Night absorbed in thoughts.

Anytime I wanna run away, you make me come back, though i've decided since we did not even begin. How can you change my mind all the time ? Maybe its not simply love. Its something more... Do not know exactly what it can be called. When it rains outside the window and inside my heart, there's nobody but you to come. I'll find myself completely empty if you're gone. I've been used to having you as mine for a long long time. You've been the last point of all my thoughts. Its hard to take the road alone now, I guess. So I never have enough courage to quit.


Then I finally decide to stay until I find another one who can fill your place in my heart. When that day come, i'll kick you bum bum ! Sometimes I wonder if that day would really come ? If there's someone who loves me more than you do ? If i could just stop leaning on you ? If I could just face my life without you ? How can it suppose to be...

Keep telling myself there's nobody who just loves one time for a whole life. And me too. But its no use. I seem to regret all my sentiments for you than loving you.

Its strangle. The more we get close, the more we lose each other. Life has rules. And I always dont understand what to do to pass by.
If God says you're my final destination, I'll have no choice but nod my head !
Listen to Blessed của Elton John I love so much ! Hope I'll be blessed too, híhí !

Midway City,CA92655

Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

What is the PHO 24?(Vietnamese noodlepie)

      Nothing makes me fussy like Pho. Vietnam's national dish, a belchworthy beef broth, belongs in scuzzy shacks, floors littered with broken chopsticks and cheap napkins and NOT the poncey tables of nouvelle cuisine, restaurants with chamber music or the 'ethnic' section of the Hilton breakfast buffet. For this reason I was reluctant to check out Pho 24 at 5 Nguyen Thiep Street in District 1. My Top 10 list of pho joints has remained stalled at a Top 2 after bumping up the belt notches on a mammoth '30 different soup kitchens' soup test over the years. Most pho, in my experience, is average at best.

      Both my top 2 are up the road in Hanoi: 13 Lo Duc Street, Hanoi & 2 Le Van Huu Street, Hanoi. These two pho-tastic soup shacks are within 30 seconds walk from each other and are well worth sniffin' out. Devoid of clueless foreign tourists, packed to the rafters with sino-soup slurpers and oozing grubby charm. Long may their paint peel, their floors gather grime and their service snarl.

      Pho 24, on the other manicured & moisturised hand, is all uniformed waiters, polished table tops, dimmed lighting, chefs with real chef's hats, china toothpick holders, logo embossed place mats and chopstick holders.

This is not pho as I know it - there are 9 beef/1 chicken varieties on offer for chrissakes - but prejudices aside, how's the soup? Well... much as it pains me to say it, Pho 24 just brings my list to 7 shy of a Top 10.

      The thing about Pho 24, I guess, is they've taken a street food and given it respectability, class or maybe just a fancy facade - you choose. But, what they have done is new and a first for Vietnam - at least to my knowledge. (In Saigon, there is also Pho 2000 - more of which later this week) - but it's Pho 24 which, I think, has set the standard for the rest to follow.

     Pho is a noodle soup and comes in either its beef variety - Pho bo - or chicken - Pho ga. The chicken variety has been missing from the streets of Vietnam since Asian bird flu struck the region in early 2004, but has started to make a tentative comeback in the last week or two. The beef variety consists of thinly sliced beef and fresh flat noodles, sitting in a steaming stock, heavy of star anise, meaty vapours and sprinkled with spring onions.

        In the south the broth often comes with a side of herbs, bean sprouts, chili slivers, half a lemon and maybe sliced raw onions. In the north, many folk, myself included, like to crack a raw egg into the soup. Although Pho is known as a northern dish, the Saigonese have added a certain sophistication to their broth which is missing from the bogstandard raw and alive deal in the north. I am reliably told that the key difference is; the Saigonese regularly skim the fat from the 100l vats the broth cooks in, go easy on the fish sauce - nuoc mam and know how to spice with a gentle touch. I'm far from being an expert, but the southern version does taste 'fancier', even if my base nature has an instinctive preference for Hanoi's basic broth.

