A Tet basket or Two

Ho Chi Minh City is pumping with excitement at the moment.  The roads are mad, people are buying up like the end of the world is coming...and I'm loving it!  My usual "Go To" shop for all things imported has pretty much had the shelves stripped bare from those pesky unnecessary items....like normal food....to be replaced with these incredible Tet baskets that are given in a frenzy over the New Year.  Much to my surprise they inform me that they are open right over the Tet period.  Handy if I need some Choco Pies but maybe not so much for something without sugar!

Truong Dinh Happenings.

As the city buzzes with the approach of Tet next week, I took a stroll down Truong Dinh in D3.  Here are some snaps of what I saw.

Peek a Boo

Sitting here and enjoying watching the moon playing peek a boo tonight.  My favourite time of day in Ho Chi Minh City.

Crescent Mall Fashion???

Is it just me?  I know sometimes the stylings of some Vietnamese fashion houses are not quite what we are used to but when did Big Bird become a fashion icon?

Bernie won't be going to Vungers.

Thanks to Another Side of Vietnam for this pearler.  This is the sign on the hydrofoil that goes from HCMC down to Vung Tau.  I guess Bernie won't be having a weekend down there any time soon.

A New Player in the Saigon Meat Market.

I am as excited as a kid in a lolly shop!  I probably should rephrase that as a Saigonese carnivore in a new Aussie butcher shop!  It is with great delight that I introduce you to a new player on the scene in Saigons often sadly underwhelming meat market.  Tra Vy Butcher Co (click on the name to go to their web page) has opened in Phu My Hung and I popped down for a visit this morning.

Tra Vy is owned and operated by one of our very own Aussie expats and fellow Vietnam Swan, Travis Fallon.  Travis, who is a butcher by trade when back in Australia, has opened his butchery in Phu My Hung and now must finally be relieved that I will leave him alone and stop asking "when are you going to open...I need some real sausages!" 

Us Moggys love a bit of good old fashioned bangers, mash and beans and these are sure to fit the bill.  A really wide variety of flavours all made by Trav and preservative free.

The man himself.  Trav as I mentioned is a butcher back in Aus and now one of my favourite people in Saigon!

Porterhouse heaven.  I can almost taste the garlic and mustard butter I am going to dollop onto these babies.  The meat comes from my home town of Melbourne.   It is all fresh so you can freeze it when you get home and have a stash at hand.

I did a bit of a double take (pun intended) when I saw the girls but was soon distracted by the scotch fillet!

I was doing a little happy dance when I saw the array of beautiful Aussie red meat on offer.  Not JUST red meat...but REALLY good quality red meat!  Trav also does home made chicken Kiev's,  marinated chicken skewers and wings,  beef and chicken mince and roast lambs and rib racks.  A more comprehensive list including prices is below.  They are open 7 days and also deliver.  Their web page is www.travysbutchershop.com and you can even order online.  Now I just have to find a high protein diet because my BBQ is calling me

Location
A007 Nguyễn Văn Linh
Hưng Vượng 1, Phú Mỹ Hưng, Q.7,
Hồ Chí Minh City, Việt Nam
Phone
085 410 3214
090 399 8036
090 399 8018
Hours
Mon - Sun 8am - 8pm

Home is where your stuff is.

Well, the Moggys are back and ready and rearing for a fabulous 2012.  I have to admit it was a lot harder to leave Australia this time and I found myself much more emotional than I was expecting.  I guess when I visited last in July I knew that I would be back in December but this time there are no future plans to travel back in sight and goodbye was probably goodbye for a while.  The great news is Quiddy is doing wonderfully well after his surgery and it has not taken us long to get right back in the swing of things here.  The kids were so happy to be back with their toys and sleeping in their own beds again.  I was very quickly reminded why I love Vietnam so much and already have a full dance card for next week!  With Tet fast approaching it feels like a time of renewal for us and we are ready to jump in boots and all.  I'll leave you with some pictures I took of my beautiful home town, Melbourne.  I don't know when I will see her again but she will always have a special spot in my heart.

Melbourne Central 

State Library

State Library in Central Melbourne

A Melbourne institution....Stalactites.  Where everyone who is anyone ends up for a souvlaki at 4 in the morning.

I have no idea!

The view looking down the Bourke Street Mall in Central Melbourne. (with obligatory tram of course)

Always something to see in town.

Victoria is known as "The Garden State" and you can see why.

AND you get to sit on the grass!

The iconic Flinders Street Train Station.

St Pauls Cathedral.

An Aussie tradition...watching the Boxing Day Test Cricket match.  Federation Square.

The view overlooking the Yarra River towards the spire of the Victorian Arts Centre.

Federation Square in the centre of town.

Looking over towards Southbank with the the Victorian Arts Centre and the now world famous Langham Hotel in the foreground.

Our "Upsidedown" Yarra river looking toward one of the most famous sporting venues in the world....the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Liquid refreshments on the banks of the Yarra.

One of my favourite memories of Melbourne. If you are not a Melbournian it's a little hard to explain.  This sign has even been immortalised in song by Paul Kelly and the Messengers...Leaps and Bounds.  When I hear it it always tugs at my heartstrings.

I'm high on the hill looking over the bridge,

to the MCG. 

And way up on high, 

the clock on the silo says eleven degrees. 

I remember 

I remember  

The new purpose built AAMI Stadium for the soccer.  Us Melbournians are sports crazy!

So a Merry Christmas to you all and I hope 2012 bring you much joy and happiness.  I really look forward to what lies ahead and sharing it with you all.