Tieng Viet lovers club

[AdGuy]

Originally Posted by intoxicated316

Chao adguy,

Cam on a da tra loi nhan cua a

Do la a thuc van de truoc mat~

Xin loi neu a ko biet a noi dau

A viet TV ko tot.. phai hoc nhieu lam

In context, if u refer to me as 'anh', then you will be 'em' and vice versa.

Take your time to learn and enjoy the language, not for the girls

[AdGuy]

Originally Posted by vietboy

But i heard from a few gals tat working in malaysia ktv is much worse than singapore ktv. Customers there get e gals to take drugs so can get high n play fiercely. Also they r prone to robberies too. They tell me they would rather work here. More money n better environment.

Sad but true.

All girls who work in m'sia are as good as gone. Seriously, they are better off working in vn. No offense to m'sian guys, but many of you treat them like f***.

End of conversation. This is a TV. Thread

[intoxicated316]

Oh I was saying thank you for adguy's fast reply
My apologies if you don't understand what I'm sAying
my tv not good.. Must study more..
Did I say type wrongly? Jackbl?
Pls correct me if im wrong so I can learn from my mistakes
Oh! Thanks vietboy too for ur info

[Santaclaws]

Nice article to look at Masseuse/WLs from another perspective.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lan Pham, 21, works in a massage parlour in District I of Ho Chi Minh City, better known as Saigon. It’s where most tourists stay when they visit Vietnam. Like millions of young people from the rural, Saigon is a big magnet with promises of better life for those who come from backbreaking work in the rice fields and cycle of debts. Pham spoke with NAM editor, Andrew Lam, who visited his homeland on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam - I’m from Tan Chau district in An Giang province. There are six people in my family. We’re all farmers. I’ve been to Saigon for four years.

Do you know how hard it is for farmers? The life of a farmer is a life that’s always in debt. You live dependent on the crop. All those months waiting for the rice to ripen you need to feed your family so you borrow money. When the crop’s ready you’ll pay it all back with interest. When something happens, flood or failed crop, you’ll have to borrow more money to survive. And you’ll stay in debt. After a while you end up doing things you don’t want to do.

My parents were always in debt. They couldn’t feed four kids. My sister got married at 17 to this old Taiwanese man she never met until he showed up and married her. She had to make money. She sent money home for about a year but now we don’t know what happened. It’s been several years since she’s kind of disappeared. So we fell into debt again because we started fixing the house when she was sending money but we didn’t have enough money. So it was my turn to take care my family.

I’m second to the oldest. My family is more important than my own life, so I’d do anything for them. Anything. Do I like doing what I’m doing? Are you crazy? No. It already ruined my life. But let me tell you something: this is way better than watching your family starved or get kicked off their land.

But who am I to complaint? Saigon is full of non-Saigonese, people like me, people who come in from the rural areas trying to make a living, trying to survive. Come Tet [Vietnamese new year] and the streets here are emptied. Every one goes home to the province to be with family. It’s the only time that we take a break from whatever we do to support our family to be with our family.

When I got to Saigon I never imagined life here was so wealthy. All these big houses and shiny new cars. But the Saigonese they look down on us from the provinces, they look down on peasants. They think we’re stupid. But I actually was always near top of my class. I read books and newspapers but they think I’m stupid or illiterate. I had to drop out of 9th grade to help my family. I could’ve gone on if I had opportunities.

What do I read in the papers? More golf courses being built. Billion of dollars being invested. But where’s the money for the rest of us? Big shots built villas with gold plated ceilings. Big shots play golf but the bridges built [by the government] in the provinces collapse repeatedly. Big shots play tennis then they come here for massages and treat the girls like dirt.

If I were president I would feed the poor, build shelter for the homeless. I'd do something that makes poor people feel like they are being helped. I wouldn’t drive people off their land so the rich can have their tall high rises and their golf courses.

As far as my customers go, I don’t like Americans. I like Australians. They’re nice and polite. They’re funny. A few said they wanted to marry me after I make them feel so good - but it’s all lies. They’d come back a few times then they’re gone.

But I don’t want to marry a Vietnamese man. They are so full of trickery… Vietnamese men are not to be trusted. They treat women like trash especially my kind. We are things to be tossed aside when they’ re done. They are lousy tippers - they don’t tips unless you tell them that… that it’s expected. Sometimes they insult you after you serviced them. Sometimes when I step on their backs [Back-walking massage] I wanted to stomp on their necks.[laughs]

But I make money now. I make enough so my family survives and my two younger [siblings] can continue to go to school. And I even have money left over to pay for massage myself sometimes [laughs]. I’m serious. It’s hard work what I do.