        Meanwhile, back at Pho 24...
        To cut to the chase... I simply cannot find fault with these guys. The key is the soup stock. The steamy beams of aroma rising from a Pho 24 bowl demand immediate devouring. This is the most flavour-filled Pho I have found in Saigon (so far). And so it should be. At 24,000VD a bowl (my Hanoi faves set me back 7,000VD and that's with the added egg) OK-OK- I'm paying for the service, the setting - but still...

 Midway City, CA92655
Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

My thoughts on Life after Death...

         What makes you unique is your personal beliefs and the experiences you have had in your lifetime. Your personality, your character, your very being all depend on what you choose to believe and choose not to. A belief that is extremely vital to the way one lives day to day their beliefs on life after death. Going to a Catholic school for many years pushes many beliefs on you that aren’t necessarily yours.

        From a young age I was told there was a God in heaven and we would join him one day if we lived a virtuous life. And, for much of my early years I never questioned this. That was until one fateful day during my 8th year at elementary school. I’m not sure how the first thought on the topic came to my mind; I only know that when it did nothing else mattered. The thought was, “What if life after death is all a misconception? What if all our beliefs are false, and when we do die it really is the end? Death isn’t even unconsciousness, it’s less than that.” I can remember pondering this question diligently at school and trying hard to search within myself to find answers. Soo......

Midway City, CA 92655

Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

Myself don't give up (Vietnamese song)

\

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaCh-EWI4EA

Translate to English:

Don't give up, myself don't give up

Autumn leaves why fell in winter

Don't give up, honey, don't give up

You are mine and I'm also yours

Flying kite like whose soul chearless

Down a kite that gulf get more grieved

Who i were, shedding tears myself

Who I am, why exists in world

who am I, then who,and who

So much love the life

Don't give up, myself don't give up

Lost sunshine like my own story

Don't give up honey dont give up

You refresh and you get sunrise

Farther road and late sun quiet

Those whose soul now tiptoes sadden.

Midway City, CA 92655

Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

 

Vietnamese Specialties – Salted fish hotpot

The main materials of U Minh salted fish hot pot is salted trichogaster pectoralis (good one). The salted trichogaster pectoralis is cooked until its meat and bone are separated. Take all bones out, putting enough sodium glutamate and sugar into the hot pot. In order to rise it smell, people add some chopped citronella and its beaten root to the hot pot. The secret to make the hot-pot sauce fatty, scented and viscid is that people add a little milk instead of sugar. It depends on our liking that the hot pot is added pork or fish. But U Minh hot pot must include fresh fish meat. The most delicious and right ones are eal, anabas meat, ophiocephalus maculates or white catfish.

Besides fish meat, the hot pot can be added fresh water crab meat, snails, half fat and half lean meat. The most interesting thing in eating the hot pot is to enjoy many vegetables. The hot pot is a dish that collect the most wild vegetables. It may be right to say that there is not any dishes which are eaten with as many vegetables as the hot pot in the world

Midway City, CA92655

Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

For the love of books

When I was a child, I loved reading, and I read anything I could find. But I detested sport, and even hated going for walks, so I spent most of my time with my nose in a book. I was the only girl in a family of four brothers, and I was quite quiet – but in the world of my books, I was strong and beautiful - the lovely princess with the handsome prince, the girl who fights enormous monsters, the star….

As I grew older, books became my life. I didn’t need to go out, or watch TV -I lived the highs and lows of my characters in their fights for success - I worried about the dancer who broke her leg, I cried when the rider’s favorite horse died and I was so happy when the doctor got through floods and thunderstorms to save the life of a stick child!

Of course, after time, I started to write my own stories. And of course, at first, I wasn’t very good at it! I found it easier to write about sad things, so my first stories were full of disasters, accidents and deaths. My father read one story and couldn’t quite understand why three characters died, a dog had an accident and a house burned down - and that was all before the end of the forth page!

