You can find the oddest thing if you just take the time to read. Cinnamon insoles with a graph of reflexology. Different flavored steam buns.

One big marketing gimmick here is free cups, dishes and bowls. From milk, to Knorr seasonings, shampoo to toothpaste.

We went to the mountain to catch some nice breeze since today we have no power at home. One of the rest stops had some cute wild squirrels. THe view of the city was gorgeous. I am so dark that you can only see my smile.

After being in the sun for so long up in the mountains, we stopped at a coffee shop to refresh ourselves with some lemonade yogurt drink.

In the evening we resumed our painting at the bookstore.

One of my many favorite dishes that many can not stand looking at is Vit Long. Vit Long - Fetal Duck Egg. They also serve fetal quail egg boiled in coconut juice. The steps I take to eat this is to suck the juices with a bit of salt and pepper sprinkled in after breaking the top shell. Then spoon out piece, grab the greens and moisten it with lime juice to make the salt and pepper adhere to it. Place it all together and eat it in one spoonful. Yummy!

For desserts, I got green and black bean desserts topped with seaweed. My cup is on the far right. The top your choice of filling with coconut cream and ice.

One thing I do crave is plain steam bun with no fillings. It is a great way to end my evening of just eating around.

                                                         

I swear kids can sleep through anything and anywhere. Mostly with candy still sticking halfway out of their mouth.

Fresh coconut juice is always refreshing.

Su Su is green bean dessert sold across the street to munch on.

Another one of my favorite eats besides Banh Xeo is Banh Khot. The crispier the better.

Later on the evening we went to their local bookstore where they sell everything from school supplies to wish containers. Even their coffee cups here are cute! Upstairs is the crafts area. You can purchase a plastered figure to paint. If you do not finish, you can always come back the next day. Unlike us, we came really late where it was close to closing time and forced out.

Ngoc Chau is our next stop for some late night snack. I had Kem Chuoi which is frozen banana flatten out a bit, topped with coconut meat, peanuts and a bit of coconut cream.

On our ride back home, we stopped by to the local bingo (they call it Lotto) carnival. The Lotto here is hosted by the gays and transexuals. Very entertaining! It is always crowded here.

                                                         

I thought this flight was going to be 13 hours.

WRONG

This flight is 17 hours till I hit Taipei, Taiwan.  Once I land there, it will be another 2 hour layover till i depart to Saigon.  

During my 17 hours flight, I was lucky enough to get a whole row to myself.  Claimed it by making my make-shift bed.  I appreciate leg room.

Every time I sleep, I always end up missing the food session.  Either way, they will bring it to me.  Dinner was nasty, the only thing good was my cup of water and salad.  Breakfast was omlette cheese with a large hash and fake sausage.  Nasty.  The only thing good was my generic orange juice, half of my blueberry danish and my strawberry yogurt.

Landed in Taipei, Taiwan.  Finally.

Highlight of this layover is that the transfer is smooth.  The security check point was as fast as I had ever been through.  This is the first time that I did not have to take off my shoes, displays my liquids, take off my hat and be pulled aside.  Nice.

Taiwan Lantern Craft Show was being displayed.  The lanterns are nice and it shows a lot of creativity.

The Hakka Tung Blossom Festival will be happening here in Taiwan from 2010/4/3 through5/31.  They had a small display to show that. It was ok.

One thing that caught my eye besides the lanterns were The Field of Water Lilies in glass by Ying-Chuan Chen and Kuan-Liang Wu.

Everywhere I go, I replenish on water.  I love carrying my water filtering bottle by Clear2Go.  It is one of the best thing ever, and it is very green might I add. I think it is nice that the people here inform the public about their reverse osmosis water treatment system.  Kudos for them.

One thing that made this travel a bit easier is my iPad.  It's lightweight and easier carry than a notebook. Good move of me buying this for my own birthday present.

Landed in Viet Nam.

Security and check point visa was a breeze for me.

Stopped by my younger cousin's private in-stay high school to say "hello".

Had lunch at Lang Phung that had horrible service. Got the Com Bo Luc Lac. Outside the restaurant was some eye-catching color and statues.

They got toll here. It cost 10,000.00 Dong which is 53 cents.

Visited my parents motel where my oldest uncle reside and run Nha Nhgi Tien Mi. They got 2 cute dogs there and a lot of birds that can talk!

It took 4 hours of being on the road, eating, saying 'Hi' till I got to my final destination. I'm finally home at Ba Ria.

I stay upstairs with all the private amenities that I need accompanied with a view of the streets.

After enjoying a shower (have not had one in 48 hours), I had settled in and relaxed out front with grandma.

Here, we exchange our money at the jewelry store.

I am exactly 12 hours ahead from home (Austin, Texas). Therefore I automatically lose a day. Here ends day 9 of my travels.