It's that time of year again when we welcome Tết, the traditional Vietnamese New Year based on the lunar calendar. In 2022, it happens to fall on February 1st. Here's hoping this is the year we finally will be riding out the Covid-19 scourge. And so I wish all of you and your families a … [Read more...]
“Live in the Sunshine . . .”
Taking a walk the other day, I noticed that the Jacaranda trees in our neighborhood were in full bloom. Profuse panicles of violet-blue flowers that brightened the heart and the sidewalks and further enhanced the cloudless blue overhead. This colorful spectacle screamed summer to me, even … [Read more...]
A Bullish New Year
This Friday (Feb 12) is the First Day of Tết, the traditional Vietnamese New Year's based on the lunar calendar. According to the ancient Chinese/Vietnamese zodiac, this is the Year of the Ox (or Bull/Buffalo), coming in succession to the Year of the Rat. A rat, in popular tradition, symbolizes … [Read more...]
A Dash of Sunshine
We can probably all agree that 2020 was one of, if not the worst year in recent memory. And so it was with grateful relief that I embraced the few good news that dropped in my mailbox just before year's end, news that I'm excited to share with you now. First of, Best Indie Book Award … [Read more...]
The Book is Out: In the Shadow of Green Bamboos
B'gosh, the Big Day is here! At long last. As promised, my new book, In the Shadow of Green Bamboos, is being released into bookstores today. Not without a little hiccup, mind you, but then again this whole year 2020 has been one giant hiccup itself, so I'm just elated to have crossed the … [Read more...]
New Book Release
With everything that has been happening, this year has been flying by at a frightening pace. Luckily for me, however, there's a bit of a silver lining. I've been keeping my nose to the grindstone for some time now, and I finally have some very exciting news to share with you. Two weeks from … [Read more...]
A Special To-Read List
Just a quick announcement to share some exciting news: I am thrilled and honored that the Washington DC Public Library has recently held a book discussion of my travelogue, Rain Falling on Tamarind Trees, and has recommended it as one of 5 books to read about Vietnam … [Read more...]
The Paths Unknown (Cont.)
Recently, some six months after the publication of my Vietnam travelogue Rain Falling on Tamarind Trees, I went online and did a quick search on the title to see if there had been any news about it. To my delight, a book discussion notice popped up, the one whose image is shown above. It … [Read more...]
The Lost Tribes
With the Korean Peninsula figuring prominently in the news in recent months---from the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games to the nuclear threat and diplomatic negotiations---I've been reminded of a long-standing historical link between Korea and Vietnam. It all began in 1958 during the state … [Read more...]
A Time to Remember
For people of Vietnamese heritage, no traditional holiday is bigger than Têt, the lunar calendar New Year's, which is also celebrated in other Far East countries (Mongolia, China, Korea, Japan). The exact date varies from year to year, usually between mid-January and mid-February. In 2018, Têt … [Read more...]