Then one day my aunt said I should write about my own life. I was in bed with a broken arm, and even I got bored of books after a while. My aunt came to visit and brought me some paper and a pen. “Go on”, she said, “Write about your life with five brothers. Tell it like it is”. And so I did. (Luckily, my right arm wasn’t broken, so I could still write!)

Ten years after, my first story was published. And I used those early childhood memories. The main character is a writer. And guess what? She breaks her arm falling out of a tree, and her aunt comes to visit - and then she becomes a famous writer! And me? Well, I’m still waiting….

Midway City, CA 92655

Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

Les Valse de Vienne

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDQ9f2eEixM

You don’t understand

The pain that I’m in

The constant worry

That I feel within

The fact that you don’t care

Makes it that much worst

You joke about it all the time

And that really hurts

I can’t have what I love

And it makes me want to cry

I sit in my room at night

Thinking to myself whyI watch other people

Enjoying life without a worry

Why is my life so different

I’m always in a hurry

So try and understand

What is like to be me

Listen to my words

Hear my plea!

Midway City, CA 92655

Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

When you are gone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uyz5h2nhyCc

The pain is still there when I talk to you,

Your still in my thoughts when I cry.

You still make me laugh when I am sad,

although you are the one,

who put me in this sea no chance of a smile finding me.

The tears are always there,

at night,my Teddy-bears always there to hug,when you never are.

The words always come, when I think of how stupid I was.

The longing is always there,when you are ne'er.

And yes you took the pain when I was sad.

And yes you gave it back magnified, and multiplied.

So yes I am mad.

Not at you but at myself for falling for a lie.

Midway City, CA 92655

Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

My Childhood Asthma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmuWKSRqvKI

Asthma is a disease affecting the airways that carry air to and from your lungs. People who suffer from this chronic condition (long-lasting or recurrent) are said to be asthmatic.
The inside walls of an asthmatic's airways are swollen or inflamed. This swelling or inflammation makes the airways extremely sensitive to irritations and increases your susceptibility to an allergic reaction.
As inflammation causes the airways to become narrower, less air can pass through them, both to and from the lungs. Symptoms of the narrowing include wheezing (a hissing sound while breathing), chest tightness, breathing problems, and coughing. Asthmatics usually experience these symptoms most frequently during the night and the early morning.
For information on the different causes of asthma (allergy, colds, stress, exercise, etc)
Asthma is an incurable illness. However, with good treatment and management there is no reason why a person with asthma cannot live a normal and active life.
An asthma episode, or an asthma attack, is when symptoms are worse than usual. They can come on suddenly and can be mild, moderate or severe.
What happens during an asthma attack?
The muscles around your airways tighten up, narrowing the airway.
Less air is able to flow through the airway.
Inflammation of the airways increases, further narrowing the airway.
More mucus is produced in the airways, undermining the flow of air even more.
In some asthma attacks, the airways are blocked such that oxygen fails to enter the lungs. This also prevents oxygen from entering the blood stream and traveling to the body's vital organs. Asthma attacks of this type can be fatal, and the patient may require urgent hospitalization.
Asthma attacks can be mild, moderate, severe and very severe. At onset, an asthma attack does allow enough air to get into the lungs, but it does not let the carbon dioxide leave the lungs at a fast enough rate. Carbon dioxide - poisonous if not expelled - can build up in the lungs during a prolonged attack, lowering the amount of oxygen getting into your bloodstream.
If you suffer from asthma you should see your doctor. He/she will help you find out what triggers your asthma symptoms and how to avoid them. You will also be prescribed medications which will help you manage your asthma.
With experience you will learn to keep away from things that irritate your airways, know when to take your medication, and better control your asthma. Effective asthma control allows you to take part in normal everyday activities
If you don't control your asthma you will miss school or work more often and you will be less likely to be able to take part in some activities you enjoy. In the USA and Western Europe, asthma is one of the leading causes of school absenteeism.

Midway City, CA92655

Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

About My Veterinary Medicine...

