We depart for Hanoi tomorrow night, but have had a wonderful stay in Hue. I'm so glad we had a bit of free time built in to this visit. Our friends at the university here have been very warm and incredibly generous hosts - in fact, we've hardly been left alone for a moment. We spent yesterday making a field visit in the morning to one of the local fishing villages here, and then in the afternoon were taken sightseeing to an area south of the city which is littered with the tombs of Vietnamese emperors. We toured two tomb complexes, both incredibly interesting. Coupled with the sights of the Citadel (which we will visit tomorrow), it is no wonder that Hue has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There's some amazing history here, and quite a romantic atmosphere as well.
We spent this morning meeting with our other partners here in the city, and then touring their learning site, which was further outside of town than we went yesterday. In addition to visiting two fishing villages on the lagoon there, we also went out in a traditional (and very rickety) wooden fishing boat - lovely to be out on the water for a bit, if only to get a break from the oppressive heat!
We've just come in now from a fantastic dinner, hosted by our friends here at the science university. As is usual, there was a procession of about 8 different courses, all of which were delicious and beautifully presented (I felt like a fool, snapping pics of the food - but really, it had to be documented).
Tomorrow is our last day in the city. We will have another university meeting in the afternoon, and then will be taken sightseeing and shopping in the afternoon. A great end to a very nice stay here in Hue - which I much prefer to Hanoi.
30 June 2008
28 June 2008
Arrived
OK, so I'm in Vietnam. Arrived here in Hue City last night (i.e. Friday morning in eastern North America). Remarkably, it was an uneventful trip - no delays or lost luggage. The 15.5-hour flight to Hong Kong was grueling, but at least I had a bulkhead seat and was able to prop my legs up, so I was far better off than most. The plane was really nice (a Boeing 777), though there's never much to do during these flights other than eat, sleep and watch movies. I got through four (The Other Boleyn Girl, 27 Dresses, Shine a Light, and Charlie Wilson's War), plus a few TV shows.
Friends of ours from the university in Hue - two women who've come to Dal to study under the aegis of our project - met us at the airport on arrival, with bouquets and much fanfare (which was lovely, but a little embarassing). The hotel is quite nice - better than the one we stay at in Hanoi - and it was a relief to finally get some sleep last night, after having been on the go for about 32 hours since starting the journey on Thursday.
Today is about rest and practicalities. We got ourselves sorted out with wireless connections this morning, and in a little while we will be taken to the bank to get some currency. Tonight, we've been invited for dinner at the home of one of the project leaders here, which I'm sure will be very nice.
Oh, and the weather? Argh. It's 9am right now, I'm sitting in an air-conditioned hotel lobby, and I'm already a little sweaty. We can expect temperatures in the high 30s this week, with very high humidity. Gah.
Friends of ours from the university in Hue - two women who've come to Dal to study under the aegis of our project - met us at the airport on arrival, with bouquets and much fanfare (which was lovely, but a little embarassing). The hotel is quite nice - better than the one we stay at in Hanoi - and it was a relief to finally get some sleep last night, after having been on the go for about 32 hours since starting the journey on Thursday.
Today is about rest and practicalities. We got ourselves sorted out with wireless connections this morning, and in a little while we will be taken to the bank to get some currency. Tonight, we've been invited for dinner at the home of one of the project leaders here, which I'm sure will be very nice.
Oh, and the weather? Argh. It's 9am right now, I'm sitting in an air-conditioned hotel lobby, and I'm already a little sweaty. We can expect temperatures in the high 30s this week, with very high humidity. Gah.
24 June 2008
Off to Asia (A Day Late)
I'm headed to Asia this Thursday, for a work-related trip of about two weeks. I'll be spending the first week and a bit visiting four of our university partners in Vietnam. Once I'm done with work, I'm having a short stopover of four nights in Tokyo - a place I had planned to visit last winter, before that trip got cancelled. Very happy to have a second chance to visit again!
Originally, during this trip we were also going to visit the fifth university partner in our project, who are located in Iloilo, Philippines. But we were shocked to learn yesterday that the city has been very badly flooded as a result of Typhoon Fengshen, which struck the Phillippines last weekend. It is pretty much a disaster zone, with no water or electricity - so obviously, we immediately cancelled our plans to travel there and spent yesterday trying to rearrange our flight itineraries in order to avoid the Philippines altogether. We are also very worried about our colleagues there, and hope that everyone is safe - though the devastation to property is sure to be terrible.
So instead of departing tomorrow morning as planned, we will leave a day later, on Thursday, and will travel directly to Hue City, Vietnam, for meetings with two of our partners there. We will carry on next Tuesday evening to Hanoi for more meetings, and will be finished work by next Friday (4 July). My boss will head back to Canada that day, and I'll travel on to Tokyo that night. I return to Canada on Tuesday 8 July.
I expect to have internet access for much of my trip, and so plan to blog throughout. Watch this space.
Originally, during this trip we were also going to visit the fifth university partner in our project, who are located in Iloilo, Philippines. But we were shocked to learn yesterday that the city has been very badly flooded as a result of Typhoon Fengshen, which struck the Phillippines last weekend. It is pretty much a disaster zone, with no water or electricity - so obviously, we immediately cancelled our plans to travel there and spent yesterday trying to rearrange our flight itineraries in order to avoid the Philippines altogether. We are also very worried about our colleagues there, and hope that everyone is safe - though the devastation to property is sure to be terrible.
