5 Points that Makes Vietnam a Must See Destination!

Vietnam! Forget Apocalypse Now, Rambo or any Hollywood movie, cause in reality Vietnam is (at least in my opinion) a World Top Destination.

Here are 5 points that explains you why:

1- People: The Vietnamese are so nice, happy, smiley and very hospitable people. They are modest and proud at the same time. As a sign of respect, they give you or take from you whatever using both of their hands. They have humor and laugh on every occasion. They are hard workers but you can see Happiness on their faces all day long.

2- Food: Yummiiii .... you cannot escape the extra kilos you put while visiting Vietnam. Food varies from North to Mid, down to South Vietnam, but all is very tasty and rich in flavors; fresh spring rolls, pork barbecue, noodles, rice paper, Pho (traditional soup), lemongrass fish, pineapple chicken, ginger beef etc...

3- Scenery: From the Sapa Mountains, to Halong Bay to the sandy beaches or the wide rivers and lakes. The green-yellow rice fields, the clouds on top of the mountains, the parks in the city, the floating villages or floating markets etc... It all makes Vietnam so rich in all kind of colors, aspects, and tastes.

4- Transportation: All means are available: you can use the bull pulling a kind of "carriage" in the villages (we tried it!), to the bicycles, motorcycles, river boats, sea cruise ships, trains (first class is a must, less "crawling creatures"!), to the bus, mini vans, "cyclos" taking around in the streets of the city ... all means enhance your adventure and experience in this big long country.
You can travel very cheap or very luxuriously, so you are free to choose how much you want to spend and how much you want to endure ;) Same applies to your accommodation, you can choose between a 5 stars luxurious hotel resort or a sharing bed in a street hostel!

5- Activities: To be honest my favorite activity in Vietnam was "Massage" all kind of massages are offered; foot, body, hot stones, etc... for a price varying between $7 to $12/hour!!! Nevertheless many other activities are offered all over Vietnam; one of the most popular one is the water puppet show, very nice and a must see. Other activities involve, diving, fishing, trekking, cycling, museums, religious sites and temples, shopping etc... the various nature of this country can satisfy all kind of hobbies and interests.

Travel consists of meeting and getting to know new or different places, cultures, religions, gastronomy, people ... Vietnam allows you to connect on a broader level to all of that.
So go ahead, you adventurous spirits, satisfy your appetite, indulge your body and relax your mind, just don't forget your way back :)

Hamra Pharma!

As I was walking on Hamra street (one of Beirut's main streets), and for the first time I noticed that you can have a freshly squeezed pomegranate juice!
So as I was approaching by curiosity, the man making the juice told me to have a cup since it's a natural killer and preventive of the virus H1N1! He assured me that the Vitamin C and the benefits of this fruit makes it the ultimate fighter of the influenza! :)
He kept going about how pharmaceuticals use the media to sell their products while "Mother Nature" have everything we need to live a long lasting happy life, which actually I totally agree to that.
I had my cup of "red" juice, delicious but a bit acid (it's healthier this way) ;) and asked me to come back in a week for a sweeter taste ... and continue the treatment!
Sometimes all you need is a regular person who offers you a simple way to make a worldwide (over-exaggerated) problem seems as little as a pom seed by adding hope and natural Vitamins to our lives ;)

Close Encounter of a Third Kind!

No matter at what time is my flight, I always sleep as soon as I step foot on the plane and wake up after takeoff.
This last flight, I opened my eyes and I saw the passenger next to me like that!!!!
(check pictures)

It took me some seconds just to realize what was this napkin doing on this guy's face, I just couldn't stop laughing along with the passengers who witnessed this new technique of "sleeping" during a flight, that I have to be honest never seen and will probably not see again on any flight.

Wanted to share with you this "encounter" and like "E.T", I just wanted to go back home :)

Adou

Lost but Found Again!

Two Things I Thought were lost in my dear Country Lebanon!

