So, as promised last week, this blog post will be mainly dedicated to the deliciousness that was all the Vietnamese food and drinks that I sampled over there. So, if you're after the 'running' part - skip down to the end of this post...
I think you've probably guessed just how smitten I am with Vietnam - especially the food and drink! Let's start with the coffee: super strong, super delicious, and a fun array of different varieties. I tried every different version that I could, including hot black coffee, iced black coffee, hot coffee with condensed milk, iced coffee with condensed milk, coffee with ice and yoghurt, and even coffee with egg! (Although this latter one was a bit sickly and not my favourite.) Without a doubt, my all-time favourite coffee type (after either of the strong, black varieties) was the coffee with ice and yoghurt! So perfect - kind of like a coffee smoothie or coffee frappe. Here are a few of these amazing creations:
I think you've probably guessed just how smitten I am with Vietnam - especially the food and drink! Let's start with the coffee: super strong, super delicious, and a fun array of different varieties. I tried every different version that I could, including hot black coffee, iced black coffee, hot coffee with condensed milk, iced coffee with condensed milk, coffee with ice and yoghurt, and even coffee with egg! (Although this latter one was a bit sickly and not my favourite.) Without a doubt, my all-time favourite coffee type (after either of the strong, black varieties) was the coffee with ice and yoghurt! So perfect - kind of like a coffee smoothie or coffee frappe. Here are a few of these amazing creations:
This variety seemed to be mainly a Northern thing though and it disappeared off the menu the further down Vietnam that I travelled. Not to worry - I successfully managed to order it anyway using the very limited Vietnamese words that I'd tried to pick up along with the universal gesture for 'together' whilst pointing at the coffee and then the separate yogurt on the menu in question. Result!
The traditional coffee, pictured here, was also great: sweet and strong and I like the fact you get your own little filter each time:
The traditional coffee, pictured here, was also great: sweet and strong and I like the fact you get your own little filter each time:
I was also loving the fact that when you order coffee in Hoi An, it ALWAYS comes with a green tea of sorts on the side (either hot or iced):
And while we're on the subject of tea - the ginger tea in Vietnam?? Awesome!
Ok, so you can't just live off tea and coffee alone. When I wasn't skulling delicious beverages I was usually munching away on their staple fast-food (found on literally every corner) of a small filled baguette (I opted for the egg, salad, and chilli/sauce version every time),
or those quintessential fresh spring rolls (filled with salad, and sometimes prawn and salad),
or spicy tofu plus vegetables, or just plates of garlic-y green veg by themselves (funnily enough called 'morning glory' over there),
or pastries filled with sweet green beans or shredded coconut,
or, of course, the most delicious noodle soup I have EVER had (the famous 'pho', I think):
Ohmygosh, it was ALL. SO. DELICIOUS. Take my word for it.
Everything was just so fresh. No wonder as it's coming straight from here in the mornings:
Everything was just so fresh. No wonder as it's coming straight from here in the mornings:
The nutritionist in me was excited to see this Vietnamese food pyramid outside a primary school too:
Ok, I better stop with the food reminiscing - I'm making myself hungry, mmmm.....
On to the running run-down! Last week I got in a couple of BEAUTIFUL runs out in the 'bush' near Wisemans Ferry - a stunning part of Australia along the Hawksbury River where there's no phone or wifi coverage, just lots of trees and kangaroos (and spiders, unfortunately) - bliss! (Albeit from the spiders). These were the nearest neighbours:
On to the running run-down! Last week I got in a couple of BEAUTIFUL runs out in the 'bush' near Wisemans Ferry - a stunning part of Australia along the Hawksbury River where there's no phone or wifi coverage, just lots of trees and kangaroos (and spiders, unfortunately) - bliss! (Albeit from the spiders). These were the nearest neighbours:
Friday night saw me tackle an extremely hot, humid, sweaty Fruitloops trail and beach run with an awesome bunch of runners. One of the sweatiest runs I've had in ages, but so very worth it for those wonderful trails:
Then finally, yesterday morning saw me get in my longest run that I've done for a long time: 32.5km with a couple of deadset champions! We ran through the city, along the foreshore, along beaches, through trails and the bush, and even had an unexpected stretch of time in the ocean whilst trying to hop safely to shore along the edge of various rocks and pipes back to the oceans baths at Merewether. This was all in belated aid of my birthday a couple of weeks back, and despite the heat and humidity, I reckon we smashed it! Thanks again to Angela and Paul for coming along for this - we f&*ken did it!! Here's the 'after' shot:
All in all, a pretty successful week running-wise, complete with the usual smattering of bodypump sessions, walking, cycling around, and even a little bit of hiking out in the bush! (Until the spiders mid-track at face-level got the better of me).
Now I'm off to dream about that fantastic pho, mmmmm...... Have a f&*ken fantastic week one and all!!!
Now I'm off to dream about that fantastic pho, mmmmm...... Have a f&*ken fantastic week one and all!!!
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