Nha Trang beach
Mai and I are in or early 50′s. a little too young to retire, but eager to start enjoying life. We are middle class Canadians and both were employed. Myself by the municipal government, and my wife by our provincial health care system. We have left our jobs as of Nov 12 2009. Our final destination is a city called Nha Trang in Vietnam. There we hope to grow new roots, and hopefully be able to travel back and forth in the future.
To keep ourselves busy, we have taken over a small hotel in a less touristy area and are offering a foreign run hotel with western standards in a local and enjoyable Vietnamese area. The hotel is busy with enjoyable people who are eager for a glimpse of real Vietnam. You can find us here www.thetidehotel.com
Update:
After flying back and forth for the past 12 years, for almost the past year we have called Nha Trang home. Mai misses Canada but is a real trooper and making the most out of our life here. I on the otherhand have come to love living here. I am in a bit of a unique position as I can speak the language somewhat, and understand the culture and the people. I live among them as almost one of their own, and experience a whole different world than most expats in Vietnam. Part of what I enjoy about life here is that some people seek me out to learn or experience the truth about this country, and not what some people that are confined to backpack areas believe it the truth. I am enjoying my busy retirement this country and am happy to help others to enjoy it also.
Update 2
It has now been two years and we have made full adjustments to the change in lifestyle,. Besides operating the hotel, I have now become a tour guide offering Central highland tours by motorcycle and have become more involved in the Vietnamese tourism industry. The theme of the blog has changed from a way to keep personal contact with friends and family into a travel blog where I try to offer honest and accurate advice to those who wish to travel here. Mai is looking forward to the day soon where she will be offering Vietnamese cooking classes. Altohough we miss friends and family, there are no regrets in moving here ( My darling wife does not 100% agree with me)
I can be emailed directly at owee@live.ca
Owee,
I really enjoyed reading your blog. Good to see that you’re making a nice transition and still getting hit on by babes. You and your wife have done well for yourself, and I wish you guys all the happiness, peace and success in the world. ETS is barely surviving without your talents, but after reading about your pre Christimas driving exploits, I think you’re more qualified than some of the so called Bus Ops Instructors to teach road skills and manage road rage. I am proud to have been part of your past, and will continue to watch your blog for more cool stuff in the future. Not going to visit until you have all those damn bugs taken care of. My Mrs. is not used to what you call culture shock at the level you’ve described.
Anyway, it’s Boxing Day here in Canada and just around noon. The wifes at work and I’m still “patiently waiting” for my 15 year old son to wake up so we can go to Best Buy and pick up some XBOX 360 and PC games. He has his friends coming over to play this evening. Gotta draw the line though, I kick em all out before midnight cause I’m getting old and don’t feel like staying up too late. Gotta have my beauty sleep ya know. I check the mirror every morning to see what kind of results there are, and it’s just not working. Time for some Grecian Formula……
Temp here has been really nice at around -14 or so; nothing like the beaches you are walking on. Oh, while you are sweeping sand off the sidewalk, we’re still shovelling 10 cm of partly cloudy off the driveway. Couple of weeks ago, during the Tim Hortons (hey, do you have TH in Vietnam?) Roar of the Rings – I took that week off work to go – we hit -42 and stayed at around -30 all week. On Tues Dec 8, we were the coldest place in the WORLD. Boy can you pick the right times to be away in paradise. Hmmmm, I guess that means you won’t be coming to the Canadian Transit Bonsiel this year in Cowtown, huh? I’ll pass along your best to those who can make it.
I talk to Kenny Windsor about you from time to time. I think he misses you a lot. Especially the part about renting your basement! Heavy sigh, gotta go back to work on Tuesday. Oh well, at least it’s pensionable time. Only about 1 1/2 years of purgatory to go before retirement. My wonderful other half still has plans for us to move to BC.
Looks like I’ll never get that chance to teach you how to drive trains, but I know you’ll get over it.
Take good care of yourself,
Al
Nice to hear from you Al. We have a place in Victoria also…. Maybe see you here one day? Bugs all gone
Hello Owen,
We stayed at your hotel the last 3 days (you got us a birthday cake for Yvon daughter)and have left this morning for Dalat. We would like to visit the Mekong Delta: Ben Tre, Can Tho and Phu Quoc. You mentionned that you knew a company that could arrange such a trip. Can you please help us and let you know whom we should contact?
Thank you very much in advance for your help.
To Quyen and Yvon
Phone: 0169 9 484267
HI Owee,
I am from Victoria BC. In Oct 2010 i was in Saigon and Cambodia and loved both places, i will return in the spring again, any worldy advice fom you for travel in both.
Do you have a place in BC. Right now , a wee bit too much rain
Thanks, Mike
I am planning a trip to HCMC 2/2012. There will be 5 adults, we would like to tour the Mekong Delta and end up in Phu Quoc. What would be an interesting route? We will probably fly from Phu Quoc back to HCMC, so taking some time to get to Phu Quoc via boats, maybe combined with bus travel would be ideal.
Thank you!
Hi guys, we need a holiday. HOw much is airfare.
I have emailed you
Hi Owen,
Just wanted to wish you and Mia a Merry Christmas and happy new year. I am planning to be back in Feb of 2012 would love to stay with you again and the motorcycle tour looks like a blast.
I don’t know if the boy’s are back for the winter if so say hi for me and give Mia a hug.
John
Yes the boys are back. I will pass the hug on