Our national dance: Dabkeh and Our sense of Poetry.

Lucky I was to discover during this past month that both things are still existing and kicking :)

Dabkeh: I was invited to a wedding in the far end of South Lebanon, me and another 699 guests! A real festival with beautiful and happy "ambiance".

After having all kinds of mezze and barbecues, the music started playing; for me it was a simple Arabic music but it was not just Arabic it's the Dabkeh music ... Everybody and I mean everybody, men, women, young and old, joined hands and made a huge circle all around the dance floor and started the traditional Lebanese Dabkeh! Two men with big large swords in their hands were dancing in the middle, controlling the rhythm and making sure that every movement is synchronized: shoulder to shoulder, all with one tap of foot on the floor, etc... Others are making more "advanced" moves or in a more "gaming" language: combo moves! showing off and feeling proud in mastering more complex steps than the ordinary 1,2,3 and 4!
I was so happy to witness this wave of movements and sad that I don't know how to dance our Dabkeh although some taught me in 5 min the simple steps that made me look more ridiculous in the eyes of the town's "homies" ;)

Poetry: A very "cool" (for those who thinks that poetry is boring!) group of people sent an invitation on facebook about a poetry night in

Gemayzeh, so I was curious enough to go with a group of friends (Lebanese and Swiss).
I can assure it was a hell of a night! people reading in Arabic, French and English... some they wrote the poems themselves:: funny, sad, political, environmental ... and concerning all subjects: love, hate, sex, music, God, life etc...

The thing that struck me most is the passion and the dedication of some participants who are really gifted and wrote beautiful things.

Then we got interested ourselves; so my Swiss friend read a text in French, my Lebanese friend recited also a poem in French and me, I read a poem from Rumi in English inspired from the series "Six Feet Under".

It feels so nice to be part of a "small" Lebanese society but very diversified with many interests and cultures. Everyday we meet so many people and go so many places, the most important thing is the "connection" that we keep from all these encounters.

"I am not from the world, not from beyond,
not from heaven and not from hell.
I am not from Adam, not from Eve, not from paradise and not from Ridwan.
My place is placeless, my trace is traceless,
no body, no soul, I am from the soul of souls." Rumi

From Doha with Love

During my last trip to Doha-Qatar, I came across a very interesting yet "shamful" article and a very "bold" poster.

Knowing that in case I meet a lady who has read or better memorized the article on the left (How to be the Perfect Wife), I may change my mind and cross to the other side known as "married" or for some unfortunate "Akalo el Dareb"!

On the other hand, the poster on the right shows a better and a more open view on the subject. But of course it will never be published in a magazine like the other article!

They say one can chose his friends but not his parents, unfortunately for most Arabs they cannot even choose their Husbands or Wives! For the West it's surely a comic statement but can they hear us laughing over here?!

So shameful that in Lebanon with 17 sects we still don't have a civil marriage. Now you can hear people getting married while their first meeting was on "facebook" or "meetic" or believe it or not on "X-Box Live" ;)
That remind us the movie "Sleepless in Seattle" where the distance between Seattle and New York is far greater than Achrafiyeh to Saida where two persons cannot even have the idea of getting married. Thanks God we have Cyprus nearby :)

As a conclusion, in order to be happy, one should Wear, Eat, Marry, Sing, Dance ... the way it feels best for him or her ;) Live and Let Live ... and in between don't forget to Love!

Hippodrome Beirut!

Hippodrome Beirut! or "Sabak el Khayl"...

Just to make things clear, in this article I'm not pushing anyone to become a gambler! it's just that since I was little (long time ago!) I hear about horse racing in Beirut, so this Sunday, forget the beach, forget carrot juice, I head down to the Hippodrome with my camera around 14h30.
My main intention was to take pictures, but I discovered that I need to have a permission for that, so no problem since I visited the manager's office, who agreed that I take photos as long as they don't show people's faces (3aib!).