I know I can’t go on like this too long [starts to tear up.] But if I were to work as a cook or factory worker, I won’t make any money and my family will face difficulties. I know I need skills to survive but what kind of skills can I get without money to go to school?

My biggest worry right now is that it’s hard to get married. The moment they know I’m a masseuse they think I’m a bad person. I have no chance with anyone decent. I don’t see a way out.

But even massage girls have big dreams. I dream one day I’d find a good husband. I dream I have enough money so I could go find my sister and take her home. Then I’d build us a nice house so the entire family can live together. But I don’t know how that’s ever going to happen.

http://newamericamedia.org/2010/04/w...ssage-girl.php

[vietboy]

Originally Posted by intoxicated316

Chao adguy,

Cam on a da tra loi nhan cua a

Do la a thuc van de truoc mat~

Xin loi neu a ko biet a noi dau

A viet TV ko tot.. phai hoc nhieu lam

Yur usage of anh is wrong. 1st u addressed another guy as anh then u addressed yurself as anh also.

When u wan to address someone as anh, either he is much elder than u or u showing some respect. When u address him as anh then u have to address yurself as em.

If u r unsure, u can always use ban and toi, which is you and me. It is safer n less likely to make mistakes.

[jackbl]

Originally Posted by intoxicated316

Pls correct me if im wrong so I can learn from my mistakes

May I know what are you going to say "Do la a thuc van de truoc mat~"?

[intoxicated316]

@ adguy n vietboy:My apologies.. Thanks for correcting my mistake..
I'll certainly bear that in mind..

@ jackbl: oh.. I was trying to say.." I'm the one thats facing this problem"
Hw shld I write it in TV?

[AdGuy]

Originally Posted by intoxicated316

@ adguy n vietboy:My apologies.. Thanks for correcting my mistake..
I'll certainly bear that in mind..

@ jackbl: oh.. I was trying to say.." I'm the one thats facing this problem"
Hw shld I write it in TV?

You could say:

Toi la nguoi phai doi mat voi van de do

[intoxicated316]

Thanks.. I'm still a noob trying to learn the language.. Hope to learn more from masters like yourself over here.. it's through mistakes that we learn
Cheers~

[jackbl]

Soup and porridge for a cold
===========================================

Certain types of soup and porridge are important in Oriental medicine for treating chronic ailments. They help the sick recuperate and improve the effectiveness of medical treatment. More generally, they ward off disease, improve longevity and alleviate coughing and fever in sick children.

Here are some recipes for soup and porridge remedies that ease the coughs, sniffles and other annoying symptoms of the common cold.

Onion and brown rice porridge: Wash 60g brown rice and cover with water to cook over a high flame until it turns into porridge. Add 20 sliced onions, cook for five more minutes and turn off the stove. The porridge, which should be eaten one bowl at a time several times a day, eases fever, coughing, sniffles, headaches and stomach aches.

Ginger and spring onion porridge: Wash 60g rice and six spring onions. Pour water into a pot and cook the rice over the high flame until it becomes porridge. Then add five pieces of peeled and sliced ginger and sliced spring onions to the pot, and cook for five more minutes. Add sugar to taste and eat one bowl a day. The porridge is good for coughing, chills and a runny nose.

Balm mint and brown rice porridge: Wash 12g tía tô (balm mint) and put the leaves in a pot. Add 200ml water and cook until the water is reduced by half. Discard the mint residue and keep the stock. Now, wash 100g brown rice and put it in the pot along with the concentrated mint stock and another 500ml of water. Cook the rice until it turns into porridge. One bowl in the morning and another in the evening should ease the coughing and fever of a cold.

Malt sugar porridge: Wash 60g rice and put it into a pot. Peel and slice 25g ginger and add to the pot. Pour in one liter of water and cook the rice until it becomes porridge. Add 150g malt sugar. Eat the porridge twice daily, one bowl at a time, to treat a chill or cough.

Bách hợp (lily) and banana soup: Crush 12g bách hợp until it becomes powder. Peel and cut two bananas into small pieces. Place the bách hợp and bananas in a pot and add enough water to cook over a high flame for 10 minutes. Then lower the flame and simmer until the soup thickens. Add a pinch of crushed rock sugar before eating the soup, one bowl at a time, twice daily for seven days.

