April 27th, sitting in Bangalore International airport,Gate 4, waiting for my flight I still feel like shit. My spirits are low, joy is long gone.Crazy heat,a rejection and ghosted by HR, it was too much to handle. I usually live by one thing at a time but this year of time all came together like New year sale, I thought 2024 will be easy on me but I was proven wrong. “Why!!!” I have asked 1000 to only one person, that’s Jesus!!!
My gray hair, weaken knee , wanted to prove all the B*#₹*₹# and B@#₹&₹# , who call me picky, to be wrong, so went aboard and gave 200%, darn, it still hurts; just 2months aka 1440hrs, wonder how people, married couple bear the pain of separation. May be it’s never meant to be and universal had to intervene to stop a disaster, because if the person is right for you, you don’t have to overboard yourself, you can be just as you are in your torn pajamas which reveals your torn undies.
I was just licking my wounds slurping mangoes while HR who had scheduled a interview started ghosting me, aren’t they responsible to call back and give feedback, humanitarian sake or may be basic etiquette ……why work as a HR when you don’t know to deal with humans, not pleasant creature to deal with but then you are SME
I chewed SH’s brain above and beyond, complaining, asking how I could have done things differently not to be in this situation?
“you couldn’t babe, you already did the best, sometimes universe can be little harsh, don’t let anything demotivate you, beleive and keep going, no ordinary person can do what you are doing…”.She is sweet, always makes me feel like superwoman.
I couldn’t let my saddened emotions eat up my April May. I just had to get away, go to mountains,get lost,far away because running always helps😃
Hopefully on this journey God will increase my faith in him, help me to rediscover myself and let go off all old hurtful memories, experience and make me strong person to endure and to enjoy what life has to offer me. Let’s F#₹&# this shit.
Hoi An is the place I fell in love, the surroundings, the food, people were one of a kind. You can never skip Hoi An if you visit Vietnam, it’s a must visit place
Tons of pics, pleasant memories, delicious food, you can never skip it
B:” I am bored, with my channel glares on, I am set for my walk, hey Lady, can we go…..?
SnL:”where to your father in law’s house? I am working…., you shut and sleep”
B:”Please, please…..peeeeas”
SnL:”shut up and sitt”
B:” I know all about your wfh, bank visit, grocery shopping, parlour visit…….”
SnL:”Keep quiet, dnt spill the beans, else no chicken for you”
B:”who wants chicken, lets go for a walk, I have a date with my boyfriend”
SnL:🥴
Somewhere in someone seeing the pics, house owner who is a teacher goes crazy :”You two!!!, what the hell is going on!!!! My Channel glares!!!, what she is doing inside the house!!!!!
Based on recommendations I was there second one to be there in CAM Cafe, set all in red at least the cafe was all set for Christmas .
I was waiting for my smoothy bowl when Bap caught my attention. With runny nose she was a handful. Dressed in red she meant to be in that place adding required magic.
I asked her mom and she let me click her pic. Bap means corn in Vietnamese
Please note: if you need a professional photographer for your photoshoot you know whom to contact😉
HanoiHanoiHanoiHanoiHanoiHostel washroom,Hanoi.HanoiHanoiHanoiHanoiHanoiHanoiHanoiHanoiHanoiHanoiHanoiHanoiHanoi HanoiHanoiHanoiHanoiHa long bayHa long bayNinh Binh
Exotic flowers.Da NangRequested her for a pose and she did it with a smile.Da NangI didn’t to ask him to pose, he was ever ready. Da NangHoi AnHoi AnHoi AnHoi AnHoi AnHoi AnHoi AnHoi AnHoi AnHoi AnHoi An
The Light House, hostel where I stayed for 4 nightsBikini Bottoms. Yeah, they have a unique nameWomen in black, last pic togetherMy hostel for a day in Hoi AnThat’s LucasCoconut Forest Boat RideAlways mask on 🙂She asked me if I want my picture to be clicked I said no and clicked hers. She is poser 🙂
After having my break fast I bid farewell to Dee and boarded Hoi An Cab. Its jus took couple of hrs on the road and I was in Hoi An. I dont know why I was feeling homesick. Okra being a fancy hostel was filled with foreigners. They were in their own world with bike, beach and party and I was in my own world of lunch, places to visit the dogs.
