一埗出胡志明機場，一股熱氣包圍全身，這個沒有四季的國家，有的只有熱和更熱，我想四月份只算是｢熱｣的程度。到達時已接近半夜，先回酒店休息，明天再和大家滙合。
The first thing I felt after stepping out from the Ho Chi Minh City Airport was HEAT!! My entire body was covered with the hot air. Vietnam, a country without four seasons, gives you hot and even hotter. I believe the weather in April is “hot” level. It was already after mid-night when we arrived. So we went straight to hotel for rest and met everyone the next day.
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| 機場室外接機大堂 Outdoor Pick Up Zone |
這次來越南是因為叔叔結婚，對方是越南華僑，所以我們舉家來出席婚禮，順便來旅行，連年老的爺爺也來了，所以大家都很高興。
We travelled to Vietnam for my uncle’s wedding. The bride is Vietnamese Chinese so our family flew over for the wedding and also travel. My 90-year’s old grandpa also with us and we all were so excited.
第二朝八時左右，嬸嬸打電話來叫我們吃早餐，昨晚約兩﹑三時才睡覺，雖然仍然很眼訓，但我亦很肚餓，所以睡眼惺忪到餐廳。邊吃邊商討今天的行程，三嬸也是越南華僑，她在這個旅程上真的功不可沒，由買機票到住宿到行程到接送和翻譯都安排得十分妥當。我們人太多，假如沒有一個人安排行程，打點好一切，一定會變得十分混亂。
We woke up around 8am the next day only because my aunt called to our room for breakfast. I slept at 2-3am last night and feeling so tired and sleepy. However, I was feeling hungry as well. I decided to have breakfast first with my half opened eyes. We discussed our schedule for the day during breakfast. My third aunt is also Vietnamese Chinese and she put a load of effort in this trip. She booked our ticket, scheduled the itinerary, arranged the transport, figured out the accommodation, be our translator. Everything are well arranged. We have too many people. It would be a mess and chaos without a leader.
我們會先到三嬸娘家，接回她的小朋友回酒店，然後她會到機場接最後到達的一眾親友飛機，那我們便人齊啦！待他們梳洗安頓好，便一起去吃乳豬晚餐。
We first headed to Auntie Three’s home to pick up her kids back to hotel. Then she headed to the airport to pick up other family members who arrived late. We went to a grilled restaurant after they settled down and dressed up.
人多勢眾，所以出入必需分兩架七人的士，待最後一批親友到達，每次都需要三架七人的士才能足夠。越南有許多電單車，基本上每個家庭成員都會有自己的電單車，有時更一人擁有多架，每當交通燈轉為綠色，就會看到一堆電單車峰湧而出，十分壯觀。當地更設有專為電單車而設的停車場，真的十分誇張。
Because we had too many people, to fit everyone in one taxi was impossible. We always needed two. Once the last group of family members arrived, we separated ourselves to fit in three taxi. Motorcycle is a common way of public transport in Vietnam. Every family member has their own motorcycle, or even two or more. When the light turned green, they will start their engine without hesitation and it was like lots of honeybees chasing for the honey. We also see lots of parking slots just for the motorcycle. That was so crazy.
三嬸告訴我們如果看到水餃店，即是到達她娘家。就在我看到水餃店的時候，司機停車了，同一時間車門被打開了，把我嚇一跳。外面站著一個男人，他說食水餃嗎？下車吧！原來他看到我在車上目不轉精地看著水餃店，以為我想吃水餃便主動幫我開車門。真可愛！更可愛的是，司機未有理會車門開著，繼續緩慢地開車。
Auntie Three told us to pay attention to a dumpling shop because it means we are close to her apartment in Vietnam. When I spotted the dumpling shop, the driver stopped. At the same time, the door was opened and I was scared by that. A man stood outside and asked if I want to have dumpling. The whole thing happened because he noticed me staring at the dumpling place and thought that I was interested in it. Therefore, he tried to be proactive to open me the door. That’s is cute. However, the driver, another cute guy, started moving the car again even the door was opened.