To enter you pay 5000L.L unless your not Lebanese, then it's free! or you can sit in the "primo" area which costs you 15000L.L since you are entitled to plastic chairs and balcony view, or enjoy the "restaurant" while watching the race. All cellulars should remain out!

The Hippodrome is a huge place! you can hear the cheering from the moment you enter, everyone screams the name of the horse that he bets on! (no comment concerning the crowd!)

Like: Ya Hayati, Ibn El Malak, Samourai, Remeh, Al Amira Stephanie, A'ntar, Mistanfer, Sabbah, Jawhar, Robin Hood, Seif El Malak, Mouchwar etc...












The screaming is so intense, that your ears hurt! Screaming for the horse, cursing the Jockey, shouting for their money ...
Usually you have 6 races, plus two from France, oh yes, we are a "francophone" country, so you can even bet on the French races who are shown on TVs there. You have the race "journal" in which all the information needed are printed: Horse owner, horse name, weight, Jockey's name and weight, and the expecting winners (who came all wrong!)

At the end of each race, people go to the back, where the horses for the next race will be walked around, so one can choose the horse that he'll put his money on! You walk back to the "guichet" and the betting goes from 3000L.L to ... let's say a lot!

I can proudly say that I lost my betting of 5000L.L! But the ambiance and the experience were worth it, I can also say that it can be addictive, but it will take me many more years to visit the Hippodrome again.

One thing for sure "the race will go on", and as you all know: "Iza ma eja Sultan, btejeh Jarbou'a"!
People will still bet, money will still be lost, few will be won, but I sincerely hope that this sport will be "elevated" in terms of people, facilities or participation.

5 signs That You're an Adult in Lebanon

In many countries around the world, being an Adult is when you turn up to be 18 years old, or 21 years old, or when you leave your parents house and go to college... but for the Lebanese society I chose 5 signs that defines your an "official single" Adult in Lebanon:

1- You Have to Wake Yourself Up On Time
It's not your mother nor the neighbors invited to the kitchen next to your room for a morning coffee/gossips, it's just You who have to set up the alarm and wake up, make your own breakfast or even choosing your own clothes! ;)

2- Fridge
It's when you open your fridge and there are less than 5 items (not counting the expired ones!) And no matter how many beers you have in your fridge it's still 1 item ...

3- Clothes
It's when the magic disappears! No more throwing dirty clothes in the bathroom to find it the next day clean/ironed in your closets! Laundry is a hell of a job :)
It's when you stop wearing "flanella" and stop worrying about "a hit from the wind"! It's when you start searching for clothes over your treadmill rather than inside your closet ;)

4- Marriage
Men: Maximum age 36!
Women: Maximum age 29!

Don't get me wrong I'm totally against those deadlines!!! But unfortunately most of our society thinks that if you are a "true" Adult then you should be married! and for them that is the only difference than you being a Teenager.
Well I think no matter what age you are, if you are single and away from your mother nagging about marriage, your an Adult ;)

5- Entertainment
It's when you can invite who you want to do whatever you want without worrying about noise, smell or the 10000 questions of the next morning.

In Lebanon they say no matter how old you are, you will always stay a kid in your mother's eye, well, I totally respect that but my problem is when we are still "kids" in the society's, government's or ourselves eyes.

Malak is our King

I don't know if you have noticed, but in Lebanon we don't settle for Prince, Duke or even Highness, we only want the KING aka MALAK!!!

To Eat
We have Malak el Batata the oldest of all Kings, in Hamra you cannot miss it, the "Botatoes" are treated in oil since the invention of car, so we bought the oil but replaced the car with batata!

Then who can miss Malak el Taouk, a double decker of bread layers with an irresistible smell of garlic happily devoured by men and by women! the only missing thing in this place is "No Fire" sign or the whole shop could explode due to the heavy load of "toum" nitrogen.

The followers are Malak el Avocat : ) a dynamite cocktail of Avocado for all the "pumping" gigolos, maameltein addicts and the Fast&Furious BMW drivers.

