Story behinds a famous photo!!!

Once again, I went to Cu Chi tunnel and Tay Ninh (Cao Dai temple) yesterday with CET students. Rylan called me the other day to ask for helping with this tour. In stead of staying at home and sleeping on Sat, I decided to go with group 32 persons included professors, American students and Vietnamese students.

I don't know how many time I have been on this tour but especially this tour we stopped at then historical intersection in Trang Bang - Tay Ninh province. The place where the famous photos of Nick Ut took one of the best photos in the war time in 1972. The photo of naked girl ran and screamed in smoky atmosphere after the American soldiers accidentally dropped napalm bombs.

I bet everyone knows these photos cause It's too famous all over the world.

The boy wears with shirt and short in the 1 first photo is Kim Phuc's brother. We stopped at his house, had a nice talk with his wife (Too bad, this guy passed away 3 years ago cause het got heart attack). The she turned on a documentary movie about Kim Phuc's life. She also exposed some stories behind the photo. Phuc was 9 and her brother was 12 at that time. Phuc's back was burned, her brother took off her clothes and both of them ran on the street screamed and her brother shouted "wtf American, why do you that with my sister?" in Vietnamese. And behind them, their grand mom ran on the street, on her hand was death body of Phuc's cousin with some of his skin felt apart from his body. I did saw that in the movie. ;( And another cousin of Phuc also died on the side walk but no one took care of him. That image still stucks in my mind until now.

Phuc's brother family runs a restaurant serve Banh Trang phoi suong and Banh canh Trang Bang (Specialty of Tay Ninh province). This restaurant attracts a lot tourists both locals and foreigners cause famous photo and story about the war.

Here are some photos of the historical spot:

Same place with the frist photo



Outside of the restaurant







Photo on the wall of the restaurant



Kim Phuc's sister in law



Main Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh

New way to go, new plan to do.....

Being jobless more than 3 weeks, and I've been into many formal interview for job with many different companies from Navigos group (Headhunter company), PR companies, real estated company, Winsord Plaza Hotel but there aren't any positions fits me. Otherwise I still waiting for their feedback. That's sucks when you have to wait for a long time and worry about it. I don't know this will happen for how long but it seems to be hard time for me.

One Saturday, I went to Poppy cafe and had a long talk with chi Thao (during the time it rained so hard outside). I don't know why every time I talk with chi Thao, I feel like having good time after our talk. So, Chi Thao invited me free Green Tea frozen yogurt with Almond (The only thing I order when I come to Poppy- that's my favorite). Thanks chi Thao for good advices for my future. Actually, my parents wanted me to apply graduated school in Australia. I thought about it but didn't deeply. Actually, working in Viet Nam you should have qualifications especially when you graduate from an international school and work in Vietnam, you will get salary by grants not by few hundred dollars like local people work really hard. That's why many of my Viet Kieu friend try to go back and work here (sorry my VK friends and White friends if it say it true hehe).

I am marketing for Poppy



With Julie and Ben


Julie, me and chi Thao




My final decision is apply for grad school in Australia. I choose Communication for my master. But firstly and the important thing I have to do is study intensive English in order to get IELTS certificate(certificate for non native English speaker to study abroad) with total average grade is 6.5 for 4 skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. I am kinda afraid my writing and reading skills cause it's still sucks somehow. I hope writing this blog in Eng can improve my writing.

Study in Australia is not really difficult nowadays. The Australian Government wants you have IELTS upper 5.0 and make sure your financial situation can cover 5 weeks intensive English course and 1 semester of main course. In addition, you also have accepted letter from the university. Then you will get a student visa. I hope I can make it easily and go to Kangaroo's country in Jan.

Oh, I don't if you guys know about Acoustic bar or not. But I just want to introduce again. They play live rock music every night like Yoko. But this place is alot better in terms of the size, interior design... and there are some singers sing at Yoko they also sing at this place too. This is definitely a place to go in Sai Gon.

Let's check out some photos of Acoustic bar on the Independent Day







Unlce Ho photos on the top of bookshelf - Viet Nam Muon Nam Yeah



10 years old kid plays drum freaking good (In the middle)

Enjoying jobless time

August 15th was the day I enjoyed 100% free time that means jobless time. I stayed at home all day just chilled in my crib.

Chris and Ben wanted to celebrate Phuong's night for quiting my job and enjoying jobless time(just another excuse for party hehe). We went to the top restaurant at Palace Hotel right in front of Sun Wah Tower. They served really good Beef steak on hot stone and enjoyed nice view of city at night.

At Fusions restaurant
















Beef stake on hot stone














After dinner we went to Bowling hall at Diamond Plaza, caught up with Trang, Thy (CET friend 2 years ago - I haven't seen her in ages) and Nguyet (Classmate from middle school) and Nguyet's friend David from the State. Then I really wanted to dance so we ended up going to Volcano, after dancing Chris, Ben and I went to pool hall.

Me & Thy


At the pool hall



There weren't much things to do, I just chilled at home, searched job online, went to the gym, and met friends. Friends came over and cooked meals. Slutty Hao and Julie Nguyen came back to Sai Gon from Ha Noi. Everyone gathered at our place and cooked lunch. The girls (Trang, Nguyet and Thy) each of them cooked their specialty. Nguyet made chicken soup, Thy made new style spring rolls, Trang made Canh gia chien nuoc mam and che dau xanh.

From the right to the left: Trang, Nguyet and Thy



Spring rolls



Canh Ga chien nuoc mam



Chicken soup


I know you guys will think I am enjoying fun time, yeah it's true but being jobless for a long time until now it's almost 3 weeks, i feel like boring, too many things that I have to worried about. Well, we'll see if there are any new things happen soon.