In this my essay, I want to discuss the evolution of veterinary medicine It will touch upon the past, present, and future requirements the education and professional values of the trusted veterinary doctor.As with other disciplines of medical studies, the science of veterinary medicine is always changing. The diseases that were treated in the past have either been virtually erased from the world today, or have morphed themselves into more dangerous and threatening diseases. This creates demand on the veterinarian to constantly change their ways of treating common, and not-so-common diseases. Before the Renaissance, having a doctor for the animals was generally unwanted. As far as the people of the times were concerned, if the animal looked healthy on the outside, they must be fine on the inside as well. In the 1700's, veterinary medicine was taken more seriously.
The first school for people who wanted to become an “animal doctor” was opened in France around 1762. Their studies were focused upon livestock, such as horses and cows. In 1879, the first American school to offer veterinary medicine opened. As with the school in France, they focused primarily on livestock, but soon changed their purview to include companion animals as well. The names of these schools were not available, but the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University was founded in 1894, before the rest of Cornell University was opened. A similarity between Cornell University then and other veterinary schools today are who became, or becomes, part of their medical program: They must be scholars. At that time, the requirement to become eligible for veterinary was a high school diploma, which is the equivalent then to an associate degree today. There were only eleven students in the first class of veterinary science at Cornell University. Women were still taking care of their families during the late 1800's, but a few still found their way into vet school. Veterinarians in the past were not able to work on Sundays, along with other professionals. The only exception to this law was if there was a life or death situation, or to distribute medicine to alleviate the symptoms of a suffering animal. This New Hampshire law was revoked in 1973.

Today, in order to become a veterinarian you follow different educational guidelines in the past. For example, you need more than a high school diploma to go to Medical School.
Any person who goes to medical school today has already taken undergraduate courses for at least two years. Most students becoming doctors, whether in veterinary medicine or another discipline, have gone to college for four years. Some classes offered to help people on their way are chemistry, physics, biology, Mammalian Embryology, and Microbiology. Mammalian Embryology is the study of the development of the fetus in mammals. All of these courses further enhance the understanding on how the bodies of all animals work.

There are many laws regarding those who practice veterinary medicine. One law in New Hampshire, is that doctors must take an exam once every five years. The exam is based on common practices in vet school. It tests the individuals on the knowledge of laws and rules for them to practice medicine in New Hampshire. The test includes a written exam, an interview, and a practical exam. If the individual fails the exam, they have to retake the exam, which is offered twice a year. They are responsible for any registration fees. If they pass the exam, they are licensed to practice medicine for 5 years.

Today there are many different areas of study within veterinary medicine.

Anesthesiologists monitor the sedatives and tranquilizers during surgeries, when an animal is in pain, or in emergencies. Cardiologists monitor the heart. Dentistry is the study of the teeth and gums. Dermatology is the study of skin.

Surgeons make incisions to save animals in emergencies or for preventive reasons. For example, a surgeon may spay a cat to prevent the birth of unwanted animals. Radiologists take pictures of the inside of the body. The pictures are known as X-rays, MRI’s, and ultrasounds.

Theriogenology is the study of the reproduction of animals. The pharmacologist distributes prescription drugs. All of these areas of study contribute to the veterinary doctor. A doctor is usually an expert in a combination of all of these fields. The medical world is changing everyday; the veterinary field is no different. One of the biggest, and most questioned new ideals is the use of naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic medicine is the use of items occurring in nature to treat diseases and illnesses.
The future of veterinary medicine is predicted to be based more around medicines that occur through natural growth. One of the new methods that are starting to be a big hit in the United States is Homeopathy.Homeopathy was discovered by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in the late 1700's to early 1800's. He noticed the “principles of homeopathy” when he experimented with the theory that “Peruvian Bark cured Malaria because of its bitterness”.
The experiment proved the theory to be true. Homeopathy is claimed to treat the whole person, rather than just their symptoms. It is claimed that if you use a product that brings about symptoms similar to the disease, then you are permanently cured from that disease. For example, Peruvian bark, also known as China, caused Dr. Hahnemann to develop symptoms of Malaria. But the body became immune to these symptoms, and the Malaria bacteria was “quickly and permanently” destroyed.The medical field will continue to change. Where we will be in five years is still a mystery. All these changes will bring about new cures, as well as new diseases.

