Current media Issue 10 - Freedom by Current Media

RMIT HANOI CAMPUS ISSUE 10 MARCH 2015 THE FREEDOM EDITION

CurrentMedia

Current Media

Current Media is a free, student-run publication for the RMIT Hanoi community

EDITORIAL DANG NGHINH XUAN

DAO THU HA

President s3466649@rmit.edu.vn

Chief Editor & Writer s3466645@rmit.edu.vn

NGUYEN TUAN PHONG

VU THANH HA

Editor & Writer s3461777@rmit.edu.vn

Writer s3505969@rmit.edu.vn

HA THANH LAN

NGUYEN DANG MANH

DIEN HUYEN LINH

TRAN BACH DUONG

NGUYEN THU HIEN

NGUYEN HOA MY

Writer s3446496@rmit.edu.vn

Writer s3518027@rmit.edu.vn

Writer s3461798@rmit.edu.vn

Writer s3517744@rmit.edu.vn

Writer s3461784@rmit.edu.vn

Writer S3517818@rmit.edu.vn

HOANG THUY TIEN

NGUYEN DIEU LINH

Writer s3501322@rmit.edu.vn

Writer S3501321@rmit.edu.vn

LE THI CAM LINH

Writer S3411695@rmit.edu.vn

DESIGN NGUYEN DIEU LINH

LE GIA HUNG

Lead Designer s3467267@rmit.edu.vn

Designer s3463669@rmit.edu.vn

DO HAI NAM

DAO CAM CHI LAN

Designer s3503260@rmit.edu.vn

Designer s3515514@rmit.edu.vn

NGUYEN THIEN LAN Designer s3480704@rmit.edu.vn

(*) Please note that the views expressed in these pages are the personal views of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of RMIT management.

Contents

M A R C H 2 0 1 5

14 05 05 Insider’s Story

27 Perspective

12 Voices of RMIT

30 Perspective

14 The Talk

34 Tips

16 Fashion

36 The City

20 Entertainment

38 Perspective

22 Perspective

40 Entertainment

24 Cover Story

44 The City

10 Issues, 3 Years Running

Are You Free?

Nguyen Thi Thuy Hong

Liberate Your Closet

The 9x Filmmakers: Don’t Wait for Adults A Chic “Criminal”

Want Some True Freedom?

Freedom Isn’t Free

18+ Infinity

Get Over the Post-Tet Blues

The Little Escape

Hedgie Wanna Be Friends

Kentucky Route Zero: Em bark on the Road Less Traveled Hanoi Graffiti: Hibernating or Already Dead?

Editor’s Letter

T H E F R E E D O M I S S U E

Tet holiday, our 3rd birthday and freedom. How do we celebrate while

onment of more than one blogger in Vietnam, all happened in the

contemplating such heavy philosophical topic?

year 2014. But to us 20-somethings, freedom affects us on a personal level and very often associated with the familiar quarter-life crisis. Like

Besides the obvious duty to write, we the editorial team also identify

whether we have the ability to dress a certain way, pursue a certain

ourselves as voracious readers. On top of daily consumption of celebs’

career, love a certain somebody as one wishes and so on.

scandals, we love it when a piece of writing makes us think - be it the Pulitzer Prize winner or tidbits in random op-eds that allow the audi-

And of course it’s impossible to forget our thanks to RMIT Hanoi

ence to look from a different angle. So we have made a bold decision

campus in which we have enjoyed a fair share of press freedom. We

to carry its weight and explore the many facets of freedom, knowing

couldn’t be more grateful to have such amazingly ample space for 3

it’s never easy to pinpoint a fixed definition for a concept so broad and

years and 10 issues until now, to create, to share, and to connect. While

flexible like its name already suggests.

in here everyone can raise their voice, we want to make sure they can all be heard, and use that gift to make our college life a little bit more

Freedom takes the shape of farfetched, often politics-related events,

meaningful. Happy Tet, Happy birthday to Current Media, may you

like the ongoing protests for democratic election in Hong Kong, the

have the courage to strive for the freedom you deserve. Bottoms up!

massacre of Charlie Hebdo headquarter in France, and the impris-

Dao Thu Ha - Editor in Chief

04 March 2015

INSIDERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S STORY

10 ISSUES 3 YEARS RUNNING Written by Ha Dao

current Adjective

1. belonging to the present time; happening or being used or done now

Noun

1. a body of water or air moving in a definite direction, especially through a surrounding body of water or air in which there is less movement 2. The general tendency or course of events or opinion (Oxford Dictionaries 2014) March 2015 05

This is our name, this is what we stand for Whether understood widely or not, Current Media is an unarguably intriguing pun. Current means both the present and the wave, along which we the fish swim by documenting the flow of events. Three years ago, the idea for a student magazine was

social media integrated, and highlighted the still relevant

hatched by Mr. Duy Hai Nguyen (now busy building his

face-to-face communication by organizing the first project

hospitality career in Arab) with a lofty vision in mind: to

“RMIT Christmas treats” last semester.

keep students updated on current events on campus, to be the bridge connecting students and school, and to be a

Even though everything is online in this day and age,

creative outlet for students to voice their opinions. From

physical interaction with a product that takes months of

scratch, the idea has materialized in the form of a 16-page

planning is still a pure sensation. So while aware that pro-

magazine after lots of paperwork as well as the very first

ducing a print magazine consumes a great amount of time,

experiments with journalistic writing and designing.

brain plus money, we still see no reason to stop.

Humble it was the beginning, and Current Media has

We consider 10 to be a lucky number when its release date

stayed a print magazine for nearly 3 years. If quite some

aligns with the Lunar new year’s celebration, the time for

time of growth has taught us any lesson, it would be that

contemplating the past years and hopping on a fresh new

maintenance is hard, but always rewarding. A drop of in-

journey. So let us take you down the memory lane in 10

spiration from a senior proves to create a surprisingly large

fun facts about this magazine in your hand, to get to know

ripple. Now we have grown out of the print platform into

us in a friendlier manner. We hope to receive the best

the digital world, with elements of a website, videos and

birthday wishes from you – our first and foremost priority.

06 March 2015

10 fun facts about current media Current Media was and still is jokingly called “Scholarship club” for its majority of members being scholarship holders.

Chi Pu was featured in the Fashion section on the first issue when she was attending college.

The latest issue in your hand has 34 pages more than the first one back in 2012.

self for the “Character of the month” section.

he has written 4 articles in total, one writer has to take up 4 different pennames.

until 2013 when ProfComm took over the throne.

The first president was male, succeeded by 3 female leaders. Who runs the world? Girls. Sometimes a student club gathers people and strikes romantic feelings between them. To us it’s still a myth because apparently no one falls in love in Current Media. (We hope the future will be more exciting)

In the 8th issue, so to as to hide the fact that

The majority of members majored in Commerce

Originally the logo was made up of characters <°})>< forming the shape of a fish, once again to signify the flowing of words and information. In October 2013 this was changed to the current logo. One writer has written an interview about him-

We have featured almost all lecturers in ProfComm including Mark Rudd, Linda Nguyen, Brenda Mattick and Hong Nguyen.

March 2015 07

CAMPUS REPORT

Campus by Ha Vu and Duong Tran

............................................................................................................. Career Week

Photo from RMIT Vietnam Career Centre

RMIT Career Week is a collaborated effort between Career Centre and RMIT Marketing Club that offers students job opportunities and practical workshops from prominent guest speakers. It started on 27th October with an opening event and was followed by three workshops accordant with themes of Explore, Experience and Engage. The Career Expo networking event on 31th October wrapped up the series with the presence of more than 20 big corporations such as KPMG, Melia Hotel, ACCA Vietnam and CPA Australia. We hope that our attendees had pocketed some hints for their future career, thanks to Career Week.

