We are preparing for leaving Vietnam tonight, fly to Hong Kong, then home to LAX. The entire trip will be around 20 hours or so--we arrive home about an hour and a day before we left---that International Dateline is quite something. We are lucky to have our dear friend Claude to fetch us at the airport. Joan planned to pick us up but she has a performance that runs late.
When we visit in person, I will tell the many fun stories----here are a few.
Remind me to tell you about-------------
-the people in Da Lat wearing coats and hats when it is over 70 degrees. Streets in the city center are closed at dusk so families & kids can ride bikes, skateboards, or just walk all over town. Not a bad idea.We met a fellow from Oceanside, CA who was born in Da Lat and I asked him about the coats. He says they always do that there & he never did know why.
-Our beach resort was so off season--few visitors which made our every move noticed by the staff. For some reason they gave us a room on upper level altho most of other rooms were empty. could they see us better there/? ha!
- the 4-5 hours bus ride which was really 7.5 hours via mountain roads. Tom sat next to the plastic sheet where a large bus window had been smashed which meant he had to watch the scenery from the other side.
- fields of dragon fruit
Most handicapped folks did not want photos, but this man encouraged it without a fee.
Mens' Group
Caring for orchids
On the Pacific shore aka South China Sea
Dragon fruit plants
Dragon fruit- delicious
. Toddler catching a cockroach in the large covered marketplace.
- Beach resort had lots of fishermen and boys in large baskets. Some using nets, some poles. Their labors were appreciated if they are the providers of such wonderful seafood we enjoyed.
-an uncanny hear -- listening to John Lennon's song Imagine while enjoying breakfast on the beach veranda with only other guests were elderly Vietnamese. Sure wish we could have chatted about life.
- many other travelers from a variety of nations whom we met along the way
-Shop girls and boys like to call me "mama" and Tom the "happy Buddha" Is this a way to break the ice and start a conversation? and/or a way to befriend our wallets? Either way it is fun.
-Night Market dinner in the pouring rain.
-Asians really know how to provide comfortable beds- always platforms. Who invented that box spring bed anyway? Why is sleeping on springs considered a way to get a good night's sleep?
-the Saigon hotel with spa--very nice----not something we usually indulge in. I finally got all that Habitat for Humanity blue and green paint out of my nails.
-as soon as we decided to check our departure flights, the US stock market started to decline. In general, it goes up when I am on travel, which happened most of Oct.
-shopping shopping shopping
-When we return, we would spend more time in the mountains to hike (as long as Tom's knee will hold up) tour more spots, possibly go to Sapa, continue to eat the wonderful fruits and vegetables,
-We Love the food here-especially the prices. Our most lavish dinner included a whole fried fish, green vegetables, shrimp, steamed rice and 4 beers for $15.10 US.
Is this guy relaxed or what?
Our Hostess at the Night Market.
-How most books in English are copies, I mean really copies on a copy machine on fragile paper.
-Those the vast differences & contrasts between Nepal and the rest of Asia and perhaps the rest of the world. I just finsihed reading Forget Kathmandu---an excellent quick history.
- Many other tales. And, yes, Rechelle, some stories are best told in person rather than a blog.
Bye for now ............
-It was pouring buckets this night. Folks keep on working as it is so natural here.
Notice the napkin is bath tissue roll in round plastic holder.
chào đón nhà Welcome home!
ReplyDelete(Amazing what Google offers...)
Anne, don't be hard on yourself with the water comment, it reminded me of how much we take for granted. And the disabled fellow on the street made me wonder if the US vendor who makes affordable plastic wheelchairs has any contacts in Vietnam. Perhaps this could be a future fundraiser?
I'm sure you both are sad to be ending your trip but looking forward to not living out of a suitcase. It will be so nice to have you home again. Have a safe trip.
Fondly, Susan