I have included a batch of photos from Le collection showing Hoi An as it was when she arrived about 20 years ago and I think a few older ones.
It's almost time for me to come home, I leave on the 11 th and arrive in Uc onthe 12 th, excuse my use of the Viet word for Australia as it always amuses me to say it and hear the response from Vietnamese. Ah, Aussie Aussie Aussie they say, I have relatives there, or commonly, i want to go there. At one time I tried to find out why we were Uc, and the closest I got was a translation of " southern land of great interest". In the bunker in the presidential palace in Saigon the war Room is set up as it was 50 years ago and there we were, listed as Uc with the number of our soldiers, next to Washington, Tay Lan, NZ (they weren't worthy of a Viet name apparently) .
Anyway I digress, it's Le's birthday today and tonight the family dines at Hoang Vuong which is the only place around that has a large enough table to seat everyone.
What have I learnt from this trip? Vietnamese women can be very grasping and manipulative, which I knew in my bones already. I learnt that offering advice to a Vietnamese is useless, their first response is always no, that's if you get a response at all.
The best part of being here is just being here, I'm not a tourist, I've never been to Halong bay or Sapa, never been to Bana Hills or Son My, and probably my favorite things to do have been talking to Keith and Na and My Le and the girls in Mia coffee and people I meet at Banana Split cafe.. So my life here is little different from at home apart from a change of diet, perpetual warmth, and cheap beer and cigarettes.
I sound like a sourpuss I know and there are lots of things I like here, the flowers, the old houses, the old people, the stories I hear, like everyones grandfather was either Viet Cong or in the NVA, the friendliness and resilience of the people, the very different foods and drinks you can get here, milk tea and one I am drinking now, salty lemon which they make by boiling limes and salt and adding ice. Going to breakfast at different places in the streets with Hai is always interesting from Bun Cha Hanoi to beef curry to chicken noodle soup or Opla which is two fried eggs with meat and sauce and a baguette. Every day at breakfast I buy two lottery tickets and the next day the old lady comes around and you check if you won or not, the answer to me is always not.
Thanks to those of you who commented and those who followed my ramblings.
Bye for now and see you in Oz.
Tom
2019-05-10
See you on your return.. Promise that you will not be shitty when the blues do your pies..
Yakov Macak
2019-05-10
It's getting pretty cold these days, could be a bit of a shock. Have enjoyed your stories. Cheers, Y
Marley
2019-05-10
The boys can’t wait to see you.
David Robertson
2019-05-10
Travel safe Les
Jay
2019-05-11
Love all your blogs Les! Can't wait to see you back at your other home.X