.............................................................................................................. Happy Feet Project The hot summer had subsided and what welcomed us in the semester C of 2014 were the shivers and rosey cheeks of people. With a view to bringing a warmer winter to needy children in remote areas, RMIT Business Club had carried out a meaningful project called “Happy Feet” that sold hand-made socks for charity purposes. Warmth was shared from buyers to those in need as for every pair sold, a similar one would be given to the children in Thuy An Rehabilitation Center. The results were superb with more than 40 pairs sold only in the first 3 days. Finally, on 19th January, the whole crew escaped from the buzz of Hanoi to immerse themselves in the serene Ba Vi and created memorable moments with children of Thuy An Rehabilitation Center. Congratulations on the project’s success and let’s expect more goodwill projects from RMIT students in the future.

Photo from RMIT Vietnam Business Club Hanoi

.............................................................................................................. International Week – Christmas Party “Reply 1887”

Photo from Hoahoctro.vn

With a view to celebrating Christmas for RMITers, especially international staff, lecturers and students, Student Council RMIT Hanoi pioneered in launching “International Week” event which lasted for two days. On December 22nd and 23rd , Sports and Recreation Room was inflamed with exhibition booths from student clubs representing Asia, Europe, South Africa and Australia. Student Council also collaborated with RMIT Event Club to throw a glamorous yet homely prom to conclude the former event. Inspired by “1887” - the establishment year of RMIT Melbourne, the prom’s name itself made the party worth expecting. Prom-goers glittered in their most glorious attires, cheered with a glass of wine, contemplated the performances and danced. The winner of “International Week Video Clip Competition” called the name of RMIT Music Club right in the night. Isn’t it a colourful Christmas for RMITers?

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08 March 2015

“Wonderful Teacher Flowers” Project Designing catalogues, scouring the market to pick up fresh blossoms at 2 AM, staying up all night to arrange and wrap flowers, “lying in ambush” in front of school gates since 6... A group of bold SIFE-ers did all of these in their “Wonderful Teacher Flowers” Project on the occasion of Vietnam Teachers’ Day 20/11. Though they had yet to be professionals in selling flowers, the outcome already exceeded their expectation with online orders flooding in the days before and insufficient flowers to supply at 3 main selling points at Thuc Nghiem, Nguyen Trai and Hanoi-Amsterdam high school due to high demand. How thoughtful they are that SIFE members also came to level 9 and gave every lecturer a flower as a tribute for their commitment to RMIT community. It’s business for gratitude, isn’t it?

Photo from CurrentMedia

.............................................................................................................. “Handmade for Hope” Fair

Photo from CurrentMedia

Let’s give a big hand to SIFE for having successfully hosted a fair for “give and take”, and also RMIT Finance Club, Business Club, Chess Club, Music Club and Tarot & Astro Group for their enormous contribution. Back from “Handmade for Hope” fair, RMITers took home some handmade teddies, girly accessories, exclusive henna tattoos and most importantly, the rewarding feeling of giving back to the community. Absolutely 100% profit gained from handmade products by underprivileged people in Vi Ngay Mai - Hold The Future center will go back to them, with 15% extracted to organize a Tet celebration for their children. Mouth-watering homemade food, drink and live music fulfilled the fair, leaving a big smile on everyone’s face.

.............................................................................................................. Current Media’s Christmas Treats You probably have encountered photos of your friends posing with a lovely chubby Santa Claus around our campus, we reckon? A well-planned project run by Current Media and Student Council, the Christmas Treat bore the mission of signaling the imminence of Christmas and connecting people in RMIT, including students, lecturers, staff and security guards. People from every corner of RMIT were given meticulously-wrapped boxes of candies inspired by the Chocolate frogs in Harry Potter series. What excited Potterheads even more were the photos and facts of randomly-chosen lecturers lurked under each box, just like how things go in Hogwarts! Plus, more than 200 wishes were written on our Christmas cards, which were hang outside the library. May they all be granted by Mr. Santa.

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March 2015 09

s m l a e r e h Into t of

RMIT n

y Tie Written by Thu

Up and at ‘em lads and lassies, it’s 6 A.M in the morning and I bet you really don’t want to catch a glimpse of how the weather today is. Yes? Rests assure darlings. In these frosty days of winter, a few simple tips to beat the blanket maybe just the thing you need. One, depart from bad dreams. Two, roll out of the beds you've made. You know you had to do it the hard way. And three, make yourself more presentable and start heading for school. That is, within reasons. Because here at RMIT University? We don’t do class until eight. Or at least so.

1. Forget the crowing rooster. Rise and shine, whenever you want . Am I a bit exaggerating? You tell me. But from what I see, RMIT students take much more freedom in controlling class schedules and leisure hours than those of other universities. Everyone knows the earliest classes always come at eight, but that’s only when your lucks had run out. If you can get into the STS within one day if accessible, you definitely don’t need to leave home till the sun soars high. Sometimes, what starts as a lil’ blessing can lead to a real deal. By taking advantage of this little freedom, you can manage

10 March 2015

to socialize with friends in the wee hours in the morning, cram late night’s coursework, earn on-time attendance and still get decent grades. Even better, you (well, somehow) may still have the time and energy to party in a way that would put to shame those college chick-flicks you had seen. Though it’s not so much of a healthy living lifestyle, as long as you are able to stay on track of the goal at hand, you will be just fine. After all, in college balance is the key. Work a lot, have a little fun.

INSIDER’S STORY

2. “I don’t care if they come to work in their pajamas, as long as they get the work out” Creative Director Jack Foster’s answer for Los Angeles Times pretty much sums up everything about our liberty in dressing rules. Be it a 60s kind of thing with peasant skirts and sandals or bow flats with over-the-knee pastel socks, you can always feel free to let loose. The rules are simple: There’s no rule. I once saw this young lovely man entered the class several times, wearing exactly what looks like the 1820 D’orsay topper of Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter with blue dungarees and striped tights. And FYI? People don’t even care. So yeah, I’ve got a pretty good reason for this one.

It’s not by chance that I list dressing up as one of the little kind of freedom you should know. Indeed, in my experience it might well be the most important one. Here’s why: 1. It’s fun to dress 2. When you’re having fun, you enjoy what you’re doing 3. After all, you know it’s true with everything else – people who enjoy what they are doing, do it better. So why wouldn’t it be true with studying? Make it fun to study at our RMIT, little fellows.

Don’t hold the horses, let your imagination run wild.

I must confess, as a college freshman, I have many expectations of my newfound freedom in RMIT. I once pictured a montage set to inspirational music, one in which I powered through assignments with a sober yet determined look on my face, leaving my lecturers awe-struck. In these daydreams, I still had the time to think of a way to turn those on-class presentations into some kind of Disney’s Broadway Musical with role-playing, BGM and interactive stuff. Uh huh, talk about fancy. And among the factors that I didn’t take into account were these: that powering through my mountains of essay wasn’t an option; that my lecturers had seen, thus, expected far better; and that real life isn’t set only to music, inspiration and otherwise. As for the last one? Everyone knows presentation is typically all about slides and such, but believe it or

not, turning into “Mr. Aladdin Sir”, hops on a carpet and flies your audiences through the mystical Arabian nights on your pitching day is something that is always welcome in RMIT. Fine, I made that last part up, but by the time our lecturers had all been conditioned to expect anything other than those heaps of essay, even something as Disney junkie as unfolding kids’ folklore is eminently possible. Forget PowerPoint; try presenting yourself with puppetry or role-play. No? Then play with zippy words, or dress up your stats. People don’t want to read, they want to hear a story. And rather than analyzing opportunity and problems, how about revealing the antagonist and the conquering hero? Bet you get the feels; go and give them your best shots, hons!

4. Survey does work. And I got proof. If there is one thing I have learned, it’s that there is no freedom without solidarity. Sometimes, you might be brave enough to visit the field solo, but without your like-minded troops, it’s going to take more than a little courage to smash those chains. Because unity means oneness, and when there is oneness, there is likely to be more strength in opinion. Lucky for us, this is applied to RMIT curriculum also. Or at least that’s what I witnessed.

for Ms Brenda Mattick, ProfComm lecturer, on her Visual Language course, of the same time.

