Saturday, July 30, 2005
Phung Khoang, my neighborhood
My neighborhood is Phung Khoang, which is actually a suburb of Ha Noi. This is no strip malls and model homes, 'burb, though. It is more like Cudahy gone Asian. A winding maze of narrow streets, mom and pop shops, and the occasional factory. Phung Khoang used to be a farming village, and there are a few rice paddies left, still farmed by the local people. But with the economic growth of Ha Noi in recent years, urban sprawl has come to our little corner of the country.
Farther west, high rises still under construction dominate the skyline. New buildings grow in Ha Noi like saplings. In fact, when I look out from Morning Star, one of the schools I work at, you can't really tell you're in Asia. The high rises married to cranes look more like the scenes I saw in Dublin!
In my particular neighborhood, however, it is very Vietnamese. I dodge the speeding Xe May (motobikes) on my way to this internet cafe. Women step lightly, carrying their heavy loads of fruits and vegetables on the way to market. Fresh meat is sold every morning from open air stalls.
We have a beautiful Catholic church right down the street. Many evenings I hear the music and hymns wafting to my rooftop. Every service is packed. Joy leaks through the walls.
Farther down Phung Khoang street is a Buddhist temple. I stopped there this morning and I didn't want to leave. It is bordered on one side with a small pond leading to an island with a shrine to Quanh Thanh (Kwan Yin). Through the other gate is the main altar with two side altars. The artwork is breathtaking.
in the pond, green bonnets of lotus guard
the pink blossoms
fish breath bracelets
onto the water
fruit drops trees
it cannot wait for the harvest!
Farther west, high rises still under construction dominate the skyline. New buildings grow in Ha Noi like saplings. In fact, when I look out from Morning Star, one of the schools I work at, you can't really tell you're in Asia. The high rises married to cranes look more like the scenes I saw in Dublin!
In my particular neighborhood, however, it is very Vietnamese. I dodge the speeding Xe May (motobikes) on my way to this internet cafe. Women step lightly, carrying their heavy loads of fruits and vegetables on the way to market. Fresh meat is sold every morning from open air stalls.
We have a beautiful Catholic church right down the street. Many evenings I hear the music and hymns wafting to my rooftop. Every service is packed. Joy leaks through the walls.
Farther down Phung Khoang street is a Buddhist temple. I stopped there this morning and I didn't want to leave. It is bordered on one side with a small pond leading to an island with a shrine to Quanh Thanh (Kwan Yin). Through the other gate is the main altar with two side altars. The artwork is breathtaking.
Here saints flower from the branches
in the pond, green bonnets of lotus guard
the pink blossoms
fish breath bracelets
onto the water
fruit drops trees
it cannot wait for the harvest!
