Today's Update!

Two things:

First, thanks for all the comments and emails about "My Day of Beauty".  Everyone seemed especially curious about "Tree Man", the barber.  So, on my way to Ochao this afternoon, I attempted to get a closer look at his operation and take a couple more pics.

First, a few folks suggested yesterday that they couldn't see the mirror or price list, so...

Ok, the pic's pretty blurry (Yes, I was caught in the act of snapping the photo; hopefully Mr Customer doesn't have a divot snipped out of his hairdo), but you can see the mirror directly in front of the hair cutee (who's reclining) and the price list to the left of that.  Who knows what might have happened had the barber been giving the guy a shave when I caught his attention (and reason #1 why I won't be getting my beard trimmed there).

 Reason #2 is shown below:

It's tough to see, but the chord which plugs into whatever electrical devices our hairstylist needs for his customers runs up the trunk of the tree (see yellow chord?), is attached midway up, then runs in a straight line...

directly across the street and into the red building above (chord runs diagonally from upper right to low left and appears to run from the top of the building on the right to the lower building on the left).

Given evidence for Reasons #1 and #2, I feel no need to search out evidence of Reason #3, the "ear massage stick", and will likely continue to patronize the Ngoc Mai Beauty Salon down the street.

As for Update #2, I forgot to add one thing about last evening's night out. 

I've not shared with you yet my other, 'nother favorite thing about Vietnam and that's the yogurt here.  Craig and I were first introduced to SE Asian yogurt last year on our trip to Cambodia.  Each morning for breakfast, they'd serve homemade yogurt in tiny ceramic "cups" and it was awesome!

Imagine my elation then, when I tried the Vietnamese equivalent of "Yoplait" at the hotel's morning buffet and found it tasted just like the stuff we had in Cambodia.  I don't know how they make it or what they put in that makes it taste so good, but YUM!

Anyway, food somehow came up last night (could it have been the five different "meals" we ate?!), and I was telling Chi about my love for Vietnamese yogurt.  As she was escorting me back to the expressway for my drive home, she pulled over at what looked like yet another street vendor.  She hopped of her Scooter and two minutes later returned with a pink bag with five cups.  "Homemade yogurt!" she said.  "And better than the Vinamilk stuff I get at the buffet each morning".

I had forgotten about this until I needed an afternoon snack today.  And have I said "YUM!" yet!  Holy cow, this stuff is so creamy and good!  And good for you, I'm sure (I say after having two ca phe sua da's earlier today). 

Ok, yes, I'm off to the gym now.  If I keep this up, they'll have to clear a wide berth next time I'm coming through on my Scooter.

Happy Easter!