Have you ever wondered why there were those not-so-fixed courses of which structure that varies every semester? Sound unlikely? Does the phrase “Student survey” ring a bell? Everyone knows that clingy kind of stuff that appears every time you’re about to cut the ties with your courses and settle down for the break. But is it really just a susceptible policy On semester B 2014, Ms. Linda Nguyen, ProfComm lec- that never works? Think again, this fill-in actually has a lot turer, modified the assignment’s structure on her Professional more weight than you’ve ever thought. But only when you Writing course due to previous student’s aspiration. The same and your troops are all in this together. Trust me. Been there, goes for Ms Hoa Phan, Economics lecturer, on her Price and done that. Market course in semester C 2014. And the same also goes March 2015 11

VOICES OF RMIT

ARE YOU FREE?

by Nguyen Linh

No, I’m not asking you out. My question is whether you feel like you have your own freedom or not. Freedom, the word can feel deceptively big as something people have to fight and die for like in history lessons and news reports. However, putting it simply, freedom can also lie in the first pair of shoes your parents let you choose for yourself, in the music you have in your phone since it’s not the world’s business if you happen to like rap and symphony at the same time, or even in the decision to have a movie marathon at Monday night just because you feel like it. So what’s the definition of freedom that you have in mind?

Ton Trung Hieu

(Economics and Finance) For me, freedom is the most precious right that everyone should possess. You can be who you want to be, do what you feel right, be with the ones you love, or even eat rice with only orange juice. Hey, don’t judge me. When I was a kid, my parents decided what I wear for school, and always picked my clothes. Then one day, I stood up on a chair. Yes, a chair, because I was short and small, you know. I told my parents I no longer needed their intervention in choices of clothing. The next day, I chose my own outfit, and went to school. I felt very happy about it, though later on, it’s kinda sad because my friends laughed at my Hawaiian shorts and Power Rangers T-shirt. But it was not quite bad after all.

12 March 2015

Bui Thanh Tuyen

(Professional Communication) I think freedom is when you can control your life, beliefs, actions and have your own opinion without being interfered or influenced by anyone. To be honest, I don’t think I have much freedom since my actions are still affected by people around me. However, since I entered RMIT, I have tasted more freedom. One of the things I like the most is that I can express my opinions more openly in classroom. I think I will gradually find my own freedom from now on.

Le Thuc Hien

(Professional Communication) Freedom? It’s a bit hard to explain. Well, I think freedom means that you have the right to decide on everything you do. However, that doesn’t mean you can be careless with your actions, or even words. Insulting someone is not freedom of speech, it’s illegal. Freedom comes with responsibility. Are you allowed to eat snacks before meals? That used to be a ban for me, but as soon as I started university, the ban was lifted. My mom told me that it was my choice to eat whatever or whenever I want, but I had to think about my health and of course, my wallet. However, I don’t think I can have absolute freedom until I can earn a living and buy a house of my own.

March 2015 13

THE TALK

Nguyen Thi Thuy Hong

Written by Vu Ha

“

I want to be the kind of teacher that motivates students to create and take action instead of passively listening and following. 14 March 2015

”

he one-of-a-kind Math and Biology specialized student who applied for Oriental studies and Communication program, she’s an intersection of the seemingly parallel lines: science and people. Yesterday, the breeze teased her three-strand braids hanging over her hips. But today, she appears with a few caramelized blonde highlights weaving through her bob haircut. Don’t be surprised if she looks like a Buddhist nun tomorrow because that’s just how she is: predictable in her own unpredictability… We stole Ms. Hong Nguyen from her cycle of work in a breezy day of Hanoi. The stress from work didn’t seem to wear her out as she greeted us with her signature gummy contagious smile. Bubbly as always, she piece by piece disclosed her other self as a liberal besides being a lecturer by answering our questions on the theme of freedom wittily.

Q: I’ll start with an easy question. When did you start allowing yourself to have such quirky hairstyles? You have tried quite different haircuts. A: I guess it all started when I was eighteen. I used to have very long hair, which grew over my waist a little bit. By that time, I didn’t really care about my hairstyle. Now that I am thinking about it, I must say my parents adored my hair even more than I did (chuckling). I still remember how my dad always bargained to cut only one or two centimeters when I said five. One day, I experienced an epiphany that I wanted to have a short haircut. Then, it just so happened. Q: I recall you have once showed us a picture of you having cornrow hairstyle at the beginning of a class. Was it Africa where you tried that hairdo? A: Yes, it was. Before coming to Africa, I had an idea of “transforming” myself to look like an African. I wanted to see how people would treat me if they thought I was an indigenous African. I even intended to find some makeup artists to paint my skin to a darker tone that the natives have. However, it was a self-sufficient trip and the price was too high, so I didn’t have the chance to try that. Still fun though, especially when my African friends joked that the hairstyle made me a real African already. Q: How did people react when they saw your constantly changing hairdos? A: I’m pretty sure they bear in mind that there’s nothing about me is certain (laughing). They all don’t go “wow” whenever they see me with a different haircut because they know I’m the carefree type that does what I like without any prior notice. Q: Speaking of doing things you like, have your parents ever restricted you from doing something eccentric? You know, traditional Vietnamese parents don’t usually want their children to have light-colored hairstyles, tattoos or revealing clothes etc. A: There were some “personal sessions” actually. One time I shared with my mom that my favorite hairstyle was to be bald. I was serious and my mother was appalled. She tried to to persuade me not to do so in a urging, begging and a bit threatening manner. But the great thing is, she never forces or forbids me from doing anything. The same goes with my dad. Perhaps the reason is because they never succeeded in making me follow their will (laughing). Q: From your past experiences in other places, how do you think the notion of freedom of foreigners differ from that of the Vietnamese?

A: I think people value different things so their notions of freedom vary. For instance, people in Western countries respect individuality so most of them move out and live independently while Vietnamese adults at the same age still live with parents. Mind you, there are boundaries for people to reach their own freedom, too, especially for women. Let’s say in Vietnam or other Asian countries, we are still bound to tradition and ethics; thus, Vietnamese women will often be judged if they smoke or drink alcohol. Meanwhile, people from other countries have other concerns, such as childfree women are deemed selfish. In my view, freedom of every person lies in the way they think and make their own decisions of who they want to be without concerning other’s judgement. Q: You seem to really care about women! By the way, Miss Vietnam Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen answered her question in the contest that what distinguishes Vietnamese women is the sacrifice for their family and country. Do you think the sacrifices Vietnamese women are expected to make somehow refrain them from following their own will? A: Sacrificing, or doing something for others without expecting to receive in return, is worth appreciation. However, I think both women and even men should have the right to choose whether they want to do so. In other words, sacrifice is not a standard that people must follow. If you want give up something important to yourself for the sake of others, it’s totally up to you but that does not mean the other half of the world who choose otherwise are at fault. Q: One last question that I’m very curious about. Why do you choose to be a teacher, a job that can bind you to rules, code of ethics, pedagogy and the pressure of being a role model? A: I never think of teachers as students’ role models. The motivation that pushed me hard to become a teacher is my desire to inspire people. I believe you students are at a great stage to explore your potential, but there are times you may feel insecure or lack of inspiration. Therefore, I want to be the kind of teacher that motivates students to create and take action instead of passively listening and following. I used to be a student like you guys so I really appreciate those who can inspire students to blossom to their fullest. March 2015 15

FASHION

Liberate

YOUR CLOsET Words and creative concept by Than Quang Photograph by Ha Dao Clothing and accessories by Merceria, X98 Zone Modelling by Ellie Phan Make up and assistance by La Lune

he internationally acclaimed designer Kenzo Takada once uttered a timeless mantra for choosing what to wear:

Fashion is like eating. “ You shouldn’t stick with the same menu. “ 16 March 2015

When the spring breezes come signaling a new start, a little unexpected piece of clothing will definitely get you on the spotlight without the need for a professional Hollywood stylist. In this humid weather, there is nothing better than layering your summer best friends with the most hard-to-wear coats.

March 2015 17

Try something that you haven’t dared to before for fear of looking too ‘old’ or ‘offbeat’: put on the bold the Carmen color bomber jacket plus deep blue earrings or earn a 1970s’ punk demeanor with a chic leather dress. The best part of dressing is erasing your boundaries, so don’t ever hold yourself back.

18 March 2015

And, remember: You will have everything if you dress for everything. Keep your head high with an open mind, ladies.

