Wednesday with Cobra Memory

Happy Wednesday!

Last night my husband and were watching our home videos from our trip to Vietnam. We both realised that Vietnam was the only country where there is nothing happening for New Year's Eve. In Bali, Thailand, Japan this night is very special. People gather together to greet the first seconds of the new year. In Thailand, they have the flying lanterns fill up the skies like huge drops of flaming rain. In japan there are prayers, fires at the shrines. And in all of these countries they have people partying on the beaches, fireworks and music. In 2014, we decided to greet the New Year in a small and quiet beach resort in Tien Tran, two hours by train from Ho Chi Minh city. It was a great place to be if you are looking for a nice hut on the beach with a lot of friendly Russians and Vietnamese as your fellow guests. Beautiful, clean and safe, as most places in Asia. It really was a lot of fun for our family. But on the New Year's Eve we were a bit disappointed to find only a dying bonfire on the beach. No people, no music, no food or drinks, no fire works. Just a dying out flame. So by 11:30 it was quiet and dark all around the resort! And that was ok with us. But surprising.

We did have a rare chance to witness slaughter of three cobras and drink their blood. It supposed to bring strength and good luck if you eat cobra and drink it's blood. And for gentlemen it supposed to bring a lot of stamina. Two Russian gentlemen who were staying at the resort ordered them for their New Year's Eve supper. They had a feast and we had a great show as it was done so theatrically and all the guests gathered to witness the event. Me and my husband only were offered the special drink. 

My son kept saying "Cobra!" in excitement as the cut off heads tried to slither on the table for a good half an hour. Was it humane? I don't know. But that is how things are done there. I will not object, but assimilate to the way of the locals.

This video can be considered graphic to some viewers.