i miss my rice

a vietnamese friend said over the phone. he had been eating noodles and duck eggs for the last two days. weather was bad and what can one eat during those times when one is staying inside the school campus?

he asked me if i was cooking the next day. well, he could eat rice at the street cafes and restos but at that moment, it dawned on me he was merely expressing a feeling to a friend. that feeling of longing. only it was not meant for loved ones, but - for rice.



"there is no feast like rice." - a vietnamese proverb

burial jars

when i am dead my dearest sing no sad songs for me, plant thou no rest at my head, nor shady cypress trees...you can't really do that i guess with burial jars...

thap doi towers

twin cham towers at quy nhon.

quy nhon

yellow and white

yellow carnations and white roses to accentuate dinner for friends.

after ketsana

during the storm, a colleague staying at a hotel by the beach sent us a text message: guys, i survived last night's terrible storm. room next door had windows smashed, water leaked everywhere. my room was partially flooded. i slept in the toilet for safety's sake. now just waiting for the storm to pass...hope you are ok too.