March 2015 19

ENTERTAINMENT

THE 9X

FILM MAKERS Don’t Wait for Adults Written by Nguyen Hoa My

Nguyen Phi Phi Anh - The Risk Taker

ith a passion for musicals since his youth, Phi Anh has always wanted to pursue the genre, knowing well the road is never gonna be smooth. With full scholarship at Hampshire College in the United States, he took multidisciplinary courses in Film, Theatre, and Visual Art. Phi Anh did not enjoy success straight away. His first show at Hanoi Library in 2008 – Red Carpet Love Story fell through as the the songs performed in a foreign language failed to capture the hearts of the local audience. But 4 years later, Phi Anh kicked a big comeback with 1200 tickets of his Avenue of Glory & The Last Summer musical plays in 2013 sold out. This time, all 17 foreign songs, including top hits like Adele’s Chasing pavements and Maroon 5’s She will be loved were featured in Vietnamese lyrics; all rewritten and got copyright purchase by the talented director. It seemed that after lots of blood and sweat, Phi Anh had finally solved the nerve-racking puzzle of how to get artworks reach millions without compromising standards. He took the risk with this musical – a still unfamiliar method of storytelling, saying “As pioneers, at least you will be praised for courage. If your product is good it will stay a long time. If it fails, people will just think it’s a group of students trying out new things. Furthermore, the public does not have anything to compare with your piece”. As such, he dared to the end.

Phi Anh said, “What you gain - experience, relationships and above all the joy of doing what you want - is much bigger compared to the effort you put in. So I want other young people to be confident to step forward and create their own show. Don’t wait for adults to create shows for you.” Phi Anh’s official website: phiphianhnguyen.com

20 March 2015

Luk Van - The Multitasker Luk Ho Hai Van, often known as Luk Van, is the leader of Mowo, an independent filmmaker group. Her short romantic films such as “Hanoi, I love you” or “Say I Love You” are popular with young people while the others are loved by critics, examples include: “Path of the Marble” – 2nd place in 48 Hour Film Project in Ho Chi Minh City, “Live TV” - Yxine top 20 movies of 2010 or “The Smiling Coin” – top 3 scripts judged by the Cinema Association. Luk expected sleepless nights the day she chose to become a director. As Mowo is a semi-professional, Luk has to take on multiple roles of an assistant, secretary and distributor. Sometimes, she has to act as two characters to help the actors with the script, facial expressions and postures. Luk earns money for the movies she distributed freely on Youtube from directing commercial/music videos or TV shows. While working with veteran actors who are often already well-versed in their craft means much less of a task for the director, Luk prefers young actors more though that means double the work for her, as long as they can learn from one another. The most essential factors for a young director according to her are “Daring, Responsible, Creative and Personality”. This explains well her critical and commercial success. Her films can be found on youtube.com/mowochannel

Do Quoc Trung - The Lone Wolf Graduating top of his class from Hanoi Academy of Theater and Cinema in 2012, Trung has managed to produced four short films much loved by young audience, namely Close, Open (2013), The First Few Days of Autumn (2011), Snakehead Fish (2011) and Dancing Sunshine (2009). Trung first discovered his passion through a childhood game. He would turn his drawer into a theater, with flashlights covered in colored wrap as lighting, dominoes pieces used as a stage and ceramic statues as actors and act out stories. The passion followed him into secondary school where he landed a small acting role. Yet the teenage boy was unsatisfied because he wanted to tell the story in his own way, he wanted to be a director. As an independent filmmaker without much financial support from family, he is always torn between following his own vision and pleasing the audience. For him, a director would be most proud if the audience can watch a movie and realize that it is his piece and not anyone else’s. Trung is thus determined to make more serious arts instead of commercial films despite knowing full well its difficulty. This young director has gained quite a number of awards in local film festivals like Yxineff and 48 Hour Film Project. Not counting age as a factor, he dryly explained: “8x or 9x, the generation doesn’t matter. Let my works in which I pour tons of effort speak for myself ”. March 2015 21

22 March 2015

PERSPECTIVE

A clock’s hand crawls as a needled gun hums, etching lines of roses from the flower buds then the spi-raling petals and leaves into my friend’s forearm. Afterwards, the tattooist Huynh Koi shades around the veins of roses with black ink. My friend’s skin turns red, hot tingling. “Does that hurt?” I ask. “It does but feels good. I like it,” my friend replies. He sometimes talks about that amusing feeling when a needle point pierces his skin, as if he was an inflated balloon longing for a puncture to explode. About a week later, we revisit Huynh for a check on the tattoo. We maneuver through a bumpy and hard-packed dirt alley to reach his workplace. Tucked away in a narrow alley, the cramped parlor is in disarray with ink bottles and designs in piles. It is not until then that I take a closer look at the young tattoo artist. At 26, like the nickname ‘Huynh Koi’, he is skinny with a height of ’70, covered in tattoos and handsome as his reputation among underground artists, applying Korean standards of a straight nose, smooth skin and svelte proportion. His charming dimpled grin offset the blanket of grayscale blotches dotted with piercings. Huynh looks hip in his red undercut hair sweept back, kaleidoscope button shirt with rolled-up sleeves, black jeans and weed leaf socks. If there were a time machine that flipped back 10 years, someone like Huynh would draw every gaze in his presence as if he was a criminal fresh out of jail. Now, through the eyes of young people, he is chic and respected for his job. Scrolling through Huynh’s Facebook Page, every post or photo magnetizes hundreds of likes and comments idolizing him and his tattoos. Huynh wipes my friend’s forearm, rubbing some ointment on the tattoo, gently advising caution with a grin on his face. My request for an interview is accepted, with his eyes rolling in surprise. In September 2010, Huynh ventured into tattoos after drifting around art as a painter and hairdresser. He learned from a Thai tattooist, then self-taught by inking on pig skin and artificial skin. When I ask him the reason behind his decision, he answers flatly in his husky voice “I like tattoos so I learn. I have been working in art before. It’s like I’m destined to be one.”

Huynh strikes as who can easily symbolize ideas rather than vocalizing them. He can muse aloud over his neck and his hands slathered with tattoos but may ‘errr’ when being asked to describe his experience. “I really like the Lucifer goat on my neck, which represents evil soul. What special about this goat is its forehead with an Illuminati symbol. This is about Freemasonry’s conspiracy theories, about people who control the world. The tattoo on my right hand is a Latin phrase ‘Carpe Diem’ whichmeans seizing the day. This, on my left hand, is a tribal mark ‘Borneo’, which means a fighter,” he goes on explaining the ink on his fingers. As he puts it, he is quiet and self-contained, who will eschew socializing and cast art communities aside. “The difference in my work is my personality. I don’t like meeting or gathering. This somehow reflects in my dot and black work. I concentrate on details, searching for something eccentric,” Huynh cracks a wide smile. Not just male customers, there are more and more female customers coming to Huynh for tattoos on body parts that are considered ‘sacred’. “People think tattooists are sensual, but the truth is we just focus on inking. At times I reassure female customers by joking that ‘I’m gay. Take it easy.’ Female ones usually go for watercolor and lettering tattoos, sexy and tender in an artistic way,” remarks Huynh. When Huynh or those who dabble in tattoos grow old, will they ever regret it? That is when their skin sags, wrinkles, the liver spots, and the tattoos fade and blur as impulsive youth melt away. Huynh answers dryly at the end of the talk “It is still my greatest passion even when I’m halfway to 70’. ” To tattoo fanatics, a tattoo is the artwork of self-declaration, allegiance or milestone; to square tattoo virgins, tattoo is looked down on as a scar or stain. Whatever it is, only your mind and body know. Judgment, confronting with individuality and freedom, becomes trivial. After all, freedom is self-service; nobody grants us freedom if we hesitate to seek our own. Never regret being herself covered in 9 tattoos, a painted girl bluntly tells me that “these tattoos represent my family, past and belief. They will grow and age with me.”

