Green mangoes around our home in Vietnam, Chateau Mango
There is something incredibly satisfying about losing yourself in every last bit of a ripe mango. I feel the same way about green mangoes. You catch that little bit of tartness with the sweet and sour that makes it absolutely delicious when you pair it with the right flavours. A touch of kaffir lime, coriander, green onion, red chillies, shallots, Thai basil, mint, salt, pepper with just the right amount of Vietnamese fish sauce. Yum, Yum and Yum!
We have a few 'go to' recipes when green mangoes come our way. I love to share...so here goes..
When in Hanoi, you want to take it slowly because seriously,
as you will see from the photos below,
there is so much happening,
you can miss it in the blink of an eye.
Stopping to savor Hanoi in sight, sounds and taste
is the best way to go...and oh yes,
the shopping is good too!
If you are out and about Saigon, this street is too good to miss. Take yourself to Nguyen Van Binh Street. It is opposite the Notre Dame Cathedral and around the corner from the Saigon Post Office. If you are on the tourist trail you will be sure to happen upon it. On it you will find 20 small bookshops selling new and vintage books. If you are desperate for a good read, in English, do not despair, you will find a few here. I cannot vouch for the selection or choices in other languages but you will have fun looking.
There are experiences in life you know will never forget and for me... this will be one of them.
In previous homes I have had just enough space to grows a few herbs. Basil, mint, sage, rosemary and thyme and occasionally, if I was very lucky, I could get coriander (cilantro) to grow for a few weeks. When we moved from England to Vietnam, I looked to see if we had anything to work with and discovered we only had patches of lemongrass around the property to deter the local snake population. It was not exactly what I had in mind. ;)
We have a great garden team- Mr. Thuan, our gardener and Mr. Khai, our green thumbed driver. Together they work their magic. My role is coming up with the ideas.
Sunset by the travelling palm tree..
It has been a few months since I last wrote on this blog and I am happy to be back. I write two blogs, Collage of Life and Expat Diary: Viet Nam. They are the stories of my life...two lives, one in the USA and one in Vietnam. Part of the year I spend in the woods of New Hampshire and the the other under a travelling palm tree in Ho Chi Minh City.
I am SHARING THE LOVE
today for jewelery designer,
Pauline Portheine of Aziet Saigon.
I happened upon Paulines jewelery stall recently
and loved it so much I snapped up a few pieces.
She creates with 100% buffalo horn from Vietnam.
A natural byproduct, it is organic, eco friendly
and what I love most about it, it is light to wear.
The alley in the morning 2 by Bui Le Trang
Vietnam Art Gallery, Ho Chi Minh City
"Art enables us to find ourselves
and lose ourselves at the same time."
~Thomas Merton
The thing about art...and one of the things I love most about it...is that it's personal. It's what speaks to you at first glance and lingers..in emotion and thought. On a canvas, in a sculpture, whatever the medium which has been translated to art, how it makes you feel... that feeling is yours and yours alone. It's the beauty of art..it's personal.
When the heat starts to rise in Saigon you will find me dipping in and out of galleries around the city. It is a cool respite from the steamy days that are rolling in and a chance to catch up on wonderful Vietnamese art. If you live in Saigon or plan to visit, I would put Ben Thanh Art & Frame and Galerie Nguyen on your list. Two galleries, around the corner from each other, owned by the same person. Any one of the many sales assistants that greets you will be only to happy to assist you. I think they are among some of the best in Saigon.
Before I contemplate navigating a street in Saigon, I need to
ensure I am of sound mind and body. To do that, I need a
double shot of something..in this case it was a coffee at
Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf at Kumho Asiana Plaza.
Poolside aquafit
"Oohh la la..let's exercise"
There is only one person who can say this without getting
a shrug from me and that is Caroline from aqua fit.
Caroline is French and has to be one of the most enthusiastic
and energetic people I have come across in Saigon.
