Tet is not just an offensive

Jenny and I spent Thursday and Friday hanging out in Hanoi, but things were definitely calming down in anticipation of the Tet, the Lunar New Year. By Friday night, most shops and places were closed. For dinner, we ate a Tet cake, which is essentially the Vietnamese version of fruit cake. It's sticky rice shaped into a square with a pork and corn filling. It was absolutely delicious and filling for our very quiet night in. We had a very early morning flight from Hanoi to Saigon, so we went to bed early. The next morning, the taxi picked us up at 5:30 am. The city had cleared out since a large chunk of people went back to the villages to be with family for Tet. The flight was uneventful and quick. We were checked into our hotel and settled by ten. A walk was in order, so we wandered down the street. We passed a stand selling egg breads. I was skeptical, but Jenny said they were wonderful. The egg breads are essentially scrambled eggs in a roll with fresh herbs and vegetables. It was very yummy and we found a pretty bench in the midst of the flower market to eat. Tet preparations were in full force. There were flowers everywhere and people buying everything they might need. We wandered and found cheap sunglasses. I figure I need at least two pairs, since I tend to lose and break any that I buy. Khanh, Jenny's friend from Hanoi, met us around eleven. We grabbed a quick snack at a food stand before heading back to the hotel. The early morning had caught up to us, and we needed a nap. We met back up with Khanh after our rests and went to dinner. Matt, another ex-pat working in Saigon, met us for dinner. It was a delicious Vietnamese place. Before dinner, we checked out a pedestrian only street in district one. The street was full of families and flower displays. Saigon was beautifully decorated for Tet. I loved seeing Tigers everywhere, since this year is the year of the tiger. My birth year was the year of the tiger, which means that this is a very auspicious year for me. I feel a job coming my way. :) I loved watching the people and see all of the adorable kids excited for Tet. After dinner, we got a tour of the area and grabbed a drink at a swanky bar. Midnight rolled around and we found ourselves outside with thousands of motorbikes and their riders watching the sky. Fireworks began and the show went on for at least 30 minutes. I was expecting cheers, hugs, and kisses like our New Year's celebrations. The Vietnamese are much more reserved. They watched the fireworks and then went home to drink with their families. The evening ended late, but very well. We slept late and went to Khanh's family's house. It is tradition to spend the day with family eating. Holidays around the world seem to involve copious amounts of food consumed in the name of family time. His family was absolutely lovely, so I spent much of the afternoon listening. His cousin's husband decided to share a special drink with us. Earlier in the day, I had noticed a jar with a stack of snakes in it. The snakes were coiled and stacked on one another with a liquid covering them. It turns out this liquid is drinkable. A small cup of the snake wine was collected and we took shots of it. After drinking it, we were told to smell the glass. I definitely could smell the snake. Apparently, the wine is good for virility and back ache. I was just glad to not throw up. Dinner was an absolutely delicious lamb hot pot. We left absolutely stuffed and ready for bed. I had survived and loved my first Tet celebrations. This year will definitely bring wonderful adventures, experiences, and growth. What a fabulous way to start the year of the tiger. I hope your Tet was as wonderful as mine.