Receptionist was very sweet, she shared some of the best restaurants and cafe to visit. I booked by Grab and thought will try tailored clothes in Hoi An. I was welcomed by a experience lady who gave me a tab and told me to pick the pattern and dress, shop was crowded with foreigners, who were pick the best suit, dress or shirt for their next event . After few looks she seemed like losing patience with me. I wasnt comfortable anymore, all I wanted to do was give the tab back and run away. My anxiety was hitting me. She asked me how much I am willing to spend. I am picky mind you!!!I never buy clothes in 90mins and she wanted me to pick a pattern in less than 15mins. I mumbled something and ran away. I am sure she would have scolded me for wasting her precious time. I strolled on the streets of Hoi An. Must tell, its one of mt favorite place in Vietnam. I have met really good people here, some were just darlings. I was just exploring the tailored shops when I ended up in a shop where lady was engrossed in her book. She welcomed me and gave a broad smile. After this and that, I ended up giving my measurements to her. She didnt rush me, she was sweet. The lady recommended many good places for lunch, she gave multiple options. Some how I ended up in this restaurant where I had the best Banh Xeo. Not even Hanoi . Ba Le Well, this is the must visit place in Hoi An. Its been 5 months and I can still feel the taste of Banh Xeo.
After the lunch I booked the Grab and visited Coconut forest for the Basket Boat ride, even though it was hot. Its not must visit place, if you have a big crowd you might enjoy. I am not sure why I went may be to kill the time. They said 500VND but Thanks to my Grab rider, I got the ticket for 400VND. Next day I got to know I could have enjoyed the ride for 250VND :(.
Umm Banh Mi and Cafe, Da Nang. Must visit Dee, sweetest girl I met, my local guide
I hoped on my grab and decided to explore Da Nang Local Market. It’s one of the best market and must visit place
Han market is must visit plan in Da Nang. Compare to other famous cities things are cheaper here
Famous Vietnamese sweets
I was aware we can bargain anything in Vietnam, I wanted to check my ability so I found a lady selling mango chewie’s and with sign language asked how much. Sign language is universal language
She typed in the calculator and showed “25 Vietnamese dong” with a warm smile
I took her calculator and typed “15” and showed it to her with a mischievous smile on my face
Her smile disappeared and she typed 20
I was adamant and type 15
She took back the calc and shooed me with her hand and said something in Vietnamese. I burst out laughing.
I typed “Sorry” in the Google translator and showed it to her. She gave me a broad smile and showed the packet and said 20. I wanted to buy but didn’t as I was flying intercity with my pregnant bag.
I waved her and said “bye”. You do make lot of memories when you travel. Yeah, I suck at bargaining .:)
Thanks to my Vietnam trip, I dont use fork to eat noodles anymore. I use my chopsticks. Not a pro but not bad either.It’s not honest nest, it’s breadVietnamese have soft corner for coconut like some parts of India. You find coconut in everything except for drinking waterDragon bridge never gets old, no matter how many times you pass by
Being the last night in Da Nang, couldn’t say no to Dee when she said, let’s taste from Vietnamese beer
Most of you find this post very religious please bear with me and respect my beliefs, like how I respect yours no matter who you are. 🙂
October month is dedicated to Our Lady aka Mother Mary, who is Jesus’s mother. Divine UK was sharing audio messages with picture on Mother Mary’s apparition’s entire October month . On October 27th I received the message on Our Lady of La vang. The story was heart touching and I decided If I visit Vietnam in December I will make sure I will pay a visit to Our Lady of La Vang, how?I wasnt sure yet.
I started doing RND on Our Lady of La Vang, googling, sending mails to unknowns was pretty normal to me. This Lady named Marie replied back sharing useful information. Some other tourist agencies replied quoting 500$ plan:)(over priced). Question was do I want to visit the place with a tourist agency ? Being a solo traveler it was a big no to me, thus my RND continued. I contacted my hostel host, enquiring about Our Lady of La Vang. She spoke to some one and thus I ended up meeting a Vietnamese old man with stinking mouth on the first morning in Da Nang on Dec 8th. He had a bike and was quoting 120$, I didnt like his energy. His stinking mouth or his short personality or impatience ,I am not sure which one was more intimidating, I didn’t want to travel with the old man for a day. So I started looking for other options.
