now. Chi has already whipped up a couple of batches of spring rolls (with homemade fish sauce), a huge pot of bo kho, a mango salad followed by pho and a banana cake.

It's a terrible pic but you get the idea, Chi preparing her Vietnamese feast for my family on mum's birthday.

In all its glory - yes that is Buoi in the salad, available form the 'Asian foods' shop at the top of the road.

Here she is enjoying a picnic on the hill above Swanage, a part of Dorset's jurassic coast we are lucky to live by. The girl from the city was blown away by the view on what was a perfect summer's day.

Yesterday was a trip to London to see Manchester United vs Portsmouth in the FA Community Shield, along with 85,000 English football supporters.

Baby was treated to a deafening 90 minutes, kicking mum nice and hard to say 'What the hell is going on out there!'.

Ultimately however I think Chi was most impressed by the police and their horses....

Connections Vietnam new website

Dear Readers,

Connections Vietnam has relaunched its website -- still at the same address...www.connectionsvietnam.com.

Yes, despite Chi and myself being out of the country right now, Connections is still going strong on the ground in Saigon. Let's call it a long distance relationship.

Although a lot of people commented on how they liked the previous site, I was increasingly frustrated by its lack of flexibility and interactiveness. The new site is powered by wordpress and gives me the freedom and dynamic style I was looking for...cool plugins to display pictures and commentable blog style posts along with static pages. Hopefully this site will enable a lot more interaction with potential customers coming to Saigon enabling them to get a much better feel of what we do before they sign up for a Cook, Meet, Dine or Learn experience. Also, our previous customers can also interact and contribute to the site.

Take a look, see what you think, any feedback would be appreciated!