Midway City,CA 92655

Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

Buddhist holiday!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgSn0SbQJQI

http://clip.vn/watch/Tinh-me-My-Tam,Jzx

What is your approach to problem-solving, and how does it work for you?

Every problem will have a solution. One may solve a problem in several ways with his/her own approaches or with someone Else's approaches. Since I started feeling my responsibilities, I have been trying to solve my issues with my own approach because after all it's my problem and who knows my problem better than me?

In my early days, I used to solve my issues by discussing with my mother and follow the approach which my mother is suggesting me. It worked well in my early days. One day, When my childhood friend stabbed me with a pencil, I wanted to take revenge on him by doing some nasty stuff to him. But as per my mother's advice I did not react immediately, rather I complained about my friend to my mother in the conventional way as every human being would do in his/her childhood days. Then I will follow what my mother says. But as days move on, I started feeling responsible about myself and started facing the problems on my own.My best way of approaching a problem is what I call as "Think about the worst effect". When I get a problem, I will first think about the various ways to solve that problem. Then I will start pondering aobut the corresponding effects of those solutions beginning with the worst. For example, if I get low ratings in my appraisal for the past year in spite of my sincere work for which I dedicated my heart and soul, then immediately I would think of rising a flag against my manager's ratings. How to rise a flag? One probable solution is to gather all the points to justify I have worked more than expected and speak to my manager to revise my ratings. In this case, what will be the worst effect I could receive? The maximum, my manager can do is that he can terminate me for arguing with him. Since I believe that I have the potential to get a new job with my expertise, I will be ready to face the worst effect. As I am ready to accept the worst, I will go to my manager with all my points to revise my ratings and hope for the best, without fearing about the worst.

In my opinion, if you are ready to face the worst, you will be delighted to receive the best and you will never regret about your approach.

Midway City, CA92655

Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

Love in Second Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQwdK2T0Bzs

A Second chance, I asked God,

A second chance, I asked a fraud,

A second chance I wished so much,

A second chance was all too much.

I wasted now and threw tomorrow,

But now I wish there'd be no sorrow,

For I feel low and totally wasted,

The feeling of glory, I never tasted.
A second chance of life I ask,

To be the child I am, a task,

To live in peace, fulfilling dreams,

And to believe that things are not what they seem.
A second chance into the world,

A second chance, it's true,

But what's the point of a second chance,

If I still can't be with you?

Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

Midway City, CA92655

You're my everything

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qLBTU_7gmM

You are my everything, my life, my love,

You are more gorgeous than a flying white dove.

My love for you is so very strong,

Just like the melody to the most beautiful song.

Words cannot describe, how much I love you so,

that of which you will probably never know.

In this mixed up world, you're my reason for going on,

Without you here, I may be gone.

You are my everything.

You give me something to look forward to,

There's not much more to say except I love you!

Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

Midway City, CA92655

Hot Springs in Mountain Side

It was very nice to have bathing outside.
High altitude of 1500 meters, temperature is around 15-20 even in Summer where I stayed.
When the sky getting dark blue, bathing at outside is really romantic.
You will listen just the sound of water streaming and bird singing while watching the shadow of mountains in the silence.
Much hot water is continually coming into the huge big bathtub.
In the comfortable warm spring water ( around 37-40 degrees what I like ), you will think " Is this a real ? ... or maybe I'm dreaming!
"Such kind of water temperature, it's nice to bathing in tub around 30 min in each time...but it's good to do 3-4 times or more in a day.
You will see the lounge for cooling down and enjoy some beverages.

Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen
Midway City, CA92655

Cry on my shoulder

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy8t2djcMiQ

- Cry on my shoulder -

If the hero never comes to you

If you need some one you're feeling blue

If you're away from love and you're alone

If you call your friends and nobody's home

You can run away but you can't hide

Through a storm and through a lonely night

Then I show you there's a destiny

The best thing in life

They're free

But if you wanna cry

Cry on my shoulder

If you need someone who cares for you

If you're feeling sad, your heart gets colder

Yes I show you what real love can do

If your sky is grey oh let me know
There's a place in heaven where we'll go
If heaven is a million years away
Oh just call me and I make your day
When the nights are getting cold and blue

When the days are getting hard for you

I will always stay here by your side

I promise you I'll never hide.

