Vietnam Says: 10 Random Thoughts I Had in Vietnam

The Indochina throwback post never ends as I share another 10 random thoughts about my two and a half day trip at Vietnam.

Beverages, no matter how fancy or not, are best served when you are with people. In the end, it's not the price or the flavor that will mark in your memory, but the people you are with. 

Nourish yourself, not just with food, but

 with good insights and good influences. There should be no room for toxicity.

Get a serving of Sweet and Sour Perseverance marinated with Patience and Love. 

Pagod ka na ba? Di man sa gina-invalidate  nako imong kakapoy, but at the end of the day, your kapoy is an evidence of your hard work. That's always a reminder to me. As you grow, your hard work strengthens you. And tiredness is a reminder that you have done enough for the day and rest is at hand.

Visiting this country, I saw how hardworking people of all ages are. At 1AM, a teenage boy who looked like a Korean hearthrob guards the Family Inn we checked in. College students were volunteering as tour guides just so they can practice their confidence and their English skills. They even have other part time jobs. There were also old men and women who push carts in every street selling a variety of stuff. Every street has galleries filled with passionate artists. Mapapa-Sana All na lang.

 Freedom is free. Freedom is a right. Fight for it. Like the Philippines, Vietnam was also colonized by foreign countries. FRANCE. Their capital city, Ho Chi Min is also known as Saigon. We visited 2 of their museums there and heard and read ther stories of how they fought for the country's independence. Those black and white photos can really melt one's heart. 

 Life is a beautiful journey. Learn to use google map, booking applications and watch out for air fare promos. This trip improved my planning abilities. This was my first trip abroad and whoaah! I was amazed by the many things I have learned, from preparations to executions. Expectations to Realities. But most of all, Life is just an amazing journey. Life is such a wonderful gift from God.

 Living rooms without people are just rooms, no matter how fancy the furnitures are. This photo was taken from the Independence Palace at Ho Chi Minh. It's beautiful, well maintained, but well, just empty. It sit's there and supposed to flash back memories.

This reflection of course is totally unrelated to the history of the place. It's just that while I was staring at the living room, I thought of why living rooms are called living rooms. Maybe because, it's where the residents of the house gather, where they invite their guests, have their chitchats and jokes. Maybe living rooms live because of the voices in it. It's kind of like our own life. We can look fancy, expensive or be the most stunning person in the universe but without sharing our voices and listening to the voices of others, we're like empty living rooms. Just existing.

You have so much potentials. Don't limit yourself. You are made for a purpose. Chase it.

 Your faith is a work-in-progress. Strive for it. This is one of the most beautiful Churches I've been to. I was actually excited to see this. This was one of the must-visit place I've listed. It was just sad that I didn't attend mass. I couldn't understand it, of course and the church was under construction by that time.

What I also realized about this trip was that I am truly blessed that I was born a Filipino and a Catholic Christian. Not all people in the world are privileged to know Jesus that easily. The country was a home to various beliefs that even hearing those stories sounds so confusing (I mean no offense!) This just goes to say how evangelization is greatly needed.

Importante and feelings but let's not let it

rule over everything. Choose decision over emotion. 

Feelings change. Learn to move on and learn from it. Better yet, make a hugot out of it... or pwede pud business.

The thing about being in the dark, you'll immediately identify the difference of what light can do. But that's not an indication to stay in the dark. Don't stay in the dark and just watch the light. Don't stay in the shadows. Bright and awesome things happen in the light. Follow the light. Live in the light. I've said it before, I'll say it again, di ta pangitngit bes.