Red jujube and pumpkin soup: Wash, peel and dice a 500g pumpkin and wash 500g red jujubes. Put the pumpkin and red jujubes in a pot, cover them with water and add 200g red sugar. Stir while cooking until the pieces are soft. Eat one bowl a day to treat a cough. This soup is ideal for children who have been coughing for a long time, and for treating allergies.

White jelly ear and mandarin orange soup: Wash 100g edible white jelly ear and cut out the peduncle. Place the jelly ear in a pot, add water, and cook over a low flame until the jelly ear is soft. Add 200g mandarin orange juice, gently bring the pot to the boil, and turn off the heat. This dish should be eaten for breakfast to fortify the kidneys, release mucus, and overcome coughing, especially in children.

By herbalist Minh Chanh (Suc Khoe & Doi Song)

[jackbl]

Che bot loc – the sweet taste of Hue
===========================================

If anyone has ever visited Hue they should not forget to treat their sweet tooth to a local specialty – the delicious che bot loc.

This name originates from its main ingredient and the unique way in which it is processed. To make this dish you stir and knead the mix of tapioca flour and boiling water carefully until you have elastic dough which you divide it easily into many small dough pieces. After that, use a rolling pin to flatten them, put the filling inside the balls and form small dough balls.

Although the small balls look similar to Chinese dumplings at this stage, che bot loc awakes your taste buds in a completely different way with varied fillings such as peanuts, coconut flesh or even roasted pork. Each filling will give you a new experience. Try peanuts and coconut flesh fillings as a start, and then ask for roast pork.

Che bot loc is served with sweet sauce flavored with several slices of fresh ginger. Some crushed peanuts can be added to enhance the taste. The combination of the hot taste of ginger and sugar soup is really suitable to warm you up on rainy days. Or you can add ice and have it as a refreshing drink in the summer.

Nowadays, you can easily find che bot loc all over Vietnam. In fact, every restaurant specializing in Hue cuisine will have the delicacy in its menu. In Saigon, it can be found in luxurious restaurants to small street food stalls near schools and offices, or in traditional markets.

[jackbl]

Quahog in District 4
============================
Nestled into the block at 2 Vinh Khanh in District 4, Oc Phat should be a destination for any fans of mollusks. With short, stainless steel tables and tiny red stools it is classic Vietnamese street food dining.

Office workers, manual labourers, families, couples, old and young are all clinking glasses, dropping shells on the sidewalk, and knocking empty beer bottles around, all creating a cacophony of noise serving as the background for your meal. The menu is entirely in Vietnamese, so if you don’t know the lingo, you’ll have to rely on pictures that show you what you’re ordering, if not how it’s prepared.

You’re welcome to walk about and observe the open-air kitchen as your oc mong tay xao (razor clams) are sautéed to a tender, spicy perfection. To the uninitiated, razor clams don’t look like typical clams. They come in long, cylindrical shells. For VND50,000 per plate they’re well worth the try. Augment their taste by dipping them in the salt and chilli dipping sauce, or by making sure to coat them further in the spicy sauce in which they’re prepared.

Chem chep xao cay (spice sautéed mussels), which are a more traditional looking species of clam, provide manna for the eyes as well as the taste buds. Like everything on the menu, you can order them prepared in a variety of ways for VND40,000. The key to enjoying Oc Phat is experimenting with the menu. Along with that, it’s important to note that a plate isn’t intended to be a meal unto itself. Order several things with the intention of sharing.

One such exploration resulted in ngheu hap Thai, which is a large bowl of clams steamed in a Thai spicy ginger broth for VND45,000. This choice snaps with flavour and provides an excellent complement to the sautéed dishes. Local custom allows for one to use an empty shell to scoop and enjoy the broth, but no one will look at you sideways for spooning some into a small bowl to drink it. This is an especially welcome treat on those evenings when the rain puts a damp chill into the air.

Oc Phat is sure to become a regular stop for those that need a mollusk fix and don’t want to make a regular trip to the coast. Inexpensive and friendly, it will provide you with many enjoyable meals. And if you mix up your order it will keep you engaged.

[jackbl]

Postnatal treats
===========================

After giving birth, a woman’s body is weak and it loses vitality as it heals. The loss of blood and strength, and often doses of antibiotics, can adversely affect a new mother’s breast milk. Supplementary nutrition for a woman after giving birth can greatly increase the quality of her breast milk. Doctor Nguyen Hong Siem, chairman of the Hanoi Association of Oriental Medicine, suggests new fathers prepare these simple dishes for their wives.

