BecomingBeyond

Buddhism in Vietnam is different. In every country in Asia there is a slightly different version of it. In Vietnam, the head of the Buddha sculpture is usually a national hero. They don’t worship Buddha but their heroes. The temples resemble small houses. They have three arched gates: representing the present, the past and the…

Never have I enjoyed being alone so much and spending time with myself. Shifting to a lifestyle allowing myself more time and space, is getting me closer also to my deeper self. I can connect better and also listen to myself better. My intuition & feelings. This morning I got up without any specific plan.…

The sun is still up when boats begin to gather on the water in the center of Hoi An. One after another, they set off to assemble near the bridge. Where could they be coming from? Easily, at least 60 boats are swaying on the water. Each one has two lanterns swinging in the breeze,…

I love connecting with nature. When I see a beautiful landscape, energy flows through me, I feel it charging me, and I become present in the moment. It’s not the first time I’ve experienced being unable to fully enjoy a breathtaking view. Ninh Binh offers a fantastic panorama which I admired both from the water…

There are two kinds of people who journey abroad. First, the tourists: those who arrive with limited time and high expectations, rushing from one landmark to the next, snapping photos before moving on. For them, the trip is a checklist of highlights and comfort, a whirlwind of surface-level experiences.Then there are the travelers. The ones…

Food in Asia is diverse but you need to choose carefully what you eat and where for hygiene reasons. The European stomach is not used to the tap water from here so for example eating vegetables washed in tap water or drinking a juice with ice cubes made out of tap water instead of bottled…

It’s interesting to see the other side of history here. Vietnam was under French occupation for nearly 70 years, along with Laos and Cambodia. After the French were forced to withdraw following a battle, the country was divided: in the north, communist Vietnam; in the south, a Western-aligned region. This opposition later led to the…

The grayness was slowly settling over Hanoi’s bustling city. The swarm of motorbikes kept pouring down the boulevard I was walking along. I knew it was going to rain and I’d already realized I wouldn’t make it to the narrower streets where I could take shelter. So I turned into the park I was passing…

There is a street in the city which is famous for the train passing there. A narrow street which became a tourist attraction. It’s like buildings built as close as possible to the railway, with small cafe’s to sit in front of them. Just enough space for a row of chairs. Before the train arrives,…