March 2015 23

COVER STORY

24 March 2015

Some would like to refer to it as political freedom: voting for what you desire, financial freedom: free from debts and able to afford what you want, or press freedom: publishing news that reflect the truth rather than becoming a manipulative tool for authorities, etc. Each person may have his/her own definition of the concept yet all could be converged into two types: freedom from something and freedom to do something. Too often, however, the concept gets confused with escaping or running away. True freedom comes from having a sense of running toward something, that you’re pursuing something other than your status quo. Some tried so hard to break free only to be left with the feeling of floating around aimlessly. It may seem like an overwhelming load of information to process at the moment but eventually, at some point of your life, especially when are going to take control, or so you think; you do need to take time to clarify such ideas. Honestly, the mere thought of it could have given one quarterlife crisis in the middle of the night, if not, a lightweight existential one.

We advocate, preach, read, dream and hope for freedom but does everyone know exactly what it is they’re seeking? Or we’re just heading towards a somewhat vague concept of which the attainment could even cost us our lives. It is of utmost importance to define clearly what our goals are once we set off to achieve it; otherwise, what’s the point?

Perhaps you’ve seen a big number of campaigns, programs and discussions on the media about freedom. You may have heard about obscene incidents of privacy violation and strikes to demonstrate rejection to oppression. News of deaths, of dragging unease and of blatantly horrid crimes in different regions of the world filling the headlines could certainly make one pessimistic. Political freedom appears to be the hottest topic on the news and outstanding among those is the recent Hong Kong student-ignited protest. We see raging fire in the wars from Iraq against ISIS, brutal fights against cartels in Mexico, a civilian airplane tragically shot down during the unease in the eastern part of Ukraine and many more of the likes that take away beloved lives. Soldiers have to die because of their orders; women were raped and killed because they were regarded as lower class; people of colors are discriminated since slavery decades ago. It’s been long since we started the fight for freedom, either for our people or for ourselves, why it’s still raging? Why do people still dying fighting for freedom – the natural right of every individuals living in a civilized twenty-first century world? Have we achieved it or are we still fighting for it? If it is the latter, how long does it have to be? How many more we need to sacrifice for the cause we should have achieved decades ago? Would it be true freedom if people are suffering from constraints of social stigma, of authorities’ oppression and, often seen, of dread of being an outcast? Most importantly, how do we set ourselves free from the entanglements, to take another path diverged from the marathon of life everyone is so dedicated to?

March 2015 25

One could view society as a bunch of strings that connect people together yet at the same time restrain our freedom to think, to act or to do whatever we think is right for ourselves. Consider life. Children have to listen to their parents and grown-ups around; students have to listen to teachers or mentors; employees have to answer to their superiors; and many more relationships where our decisions is directed by others’ idealism. It is preferable to have guidance at young ages because, there are just too many options and too many paths we could take while we knew nothing about ourselves, our desires and dreams. Growing up a little bit, we enjoy a slightly larger ‘cage’. Daily life’s decisions are now at our will yet it doesn’t add up to the equation of freedom. Rarely can one decide to do something without being judged by others; in fact, people judge so often that it has become some kind of instinct when we see something. Fear of failures, of criticism, of judgment is what actually barricading our freedom. How absurd it is to decide not to unfold our ideas into some startups, learning new skills that we thought were cool or traveling somewhere faraway from current responsibilities, mainly because we tremble at the idea of being laughed at. It may sound clichéd but as they say: “it’s all about you.” In all, every single one of the restraints imposed on us could have been lifted once individuals find the need for freedom, figure out what it is they truly want to become and start to take actions, against the chance of failures, to actualize them. Worry not, because, though many complain about how short life is, it is the longest thing we would have ever done; no matter how old you are, there is still time to fail, to learn, and to flourish.

26 March 2015

PERSPECTIVE

Freedom isn’t free A

Written by Linh LE

s 20-year-old something, we rave and crave freedom. We talk and dream about what we want to do, to be, and to see. We ask ourselves what freedom means to us, but often we forget one critical question: how much weight does a decision have, should you make that decision gravitate towards your own desire more than that of the rest? Some people are granted a lot of things in life, but to most others it’s not the case. Achievement is a matter of fighting and striving. Freedom is hard. And freedom can be painful. For the 14-year-old me, freedom was loneliness. When I chose my high school against what my parents wanted, I was the only 14-year-old kid who went to do all the registration paperwork. Standing next to me in the office was a line of proud and eager adults whose sons and daughters had finally passed the entrance exam. For a world’s traveler, freedom can be costly. For my friend who has been to more than 20 countries, and is probably going to mark his 30th within 2015, it is not and probably will never be easy to gain financial dependence being a thousand miles away from home. His worry on a daily basis could just be how to get his pay in time for next week’s lunch. For a Muslim, artist, writer, photographer, idealist and social activist, freedom to pursue your belief does not always mean understanding, acceptance and support. Truth is, most people might not have faith and can never guarantee that your choices will lead you where you want to be. Let’s just ask ourselves, in whose hands does the decision lie? For most, it will be ourselves who will pull the strings of our lives. Freedom is a multitude of things, but it can also be only one thing – bravery. So I leave the answer to you, your meaning of freedom and the decision that you will take. But regardless of what happens, what stays at the end of day is the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr.:

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

March 2015 27

AROUND THE WORLD

Your freedom, their freedom, our freedom?

“C

harlie Hebdo” (Weekly) is one of the, if not the, most controversial satirical magazines out there and during past few months its name has flooded the media. Written by Manh Nguyen

What happened

n January 7th 2015, 12 journalists - including their editor-in-chief at that time - Stéphane Charbonnier, were massacred by three terrorists in an attack at the magazine’s headquarter. This is the second time Charlie Weekly has suffered at the hand of terrorists - the last time was in 2011 when another extremist responded to a Prophet Muhammad satirical cartoon. This tragedy marks the worst terrorist-caused casualties in recent decades in France, which has a five-million Muslim population - Europe’s largest.

The public reaction The incident sparked intense debates and protests around the world. In Niger and Pakistan, protests were mainly from those whose beliefs were offended by the cartoons. The fiercest one was in Niger where French flags were torched with at least 5 killed and dozens of Christian churches burned down. Meanwhile, the 16 surviving artists at Charlie Weekly still published their next issue on time. Social media gave the release an unprecedented welcome, praising it as an act of patriotism and of bravery against violent suppression. To which the new editor-in-chief replied: “Charlie is not supposed to be a symbol” – reminding supporters that the newspaper was a fanzine, illustrated mostly by a gang of anarchist journalists who refuse to mature. On the political side, the French President voiced his support for anti-terrorism, upholding the laws and protecting their traditional freedom of expression.

28 March 2015

Yours or others’ What is concerned here is not whether those departed journalists deserved their fates (which, by the way, of course not) but about whether one’s freedom means other’s constraints or sufferings. French cartoonists reserve the right to publish at will without compromising their own safety, and as in this case, their own lives. Yet at the same time, Muslims, along with other subjects of the cartoon like Islamists, Catholics or Judaists, do not deserve to be humiliated for their faiths which they hold sacred. It gets more complicated when we think about the offense-mechanism here: religions are offended in different ways by the same thing or the same way by different things. What’s more, like in many other forms of art, caricaturists’ messages are left to viewers own imagination and appreciation. Consequently, there are many versions of verbal descriptions or illustrations of such drawings based on viewers’ backgrounds. So should you wrap yourselves up and abandon freedom because it would eventually hurt others? No, without disagreement and controversies we would not be able to solve many problems and conflicts existing among communities, especially in this globalization era. Plus, missing out on a joke or some healthy laughter for fear of offending someone living on the other side of the planet is literally nonsense. Individuals should have the ultimate right to ridicule whatever they want yet others don’t have to advocate, let alone join them. Then can you blaspheme anything and pull out the defiance of “freedom of speech” whenever someone is offended? Not really, that would just create chaos. As said, when cultures are fusing at an unprecedented rate, creating a myriad of potential conflicts, one need not and should not trigger them and leave it to extremism and violence to resolve. That is why people should not abuse their right when touching subjects sensitive to others. After all, the world needs a healthy amount of disagreement. March 2015 29

PERSPECTIVE

18 AND Infinity Written by Thuy Tien

For wise man once said:

I believe in freedom. People follow their hearts, doing what they want You know dearies, if that is the case; I always wish I had lived in the turbulent 60s.

hey say eighteen is such a blast, a milestone accompanied by great privileges but also strictly legal implications because sometimes, all it takes is a simple leap to open the door to the wild side. At eighteen, you can vote, get drunk, buy a house or wed your high school sweetheart. At eighteen, you can also go to jail, get sued and gamble away your tuition at The Bank, if not exaggerated. At eighteen, there are those who got hit by their fustercluck, they just want to forget and start over; while there are others who want each moment to last for eternity. But in the end, everyone can always agree on one thing once they blew out their eighteenth candle: It was the worst of our times. And the best of our times.