Before moving to Vietnam I took every opportunity to learn about the country that was about to become my new home. I selected novels, cookbooks, guide books, picture books and movies. I have left no page unturned. Best of all, just when I think I have it all, I discover something new.
For those of you who are new to this blog, Expat Diary Viet Nam, I have another blog, Collage of Life where I feature the Brown Paper Book Club. I have included it at the top of this page. Once you click on the link..you will see TRAVEL: VIETNAM ...listing my favourite books and movies about Vietnam.
Many of you may have already read my journey around our neighbourhood in a previous post on Collage of Life. For those of you who follow this blog only...the following is a glimpse into District 2, the area that we live in Ho Chi Minh City. I have explored many corners of it over our time here...and each time I always manage to find something new. Like Ho Chi Minh City central, our neighbourhood is forever changing...progress is most definitely in the air.
~~~~~~~~
It is unmistakable and undeniable...
"Tết", the Vietnamese New Year is in the air.
Tết symbolises the "Feast of the First Morning of the Day",
the arrival of spring based on the Vietnamese calendar.
It is a holiday like no other and the Vietnamese
do a very good job of making the most of it.
One of my favourite pastimes in Saigon is sourcing curiosities.
Like a bowerbird, I select with care.
This old wicker suitcase called out to me.
I was in love before I opened it...even more so when I did.
The original paper is charming.
I plan to use it to store my journals...
all 40 years of them.
I consider myself an optimist, looking for the positive in every experience. But there are times when I am simply confounded and bewildered. It has to do with the sidewalks around Saigon. It sounds like I might be exaggerating when I say there are times you take your life into your own hands..but you do.
There is some major kitchen love going on at Chateau Mango for the cookbook 'My Vietnamese Kitchen' by Uyen Luu. I recently discovered the book in Artbook, a local shop in Saigon and have not been able to put it down since. Uyen Luu is based in London, having moved to the UK from Vietnam with her family when she was a young girl.
One week on since arriving in Vietnam and I have a few things on my mind.....
Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon?
Vietnam or Viet Nam?
Which one is correct?
Both are used frequently in Vietnam.
Billboards, newspapers, books, magazines....
I asked our driver which is correct, HCMC or Saigon...he
said he prefers Saigon. I have decided to use all of the above.
The days are streaming by and I keep meaning to write a daily journal.
It has turned into a booklet filled with random thoughts and words...
something to hold onto for a future date. I have a feeling that day may never come.
Today's notes looked something like this...
August 1...
Visit to Medical Center for some tests...was directed to changing room.
In the midst of changing, I heard someone behind a door and sensed I was about to have company.
I changed in a flash, just in the nick of time. A man came out in a dressing gown
holding onto his clothes. He looked as surprised as I did. There is a first time for everything.
Visited Diamond Plaza departments store and discovered not one item
of clothes would fit me. It is true when they say you should either have your clothes
made or buy them overseas. Great spot for picking up accessories, perfume and make-up.
Serious discussions over a garden today as Mr. Khai, Mr. Truan and I planned
where each plant would go. We have colour lift off.
Tried out another masseuse today who has extreme promise. Last week, I was fit
to be tied...I felt out of sorts after a deep tissue massage that left me feeling wasted.
Today...I feel surprisingly light and relaxed. I think I found a gem.
Off to my first yoga class in the morning...feeling zen already.
Can't wait until my bicycle arrives in a few weeks time. I have been
planning my route. Tomorrow I will start walking it.
The back streets of District 2 are fascinating.
My daughter and I depart for the USA in two weeks time to settle
her into her first year of college. The moving company announced today that
our container should arrive next week which would put delivery on or about
the day we leave for New York. I need a plan.
On that note... I am signing off.
My night time reading awaits.
For a few pages, I will leave the heavy night air over Saigon
for the cool fresh sea breezes off the coast of Maine.
More on my garden center excursion around Saigon....
