Author Archives: asienizen

About asienizen

I lived many years in Indonesia during my childhood. I moved to the USA as a young adult, and after 6 years in University, I moved west - back to the East. I've always told myself I would write a record of my life as a resident alien in East Asia, here is my attempt at that idea. I will usually put up an entry as often as I can, sometimes of the events of the week, sometimes a thing of interest that I saw. I will try to put up as much video and pictures as can be done, provided I can figure it out.

Ha Giang Mountain Majesty 2 of 2

Posted on September 9, 2014 by asienizen

Three hundred yards down the road, my travel companions were waiting. “Is everything OK?” Dean asked me. Smiling I said, “Oh, you should have seen me – no problems whatsoever. Apparently, he just wanted to check my driver’s license.” We … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged adventure, alpine, canyon, China, expat, expatriate, gorge, Ha Giang, Ha Giang City, Ha Noi, Hanoi, highland people, highlands, hill tribe, Hmong, holiday, living abroad, Miao, Motorcycle, motorcycle trip, mountains, pass, Thai, touring, tourism, tourist, vacation, Vietnam War, Vietnamese, Yao | 4 Comments

Ha Giang Mountain Majesty 1 of 2

Posted on July 19, 2014 by asienizen

Spring was heating up into summer, and I had weathered my third winter in Hanoi. Before the heat became unbearable however, I had laid plans to visit a place that had intrigued me for over two years. A week’s long … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged adventure, alpine, canyon, China, expat, expatriate, gorge, Ha Giang, Ha Giang City, Ha Noi, Hanoi, highland people, highlands, hill tribe, Hmong, holiday, living abroad, Miao, Motorcycle, motorcyle trip, mountain, mountains, pass, Thai, touring, tourism, tourist, travel, tribal, vacation, valley, Vietnam, Vietnam War, Vietnamese, Yao | Leave a comment

Ten Seconds of Stardom

Posted on May 23, 2014 by asienizen

It was 3 AM, and I couldn’t sleep. Yet, I had an early start to my day this Wednesday. I needed to be down the street at David’s house to pick him up for a film shoot. That’s right he … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged acting, army, Ba Vi, browning, Da Nang, Enfield, expat, film, Ha Noi, Hanoi, Saigon, Springfild, tour, tourism, travel, Viet Minh, Vietnam, Vietnam War | Leave a comment

Back to Hanoi

Posted on March 3, 2014 by asienizen

The winter in Hanoi can be surprisingly brutal. In December it’s usually quite nice, 40 – 68F with mostly clear skies; quite cold for a tropical city. The Christmas trees of December give way to the citrus trees of Tet, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Beach, Da Nang, Danang, English teaching, ESL, expat, expatriate, Ha Noi, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hoi An, Marines, teaching, tourism, travel, Vietnam | 1 Comment

Jeet yet?

Posted on October 2, 2013 by asienizen

It was a Tuesday evening and it had rained all day and the night before. I put on my rain gear – jacket, pants and overshoes – and drove my motorcycle to work. It was raining hard, visibility was poor … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Buddhist, Colloquial, Da Nang, Danang, English teaching, expat, expatriate, Ha Long Bay, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hoi An, Jeet yet, Quang Nam, redneck, Saigon, tourism, travel, Typhoon, Vietnam, Vietnamese | 2 Comments

Fix that Leaky Pipe!

Posted on August 15, 2013 by asienizen

“Hello, Mr. Khale?” a voice shouted through the haze of a sound sleep, followed by loud pounding on wood. I looked over at my watch, 6 in the morning for a guy who works till 8 at night is WAY … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged China Beach, Da Nang, English teaching, expat, Hanoi, Hoi An, housing, rental, Saigon, tourism, tourist, travel, Vietnam | 1 Comment

The Man I Almost Knew

Posted on May 27, 2013 by asienizen

It was a hot morning – by 9am it was already 97F. I went to my one of my favorite eating places today – and checked my email. There was a message from my sister that I had been expecting. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Life in Da Nang

Posted on March 26, 2013 by asienizen

It’s been a while since I moved to Da Nang, I came in November with a good deal of money saved up and the hopes of quickly finding a house and a job. The house came quickly – I found … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Beach, China Beach, Da Nang, English teaching, expat, Hai Van Pass, Hanoi, Hoi An, Monkey mountain, sea, tourism, tourists, Vietnam | 3 Comments

Follow the Ho Chi Minh Trail. . .

Posted on November 30, 2012 by asienizen

My contract with my employer expired in late October. They gave me my final paycheck, complete with severance pay, and I was free. Despite having a memorable year of employment, and spending over a year and a half in Hanoi, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged citadel, English teaching, ESL, expat, forbidden city, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Ho chi minh trail, Hue, Karst, Motorbike, motorcycle trip, Phong Nha, Saigon, tourism, tourist, travel, Vietnam, Vietnam War | 1 Comment

Walking in Sapa’s Valley

Posted on October 14, 2012 by asienizen

Compared to the crowded and sunny coastal town of Ha Long, Sapa is quite the other extreme; it is a mountain town in the north west of Vietnam, at over 6,000 feet. The day after returning from Ha Long, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Darjeeling, English teaching, ESL, Ha Noi, Hanoi, Hmong, mountains, rice field, Sa Pa, Saigon, Sapa, tourism, travel, trekking, Vietnam, Vietnamese, Zomia | 3 Comments