This weekend was a pretty full one. Saturday morning I went rock-climbing with Jerry (a swing dancer living here in HCMC). The place is a lot nicer than the places in Beijing. The equipment was actually in good condition and they actually followed through with some basic safety procedures. I haven't climbed in a long time, but I did alright with some fairly difficult climbs. At the end of the day, my climbing shoe, that I've had for 14 years, fell apart and I had to call it a day, but it was still fun.
Sinclair from Singapore was in town for the weekend, and he conducted some workshops over the weekend. I didn't attend the Saturday classes (on account of aforementioned climbing) but there was a party in the evening. It was a vintage theme party, which is right up my alley. Don't get to dress up much in this heat, but I pulled out the ole tie and suspenders for the party. I also sat in with the band at the party venue and played a few tunes on Tenor sax.
Sunday I did attend Sinclair's workshops. He taught a series of moves/techniques in tribute to Frankie Manning, including Frankie's Tranky Doo. Sinclair is a good teacher and it was good to see him teach and see his style of introducing movements. As a teacher myself, the best things I can get out of attending classes is to see other teachers methods, and see what might work for my students. I was also standing in the class as a leader (there are never enough) but also occasionally helping Sinclair demonstrate something as a follower, which is a real brain twister.
Sunday (after a nap) there was also another dance party. Danced until the very end as usual. I guess thats why I got the nickname "dancing machine" here.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Vietnamese Food
I haven't done anything really noteworthy the past few days, so in the interest of keeping in the habit of updating this, I thought I take a moment to talk about Vietnamese Food. The food here is...interesting. It mostly consists of a lot of noodles in soup and raw veggies. Most of the food sits out in the heat all day and yet I've yet to be sick from eating anything here. Perhaps our paranoia about food spoilage is just that, paranoia. Although I have been sick from eating pork in Beijing more than a few times, so I'm still going to avoid that where I can.
The food that I do eat here is quite tasty, but as my friend here Abbie put it, it is "ethereal." What this means to me is that although I can eat a giant bowl of Pho (soup noodles) and be quite full, 2 hours later I'm starving again. It actually seems to be a bit of a challenge to get a meal that lasts me the usual 6 hours between meals. Perhaps I just don't know how to ask for more hearty foods...hopefully I'll get better at the eating thing over the next 3 weeks.
On the other side of the coin, fruit juices are readily available, cheap and easy to come by, and taste absolutely delicious, so if not for my protein cravings, I could live on the fruit juices alone quite happily.
The food that I do eat here is quite tasty, but as my friend here Abbie put it, it is "ethereal." What this means to me is that although I can eat a giant bowl of Pho (soup noodles) and be quite full, 2 hours later I'm starving again. It actually seems to be a bit of a challenge to get a meal that lasts me the usual 6 hours between meals. Perhaps I just don't know how to ask for more hearty foods...hopefully I'll get better at the eating thing over the next 3 weeks.
On the other side of the coin, fruit juices are readily available, cheap and easy to come by, and taste absolutely delicious, so if not for my protein cravings, I could live on the fruit juices alone quite happily.
Monday, May 18, 2009
A few days back I went to the Cu Chi tunnels, which are a series of underground labyrinthine tunnels dug by the Cu Chi area communist forces in the Vietnam war (called the American war here, for somewhat obvious reasons). This is one of the reasons that the USA lost the Vietnam war, which was a bit surprising considering our own history. The VC used pretty much the same tactics to kick us out of Vietnam that we did to kick the British out of the colonies.
The hardest thing to swallow when visiting these sites is the propaganda. Sure, I know that the USA did horrible things in Vietnam, but I still can't get over the idea of people being heroes for killing other people. The Vietnamese propaganda says things like "[so and so] was a hero for killing seventy five American enemy." I always thought people were heroes for saving people, not for killing them.
I also saw the central Cao Dai temple. This is a somewhat strange modern religion that is a mix of Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and a bit of Saint Worship. The religion seems to be about 80% people over the age of 80 however, so I suspect that it will either have to make a lot of changes in the next few decades to survive, or it will die out. Still, the temple was attractive (if a bit suffering from multiple personality disorder), and the music played in the service was interesting to me.
Yesterday I saw an animated movie about an Iranian woman growing up during the revolution and subsequent Iran-Iraq war. I think it was called Persepolis or something like this. It was a French film (subtitled in English thankfully). It was a nice film with an interesting perspective. I still don't really understand what is going on in Iran, as the messages coming out of there are so mixed, from ones of total barbarism (mostly against women) to what appears to be a totally modern and somewhat free society (from some of the people I have talked to, including Iranians). The news would have me believe that it is a horrible place, but most Iranians I have known have all intended to return in the near future.
