There are so many new food/coffee shops opening around Vo Van Tan and Cao Thang Sts in District 3 these days that it’s hard to keep up with them. But in the interests of my stomach I keep trying to update constantly. The Bean Store is yet another new one, clean, quiet, sensible background music,nice decor, friendly staff, great menu, good food, reasonable prices, what more need I say?? Give it a try!
The Bean Shop
Somebody once said that you learn something new every day, and today I learned that Viet Nam is producing some first class chocolate, first class that is if you enjoy proper dark chocolate that doesn’t contain so much sugar that it becomes sickly sweet. It just so happens that I enjoy dark and slightly bitter chocolate and today I came across some chocolat de vietnam that makes my taste buds really happy.
This is a really high class product produced by Marou, just take a look at the detail that’s gone into the wrapping, it was shameful to mess with the beauty of it all. But… lets face it folks, it is all about the chocolat de vietnam waiting to be disrobed and feasted upon… am I right? Oooh la la, sexy chocolat!
The thing that took my eye with this brand of chocolat was the way that Marou promote the fact that it’s made wholly from produce grown in Viet Nam, but even more pleasant is the fact that they promote the styles of chocolat produced from different provinces close to Sai Gon. The map below borrowed from the Marou web site shows that chocolat de vietnam is available from Dong Nai, (the first style I’ve tried), Baria, Tien Giang, Ben Tre and Lam Dong.
Bliss, I have four styles yet to try. Where did I buy it you ask? Well… I bought this block at Mekong Merchant in An Phu, but it seems to be available worldwide.
[Click on a thumbnail to witness a shameless disrobing of chocolat de vietnam]
wall painting in L’Usine on Le Loi St appeals to me…
…taken from my rooftop…
Click on image for larger version
This is the air con in my home office and it seems as though it’s found new tenants. The sparrows have found a way in from the outside and are setting up shop so to speak. I couldn’t work out a few days ago why their tweeting and fluttering about sounded so close, but a few tail feathers sticking out occasionally and now this bedding that slipped through confirms it. I have some new office buddies in a cool new home!
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As many truths as men. Occasionally, I glimpse a truer Truth, hiding in imperfect simulacrums of itself, but as I approach, it bestirs itself & moves deeper into the thorny swamp of dissent.
Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell
I’ve never been overly keen on circuses, they’ve never been on the top of my priority list as entertainment. I don’t particularly like animal acts because there is always the thought in my mind that cruelty has been involved in the training process somewhere and anyway, isn’t it demeaning to parade around a bear dressed like a little girl wearing a leather muzzle? Isn’t it? Better than being confined to a cage for the extraction of bile juices I hear you say… well yes… true.
However, on the cnr of Pham Ngu Lao and Nguyen Trai Sts there’s a permanent big top that once a year puts on a circus gala performance and until last Sunday night, I’d never been to one. A couple of my friends had recommended it to me over the years but, I was reluctant. Finally making it to the ticket counter increased my reluctance when I saw the price of a ticket, but what the hey, we gave it a go anyway and, apart from the few animal acts and one rather weak magician, I was pleasantly surprised.
The magician was good, very very good, at showing the audience exactly where he was pulling his tricks from under his cape that is. But the jugglers, clowns, trapeze artists, and gymnasts were excellent. All in all a great evenings entertainment, worth the admission price after all and next time there’s a circus gala in town they’ve got me.
Apologies in advance for the image quality, lighting you know!
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