越南跟內地其實都很相似，另一個共產國家，但應該不比中國人富裕；街道總是停留在六、七年代，很有國產淩淩漆的感覺。三嬸家沒有豪裝，屋內簡單放著幾張枱幾張椅，牆上掛著十年前結婚照，當時的我留著短髮，身型瘦削。
Vietnam and China, both are communism, shared the similarity. However, Vietnam is relatively poor. The streets are still looking like those in the 60’s & 70’s. I felt like watching the 1994 Canton movie “From Beijing with Love”. We don’t find any luxury design in Auntie Three place. It is very neat and simple style. Her marriage picture taken 10 years ago is hanging on the wall. I looked skinny with short hair.
天氣太熱，大家都坐在門口乘涼，三嬸的親友很好客，點了許多食物給我們，拿出最好的招呼大家，轉眼間枱上放滿了食物。剛剛才在酒店吃完早餐，現在又再次起動，我們口裡總是說不用客氣，說我們飽了，但美食當前其實很難抗拒，把最地道的越南湯河、撈檬、春卷放進口裡，然後喝原個椰子汁，還是很熱的話便喝牛油果沙冰或榴槤沙冰，立即透心涼，暑氣全消～
The hot weather beat everyone. We all sit at the door to get some fresh air and caught some wind. The family of Auntie Three are very nice and shown us great hospitality. They ordered us a lot of authentic food and provided us the best. The table was full of delicious and mouth-watering food after a while. We just ate in the hotel, now we have to get our stomach working again. Although we kept saying “No, Thanks!”, our hands kept doing the job – putting every bit into the mouth. It is a big challenge to resist the big feast! We had the Vietnamese soup noodle, cold vermicelli mix, spring roll and sipping the whole coconut in between food. The chilled avocado smoothie or durian shaved iced are a good idea to cure the heat. One sip helps to get away from the heat.
回到酒店，「老人家」(泛指一眾叔叔和嬸嬸) 需要小休片刻，我和一班堂弟妹便去酒店泳池游泳，沒有其他泳客，只有我們，可說是暢游無阻。我一班堂弟妹年幾還少，所以小不免會吵鬧甚至乎打起架來，特別是我的堂弟，他很衝動，人小小已經很要面子，遇到問題時會說謊更會大吵大鬧，令旁人十分頭痛，幸好他的父母用心教導他，總不會變成問題少年。
When we headed back to the hotel, the “elderly”, referring to my uncles and aunts, need to take some rest. My cousins and I decided to try out the roof top swimming pool with the city view. No one was there, just us. We had a great time swimming. My cousins are still young, they fought often, especially the 10 years old one. He is impulsive and hates to lose face. Where issues happened, he yelled and shouted which gave the outsider a headache to comfort him. However, his parents are well educated and are patient to guide him and explain him the issue. He is still a good one among the problematic kids.
大約5時，最後一批親友終於到達酒店，稍為休息一會，便出發到餐廳。即使黃昏時分，越南仍然很悶熱，在街站一會已經出汗，身體很黏，很不舒服。加上出入都使用的士，的士都有冷氣，一冷一熱令我總是滿臉油光。
Around 5pm, the last group of family member arrived the hotel. We let them rest and refresh before heading to the restaurant. Although it was almost sunset, the weather didn’t rest. It was still hot in the evening. The body was so sticky and sweaty after a while standing outdoor. I hate myself and did not feel comfortable. It got more serious when we get off the taxi. The change in temperature made you wanna go shower immediately.
燒烤餐廳以烤乳豬做招牌菜，廚師就在門口即場燒烤作招徠，街上車來車往，吸引途人目光外，更吸引車輛排放的沙塵。難得可以近距離接觸烤乳豬全體，我們的把握機會影相。
The popular dish for this restaurant is their BBQ suckling pig. They grilled the pig right outside their shop to attract more people attention. At the same time, the dust and dirt are also “attracted” to stay with the suckling pig. As a Hong Konger, we like to take pictures. Grilled suckling pig is nothing new to us, but hold the entire pig on a long fork is a rare chance for us.
晚飯除了乳豬外，還有燒大蝦和上湯大蜆和炒粉麵，吃得人人捧著肚子離開。
We had the sucking pig for dinner as a mains. At the same time, we had also the grilled prawns, fresh calms in soup and other fried rice or noodle. It was another big feast for the day!!!!
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