Bangkok Weekly... kind of

So. Back from Hanoi. Uncertain how to best capture my impressions. I think the impressions of the city have been outweighed by all other crap that is going on… So I guess I will do my favourite form of summarizing – top 3 and bottom 3 in general, not just Hanoi related…

Top 3:

1) Eating at Bobby Chinn’s restaurant in Hanoi. Fantastic food. Awesome menu. Engaging host. Great service. 1/4^th the price of Melbourne equivalent. I’m not sure that there even is a Melbourne equivalent actually. The grape goat cheese was exceptional. It pops up in my dreams once in a while.

2) Seeing a city that is more chaotic than Bangkok. There appear to be no traffic rules. One crosses the road just by stepping on and walking across through traffic, assuming that the traffic will just flow around, like water.

3) Having a little bit more certainly in life – i.e. moving to London in August (don’t know how, where or when precisely but it’s going to happen).

Bottom 3:

1) Fighting with Buzz. Started with which places to eat at. It seems that he thinks I’m a snob who doesn’t want to go to places where locals eat. Whatever. I’m sure I can’t adequately capture what he was trying to say here. Actually, he probably doesn’t know how to say that either since he is not able to rationally and calmly discuss it. Just starts yelling at me. Have been walking on eggshells past few days and kind of avoiding… Sub-optimal but I guess it is what it is… And as my favourite book adds: there are no mistakes.

2) Appraisal not looking good as colleague from work appears to have nailed me. I keep running afoul of males that are more senior than me. Thus, everyone just assumes that I’m in the wrong. I’ve tried to deduce a trend or a pattern and it seems I only get into trouble when I try to tell them that they are doing something wrong. So now I’ve just keeping my mouth shut and doing my job without trying to give advice. Seems to be working for now. Well, as far as the relationship goes. The client seems a bit unhappy about the guy on the other hand. *Shrug* What can I do. I’m just a mere junior. Whom men in positions of authority have an allergic reaction to listening. Not so different from Buzz actually. He also doesn’t like it when I correct him. So I stopped doing that. *Shrug* Possibly a bit harsh but that's what it feels like lately.

3) Not going to Halong Bay. It was raining. We didn’t end up booking anything. So we didn’t go. I may have to come back by myself.

Sigh. Very tired. Could use a long holiday. Actually could use a weekend when I didn’t have to fly anywhere. There’s about 52 weeks in year. If I had to estimate the number of return flights I take in a year, it’d be at least 52. Counting connecting flights as one flight. I need a break. Which doesn’t involve flying.

Speaking of flying and breaks. Flying to London on the 1^st of June. Have to be in London on 7/8^th June for Admit weekend at LBS. Not sure what will do between 2^nd and 7^th. Maybe go Scotland or Ireland or something. I know most from London will be in Kiev, but if anyone’s around – wanna hang out???

Actually I should probably start checking out accommodation options, hey… crap…