Tonight...dancing I hope.
The hardest thing to swallow when visiting these sites is the propaganda. Sure, I know that the USA did horrible things in Vietnam, but I still can't get over the idea of people being heroes for killing other people. The Vietnamese propaganda says things like "[so and so] was a hero for killing seventy five American enemy." I always thought people were heroes for saving people, not for killing them.
I also saw the central Cao Dai temple. This is a somewhat strange modern religion that is a mix of Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and a bit of Saint Worship. The religion seems to be about 80% people over the age of 80 however, so I suspect that it will either have to make a lot of changes in the next few decades to survive, or it will die out. Still, the temple was attractive (if a bit suffering from multiple personality disorder), and the music played in the service was interesting to me.
Yesterday I saw an animated movie about an Iranian woman growing up during the revolution and subsequent Iran-Iraq war. I think it was called Persepolis or something like this. It was a French film (subtitled in English thankfully). It was a nice film with an interesting perspective. I still don't really understand what is going on in Iran, as the messages coming out of there are so mixed, from ones of total barbarism (mostly against women) to what appears to be a totally modern and somewhat free society (from some of the people I have talked to, including Iranians). The news would have me believe that it is a horrible place, but most Iranians I have known have all intended to return in the near future.
Tonight...dancing I hope.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Saigon
I'm in Saigon, officially known as Ho Chi Minh City. It is the biggest city in Vietnam, and was the capital of South Vietnam back in "the day." This is the city of motorbikes. The place is just teeming with them and you use them to go everywhere. It creates a sort of low level pollution with the exhaust everywhere down low and at street level, but its not too bad away from the roadways, different from Beijing where it just gets everywhere.
Went dancing on Wednesday to the usual social dance event. Saigon Swings is a really great dance community, everyone has a lot of energy and there are a lot of really good dancers for such a young scene. People are really nice here too and I enjoy spending time with them outside of dancing as well.
Off to do some of the touristy stuff I didn't make it to last time...
Went dancing on Wednesday to the usual social dance event. Saigon Swings is a really great dance community, everyone has a lot of energy and there are a lot of really good dancers for such a young scene. People are really nice here too and I enjoy spending time with them outside of dancing as well.
Off to do some of the touristy stuff I didn't make it to last time...
Monday, May 11, 2009
Workshops & Jam Session
Saturday was a day of workshops. Turnout wasn't great, but I think that the classes went well and everyone seemed to learn something, and there were actually more leaders than followers in the classes. It meant that I had to be a follower for my own workshop, which was a bit strange, but also meant that I learned something from myself.
Saw the new Star Trek movie. It was real good. Lots of little things that made me laugh, homages to the original cast and stories, and a pretty solid cast. A last little bit of ironic humor for this Star Wars fan, is that the special effects for Star Trek were done by Lucasarts.
Sunday went out to Lunch with Sing and Chan Meng and their extended family to a vegetarian restaurant called Naive (with the little dots over the i). It was good. Hearty mushroom based fare, and I do quite like mushrooms.
Sunday was also another workshop, on musicality, this time with mostly ladies, but it seemed to go well and I think people learned from it. (Also did a private blues class that went really well, a lot of progress from beginning to end.)
Dinner was Indonesian Smashed Chicken (as recommended to me by Anna). It was good. Tasted like chicken. Not really on my list of best foods in the world though.
Sunday night I went to Harry's bar for their jazz jam session, played a few tunes with the local crowd. I was the only horn player though, so it was a bit awkward, as Baritone sax isn't really the best of melody instruments, but really is awesome as a harmony/support horn. Still, I felt pretty good about my performance, although I still prefer swing standards to more "jazzy" stuff, but bossa nova is pretty fun to play too.
Saw the new Star Trek movie. It was real good. Lots of little things that made me laugh, homages to the original cast and stories, and a pretty solid cast. A last little bit of ironic humor for this Star Wars fan, is that the special effects for Star Trek were done by Lucasarts.
Sunday went out to Lunch with Sing and Chan Meng and their extended family to a vegetarian restaurant called Naive (with the little dots over the i). It was good. Hearty mushroom based fare, and I do quite like mushrooms.
Sunday was also another workshop, on musicality, this time with mostly ladies, but it seemed to go well and I think people learned from it. (Also did a private blues class that went really well, a lot of progress from beginning to end.)
Dinner was Indonesian Smashed Chicken (as recommended to me by Anna). It was good. Tasted like chicken. Not really on my list of best foods in the world though.