Malak el Shawarma will keep no doubt in all heads that the best shawarma is here! Can you argue with a King!

Then Last but not Least, Malak el Hamburger or better known as Burger King, but this American brand has been well accepted in the circle of our Local Kings who seem to be still growing.

To Pray
With respects to all Religions, here we have the King of Kings and the whole branding that follows; car stickers, fish or no fish attached, round, tall, shiny etc... so forgive my thinking but this King of Kings was more servant than all, and I wouldn't think that this title will serve Him well!

To Socialize
The top of the top is "Malak el Sex wil Corneflex " cause usually you have sex at night and then our Malak will have Cornflakes for breakfast ;) then follows; rouh ya Malak, mafi Malak addak, inta el Malak ehhh inta! all referred to the male gender, rarely we find a "malakeh" or a Queen, but no one forgets the quote "Behind every Malak there are 6 Lebanese girls" ...

At the end, the way I see it, Life is similar to a chessboard but in Lebanon all players are Kings trying desperately to kill each others.

God Bless the King, whomever that might be!

Frequent Flyer!!!

As a frequent flyer, a minimum of 4 flights/month (2 trips!) I am amazed by the "new" specific Lebanese habits in Travel.
We can say that the old days of "clapping" at touch down is over! (while the music of "tic tic tic yamme sleimen" is always there at boarding on MEA)
A new era has begun ...
Our "friend" in the picture above is the "Champ" of frequent traveling! We were all surprised (not to say afraid!) by the scratching sound that came at take off while insisting of keeping her high heels boots up on the board in front of her!
(I couldn't resist not to take out my phone and take her pic!)
Other habits are like as soon as the plane lands, we can hear the bip-bip of the sms or people standing already and moving forward to the exit door, or lighting up a cigarette directly after exiting the plane, or running and pushing to be the first to stamp their passport while everybody meets up again at the luggage belt, or the ladies wearing tops with the name of the country that they were visiting (especially coming from Europe) etc...
It's a very interesting phenomenon that I enjoy "looking" at every time, and realize that me ,with my birkenstock and my ipod have still a long way home!

Voir Venise et Mourir!

Venice!

It's such an enchanting place!

But let me tell you some real facts about this place since I was there last week!
Time has stopped in Venice, you can imagine yourself living in the 16th century and nothing can prove you wrong (except the Japanese with their cameras!)
It's not a place just reserved for lovers, on the contrary, families,kids, old, young, artists etc... from all over the world came to share the spirit of this "floating" city.

To enjoy Venice, you have to walk, walk and walk ... get lost in the narrow streets and cross its endless bridges, taste as many food as you can and drink all the wine on your path.

Forget the Lebanese comments: "don't go there, it's full of mosquitoes" or "the smell there is horrible!" ... it's like saying don't eat Pizza in Italy cause they don't serve Ketchup with it!

I definetly advise everyone to go to Venice at least once in his life, save lots of money though and let yourself drift on the city endless canals.

Desperate Lebanese... WIfes?

Bliss Street! walking there after having a marvelous and tasty "crispy cream" doughnut, at the door of one of the shops I found this posting on A4 paper!!!

"To whom it may concern, "Beiruti" girl looking for a man to marry..." !!!

At first I thought it's a joke, but my friend she took her mobile phone and called; a very sweet voice answered and the girl is 22 and she looked serious about the whole issue and even agreed to meet my friend (who is supposed talking on behalf of her brother!) in one of Hamra's cafe!

The meeting never took place because my friend had to travel unexpectedly and for me it was impossible to show up ...

But are we that desperate now to get married? after the popularity of all the "meeting" websites and the personal marketing and re-looking found everywhere around us, it seems a new method is taking place in Beirut streets "personal flyers" distribution.

Personally I hope this flyer is a joke and nothing serious, but I'm sure somewhere out there, boys or girls are open to any possibilities available that will get them to tie the knot ;)