Jakarta Holiday Wishes

Happy ice world from Jakarta!

Here, Christmas decorations are inclusive of bi-polar animals (seals, penguins, and polar bears), and various religions.

Nearby, there's a 6 story "tree" made of Star Wars spacey things.

Only the melty snow-donut dudes seem worried.

I was more worried about what pesticide and anti-mold solutions were required to maintain this gingerbread house in the hotel. Note the holiday mushrooms again!

Let's hope that Adi and Steph's marriages fares better than the festive Styrofoam and floral wedding signs outside our hotel after the storm.

Barry and I went to a traditional colonial restaurant.

We thought their representation of colonial times was more appropriate and less glamourous than elsewhere, with this picture of "Dutch Treason".

We had great food in Jakarta, but we missed the poorly-named Poutine imitation.

We had amazing sate. We may have gone back for more.

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May your days be Barry!

This year, Barry has been ready for the holidays since October, but I made him wait before decorating with the traditional wine-making nutcrackers.

Singapore is bedazzled with lights and flying reindeer.

But some of the malls eschew tradition.

Happy Bunny holidays!

Naturally, the mushrooms have doors. Maybe this is where the elves go when they fall from the shelves?

Another mall has just plain got confused!

Yes, it's a whimsical underwater Christmas! No, I don't know whose whimsy this represents.

The decoratiosn are extensive, complete with glowy bubble blobs,

And scary protrusions, which glow at night, to harm those who have been naughty, I guess.

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Engrish Comfort for Difficult Times

In these difficult times, we can seek comfort in the phone number above.

There is also protective headgear. Along with starting a rational political movement or fighting for pluralism, we can eat our weight in garlic.

The world today is like this:

This Franglais day planner reminds us that there is only time for work and love, so knit your plan!

With a similar message, this bag shows us the importance of getting all 4 letters right.

This notebook urges us to listen to the polar bears.

This plastic container cares for our world (earth planet).

This notebook is a bit more stressed out, so I guess it needs a day planner.

Both Donard and the forks have a winking smile. Why?

In the world today, sometimes thinks just don't make sense.

And to summarize, here is a poem.

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Patriotism and Fermented Fish

We went to Ho Chi Minh city, where there were patriotic chants and traditional costumes.

The chanters were only mildly more happy than this bride and groom during their photography session.

We went to the market to get some fermented fish stuff.

I think it's cheaper if you buy it in bulk, and prevents anyone from coming near your luggage.

I don't yet know which of the 10 types of dried shrimps I'd want to buy, nor whether they have much nutritional value.

This stall uses a CNN screenshot of President Obama and Anthony Bourdain in far away Hanoi, to entice foolish tourists.

Foolish tourists are usually less enticed by the animal guts. Barry was upset that my picture of the brains (top right) was not in focused. But we were dodging flying pig parts.

You know, just updating my Facebook status, with some intestines and livers. Some of the sellers had their feet on the table too...

The sign behind these dried sea cucumbers mentions that the same place also sells purses, bird's nest, and embroidery, so that's convenient.

Prettiest thing at the market? Blue crabs!

Overall, Vietnam has developed noticeably in recent years, and the traffic is increasingly orderly!

There are still a few infrastructure challenges.

It's still fun to see what can be carried on bikes. I believe these are urine sample jars!

I got a Vietnamese pedicure. These are supposed to be lanterns and flowers, but look at bit like pumpkins on my stubby toes.

We also found a spot to play wall video games.

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