If you are wondering ,Our Lady of La Vang is famous, but only few people have been there. Being in different province most of the people I met didnt know how to reach there. Some were surprised that a woman from India was crazy enough to take the chances
I was enquiring with almost all possible people, Grab bike riders, strangers but no one knew about Our Lady of La Vang. It was almost evening, after my visit to Marble Mountain I thought to visit local church which was Da Nag Cathedral. With no alternatives, I was reconsidering the old man with stinking mouth, my last option
I had just reached Da Nag Cathedral, it was 4:45PM local time. Tried to converse with locals but due to language barrier it wasnt of much help. Watch man was asking the tourist to leave the church premises as it visiting hours were over. Tourist being tourist, shots, tiktoks I am assuming during mass monkeys are not allowed in the church premises due to the monkey business with monkey faces(I am sorry, saw at least few people doing that)
That’s how my magical story starts
I went inside the church, sat down, was looking at the crucifix literally telling Jesus dishearten “I came so far, I dont want to go back without visiting your mother, you are going to arrange the trip!!!, you are going to make it happen!!!, I dont know how, but you are going to….I wasn’t requesting, I was telling him” honest conversation I had in ages. I didnt know how desperate I sounded. I just sat there, eyes still glued to crucifix.
They had just started the rosary. I couldn’t follow a word but I sat there just listening to them. “Look out, keep your eyes open, pay attention, you might find someone who speak English and will help you with your visit” my brain was telling me. I was so lost in my thoughts when I saw a tall 6ft plus, foreigner walking in. My eyes didnt leave him even for a second. I saw him kneeling down and praying. Foreigner though he seemed was aware of the local customs. “That’s the person who is going to help you” my brain was faster than the light for few seconds. Mass started with beautiful hymn, I didnt understand a single word but I enjoyed it. It was last hymn, my eyes never left him, not even for a second, they didnt even blink.
Amen…..with one long jump I was leaning towards him. I am weird and crazy 🙂
“Do you speak English by any chance” I looked at him with hopeful eyes.
please say yes, yes, you are my last hope, I dont want to go with the old man
“Luckily I do” he said smiling. He was in his early 50’s. My face lit like solar bulb.
That’s it babe, he is the one
“I am Sylvia, nice to meet you” I extended my hand introducing myself. Desperate though I knew my manners
He shook it “Hello Sylvia, I am John, I am Italian but then moved to America….you are from which country?” I had his undivided attention for sure.
“India” I said
“Ha, that accent, I know, I know…..” he was humble and sweet
“By any chance have you been to our Lady of La Vang?” hastily I asked with hopeful eyes
“I have heard about it” he said
“So you have been there?” If I sounded desperate, yes I was desperate and impatient too.
He smiled and said “Sadly no, heard a lot about it, but my wife Tam should be able to help you with that. I married a Vietnamese, she is a local” saying that he led me out.
Make it happen, please, make it happen
While we were waiting a beautiful Vietnamese woman walked towards us. John smiled and said “Tam, this is Sylvia, from India, want to visit Our Lady of La Vang, can you please help her”
I didnt know then that I was meeting my fairy Godmother. She smiled back, said hello. We started talking, exchanged our numbers, she said she will get back with more details later that evening.
Around 9pm I messaged Tam and she replied with all required details, arrangements. I was picked up from my hostel the next day and was dropped back at a decent price, in a fancy ride first met van and then bus. I didnt had to compromise my space, freedom bonus luxury. When God make things happen, they are not just beautiful they are gorgeous.(Most of the Vietnamese dont know English, if you know Vietnamese, life becomes more easier, I a sure Tam would have pulled some strings, I had to pay 230VND for one way trip around 10$)
Tam messaged on regular basis to check how I am doing, whether I was enjoying the ride. They dropped me inside the church premises. I spent few hours in that holy place. Was lucky enough to visit new gigantic church which is still under construction. I had energy bars for my lunch, food was my last priority at that moment. Was fortunate, able to attend Vietnamese mass.
After the mass I was picked up from church gate. Thanks to Tam, she kept on checking on my whereabouts. I was alone, on my own, far away from home but still not alone. I am and always will be grateful to Tam, my Fairy Godmother, for being so nice, helpful and being there every single moment.
It’s only because of John, Tam and obviously divine intervention I was able to visit Our Lady of La Vang. The trip I am never going to forget, not in this life time.
The AnnunciationThe visitationThe AssumptionThe CoronationI was waiting for my pick up when super cool girls in their super cool bikes stopped by to say HelloThey were super cool and we ended up clicking a selfie together. I dont know why I didn’t ask for a ride 🙂My Fancy ride 🙂That’s Tam(next to me), John and Trin ,their friend
Sunday after the mass we met for supper. I picked some beautiful sunflowers and bottle of wine for Tam and John, just my way of saying thank you. It was overwhelming to say bye to my fairy godmother, true human, true Christian.
SnL World !!! 