I know that we have been keeping some of you in suspense about the new accommodations that we recently moved into-it has been pretty cruel to hold that back, hasn’t it? But I’m not doing it intentionally, really! I just don’t feel like it is quite “moved-into” yet, so I have not been motivated enough to start describing it. But I think it will be okay, in fact, I doubt that there will be a period during our short time here that the place will ever be full. It will likely always echo when we yell and look partially lived in, but I’m okay with that-largely because I just don’t have any more patience to find the other fill-ins. I have gone on enough treasure hunts for now.
As far as housing goes here there are a few options: lowly, boring, apartment; fancy serviced apartment; individual house; house in compound; house in BP compound. You can see how this is going right-least desirable to most desirable. The one in the middle I probably would never do only because I have heard too many tales of break-ins at houses that are outside of a compound (despite the night “guards”). A house in a compound has a gated entrance with full time guards (that actually stay awake through the night), then also gates around each house. Seems a little overkill, right? Well, some of the homes even have additional guards inside the compound-they must really have some good stuff in there! I would feel sorry for the poor guys who accidentally broke into our house instead of our neighbors…they wouldn’t walk away with much! Unfortunately theft is almost guaranteed if some measures are not taken. However, the BP compound is one of the oldest, most established and notoriously safe, flood free compounds in Ho Chi Minh City. We are still not really sure how we got lucky enough to move there, but we thank our good fortunes every day.
So, imagine a large 4 bedroom (technically 5 if you count the “maid’s room” in the back-outside entrance, of course-you wouldn’t want your maid to actually have to be seen) “French colonial” style villa, small “garden” with a patio, shiny silver gas grill & outside dining/sitting area. No private pool for us…but then again, we haven’t even gone to the compound pool since we moved into the house, so I doubt that it would get much use anyway! It is an older house, so the kitchen is unfortunately tucked into the back corner, behind the dining room, but that was originally designed so the owners could shut the maid in there and not have to see the kitchen at all. Only…that’s not really our style. So, we asked for some kitchen remodeling & took the door off the hinges-good enough! The upstairs has our master bedroom and 3 guest/exercise/office rooms. We are definitely enjoying the pomp and splendor as it is likely to be the biggest house we live in…ever. But the good news is that the guest room is all ready-I know that’s what most of you were waiting for, right?
The compound itself (I hate that word, makes me think I am living a concrete and walled-in existence) is beautiful. The compound was originally built for BP expat employees (hence the name BP compound), but it has slowly been infiltrated with outsiders-heads of consulates, CEO’s, company “x” employee, etc. At the time it was built, real estate along the Saigon river was dirt cheap because it was the first place to flood and expensive to actually build on to control it. But what do we westerner’s love more than living on some body of water…nothing! So, the compound is bordered on one side by the river, where a pretty walkway, BB court, skateboard park and restaurant are located. While the restaurant is nice enough, it definitely lacks in culinary expertise and the music they play makes me want to vomit. Think horrible 80’s-90’s R&B, easy listening and pop that never made it on the radio with some N’sync thrown in here and there. I guess if you have a restaurant on the river in a nice compound, then nothing else matters…what they need is some competition! There are also 2 pools, a gym and 3 tennis courts (complete with “ball boys” if you are that type) for residents of the compound and those who wish to pay way too much for a membership.
But it does make us feel like we can at least lead a semi-normal life. You just have to pretend that the walls around the compound are there as a decoration and as a trellis for the crazed vines. Because the compound was built so long ago, the plants, trees and flowers are all a madness of tangles and shades of green and bright colors. The streets are shadowed by large tropical trees and littered with fallen flowers, making it such an oasis from the smog and hustle of the city. I think so far Ginger is none the wiser that she will never be stepping foot outside the compound walls. I won’t go into details, but we would rather keep her for ourselves during the time we spend here. Luckily for her, the perimeter of the compound is fairly large-about 1.5 miles, which is about as far as she gets before dropping into an exhausted, hot Ginger pile. Just outside the compound gates is a great little expat inspired area where there are 2 nice grocery stores, easily within walking distance. The fruit market and other shops are only a short bicycle ride away & there is always a taxi ready if not. Although it drives me crazy to be dependent on other modes of transportation to get places, I wouldn’t drive a car here even if I had my own! The bicycle is enough to raise my blood pressure a few notches for the day…or week.
But as spoiled as we appear to be here, we miss the Northwest and our homes like crazy. Nothing can replace the natural beauty of the US and especially not our best friends and family on the other side of the world. Three years will fly by, we will stock up on travel and new experiences and come home appreciating the US likely more than we ever have. However, while we are here, it definitely helps to have somewhere beautiful to spend our time.
To see more pictures, click on the new slideshow to right!
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