So instead of departing tomorrow morning as planned, we will leave a day later, on Thursday, and will travel directly to Hue City, Vietnam, for meetings with two of our partners there. We will carry on next Tuesday evening to Hanoi for more meetings, and will be finished work by next Friday (4 July). My boss will head back to Canada that day, and I'll travel on to Tokyo that night. I return to Canada on Tuesday 8 July.
I expect to have internet access for much of my trip, and so plan to blog throughout. Watch this space.
16 June 2008
The Road to the ICC: Paved With Good Intentions?
A troubling story from Steph Nolen in The Globe and Mail this weekend, concerning the possible role of the mighty International Criminal Court in the continued propping-up of Robert Mugabe's murderous regime in Zimbabwe. The so-called "Charles Taylor Effect" will certainly give the ICC's detractors more fodder for their criticisms, that's for sure. This article is a sobering reminder that when it comes to justice, one size definitely does not fit all.
[As an aside, I see that the Globe has finally abandoned its stupid practice of locking online articles and restricting access only to subscribers - about time, too.]
[As an aside, I see that the Globe has finally abandoned its stupid practice of locking online articles and restricting access only to subscribers - about time, too.]
09 June 2008
I Want to Believe
Continuing with the sci-fi theme, I only found out very recently that there is a new X-Files movie due out in late July. How in the hell have I managed to miss that news?! The X-Files was one of my all-time favourite TV shows, and was required viewing for many years - even towards the end, when the series went on far longer than it should have, with predictably lame results (I still can't forgive Chris Carter for the sheer ignominy of the Lone Gunmen's demise).
The new movie is called The X-Files: I Want to Believe (naturally!) and is supposedly set some years after the original series ended. Apparently, this movie was meant to be made and released only a year or two after the TV series ended in 2002, but various delays and squabbles meant that it's only getting a release now. It's all been a bit hush-hush, with very little news leaking from the set over the past year. I wonder if that's a good thing or not, though - if devoted fans like me are only just hearing about it now, it doesn't say much for building pre-release excitement.
No matter, though - I'll be at the cinema on opening weekend, to get me a long-overdue dose of Mulder and Scully and their criss-crossing flashlight beams. Woot!
The new movie is called The X-Files: I Want to Believe (naturally!) and is supposedly set some years after the original series ended. Apparently, this movie was meant to be made and released only a year or two after the TV series ended in 2002, but various delays and squabbles meant that it's only getting a release now. It's all been a bit hush-hush, with very little news leaking from the set over the past year. I wonder if that's a good thing or not, though - if devoted fans like me are only just hearing about it now, it doesn't say much for building pre-release excitement.
No matter, though - I'll be at the cinema on opening weekend, to get me a long-overdue dose of Mulder and Scully and their criss-crossing flashlight beams. Woot!
03 June 2008
Gaiman for Doctor Who?!
Holy crap. There's a rumour going round that top fantasy author Neil Gaiman may write an episode or two for the next series of Doctor Who. Which, if true, would be beyond amazing.
*crosses fingers very tightly*
*crosses fingers very tightly*
01 June 2008
Dinner and a Movie
Last night, we went for dinner at Morris East, a new downtown hipster hangout that opened last summer. The main feature of its kitchen is a fancy wood-fired oven, which is used in the production of the resto's central offering: artisanal pizza (the kind with a very thin crust and posh toppings, like arugula and goat cheese). We quite enjoyed it. Fun atmosphere, tasty food, efficient service and reasonable prices. I'm sure we'll return.
Afterwards, we headed over to the cinema, as I've been anxious to see Prince Caspian, the latest Narnia film. As is to be expected, it looks great - it's wonderful how, with technology now, they can really do justice to the fantasy genre. All the magical creatures of Narnia were well-represented in this film; the visualization of the chivalric mouse Reepicheep was particularly good! Performances from the human cast were fine too, with the actors who played the Pevensie children in the last film returning for this one. The adaptation from the novel was quite credible, with perhaps one exception (a scene involving the return of the White Witch, which I felt was unnecessary). By the end of the movie, the stage gets neatly set for the next installment in the series, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. All in all, it was solid and respectable enough - though I felt that there was a little too much emphasis on big, macho battle scenes. I'd have liked more magic and wonder, and less in the way of sweaty men with big swords running around yelling "yaaAAAarrrrRRGGhhhh!"
But that's just me. ;-)
Afterwards, we headed over to the cinema, as I've been anxious to see Prince Caspian, the latest Narnia film. As is to be expected, it looks great - it's wonderful how, with technology now, they can really do justice to the fantasy genre. All the magical creatures of Narnia were well-represented in this film; the visualization of the chivalric mouse Reepicheep was particularly good! Performances from the human cast were fine too, with the actors who played the Pevensie children in the last film returning for this one. The adaptation from the novel was quite credible, with perhaps one exception (a scene involving the return of the White Witch, which I felt was unnecessary). By the end of the movie, the stage gets neatly set for the next installment in the series, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. All in all, it was solid and respectable enough - though I felt that there was a little too much emphasis on big, macho battle scenes. I'd have liked more magic and wonder, and less in the way of sweaty men with big swords running around yelling "yaaAAAarrrrRRGGhhhh!"
But that's just me. ;-)
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