- Pig’s trotters simmered with black jujubes and a giao (gelatin from the skin of a donkey, gelatinum asini): To prepare the dish, you should buy two pig’s trotters, 200g black jujubes, 15g a giao, and red sugar. Wash, clean and cut the trotters into small pieces. Dissolve a giao in warm water. Put trotters, black jujubes and some water in a pot to simmer over a low heat for one hour until trotters are soft. Then add the a giao and red sugar. Stir and cook for 15 minutes. Then serve the dish hot. Enjoy the dish once every two days for a week.

- Green papaya simmered with pig’s trotters: Ingredients are 400g green papaya and one pig’s trotter. Wash and slice papaya into medium pieces, and wash and cut the trotter into small pieces. Simmer the trotter pieces for one hour until they are soft, then add papaya and continue cooking for 15 minutes. Season with sugar and salt and serve hot. Enjoy the dish for seven consecutive days for the best breast milk.

- Đương quy simmered with goat meat: Ingredients are 100g đương quy (radix angelicae sinenesis, commonly known in English as dong quai or female ginseng), 200g goat meat and three thin pieces of ginger and spring onion. Wash and cut goat meat into small pieces. Put all ingredients in a pot to simmer over a low heat until the meat is cooked well. Season with sugar and salt. Eat the meat and drink the broth twice a day for five days. Women who have very little breast milk after giving birth – along with a low appetite and fatigue – or those who lost too much blood during birth, should eat this dish. However, women suffering from constipation should not eat this dish.

- Pork and shrimp porridge: Mince 60g pork meat and 200g fresh and peeled shrimp. Also slice some ginger into thin, long pieces. Cook 60g rice over high heat until it has the consistency of porridge. Then add pork, shrimp and ginger and continue cooking for 20 minutes. Season with sugar and salt, and add a bit more fresh ginger before eating. Enjoy the porridge for five consecutive days to tonify the kidney and produce more breast milk.

- Black sesame porridge: Cook 50g glutinous rice and 50g smashed black sesame with enough water until it becomes porridge. Enjoy the porridge for seven days to increase breast milk and fight constipation.

- Leafy remedy: Cook mồng tơi (malabar spinach, phooi leaf or basella alba) with water like a soup or eat it boiled for 10 consecutive days. Mồng tơi is rich in vitamins A3 and B3, saponin and iron, therefore the vegetable is good for women with little breast milk after giving birth.

Lastly, women who have just given birth often suffer from body image issues and many struggle to lose weight while they raise their baby. The fact is that gaining weight during and after a pregnancy is perfectly natural, but if a woman wants to lose those extra pounds she should be extra careful to do so safely.

Doctor Nguyen Minh Hong, director of the Vietnamese Center for Research and Application of Advanced Medicine in Hanoi, suggests that women who gain more than 15 kilograms that don’t go away by the time their baby is 20 months old should eat and drink the following to lose a bit of weight in a healthy way:

- Eat lean meat (throw way the skin and fat), fish, shrimp, crab and peanuts

- Drink soya milk, yogurt and fat free powdered milk

- Eat vegetables and foods high in fiber such as unpolished rice, potatoes, corn, green vegetables, and fruits like manioc, plums, pomelos, apples, oranges and mandarin oranges

- Drink two glasses of hot water before meals

- Eat boiled, roasted and steamed food

- Enjoy a lot of food in the morning, eat less food in the afternoon and evening, and drastically limit nighttime snacks

- Eat regularly and don’t skip meals

- Eat slowly and chew carefully

- Eat lower-calorie foods

- Limit drinking of sugary soft drinks

- Limit eating of animal’s brain and viscera including heart, liver, kidney and bowels and egg yolks; also don’t eat fried food.

In addition, women should exercise every day for 30-60 minutes, according to doctor Hong. Using vitamins, calcium and iron products is necessary for breast-feeders. Doctor Hong also advices that women should drink milk and fruit juices, avoid salty or very spicy foods and avoid caffeinated beverages and chocolate.

[soi15]

Hi Jackbl,

please continue to post your news. I always enjoy reading them.

[jackbl]

Originally Posted by intoxicated316

Thanks.. I'm still a noob trying to learn the language.. Hope to learn more from masters like yourself over here.. it's through mistakes that we learn
Cheers~

I always take notes of the things that i learnt here, no matter how simple it is. After 4 years, my vocab file is about 2MB size in word document