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On The Road Now

You named your store what? Another quirky biz name

Another curious example from our growing collection of quirky business names
Another curious example from our growing collection of quirky business names

DANANG, VIETNAM – Here’s another one of the curious business names we’ve run across in our travels outside the U.S.

We’ve seen a lot of business names that make us stop and wonder, “What were they thinking?”

Sometimes the odd names are the result of faulty online translation engines.

Other times they come from an effort to sound “Western” and hip…

Or a grandiose way to blow your own horn.

And sometimes they’re just odd.

Take a look at the shop pictured above…

“C+ mini Mart”

If you were going to assign your own grade, wouldn’t you give yourself an “A”?

Maybe even an “A+” if you were feeling really good about your efforts.

I certainly would!

But a “C+”?

That’s all they could muster?

Top of the class or not, at least it’s above average.

Party at the pool, Vietnamese style

Celebrating the New Year with friends at the My An Sport Center in Danang
Celebrating the New Year with friends at the My An Sport Center in Da Nang

DA NANG, VIET NAM – It all started with a text message from our friend Linda. “Are you coming to the party at the pool?”

Party at the pool? “Oh yeah, I vaguely remember something about a year-end New Year’s party at the My An Sport Center on the 11th. Is that tonight?” I asked.

Continue reading “Party at the pool, Vietnamese style”

Boun Awk Phansa in Luang Prabang, Laos (video)

Temple decorated for Boun Awk Phansa in Luang Prabang, Laos
Temple decorated for Boun Awk Phansa in Luang Prabang, Laos

LUANG PRABANG, LAOS – Each fall, at the October full moon, the Lao people celebrate Boun Awk Phansa.

The festival marks the end of the three months of Buddhist Lent, a period of meditation, learning and retreat during the height of the rainy season.

Sometimes referred to as the Festival of Lights, the boun (or festival) is held on the 15th day of the 11th month of the lunar calendar.

Continue reading “Boun Awk Phansa in Luang Prabang, Laos (video)”

Our Year of Living in Viet Nam

A woman in a traditional conical hat and Western dress sells flowers from her bicycle in Hanoi
A woman in a traditional conical hat and Western dress sells flowers from her bicycle in Hanoi

A motorcycle-mounted vendor sells tropical fish on the street in Hanoi
A motorcycle-mounted vendor sells tropical fish on the street in Hanoi

DA NANG, VIET NAM – “Banh Bao! Banh Bao!” A pre-recorded shout echoes off the neighboring buildings as the motorcycle food peddler putt-putts down the street. Flames burst from the back of his side-saddle warming oven. On top of the oven is a glass case filled with warm, yummy steamed buns.

For a foreigner from a Western country, seeing open flames from a motorcycle-mounted wood-fired oven… Well, that is just plain crazy!

But it’s just another typical everyday occurrence in this Vietnamese city.

Continue reading “Our Year of Living in Viet Nam”


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