Welcome 2016

After dinner, 8 of us went to the Saigon River Front in District 1 (downtown) to watch the fireworks. This area is kinda like being in Times Square in New York on New Year's Eve!
Top Pic = We began by having after dinner coffee and desserts at a great hotel coffee house on the water front.
Middle Pic = Just before midnight, we ventured outside to the water front to join the huge crowd to watch the fireworks (note crowd in background)!
Bottom Pic = Fireworks began promptly at midnight, lasted about 15 minutes and were pretty good!
This ended a great evening celebrating/welcoming 2016 with terrific friends! And - Happy New Years to all of YOU!

Linh's Fall 2015 Grades

Many of you have inquired about Linh's Fall Semester grades. Her final grades for this last semester were 1 A+, 2 A's and 1 P (for her Pass/Fail graduate internship). It was a difficult semester for her. She deserves a lot of credit and kudos for a job well done!
Linh has just 1 more semester to complete her MSW (Masters in Social Work) graduate program at WVU - she will graduate on May 16, 2016! Her 2+ years at WVU has/is passing quickly.

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My 1st VN Play

Linh took me, her brother, aunt and uncle to a comedy/mystery/horror play last night. Linh did a good job translating throughout the play - which bothered some of the people sitting near us.
I was impressed by the professional level of the acting (cast of 12), staging, lighting, and sound effects!
Above pic is of us having drinks and pastries after the play @ 1AM this morning!

Christmas 2015

See http://veteran-sojourner.blogspot.com/

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Christmas Eve Dinner 2015

I treated the "Phamily" to Christmas Eve dinner last night at my now favorite restaurant in Saigon (top pic). Of course Linh (Tiramisu) and her brother (chocolate hazelnut cake) got their favorite desserts (bottom pic).

Chef Linh

Last night Linh's uncle hosted a huge, al fresco barbecue for 15+ people at his condo - in honor of the Christmas holidays for me. Linh did a lot or most of the cooking - baby back ribs, shrimp, beef shiskabob (spelling?), and several Vietnamese vegetables. Great people and food!
It is now Christmas Eve in Vietnam - so - merry Christmas tow everyone!

Linh's Favorites & My Old Blue Friend

See http://veteran-sojourner.blogspot.com/

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More of Linh's Favorites

Linh and I had lunch today at my favorite restaurant where she got her favorite dessert = tiramisu (top pic).
Of course Linh had to also get her favorite fruit too (durian) from a street vendor (bottom pic). I am acquiring a like for it. Still very expensive = about $5 for the small one in the pic - and - about 90+% can't be eaten. I wonder how much my friend (Steve) pays for it in the US!?

Old Friend

I met the above old friend 7+ years ago. S/he (?) lives in front of a hair salon across the street from the hotel where I stay when I am in Saigon. S/he seems to remember me every year when we get re-acquainted.
S/he loves to have his head and under his wings itched. Btw s/he says "Hello" perfectly!
Note how tree has Christmas decorations.

Old and New Enemies

See http://veteran-sojourner.blogspot.com/


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