Cool Vibes in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

Sometime in March earlier this year (2015), Pandamopi and I travelled to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Viet Nam. It was a good short trip to recharge and to explore something new. We have a passion to discover new place with new environment, culture and of course food!

The weather was pretty hot, but the city planning was good. We stayed in 3 star hotel -- Blue Diamond Hotel which was in a good location. It is pretty near to Ben Thanh Market. We walked most of the time and skipped public transports as we are big believers in walking. Walking is the best way to explore and enjoy the city.



One of my favorite museum in HCMC is HCM Fine Art Museum - -Bảo tàng Mỹ Thuật TpHCM, located at 97 Phó Đức Chính Nguyễn Thái Bình, Hồ Chí Minh Vietnam‎.

The architecture of this museum is unique. This delightful building which so harmoniously combines oriental and western architecture was designe by the French architect, Rivera, in 1929. It was completed in 1934 for the son of a successful emigrant named Hua Bon Hoa, from Fujian in China. The building was both home and place of business for Tang Huon Hua Bon Hoa, the eldest son, who as head of the family had continued the successfulness of his father's loan and building development company.

In many ways, it is a truly appealing structure because of its cross cultural inheritance of the Chinese and French development of the large family Town House. Opening onto the and overlooking an internal courtyard from various large and small sheltered porticos and windos, it has the liveability of a large town house, but is not wihout a level of the grandiose, with its external front and rear covered entrances which are spectacular without being too grand.

As a whole the building soards gracefully to its fully vaulted eaves which provides a fine basis for its many ceramic tiled roofs which cap and accentuate the stepping in and out of the walls and porches. The overhanging eaves with its basis in Asis, provides both shade and shelter from thepial sun and downpour events which are so muchart of this City of Saigon.

The blue and yellow render finish of the building captures the liveliness of the period when Saigon was emerging as a modern Asian city of the twentieth century and when the street address was 97 Rue d'Alsace Lorraine, and when this new building's three floors were surmounted by an elevator, the first in the city, whose wire grill doors opened on to wide, airy and well lit randah like hallways, off which the many rooms of the house opened r look the pleasant and sizeable interior courtyard.

In many ways, still in original pristine condition, this heritage building deserves to be occupied by the Fine Arts Museum Department which it has done since 1986 and which will assure that it remains a City Icon.

Reference : Signage in front of the musuem.



Something worth mentioning in Viet nam is the typology of seatings in cafe or local street stalls. It is of low levels -- the furnitures are remarkably cute due to its size. The tables and stools are small, making it an interesting sight. Vietnamese are generally very friendly and laid back. We especially love local food like pho, bun cha and cafe sua da (vietnamese iced coffee -- it is addictively delicious).

I don't generally love coffee but cafe sua da is definitely good because i love it!

Üsküdar--Cinaralti, Çengelköy--İstiklâl Caddesi

Our second last day was spent with our new found friends, Hasanali Atalay from Ankara, Turkey and Pablo Gaspar from Portugal via Mesa de Español, in Istanbul earlier. Our random chat about the city and passion for sketching gave Ali the idea of showing us to less touristy part of Istanbul. We had a great time exploring the other part of Istanbul (eastern part of Istanbul). The view is breathtaking as usual. I cannot imagine how it feels like to work in this city, mesmerized again and again by the beauty of city. Only the local would know.


Best borek in Istanbul

Ali brought us to Cinaralti, Çengelköy to have the best borek with çay. There were no tourists, only local eating in this simple cafe yet overlooking the most stunning view. I quickly took out my sketchbook and sketch the beautiful bridge overlooking Bosphorus River while enjoying delicious borek with cay. Life could not be better this way.

We took public water transport back to Western part of Istanbul. The idea is to have the best coffee in Mandabatmaz Cafe, tucked in a secret corner in İstiklâl Caddesi. Not only we had great coffee, we had great conversation which we would be remembering it for a very long time.

On our way back to Karakoy

Sketched this while waiting Paulo to fetch João.

Thanks for the precious time and friendship.

Till we meet again!

Boat Cruise @Bosphorus River

One of the best way to get to know Istanbul in a short span of time is to go for a Boat Cruise at Bosphorus River. There were many random locals that went around selling tickets and recommending this boat cruise but we were only convinced to go for it after speaking to local friends whom we newly met in Mesa de Español, a couch surfing event. This is undoubtedly a great decision as we thoroughly enjoy the cruise. One tip before you sign up for this cruise is that you would only enjoy if you are interested in architecture and history. We were so blessed and lucky as a senior Turkish couple who queued before us at the ticket counter handed us a special ticket that entitled us to full boat cruise journey at half the price. She was unable to speak English but she tried her best to communicate with us using sign language. Such is the helpful spirit which we found almost everywhere in Istanbul. As we were very interested in knowing this beautiful city, we rented the audio and it was very helpful. The audio act as a tour guide, telling histories of the place and buildings. It was like an interesting live history lesson.

Sketched the view below, overlooking Galata Bridge before the boat left the port.