Sunday night I went to Harry's bar for their jazz jam session, played a few tunes with the local crowd. I was the only horn player though, so it was a bit awkward, as Baritone sax isn't really the best of melody instruments, but really is awesome as a harmony/support horn. Still, I felt pretty good about my performance, although I still prefer swing standards to more "jazzy" stuff, but bossa nova is pretty fun to play too.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Blu Jazz Big Band Bash
Last night was the launch party for Jitterbugs Swingapore's new social event at the Blu Jazz club. There was a big band there called the Jazz Nuts (I think that's what they're being called now). This is a new band made up of mostly college kids from the NTU. The band is clearly new and not really polished but has some real potential. The bandleader, Dale, is also a swing dancer.
The good: The band is young and enthusiastic. Many of the players are willing and able to improvise. It's a nearly full big band with all local players.
The bad: Intonation is a wreck, they really need to work on tuning and listening to the rest of the band. Rhythm section needs to learn how to swing, most of the grooves came out way to chunky, more like a rock feel than a swing feel. Sammy Nestico arrangements are to be avoided at all costs for dance bands.
I sat in with them in the second set, did a solo in Splanky, had a bit of trouble playing Sing, Sing, Sing in a different key than my fingers are used to, then afterwards just jammed out with most of the T-bone section to the recorded music and the dancers for another hour or two.
The event itself was a tribute to Frankie Manning, and there were a few speeches given by some of the local dancers about what Frankie meant to them. I know that he always loved to come to Singapore, that it was one of his favorite places to come in the world, because he said as much to me one year at SEA Jam as we sat outside of the dance hall on a bench talking about stuff. For me, one of the best memories of Frankie was exactly that. I like to talk to him about STUFF. Not dancing, or the Savoy, or the Big Bands, but just stuff. The weather, girls, food, etc. It was those moments that made Frankie not just a dance icon and historical figure, but a friend. I'll miss him for that even beyond the dancing. All in all it was a great tribute to a great man, and Sing did a real good job in putting it together.
After the event, a group of us went to get some food, and I was able to get one of my favorite foods to eat in Singapore: BBQ Stingray. I've never had this fish/shark/frisbee anywhere other than Singapore, but it is really tasty. Firm meat that sort of shreds itself naturally, with a nice spicy sauce. That and more lime juice. The picture isn't the stingray that I ate, but rather a picture I found on the internet, but it gives you the idea.
The good: The band is young and enthusiastic. Many of the players are willing and able to improvise. It's a nearly full big band with all local players.
The bad: Intonation is a wreck, they really need to work on tuning and listening to the rest of the band. Rhythm section needs to learn how to swing, most of the grooves came out way to chunky, more like a rock feel than a swing feel. Sammy Nestico arrangements are to be avoided at all costs for dance bands.
I sat in with them in the second set, did a solo in Splanky, had a bit of trouble playing Sing, Sing, Sing in a different key than my fingers are used to, then afterwards just jammed out with most of the T-bone section to the recorded music and the dancers for another hour or two.
The event itself was a tribute to Frankie Manning, and there were a few speeches given by some of the local dancers about what Frankie meant to them. I know that he always loved to come to Singapore, that it was one of his favorite places to come in the world, because he said as much to me one year at SEA Jam as we sat outside of the dance hall on a bench talking about stuff. For me, one of the best memories of Frankie was exactly that. I like to talk to him about STUFF. Not dancing, or the Savoy, or the Big Bands, but just stuff. The weather, girls, food, etc. It was those moments that made Frankie not just a dance icon and historical figure, but a friend. I'll miss him for that even beyond the dancing. All in all it was a great tribute to a great man, and Sing did a real good job in putting it together.