I recieved a lovely song from my friend in Vietnam.

I like to say " thank you so much " to her again.

My heart is still deeply moved from this song.

Beautiful melody with emotional taste... also the lyrics has nice poetry.

When I listen to this song, I always think my precious friends ...

I'm so happy that I have really good friends in this world.

Thank you! My friends.

I think this melody is filled by tender and warm German taste.

I wish all people could have peacefull life and good friends ... no more war...

Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

Midway City, CA 92655

Yiruma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL0ZExPHUBo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PJ-dgnK-Ok

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz9D-l2m7Ow

I just heard these songs on the first time a few days ago and I've loved them so much.
Yiruma is the best.

They're so sweet, like first love and love hurts!

Midway City, CA 92655

Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

Beginning...

It has been such a long time since I last thought and wrote something for myself. However, it's hard for me to delete my old blog and start a new one.
Some of my friends told me: "Nguyen, why don't you turn back to what you used to love?". I simply answered that I had been bored. To be honest, it was not what I really thought. At the time I had my first blog, writing what I think down into words is the most stupid way to describe how my heart goes and how my mind is shaped everyday. But since I had my first shock in my life, I wasn't interested in writing blog any longer. Now I seem to forget it and enjoy sharing my feelings again.....
Right now in front of the computer screen is a straight face staring fixedly at white background and fingers running continuously on the keyboard. I don't know which way to start my blog again, to describe what is inside my mind out into words.... Summer break is coming soon. Hope all you guys enjoy a wonderful holiday beside Ur family, Ur friends and someone....
Listen and enjoy the life!

Midway City, CA 92655
Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen

DURIAN - Vietnamese Fruits

Recently , Magazine "HOA HOC TRO" ,a popular magazine for teenager , mobilize to write about " My Fatherland" .I am not good at literature .So although I really want present my "Love" for my dear country but I can’t write .I think that if I can’t join this contest , why don’t I manifest by real doing? And I have a American friend (Sean) .He said that he’ll visit Vietnam in next year and he like Vietnamese fruit very much .So I though why don’t I introduce Vietnamese fruits for global friends . To they understand more about Viet Nam, about Vietnamese . This is the way to I say with my dear homeland : I LOVE VIETNAM.
Sau Rieng signifies "One's own sorrows" in Vietnamese. Why is this fruit under such an austere name ? - Yes, it proceeds from an immortal love story. Long ago, there lived a young couple in the region. Not being able to overcome some social prejudices, they had to find their death to be faithful to their love for ever. Their own sorrows have received the populace's sympathies, and their dramatic love story has been handed down from generation to generation. To commemorate that couple, locals have named their one of the local valuable fruits Sau Rieng.Durian is an expensive fruit. It is from five to six times larger than a mangosteen. Its skin is thick, rough and covered with sharp thorns. Yet, with a gentle cut between the edges of the outer shell, you can easily open the fruit to see layers of layers of brightly yellow segments of pulp as if the pulp is covered with a thin layer of butter. According to the writer Mai Van Tao, "The dense fragrance which spreads near and far and lingers a long time before disappearing. The strong smell can go straight to your nostrils when you are still as far as several dozen meters away from where the fruit is. The fragrance of durian is a mixture of smell coming from a ripening jackfruit and that of a shaddock. Moreover, it also has a strong smell that foreign-made cheese has to offer and is as tastily rich as that of a hen's egg. Others add more traits to the fruit as it also has the sweet like that of well-kept honey. What a specially tempting smell ! Those who have not enjoyed the *fruit for once could find it hard to eat. Yet, once they have tried it, they are likely to seek for it happily...".

Midway City, CA92655

Thu Nhat Anh Nguyen