30 March 2015

And yes, I am talking about college.

Hi, Society Every fall confident high school seniors transform into nervous college freshmen. They leave their parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; care for the hallowed halls of higher education and tangled relationships. And like any new venture, starting college holds the promises of limitless opportunity. The opportunity to conquer new territory. Or to try to be a little less lonely. But just because the opportunity presents itself, doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean everybody is ready to take it.

The rules for every freshman when entering college are similar to those of a shut-in patient. And by that I mean: socialize. Stop holing up in your room. Cut back on solitary amusements such as video games and comic books. Introduce yourself. Invite new friends out. You will be surprise that even something as simple as wearing a friendly face can really get the ball rolling. Last but not least, always remember, it’s not only about relationships and social ladders, the academic territory is more about… yuck, the academics. It typically takes one semester for freshmen to hit their strides. One image comes to my mind when a college student describes their typical days: pinball. They bounce back and forth to classes, dining hall, library, social clubs and activities, meetings, sports, etc. all day long. It takes time to get used to, but busy as they are, most college students will come to appreciate the freedom they have as a grown-up person to manage their own time. Looking back at those early days you may very well chuckle and wonder what all the fuss was about. Some may drown in nostalgia. While there are others find that going to college is not quite what they expected. No matter what the hard truth is, everything is an experience. And because blowing out the eighteenth candle hints the ignition of something new, we find ourselves always looking for the future. You ain’t seen nothing yet.

Happy Independence Era Growing up means one thing: independence. We all want it, the need for a separate identity, proving that it’s time to change from the 24/7 parenting to the role of an advisor. Technically, there’s plenty of upside to become the adult of the family. But the downside? Every parent expects nothing less from their offspring. And when it comes to college, it means how far you have come from being mommy’s boy or daddy’s little girl to a full-fledge spawn.

It’s more than just getting into college, it’s about setting a course for the rest of your life. You strive to become rebellious, but the pressures of proving yourself are no less. Because when parents have sacrificed for their children’s future, what kid would want to let them down? Word is, it’s natural for parents to get all sentimental with their kids crossing the independence line. Whatever happens, they often chalk it up to peer pressure, media influence, and even rebellion – and they come down hard. Sometimes if there is a rebellious heart that needs to be dealt with, entering college may be a pretty good kick-off to rest assured your close-knit beloved ones. Because college is like a passport, a breaking away from adolescence and an entering into the adult phrase of life. I suggest you take full credit of this one. Everyone knows with independence comes responsibility, and giving out the second thought for every YOLO deed may be just the thing you need. When teenagers enter college, they are bombarded with choices. Should they study, should they socialize? Should they bottoms up or make the hard choice of staying sober? Should they ditch classes out of their own free will or accept that this is a paid education that shouldn’t be wasted? Every choice has both good and bad consequences. The trick is to know when those consequences aren’t worth the risk. The other trick is to pause long enough before taking those risks to weigh both the good and the bad. Sometimes, our independence can come at the cost of something else. And the costs can be high. Because more often than not, in order to gain our independence, we always have to endure those protracted battles, either from parents or society. However, college will be just the fine place for our blooming lads and lassies, who simply strain for a healthy freedom during their turbulent times, to choose their own paths.

March 2015 31

SHORT STORY

t s h o g i f l F F ant

“We

are most free in our own head - where creativity roam free and your mind spin dreams and tales most fantastical. Nothing is more liberating than when we try to capture these wonders, nothing is freer than fantasy. The best fantasy is written in the language of dreams. It is alive as dreams are alive, more real than real…for a moment at least…that long magic moment before we wake. Fantasy is silver and scarlet, indigo and azure, obsidian veined with gold and lapis lazuli. Reality is plywood and plastic, done up in mud brown and olive drab. Fantasy tastes of pepper and honey, cinnamon and cloves, rare red meat and wines as sweet as summer. Reality is beans and tofu, and ashes at the end. Reality is the strip malls around the street corner, and the factory by the street, a parking garage next door. Fantasy is the ancient towers of Minas Tirith, the shining city of Ankh-Morpork, the glittering halls of Camelot. Fantasy flies on the wings of dragons, reality on shabby airlines. Why do our dreams become so much smaller when they finally come true? We read fantasy to find the colors again, I think. To taste strong spices and hear the songs the sirens sang. There is something old and true in fantasy that speaks to something deep within us, to the child who dreamt that one day he would hunt the forests of the night, and feast beneath the hollow hills, and find a love to last forever somewhere south of Oz and north of Shangri-La. They can keep their heaven. When I die, I’d sooner go to Middle-Earth.

”

~ “On Fantasy”, by George R.R Martin, father of the most epic fantasy novel series ever written “Games of Thrones”

32 March 2015

Close your eyes, notice your breath and start exploring inwards. What can you see when your eyes are at rest, what can you hear when all noises are shut down? Visualize your fantasy here.

March 2015 33

TIPS

Get over the post-Tet blues Written by Phong Nguyen

ou went to all the parties, uploaded your holiday photos to Instagram then had one or several TV shows marathon with ice cream in bed. Yet now that the cherry trees have been hauled to the trash and the break coming to an end, are you feeling down in the dumps?

Well sadly, as joyous as they can be, the stress and expectations that come with Tet can truly overwhelm us. Think of the days and weeks you spent socializing, visiting relatives, cooking, traveling or simply doing your own thing. Once all that’s over, it often comes crashing down. Fatigues set in, our motivation to use our brain is sapped and our bodies itself refuse to stand back up from overeating. Oh yea, we’re also expected to be back at school by 9:00 a.m sharp on Monday…Simply tragic. Below are some suggested steps to get rid of your post Tet holiday blues.

Expect disappointment Lot of fun things can happen during a break. Meeting friends and relatives you haven’t seen in a long time, getting tons of lucky money or simply getting your deserved break… Your adrenaline has probably been pumping most of this period. Returning to the usual or quieter than usual workplace or school can only dampen your spirits just by the absence of exciting things to do. To solve this just lower your expectation. Expecting to feel a little low is a way of telling yourself that this is a normal feeling and that it will soon pass once the routine re-establishes itself. Look at your past experiences to see how sad you are on average this time every year and go from there.

Enjoy yourself Revive the excitement yourself by arranging fun things to happen. Go out with friends, start a class for a hobby or go to the movie. Choose activities that meet your budget and interests. Or you know, just turn on your computer because you are addicted and that is your normal routine and slip into the low level of consciousness that only shines through when you’re using the Internet.

34 March 2015

Live healthy Being out of shape after overindulging over the holiday effects not only your body but also your mind. Eat well and not only you’ll feel happier, you’ll be more fit. Eat away your blues! Eat foods that boost your serotonin (feel good) neurotransmitters. Suitable foods containing tryptophan (the building block for serotonin) include bananas, poultry, dairy produce, and peas. Also try to exercise, water sports are the most ideal mood lifters! Go find a nice, warm in-door pool and swim your way to happiness!

Enjoy the year ahead Trying to keep a positive frame of mind and plan for interesting and fulfilling events throughout the year is a good way to calm your current blues. Think ahead to the changing seasons and the sorts of things you’d like to be doing as the year moves on, and the sorts of activities and events you’d like to be a part of. Doing something about the things you’d like to happen is the first step and once you’re immersed in planning and doing, you’ll be too busy to fret. If you want to travel, start planning and budget now. If you’ve got big plans ahead on your own like getting a job, beginning a business or having a wedding..etc.. start to plan plan plan!!! If you’re yearning for certain aspects of your life to change, such as going from being single to being part of a couple, use this time to plan how you’ll do things to make this happen, such as getting out more, joining a club, or spending time using specific online sites, etc. But also remember to cut yourself some slack. Don’t be too obsessed with New Year Resolutions because you know how those tend to turn out…

Now you’ve read this, go do it! You’ll find that the post-Tet blues can be defeated after all and your body and brain will thank you!

