My eye infection has subsided a fair bit. The swelling is gone it seems but I still get that occasional tingling feeling and the urge of wanting to rub it. Except for feeling a little sore, it allowed me to step into the office yesterday afternoon. GH thought it would be a good idea for me to sit in the meeting with Lan Anh and Tuan Anh since he’s going to be away for quite awhile. I’d believe he will still be checking in every so often but I’m going to have to sit in for him till he returns. With the other project teams nearing the completion of their deliverables and the project end date drawing closer, my project team is going to get busier.
The team threw a going away dinner party for GH last evening. The sun was out in full force the whole of yesterday but decided to retreat in the evening. Riding on motorbikes, we were caught in a heavy downpour on the way to the restaurant. Ling and Tuan Anh stopped at one of the shops along the streets to allow GH and myself to get a couple of disposable ponchos. Donned in our ponchos, the ride to the restaurant continued while I made a mental note and kept checking to keep my laptop sheltered. That little space between Ling and myself became a perfect water catchment area. It probably took us slightly more than 15 minutes to reach our destination. By then, my shoes, socks, jeans and boxers were wet.
Highway 4 is a Vietnamese restaurant. Apparently one of there restaurants is located in the Hoan Kiem district. The team decided on the one in Kim Ma instead due the limited seating capacity of the one nearer to the office. Seated on cushions at low tables, it did feel a little uncomfortable with my wet pair of jeans in the beginning. It didn’t bother me for too long though.
Table setting
Little shot glasses and pinching of peanuts
The food was very different from what I have tasted so far in Hanoi. Except for the spring rolls, everything was either more salty or sour than usual. One of my favourite dishes from the dinner was served with rice crackers and something. I don’t know what was that but it was pretty good.
Preserved cabbage, Salad and Rice crackers with something
The restaurant had joined 3 tables to accommodate the entire team at dinner. This time round, the gluttons were not at my table. I was expecting the little feisty one to hit the food but she didn’t this time. Ended up, I was chomping down the rice crackers quicker than anyone at my table. Of course, I was not able to catch up with the gluttons to my left. A couple of them began pinching food after they had finished theirs. If you had expected table manners from us last night, you’d be disappointed.
Attack of the Gluttons
Tasted like bacon but texture was more like cartilage
Gluttons strike again
The fish hotpot (main highlight in my opinion) that came at the end was rather good. Ideal for a bunch of folks who were caught in the rain earlier. Another glutton myself, I think I was the only one at the table who was really going for the fish. Maybe it was the low table seating manner that didn’t quite help digestion. I was feeling a little bloated myself but the fish hotpot was good. By the time I took the picture, There was hardly any flesh left.
Fish hotpot minus the flesh
There was no beer at the dinner table last evening. Apricot liqueur was the order of the day. It was ok for a bit but decided to cut back on it after 2 serving. A little too sweet for my taste buds. All in all, dinner was an uncanny mix of wet, loud salty, sour, sweet and senseless chatter. Nothing crazy but healthy and good fun.
