it's been a really long time since I last blogged. it was a whole new environment as soon as April was over and May heralded in a long blast of summer of anticipatory travel, age-old family affairs and, of course, friends, lost & found. in all, I'm lucky that no matter how bad I do during school terms, the summer has always been good. and this one was great. and I didn't even screw up my study.

things do change.

for one, I used to be puzzled why people would visit Thailand over and over again. be it an urban escape to Phuket or just a weekend shopping spree in Bangkok. now I kind of get it. the cultured and hospitable mix of malls and temples, highways and getaways have done the country good. I would wanna visit Suan Lum night bazaar again. it was like a safari of street-wear varieties where one can appreciate the bargain galore in comfort.

also, the few weeks of backpacking from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City have made me feel better attached to Vietnam. the experience must have been amazing to strip me off the long-held prejudice against the country, that it was hardly fun, that the people were more often than not rude, and that you might as well move Mount. Fuji before attempting to do business in Vietnam. in place of that is now a new-found respect for the nation, for its drive to change. coincidentally, it's Vietnam's 34th national day today, 2/9/2009. may there be more than just fireworks and musical propaganda to eventually unmask the hidden charm.

and in the end, the (extended) family matters were still pretty hot. but even that has changed. what previously seemed permanently impaired has now been pretty much ironed out. I'm just glad people are beginning to be brothers and sisters again. but of course, it may never be the same. some things do change; some things just don't.

like how even when something as monumental as "Ikea" typefaced in ubiquitous Verdana instead of the customised Futura of the past 60 years happens, Ikea remains the leading low-cost proponent of fine living, just as it has been paying close attention to the design of even a $9 lampstand since 1943.

or like how although the DPJ has finally unseated the incumbent LDP from its 5 decades of uninterrupted rule, and Yukio Hatoyama repeatedly promises to change Japan, the land of the rising sun is still facing a severe confidence crisis. in fact, Hatoyama has been constantly moderating his change rhetoric since his apparent election victory at 9:40pm, 30 Aug, realising the full extent of challenge on the DPJ.

change, of course, should be good. change is necessary for development. and so, as much as I would like to see Vietnam changes, it's not going to be easy.