Here I am in Hoi An again and I have written much about Hoi An before so I won't bore you too much. My visit to Ha Noi ended quite dramatically but I now know someone is watching over me, whether that someone is evil or good you can judge.
One of my aims in Ha Noi apart from the B52 lake and the Hai Ba Trung temple was to meet up with three of my students I teach English to online on and off. I had got to know them quite well and I was eager to meet them face to face to see if my teaching had results. I invited them to dinner at Porte D'Annam a French-Viet fusion resto near the cathedral and they were happy to come along so we finally met and had a great meal. It was the first time they had been to a real resto and they were a little perplexed that everyone had a seperate serve of food but before long they were breaking bits off their meals and sharing them round, as they normally do.
They were so much fun to talk to but had to run off early to do whatever they do with friends, sit around eat and laugh I suspect. The night before I left I had a quick dinner at a Viet place with Hoa who I had given the kangaroo to and she wanted to reciprocate by giving me a present and what better present could she give an old hippy but a little of Vietnams finest greenery. However, she didnt tell me what it was she just gave me a beautiful artistically designed diary and a pen. She told me the pen was special and I admit it was an unusual design but when I opened it later it had no refill in it and it seemed to have leaked ink all over the tip.
I thought well that was a nice present, some old fashioned hashish oil and its all leaked out. I packed it away in my suitcase for the flight the next day without thinking too much, have you noticed I never think too much, and climbed into bed. Lying in the dark thoughts assailed me, what if the dogs sniff it out at the airport? what would happen? would I spend time in prison or could I bribe my way out? would I be deported? you all know the thoughts that go through your mind in the early hours. And it was such a struggle to pack my suitcase I wasn't going to unpack it for something that might never happen.
The taxi guy picked me up bright and early and I knew things weren't going to go right when he kept asking me "International?" No Domestic, I kept repeating like a mantra, and as you guessed he went to the International terminal. A quick U=turn and I was back at Domestic and checking in behind some Viet divas who took I swear 20 minutes to get their boarding passes sorted. Finally I got there and checked my bag and it trundled up the belt as the Vietnam Air lady prepared my pass. After a few minutes she handed it to me and as I turned to go she said "Sir would you mind going to the security section, they want you to open your bag".
I had mentally prepared for this moment and after waiting for the Divas to check in and as I was coming down with a virulent cold which laid me low in Hoi An I just didnt care if they locked me up for 6 months. My mind was frozen and I walked zombie=like through the security curtain to the back stage area.
A solemn faced uniform approached me quizzically, what are you doing he said, I told him the check in woman sent me there. He looked around wonderingly at the baggage conveyor where a polystyrene box was bobbing along and said, is that your box? Even if it had been my box I would have said no which I did, and he said "Ok you can go".
I admit I didnt hang around to see what else was coming down the belt and scurried out, as best I could and lost myself in the crowd half expecting a tap on the shoulder any minute.
After an anti climactic flight to Danang and no one was waiting to pick me up but after I rang Le I went back to check the guys holding up the signs outside the exit door and saw Les Pilt, ah yes thats me Mr Pilt drug smuggler travelling under an alias.
I wont go on too much but I included some pics since I've been here, My Le's shop has expanded, Vietnam beat Jordan in the Asia Cup, I went to Trams to give her the vitamins for her baby and took Lan with me who is still on about coming to Australia to live with me and earn some money in Daylesford. Also some pics from Hanoi where you can see the rotten air quality which partly accounts for this rotten chest cold I have.
More later faithful followers. Love youse all.
Kim&Riley
2019-01-24
I laugh so much reading ur stories
enos
2019-01-24
Kim you know me so well you can picture it in your mind.
Jay
2019-01-25
That is as usual a most hilarious story. Keep them coming LesX