March 2015 35

The Little Living requires hard work. Study is hard work, so is love, friendship or family.We try so hard to figure out the right path in this maze of life, to find our own little comfy spot where we belong in this most magnificent invention of humanity – the city. So hard that once in a while we suddenly feel tired, frustrated and helpless. We feel the need to press ESC from the noise, the people, the past and the future to just breathe. Here are our recommended 5 destinations under 150km from Hanoi, suitable for a 1-2 day trip, some soul-searching and just enough freedom. The gentle touch of wild flowers; the sound of crunchy dried leaves under your feet; an unfamiliar smell of soil blended in the breeze…maybe your mind needs just that rather than a therapist.

Pig Jaw (Hàm Lợn) Mountain Wear some serious climbing shoes, dress in layers and travel on highway forabout one hour by car, you will reach the mountain (40km from Hanoi). You can start climbing immediately or linger for a while at Nui Bau lake daydreaming amid pine and acacia hills. There are two ways leading to the top. The first path is quite even and flat, easy and safe. On the other hand, the second path along the streams with tons of bushes that you need to cut down yourselfwill satisfy your adventurous spirit. It takes almost 4 hours to conquer the mountain through this path compared to two and a half on the smooth one. Right next to the mountaintop is a level ground where you can set up tents and stay for the night. Lying under the stars, listening to the mountain’s midnight whisper, witnessing sunrise and sunset on the mountaintop is not an experience you can forget any time soon.

Đường Lâm Ancient Village

36 March 2015

Only 50 km from Hanoi, it is a quiet village with houses 15 times older than you. Duong Lam is famous for its hundred-year-old laterite walls, sacred pagodas and long, winding red brick paths. If you come around Duong Lam during the crop harvest in May or September, the whole village will be faintly covered in the scent of fresh straw. Renting a bike will help your wandering around here as there are simply too many attractions: Sugar-cane pagoda, Giang Van Minh temple, Son Tayancient fort and Va temple. Moreover, coming to the land worshipping two kings Phung Hung and Ngo Quyen, do not miss the chance to visit their temples and royal tombs. When you are thirsty, drop in and have a chat with the good old lady tending the tea shop in front of MongPhu temple. It is not every day thaturban kids can savor the tea’s gentle sweetness as we gaze upon the rice field blowing in the wind. Sit back, relax and let your sigh dissolve into nothing.

Escape THE CITY

by Hien Nguyen

This poetic spring got its name from the resemblance of its shape to the swallow bird’s tail. 60km from Hanoi, it is the only way to reach Perfume Pagoda. The festival in March with thousands of people hustling and jostling, however, may not a great time for river sight-seeing. Visiting off-season in October and November, you will be greeted by blooming lotuses and water lilies all around, so close that you can reach out to touch their petals and let the cold spread from your finger tip. Both banks are scattered with rice fields, villages and temples hiding behind clouds here and there. When you are bored of lazily floating on the boat, break some sweat while hill climbing on the thousand-year-old stone pathway. Local specialties such as cassava and apricots are planned in the valleys along the path. Rent a bike, aimlessly stroll in the countryside, have a friendly chat with the farmers and maybe they will give you some for free.

Thung Nai Lake

Swallow (Yến) Spring

Affectionately called “Ha Long on land”, Thung Nai lake (120 km from Hanoi) is tranquil all year round. In summer, it is nearly impossible to resist the temptation of diving into the cool water right after you arrive. If possible, you should visit around the full moon to experience the magic of a lazy night, doing absolutely nothing except for letting yourself be mesmerized by the lunar beauty. In the dry season, you can reach Thac Bo cave effortlessly while the flooding season is the perfect time to witness HoaBinh hydroelectric dam’s grandeur. When you are tired, the less conventional choice is to homestay at Giang Mo mountain village. The local specialties’ authentic flavors are brought out by traditional firewood cooking method. Most of the villagers are Muong people, friendly and endearing. However, remember to book with them one or two days ahead unless you want to go to sleep on an empty stomach.

Overcoming the 150 km distance is a worthy price for what Lan Ha gulf can offer you. To the East of Cat Ba island and right next to Ha Long, the gulf has about 400 islands, all of which covered in evergreen trees and few are populated. Sailing a kayak, gliding with the wind, there is only you, the sea and the sky. Under your feet are reefs after reefs of colorful coral. Scattered all around are hundreds of mountains and cavesin all shape and size waiting to be explored. When your arms are tired, there are 139 small and deserted beaches for you to stop by. Keep your eyes open for small fishing villages always full of fresh seafood. Particularly, on Cat Dua beach you have the opportunity to tease some monkeys and visit an establishment raising clams for pearls. You can stay for the night here or set up camp and roast the seafood by yourself on one of those deserted beach. Ahhh, the pleasure of solitude.

Lan Hạ Gulf

March 2015 37

PERSPECTIVE

Faster! Faster! Faster! “Woohoo, this is the coolest invention ever!”. I speed up to excitedly find out that my feeding bowl, a litter pan and small “igloo” are moving at light’s speed. The blurry images keep shaking my head. So what? That is the best part of rolling in this funny wheel!

by Duong Tran

“GOSH! WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING HERE?”. Seriously? I don’t care whoever you are, your deafening scream is spoiling the fun. Oh…. that girl is cute even when she is throwing me a notso-friendly look. “Lili, are you petting a porcupine?”, she asked, with every word uttered straying from the normal pitch. Okay then, she must be my little owner’s friend. But wait, I am no way a porcupine! My quills might look dangerous but they are in fact not sharp, even way smoother than a porcupine’s. And just because I am neither a fluffy kitten nor a cute puppy, doesn’t mean that hedgehogs can’t make good pet! Come on, it is 2015 already. People are working non-stop towards the destination of freedom. Isn’t it enough being asked to follow the school regulations, to keep your room tidy at least at mom’s sight or even to hate a guy because he is SAID to be a bad boy? Such a lot of instructions and prohibition surrounding human beings everyday that “choice” and “freedom” become words at display. Take a step backwards, chill out a bit and be true to yourself just for a while. Let me try to be academic, Oxford Dictionary defines a pet as as “an animal that you keep at home as a companion”. A pet is a friend, and whosoever can tell you how to choose a friend?

38 March 2015

Reasons why hedgehogs can totally make good pet?

Here we go:

Don’t freak out by our appearance. Those quills are not that creepy. Every hedgehog is spikey on top, but soft underneath. We love being pampered by the belly. Frequent handling of at least 30 minutes per day helps creating a stronger bond among hedgehogs and the owners. Cuddle us in your hands, brush our quills and throw us in the tub for a bath. Bathing time is fantastic when I can curl myself up and float like a boat. Woohoo, we will surely have a whale of time together!

Don’t be upset because we don’t greet you at the door, wave tail goodbye or rub our head in your laps and purr. We have our way to express affection. Hedgehogs can realize their owners by their smell and voice. Shout out his name and your hedgie will stick its head out of the hiding base and snug with you. Don’t be surprised when you come to the cage for night cares and find out that your hedgie is already at the cage door waiting for you. I’m not trying to exaggerate, but still, the fact is that hedgehogs are intelligent. They will be a nagging but cute and obedient pet when not being upset and unnecessarily disturbed.

Hedgehogs are in some way similar to humans in the sense that each individual has its own personality. You might be lucky enough to get a friendly and well-behaved hedgehog who love being near people and can easily train to use litter pans. Lili is not that lucky, though. I am a grumpy and lazy hedgehog whose only interests are sleeping and wheel-rolling. Lili knows me well. I love dreaming in her palms while she keeps rambling about daily stuffs. I just listen. It seems that there is a magical bond that ties us together without having to say a word. Rely on us as your true friends. We are always here to keep you company.