After the event, a group of us went to get some food, and I was able to get one of my favorite foods to eat in Singapore: BBQ Stingray. I've never had this fish/shark/frisbee anywhere other than Singapore, but it is really tasty. Firm meat that sort of shreds itself naturally, with a nice spicy sauce. That and more lime juice. The picture isn't the stingray that I ate, but rather a picture I found on the internet, but it gives you the idea.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Singapore
I've arrived in Singapore and it is hot. Hot and humid. Not that I was expecting anything different but that is just how it is. I'm staying with Sing Lim and her family, her three kids are extremely cute and the little ones just talk non-stop. The next few days will be lots of dancing, which I'm looking forward to. It will also be eating...Singapore is perhaps even better than HK in terms of delicious foods to eat, and fresh lime juice, which is in the top 5 best drinks in the world...more on that to come later.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Nominee for Best Food in the World #1: Won Ton Mien
I'd like to take a moment to talk about one of my favorite foods in the entire world. This is something that you can only really get in Hong Kong. It isn't expensive or particularly fancy, but it is a special treat for me. The food I'm speaking of is Won Ton Noodle soup. Nowhere but Hong Kong can you get this dish with the right juiciness in the dumplings and the right texture of the noodles: a little undercooked and a bit kinky. Not only is this dish delicious, but it is also one of the most affordable meals in Hong Kong. It pretty much goes on my list of top 5 perfect foods. Not to mention that these little shops that sell Won Ton Mien also have Coca-Cola in a glass bottle, which is the 2nd best way to have Coca-Cola (the best is a soda fountain) that really completes the treat.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Evil Shrimp
Last night featured a trip to a Seafood restaurant near Temple Street in Jordon (an area in Kowloon, the part of Hong Kong attached to mainland China). Although the meal featured a vast array of seafoods, the most interesting critter on the menu is the Mantis Shrimp. This creature looks like a cross breed between a shrimp, a lobster, a praying mantis, and a demon.
Despite this somewhat horrific appearance, they taste pretty much just like lobster.
After the dinner some of the crew migrated to a place called Ned Kelly's for some Jazz and drinks. We ended up getting a few pitchers of Blackthorne cider, which is a quite dry cider, but still palatable. There was a small jazz group playing there, and the sax player was decent but the singer not so much. Still, we danced in the extremely small aisles, to the seeming delight of the band and the other patrons.
I guess that this blog is probably also going to become a food blog, as food is also one of my great loves in this world: music, dance, food.
Despite this somewhat horrific appearance, they taste pretty much just like lobster.
After the dinner some of the crew migrated to a place called Ned Kelly's for some Jazz and drinks. We ended up getting a few pitchers of Blackthorne cider, which is a quite dry cider, but still palatable. There was a small jazz group playing there, and the sax player was decent but the singer not so much. Still, we danced in the extremely small aisles, to the seeming delight of the band and the other patrons.
I guess that this blog is probably also going to become a food blog, as food is also one of my great loves in this world: music, dance, food.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Played a few tunes with the Stray Kats big band in HK last night ("Sunny Side of the Street", "Fever", "Alright, Ok, You Win.") as well as did some dancing. There was another guest with that band that night, a singer named Hetty from Melbourne who joined in the same three tunes that I did. She's got a nice vintage voice. Check her out at www.hettykate.com.
Today just had a good "lie in" messing with the new computer and doing some work on my Berklee assignments. Tomorrow I gotta find a place to rent a piano for a while, but there are a lot of places around the place that I'm staying that look like they have pianos for rent so I'll check them out then. Yesterday I was going to do it for a while, but they were all closed for the holidays. Hope that isn't the case tomorrow.
Today just had a good "lie in" messing with the new computer and doing some work on my Berklee assignments. Tomorrow I gotta find a place to rent a piano for a while, but there are a lot of places around the place that I'm staying that look like they have pianos for rent so I'll check them out then. Yesterday I was going to do it for a while, but they were all closed for the holidays. Hope that isn't the case tomorrow.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
First stop: Hong Kong
I just got the new computer that is going to be the base for this blog about my travels around the world. Fortunately, my first stop is Hong Kong, the best place in the world to purchase electronics. So I got myself a nice little 14" laptop that still has a bit of juice, but mostly is portable (2.4kg).
Yesterday was the first full day of my adventure, and the 3rd anniversary of the Hong Kong Swing community, of which I have been a satelite part of since very early on. I taught some dance workshops in the afternoon, then after a bit of a cleanup went to the LanKwaiFang Lindy pub crawl. Free beer and dancing in the street with the HKSwings! crew. Then we moved to a restaurant/bar in Wanchai for dinner and more dancing, as well as performances scattered throughout the evening (including myself jamming on sax with the recorded music for a while).
Tonight is the Stray Kats big band performing at Grappa's. I'm going to bring my horn along and see if I can sit in.
Yesterday was the first full day of my adventure, and the 3rd anniversary of the Hong Kong Swing community, of which I have been a satelite part of since very early on. I taught some dance workshops in the afternoon, then after a bit of a cleanup went to the LanKwaiFang Lindy pub crawl. Free beer and dancing in the street with the HKSwings! crew. Then we moved to a restaurant/bar in Wanchai for dinner and more dancing, as well as performances scattered throughout the evening (including myself jamming on sax with the recorded music for a while).
Tonight is the Stray Kats big band performing at Grappa's. I'm going to bring my horn along and see if I can sit in.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)