Read Rule Number One Again

“Goooood morning Vietnam!”

As the clock on the wall strikes 6:00 a.m. we’re ready to leap into another day. This is not a radio program being transmitted from the rice patties of Central Vietnam but (my hope) a humorous travel log from our Cenergy Power company retreat in November of 2019.

How do you possibly begin with so many unique and vivid experiences rolled into a ten-day trip in Asia? Well, it’s best I think, if we start with the rules we adopted early in this trip for safety, comfort, and a wide variety of extraordinary travel experiences.

The rules were simple:

Rule #1 - Always follow Doan Hyphuoc Vo (Dr. Vo)

Rule #2 - If you think you are right, read Rule #1 again

Why you say, well, sit back and allow me to share the story of our adventures in Vietnam.

Dr. Vo is the team lead (and our personal guide) for Cenergy’s Electrical Engineering Operations. He was born in Saigon in the early 1950s. This blog post could be a complete biography of his life growing up in Vietnam; dodging the Vietcong as a young boy, being captured during the Vietnam war, attending University to become an electrical engineer, and immigrating to the United States in 1981.

However, my objective with these posts is to document our travels and extend my heartfelt thank you for his eternal optimism, patience, planning, and persistence. It was simply uncanny how he was able to corral a frantic group of 22 people while arranging top-notch accommodations, maneuver bustling airports, overcrowded streets, open-air markets, a variety of recreational activities, excellent local foods, and quite frankly the ability to accommodate each individual's needs. No tour guide could possibly be as flexible or accommodating.

After 20 hours of travel from LAX on EvaAir (Taiwan based) via TPE, we arrived on Friday, November 21, 2019.

Luggage, oh my - as a group we schlepped - 8 large cardboard boxes, 2 checked suitcases per person, backpacks as carry-ons, cameras, caged chickens (just kidding), you name it we had it. We looked like a circus had just dropped from the sky into Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Now imagine the challenge of passing through customs, a group this size approaching with carts loaded to the brim. Large X-Ray machines loom ahead with the prospect of having every box, bag, and backpack (after an exhausting flight) unloaded and reloaded one-by-one on to the rolling carts was absurd. Just minutes earlier our entry into Vietnam was routine, simply hand your passport and visa to security at customs. We were home free, (we thought) however there was one final checkpoint after collecting all the luggage.

So, how do you handle this? It’s simple - for Dr. Vo.

He walks casually to the head of the group and motions to the security guards running the X-Ray machine, “Would you like to see my passport?” He says in Vietnamese.

Suddenly, as if by magic we wheeled all those huge boxes and large heavy suitcases around the X-Ray machine to the exit with one stipulation, “Please place your backpacks on the conveyer.”

“In Vietnam what’s illegal is legal,” he would say to me many times during the upcoming week around the city.

Little did we know we had effortlessly passed through customs by following Rule #1. This would occur many times during our whirlwind travels.

But wait, its approaching Midnight and were still at the airport.

If you’ve never traveled to Asia here’s what you can expect. As you exit the airport, there is a barrier with hundreds of people waving placards, jabbering on cellphones, taxis, buses, scooters darting in every direction - in short, mass confusion. But there among the masses was Dr. Vo's man in Vietnam, Quach Bao. He calmly lead us off to the side and had taxis' ready to load that pile of stuff and our group of weary travelers. What a relief.

That night, headed for the hotel, we received our first lesson navigating Ho Chi Minh City,

“You see these cabs with the VinaSun logo they are legitimate, many of the others are not. In Vietnam what’s illegal is legal.”

Without incident, another potential nightmare handled with ease and comfort.

So remember, when in doubt - read rule number one again.

And we haven’t even started yet, stay tuned . . .

The Who Was - Series

In this episode, the Who Was? - Series . . . With over 250 titles, Penguin Random House Books Who Was? - Series tells the incredible stories of trailblazers, legends, innovators, and creators. Are you a bibliophile, an individual who loves and frequently reads books (a bookworm)? What is it that compels you to pick up a book? Is it the cover, is it the title, how about an interest in a specialized subject, or just - perhaps it's a whim? One of my ultimate goals with these podcasts is to reach a young audience. I've found that reading children's books is a gratifying and educational experience. Yes, even grown-ups can understand difficult concepts. To my surprise, both children and adults seem to appreciate the experience. With education such a hot topic in the news right now, we need to be reminded that whether it's going to school, visiting a museum, or online learning, the goal of education (both young and old) is to nurture an interest in learning. William Butler Ye

Big Apple, Big Charge

In this episode – Big Apple, Big Charge . . . Welcome back to On the Fly, your weekly dose of quirky observations and unexpected trends. Today, we're fresh off a trip to the Scaffolding/Plywood jungle, where we witnessed a phenomenon that will make you rethink your relationship with the humble wall socket. That's right, we're talking about New York City, and it's . . . wait for it — Free, ubiquitous electric outlets! New York constantly buzzes with traffic, jackhammers, honking horns, and helicopters. But what struck me most was the sheer volume of people glued to their devices while commuting and navigating the streets with hundreds of construction obstacles. It's like everyone's “plugged into” some invisible grid—phones, tablets, watches, headphones, earbuds, e-bikes—you name it. And that's where things get interesting. But, unlike our quiet suburban life, free outlets in NYC aren't exactly abundant. So, how do these New Yorkers keep their gadgets

What Time Is It

In this episode – What Time Is It . . . In the era before smartphones, let’s say we’re on a telephone call, and you ask me, “What time is it?” As a five-year-old, my reply is, "The big hand is on the two (2) and the little hand on the eight (8).” You would then say, "Alright, it's ten minutes after eight o’clock or eight-ten, right?" This is how we learned to tell time as children–remember? Well, what happened . . . During dinner last week in Westfield, NJ, a retired high school teacher told our group, “Did you know that children today cannot read the time on a traditional watch with an analog face?” “Why not?” we asked. “Because of smartphones and the proliferation of digital clocks.” “Wow! That’s hard to believe.” Welcome to this week's episode of "On the Fly." Today, we'll compare classic mechanical watches to modern quartz watches and explore an unexpected social shift. To begin with, let me take you back a few days. I’m a traditionalist and pre

It Runs on Steam

In this episode – It Runs on Steam . . . If you’ve seen Back to The Future III, you may remember Doc Brown's line, “It Runs on Steam !” Recently, I visited my good friend Billy in Westfield, New Jersey. Among his many other hobbies, Billy is a steam engine enthusiast. He proudly fired up his miniature steam engine and confidently explained its workings, which got me thinking . . . (Sound effect of Billy's steam engine whistle) Have you ever considered how environmentally friendly a steam engine powered by renewable energy could be? There would be no need for gasoline, batteries, diesel fuel, or Uranium-234. Imagine an engine powered by water—yes, water. I can hear the naysayers: "But . . .” Welcome back to On the Fly, where we dive into one of history's most fascinating inventions. Today, we're firing up a revolution – the Industrial Revolution, that is – with the mighty steam engine! For centuries, people relied on muscle, wind, and waterpower to get things do

On The Fly

Search This Blog