Do not retain your wish to pet an exotic animal like hedgehog just because it is not in alignment with the majority, but do not pick one just purely to stand out from the rest, either. Picking a pet is nowhere far from choosing a friend. All that matters is the comfortable feeling when being together. Turn a blind eye to all the judgements. Just follow your heart.

Might consider petting a hedgehog? Pay a visit to: www.hedgehogworld.com www.hedgehogclub.com Youtube Channel: SnowdropHedgie

March 2015 39

40 March 2015

ENTERTAINMENT

EMBARK ON THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED

Written By Phong Nguyen Today, a lot of games are much influenced by other games. Every FPS, every RPG and every hack-n-slash action games pretty much blends into each other and it gets old all very quick. But once in a while, something delightful happens. Lovingly crafted by a group of indie game developers, Kentucky Route Zero (KRZ) is a joyously heartfelt and remarkably original game.

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KRZ

tells the Southern gothic tale of a secret highway beneath Kentucky and the mysterious folks who travel it. The main storyline follows Conway, a delivery driver who is looking for 5 Dogwood Drive-the address of his last ever delivery. There’s only one problem, Dogwood Drive doesn’t actually exist and is only accessible through a mysterious highway called “The Zero”. It is this mystery that consistently drives you forward through the game. Gameplay wise, it is a point-and-click adventure game much like Telltale’s successful Walking Dead game series. This game however, even more than The Walking Dead, put its main focus on characterization, atmosphere and storytelling rather than puzzles or challenges of skill. It’s less of a game and more of a bold experiment in alternative storytelling.

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You are only allowed to do certain things in KRZ including: walking slowly, looking at things, interacting with a few objects and choosing dialogues. While it sounds boring, the slow and simplistic nature of the game is in fact, its most appealing aspect. In beautiful but fast-paced games such as Skyrim, I tended to dash around, obsessed with uncovering new mysteries in my surroundings. With KRZ the sense of urgency so usual in games is absent. I wasn’t trying to win. I wasn’t trying to survive. I was just exploring, existing, feeling, being... I was free. Even as he limps I almost don’t want Conway to walk faster, fearing that I would miss something beautiful. The game’s visual style is so compelling that the slow pace becomes an excuse to study and admire each detail in its design.

The absolute best part about KRZ however, is the script.

The plot makes sense only because everything makes sense in a dream. You do things as they come naturally and think

As you find out more and more about KRZ’s story and its

“Of course it works this way, why would it work any

character, you will realize it is a dramatic and theatrical kind

other way?”; but if you had to explain why you can’t. Not

of game that is completely character-driven. Players can

with words, maybe with a feeling.

choose what Conway says in response to certain remarks with certain fixed answers that may seems limiting at first

Finishing KRZ for me was like waking from a nap where

but is in fact liberating. The naturalistic banter turns us

I hadn’t realized I fell asleep, but had the most evocative

into actors in an improvisational play. While we don’t get to

dream. Strange and sleepy, murky, dark, beautiful. The game

choose the lines or the plot, how and what we choose will

leaves me at a loss for the right kind of words, but the right

form a rich inner life for the characters that is open to in-

words might not be real.

terpretations. Everything in KRZ, from the colors, the stunning minimalThe main plot meanwhile feels like retelling a partial-

ist design to its dreamy soundtrack elegantly comes togeth-

ly remembered but riveting dream where things could have

er, crafting one of the most hauntingly atmospheric settings

been a nightmare but the horror is mostly nostalgic. Like

in recent gaming. KRZ evokes feeling of nostalgia, the famil-

when you remember a scary movie you saw as a kid, but

iarity of friends and family around a warm, man-made fire.

can’t recall the title or premise…just shapes and sounds and

Yet with it comes an unnerving tale of all that is strange and

some disjointed scenes.

unusual. Kentucky Route Zero is bizarre, it is melancholic, it is absurd and most of all: it deserves your attention.

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THE CITY

Hanoi Graffiti hibernating or already dead? Written by Ha Dao

“Imagine a city where graffiti wasn’t illegal, a city where everybody could draw whatever they liked. Where every street was awash with a million colours and little phrases. Where standing at a bus stop was never boring. A city that felt like a party where everyone was invited, not just the estate agents and barons of big business.” Banksy, Wall and Piece 44 March 2015

Looking back

ime flies in a rocket. The prime of hiphop was back in 2007, which means almost 10 years ago. Now people still rap and dance, but when you google “graffiti” the majority of results are found to date back before 2010. Does that mean graffiti is dead, and if yes, what does the absence of this street art often associated with vandalism and freedom of expression signify?

Contrary to the wild works of Banksy or New York subversive style in general, it’s very hard to spot a piece of art that contains any political message in here, much to the dismay of local authority. Hanoi graffiti were as friendly as their authors, mainly consisted of letters of their nicknames/crews, portraits, or even tokens of goodwill like the friendship between Vietnam and France.

When the hiphop culture flooded into Vietnam, it had inspired many cohorts of music, fashion, breakdancing, and of course graffiti. For artists, it was a surprise mixed with unruly excitement to see street walls as canvases – this promised endless possibility for creation and a massive amount of new audience. Initially they were simple shapes and letters carelessly sprayed onto walls like how a child first fumbled with his new toy.

The graffiti pioneers had one time successfully made an attempt to integrate this stigmatized art form into the current society, not ignoring the fact that it was still very traditional and collective. Since gaining acceptance from the residents was a priority, in the celebration of the 1000th birthday of Thang Long Hanoi, a hopefully-will-be-annual event “Long Bien Graffiti Battle” was organized, opening competition among 15 graffiti-loving groups to transform an area in H5 Collective Long Bien into a giant picture of the Old Quarter. Hanoi graffiti were nowhere near subversive, they were patriotic.

But then many serious and complex artworks did manage to be made by enthusiastic painters, although quite a number of spray paint bottles had to be used in the process, each costing 30.000 VND/2$ at that time. Obviously the creators And they were, once, organized, thriving, and supported. could not sell their works, so the revenue only included a sense of fulfillment and compliments from strangers.

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What are these walls for? But now - The paradises of street painters like Kim Lien tunnel or Gia Lam railway station are either whitewashed or taken down for new road projects. The scope of graffiti diminished from the open street to bars/cafes’ interior; its purpose as a means of expression to be some catchy décor. So apparently graffiti is shunned not because they are politically threatening, but for “damaging public property”. Like most developing Southeast Asian cities, Hanoi is chaotic with sprawling condominium almost everywhere. Replacing these uncontrolled childish paintings, advertisements claimed the public spaces in the shadow of Uncle Ho’s guidelines. It’s almost impossible to take a portrait in the heart of the city and not have some logos together with street vendors lurking in the background. In its far from law-abiding congested streets that scare newcomers, one can notice governing visual conformity. On the one hand, there are those modernistic/European stylized buildings like a series of Something-City and takeaway café shops reflecting a growing body of the middle class with bourgeois needs. On the other hand, Hanoi is still loved by being a rather idyllic capital, with weather-beaten houses of Indochina architecture, rusty bridges and flower vendors that inspire nostalgia and romanticism. Either way, this is not how a city where half of its population is under 30 should look. To artists, graffiti can simply be a stress reliever or an individual expression. But located in open streets and exposed to thousands of passers-by, these works reflect the other side of Hanoi, enabling subjects of youth, creativity and freedom to be brought to broad daylight. On top of that, graffiti challenges the common notion of who can make a statement. It brings the ability to spread the message in a city back to its own residents, people who don’t have power or money but

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a will to make where they live a better place. Hiphop is alive and well, yet graffiti seems to be in its moribund state. Why? Because it’s expensive, dangerous, or simply out of fashion?

The last say While it’s a completely normal fact of life when a city becomes a metropolis, the commercialization of public spaces implies the power to make a statement lie in the hands of the rich. One can comfortably conclude that the heyday of graffiti or any kind of street art is over, when leaving its reasons and implications room for debate. Now famous graffiti works can only be seen on photos and social media rather than the street, serving as memorabilia of the good old days. However, whether the trend has died does not matter much if the youthful creative spirit remains. It’s just a pity that such approachable form of art that shouts out the word ‘liberty’ is now rarely seen./