Sometimes I really think communism has gotten so deeply rooted into thier system they can’t think straight unless the Government tells them to. I have been to Ho Chich Minh and its very different from Hanoi. Lets take last nights example. I wanted to buy a VCD, and being in the Tom Clancy mood, I wanted to see some of Tom’s best work made into film. Since I already bought “Sum of All Fears” a few days ago, the “Hunt for Red October” was next. I took the VCDs and asked them to test it for me. During the testing, discovered that Disc 1 and Disc 2 where both Disc 2. And I told them thats wrong. They kept insisting that its okay, and I had them play the VCDs again, and she tried to explain to me that Disc 1 was having problems so they want to give me two copies of Disc 2 to make up for it. Huh? What? What in the world do I need with two copies of Disc 2? So I bought “The English Patient” instead.

Today morning I came to work to find the Air Conditioning to the Server room was switched off. Now, let me explain. The server room has 28 servers running 24 hours a day and not to mention some other expensive electronic equiptment. Most of the servers are on the floor with a few in Special racks. The floor is a elavated wodden floor. Now, think how hot the room can be if 28 Servers are running all through the night without Air Conditioning. It was a sauna in there!! I told them that they need to keep the air cond on so that the machines would stay cool. The bank people kept apologizing to me, and said, it its too hot, I can work outside today until the room is cooler. I kept trying to explain to them its a Fire Hazard, and not my comfort thats the issue here. Don’t think they got the message. Sigh.

Anyhoo, thats it so far. More after lunch.

sau·na (sô’nÉ™, sou’-)
n.

1.
1. A Finnish steam bath in which the steam is produced by pouring water over heated rocks.
2. A bathhouse or room for taking such a steam bath.
2.
1. A dry heat bath.
2. A room or enclosure for taking a dry heat bath.

[Finnish.]

A short nap.

I am on the final lap of my stay here and its do or die. My office is in a holiday mood back in Malaysia so support isn’t really comming has hard and fast as I wish it would. In other words I am out numbered, out flanked and the enemy is taking pot shots at me. (I watched When we were soilders last night, and the war talk kinda stuck on me). Argh. Thats all I can say “Argh”. I soo wanna go back home. I have tickets to watch Disney on Ice on the 30th, but I sold them to a collegue cos I don’t think I will be able to make it even if I am back. Next week is APYAC and I sooo wanna be there. I have missed too many activities already. I missed the Opening of my Churchs New Building, I missed Best Friends 2 Concert. I missed Cell Leaders Retreat. I don’t wanna miss this!! So PLEASE pray I can come home!!

flank (flãngk)
n.

1. The section of flesh on the body of a person or an animal between the last rib and the hip; the side.
2. A cut of meat from the flank of an animal.
3. A lateral part or side: the flank of a mountain.
4.
1. The right or left side of a military formation: an attack on both flanks.
2. The right or left side of a bastion.

tr.v., flanked, flank·ing, flanks.

1. To protect or guard the flank of.
2. To menace or attack the flank of.
3. To be placed or situated at the flank or side of: Two stone lions flanked the entrance.
4. To put (something) on each side of: flanked the driveway with tall shrubs.

[Middle English, from Old English flanc, from Old French flanc, of Germanic origin.]

Today was a beautiful day in Hanoi. It was a sunny 21 Degrees day, and I worked most of it. I woke up at 8:30, had a quick breakfeast, then went off to work. I actually managed to get quite a lot done to and then at 4:00pm I said to myself “Self, Thats it for today. Lets go for a walk while the Sun is still shining”. So I got my stuff and went back to my hotel. Dumped my 12.5 kg laptop bag in the hotel room and started to roam. I walked to the lake, where I spotted a place called the “Skyview Cafe”. It was on the 6th floor across the lake, and I went up there. The view was awesome. I made a quick video, drank and Lipton Ice Tea, and then continued to walk around the whole lake. I also went to the Turtle Temple where they have this Huge dead and waxed turtle. Couldn’t get a pic of it though. Then I went to yesterdays posh restaurant and had dinner and a piece of yummy cheesecake. It was back to the hotel where I watched the second CD of Chicago and The Italian Job. Tomorrow is another day

cheese·cake (chçz’kâk’)
n.

1. A cake made of sweetened cottage cheese or cream cheese, eggs, milk, sugar, and flavorings.
2. Informal. Photographs of minimally attired women.