Drinks break / Tea break / Lunch break / Retired Hurt and our pavilion! … Socializing events, educational tours and more during our Social Sabbatical!
In the game of cricket, drinks break, tea break or the lunch break not only help players get rejuvenated, but teams often play with a target in mind which they want to reach before an upcoming break. With a break nearing, players in the middle need to be extra-careful and not sacrifice a wicket due to the lack of concentration. Bowlers can of course look forward to a surprise wicket with a break approaching. The Pavilion is like a home to the cricketers during the game, and provides the necessary opportunities to rest during the breaks. However, no batsman would like the long walk to the pavilion after being given out.The game is often cruel to some, as they have to return to the pavilion injured, without being out! However, the game must go on!
___________________________________________________________________Our Social Sabbatical is now beyond the half-way mark. Over the last 2 weekends, Team Mekong had some opportunities to visit some places of interest which not only helped to understand the country Vietnam, it’s history and culture better, but also helped us to get refreshed.
A visit to the War Remnants Museum, Ho Chi Minh City
Some of us from Team Mekong visited the War Remnants Museum at Ho Chi Minh City on 8th April, 2017. It is a member of the International Network of Museum for Peace (INMP) and the International Council of Museum (ICOM). It is a unique museum that systematically studies, collects, conserves and displays exhibits on war crimes and consequences inflicted on the Vietnamese people as a result of the Vietnam War. The depiction of the horror of war is a lesson for everyone to prevent unjust wars, preserve global peace, promote friendship and solidarity among nations. The exhibitions related to Requiem, War Crimes and Agent Orange effects almost moved me to a state of melancholy. I also came across the original Pulitzer Prize winning photograph The Napalm Girl by Nick Ut providing a horrific display of the Napalm bomb attack. I was also intrigued after coming across display of newspaper cuttings from my city Kolkata about protests organized in the city during the Vietnam War.
A visit to the Cu Chi Tunnel
Taking our brush with the remnants of the Vietnam War a little further, the team also visited the Cu Chi Tunnel complex in the outskirts of the Ho Chi Minh City. The boat ride on the river Saigon to reach the tunnels and back was simply awesome. Crawling inside the real tunnels and seeing a makeshift hospital from the war era along with an elaborate smokeless kitchen gave an eerie feeling to think of the lives the VietCong members, North Vietnam forces and the Tunnel Ferrets (Rats) would have lived during the horrors of the war. The elaborate tunnel system is a definite testimony to the guerrilla warfare prowess in vogue during the Vietnam War.
A weekend of team building at Hoi An
Most of our Team Mekong members travelled to the picturesque town of Hoi An on the central coast of Vietnam during the weekend of 15th and 16th April. Taking an early morning flight to Da Nang and then a shuttle to Hoi An, the team could hardly wait to start exploring what Hoi An offered to us. A cycle tour of the ancient town and the An Bang beach, the temples, the magnificently lit lanterns during the evening rendering the ancient town straight out of a fairy tale, mouth-watering choices of ice cream, the magnificent An Bang beach, shopping spree in the ancient town market (with members competing against each other in buying the most number of lanterns and hammocks :-)) were some of the highlights from our visit to Hoi An.
Our pavilion a.k.a. host Somerset, Ho Chi Minh City
The team’s home during the Social Sabbatical, Somerset Ho Chi Minh City at Nguyen Binh Khiem Street in District 1 of the city have been magnificent hosts so far. The serviced apartments for the team members and the team discussion room are well maintained and comfortable. The amenities like swimming pool, gym are best in class. Easy availability of breakfast and meals at the LaPiscine restaurant in the complex have made our stay more comfortable. Thanks to the colleagues from Pyxera Global for choosing Somerset as our home during the Social Sabbatical.
Exploring the different types of restaurants in the city for team dinners in the evening has meant we now have a wide coverage on the restaurant map of the city: The Propaganda, The Refinery, Tib, Salsa, Hum …have been some of the favorites for the team.
“Retired hurt” and setback to the team
Our GAP sub-team within Team Mekong suffered a setback last weekend as one of our team members Nadine had to return back to London due to health reasons. However, Evi and I are committed to take the project to a successful closure and meeting the SoW agreed with G.A.P Institute.
It’s an important phase of our project as we continue to deliver on the defined items in the SoW and get customer sign off on the same. With the final presentation fast approaching, there’s a need for us to maintain the momentum.
That’s it for the moment. Watch out for my next story: Middle overs are here! Ball by ball commentary continues from Saigon!
