Cheap Candles, Expensive Electricity

It was a dramatic weather day for Vietnam Independence Day. In fact it was the only drama there was. No fireworks, no parade, nothing special that we were aware of and we even searched.

Our normal, study, read, wash day at home became a trapped at home simply because of all the constant rain. It was by far the most intense storm we have seen yet and it was almost the entire day. I heard the longest thunder roll in my life and almost fell off the bed from a thunder clap directly above our apartment....wholly guacamole! It was just about the moment I was to sit down to study when the electricity went out...and stayed off. This all being new to us, who knew how extensive or how long it would be out. I decided it was best to go find candles while there was still light out.

Well, who woud have thought it would be so hard to find a lousy candle? Once again, do not try to apply your logic in another country. Though electrictiy was out extensively everywhere, I went to multiple stores asking in Vietnamese for candles. Most said no and one shop had cheapest box (as in quality) of half filled, tea lights that cost .50cents per tea light....rediculous. I trudged on and on determined to find a lousy candle. Finaly, at a very small store I found four red stick candles that cost lests than half of the 8 itty bitty tea lights. After an hour of walking and just short of Michael calling the police to find me, I got home and the electricity came back on. We are prepared for next time.

Coinsidently, electricity is the other shockingly expensive thing here....really expensive. We only run our air conditioner at night and ceiling fans all day. Just with that alone we will likely pay $70 - $100 a month for an apartment that costs $400 a month. I cannot imagine the cost of running multipe air conditioners all day. Lord almighty!

Today was a business as usual at least for Hanoi (fireworks in Saigon?). Less people on the streets, but business continues regardless of holiday, no electricity, of any reason. Got to make that money. So surprised that such a proud people did not celebrate their Independance from France more enthusiastically. Perhaps with all the good bread, pastries and French products they are not that upset about the whole thing.