The boat cruise stopped at the last point called Anadolu Kavagi, where we could alighted from the boat and explored for 2 hours. We walked and made our way up to Kalesi Castle. We almost gave up halfway as we were a little hungry and exhausted but thankfully we did not. It was all worth it. The view is beautiful.

A lonely dog at Kalesi Castle, Anadolu Kavagi

 

We had a brief brunch at one of the restaurant overlooking the sea. The seafood tasted great. Not long after, we boarded the boat cruise, ready to cruise back to Karakoy. While waiting for the boat to depart from Anadolu Kavagi, I looked out the window and sketch this beautiful sight of daily activities of men fixing fish net on the boat.

 

Süleymaniye Mosque

There are many heritage architecture in Istanbul that is not to be missed :Hagia Sophia, Sultan Ahmed Mosque (more popularly known as Blue Mosque), Basilica Cistern and the list goes on and on. One of favorite mosque in Istanbul is Suleymaniye Mosque. It is less touristy but equally beautiful and mesmerizing. The surrounding of the mosque is tranquil and peaceful. I found a spot where I sketched this beautiful mosque. Lovely time taking the time as slow as I could and upholding the spirit of sketching.

Interior view featuring the prayer area. To respect their culture and custom, we removed our shoes and also dressed modestly (eg with scarf drapped over head).

view outside nar suites pera

We spent our first 3 nights in this quaint hotel called Nar Suites Pera located in Sahkulu Mah. Sahkulu Sok. No:13, Estambul 34420, Turkey. It is a nice hotel tucked in a very quiet yet beautiful corner in Beyoglu. Husband Pandamopi was sick by the time we reached Istanbul due to time difference and also being caught in the rain when we arrived Istanbul. Being lost and having a heavy downpour is the last thing we wish when travelling but it all went well, despite a little frustration and argument on which way to go (you know this happens all the time, but all for the better).

We had a good stay in the hotel, unfortunately the view outside the room was another building. It was probably not the best sight of all but I learnt to find beauty in everything through sketching and felt happy to discover little details that were actually interesting: little garden at the adjacent building, pipes, roof, shadows, TV satelitte…etc.

I guessed being in a holiday does makes me feel happy even I am not facing the best view while in the room. By the time I am almost done with this piece, Chunkeat was prompting me to get prepared for another day of exploration.

catching sunrise at Galata Bridge

One of the most breathtaking moment is to watch sunrise together. The city is still beautiful despite being a little more quiet. Men rose early and equipped themselves and started fishing by the bridge.

The fact that I am still alive and able to appreciate this beautiful sight reminds me how blessed and lucky am I. Today, I realised I want to just live for this beautiful moment – watching sunrise with love in Galata Bridge.

You certainly could not say no to this. This is just too beautiful…
Waking up early for this is definitely worth it.

sketching while waiting @istanbul modern art museum & @yeni mosque

We were a little too early for Istanbul Museum of Modern Art. So we sat down in front of the museum and sketched one of the historical building which was under restoration works. A Japanese teacher who came to Istanbul for her student’s wedding chipped in to engaged in a small conversation with us and she loved watching us draw. I had to put the drawing to a stop when we are allowed to enter Istanbul Museum of Modern Art. The museum was amazing.
The sketch below was done after a day’s of walking around the city. Our legs were dead tired, literally begging us to stop to rest. So we sat down at one corner overlooking Yeni Mosque. There was an archway framing the Galata Bridge and the beautiful river. There were two shy Turkish who sat from afar, watching us sketch and spoke to us a little to find out where are we from. Proudly told them we are from Malaysia :D

istanbul, beyoglu

Time flies. Without us realizing, it has been a year since our wedding day – 10 May 2014. It has been a great year together as a married couple. So many things took place within such a short span of time. To celebrate a year of love, we went for a holiday in Istanbul.

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, constituting the country’s economic, cultural and historic heart, making it an interesting place to visit. Our trip stretches from 7 May 2015 – 17 May 2015. 3 days in Istanbul, 3 days in Cappadocia and the final 3 days in Istanbul again.

The architecture in Istanbul is breathtaking. I particularly had a great time sketching in this beautiful city. Thanks to my dear husband who always knows how to enjoy himself while waiting for me to complete my sketch. Through sketching on the streets, I met many beautiful people who like to look at my artwork and exchange small conversations and story.

Our love for Spanish language brought us to one of a Spanish-speaking meetup called Mesa de Español. Over our casual conversation, I share on my passion for sketching and show one of the locals, which we eventually became friends. He was impressed on how I sketched his city and decided that we should go to an outing on Saturday and do things which is less touristy. It was an amazing experience and I am glad that how sketching could also helped us make friends.

Seated at a quaint cafe located at one of the secret corner in Beyoglu, we had our very first Turkish çay. The rain just stopped a while ago, so it was pretty chilly. The warm tea works just perfect for the setting. I’m fascinated by the setting of the humble cafe, with small furniture donned with beautiful bright colour table cloth with distinctive Turkish motives.




I could not ask for more at that moment. Life is perfect. Sipping hot turkish tea, overlooking such a beautiful foreign place, doing the things that I love most with the person I love. Life is beautiful.