mm mm good

Some more Photos from the rafting trip.

Some of you that know me personally understand how I was losing my faith in human nature, and how interacting with the public was dragging me down. I have to tell you that the attitude has changed….. a one hundred percent reversal. Dealing with the traveler whether business or pleasure is nothing like dealing with the public back home. So far, it has been a pure joy to interact with the guests in the hotel. I have hosted Canadians, Americans, Australians, French, Chinese, Malaysians, Czechs, Norwegians, Brits, Vietnamese, Thais, Germans, Swedes, and a few others. So far all of them have been very nice. My faith in human nature has been restored to the point where if I have free time, I will join them in an adventure, or just spend time in a café chatting. I have re-discovered that yes…. People are nice and interesting. I think that it is not only the business I am in causing this change in me, but the country itself. I will try to explain.

Every thing here is intense and filled with effort or emotion. There seems to be no middle ground where a person can just keep in

A scenic river

 mind the attitude of “whatever” or “same as usual”. You can see it everywhere, the hard working and serious faces during the day. The effort that the cabbies, hucksters, kids, and others that try to gain any advantage to get at your dollar. The open love that the women and young adults display for infants and children. The intense eagerness that students have at learning and understanding. At the end of the day it is the passion and romance of the young adults seems to fill the air with a sickly sweet feeling that can’t help sticking to you. Of course, the men after working hard all day are drinking and laughing hard also. Our culture seems to have become guarded and careful, the simplicity of just living a life filled with emotion and spontaneity seems lost to us. Not here! So, add this to the noise, confusion, and the chaotic party that is Vietnam and the tourist will get swept away…… They become part of the intense atmosphere, and either end up loving, or

warm water

sometimes hating this place. This is where I come in. I understand all of this confusion and I can see in the traveler the will and the hope to enjoy their vacations. It gives me a lot of pleasure to spend time talking and helping in their understanding. A few short explanations and all of suddenly things that made them scared or angry become clear. Now they can enjoy a bit more. I hear of their adventures and travels and become more educated. No more do I grind my teeth when a stranger walks up to greet me, and no longer do I want that person talking to me just to go away. IT is fantastic!! I want to talk with them, and hear there stories. I want to meet them for a Bia Hoi and give advice. My faith in human nature is restored, and I am a better person for it.

Cashews still on the tree

 As you may be able to tell, I have had a few. I broke my diet for the day and am writing this at night. I promise I will be a good boy tomorrow. I will leave this page intact for tomorrow, as I like the idea of “what you see is what you get”. No editing (except for spelling) If I flew off in random directions, so be it! Today I joined a nice couple from Toronto on a cruise of some of the islands around NhaTrang. It was a very interesting trip and perhaps I will write on it tomorrow. Now for a parting incident… or should I say part of the adventure……

Hey look at me!!

A very drunken policeman showed up in our lobby demanding to see the owner of the hotel. I was sitting on the front sidewalk where Patrick (warming Drifters chair), and I were involved in a conversation. I was asked to my total displeasure, to act like a customer while the landlord hurried over the deal with him. Luckily the landlord was able to deflect whatever was going on, and the crisis (whatever it was) was averted. I am at a crossroads of how my legal status will play out here. I had the pleasure of talking with Jennifer at my work (former?) tonight and informed her that I will have to extend my leave a little longer to cover my 6.

Welcome back from your Hawaii cuise Maz1….. I hope you enjoyed it

Time for a breather

Goodnight……..

Pumping up the Kayaks

The four J’s from Australia had finished visiting Vin-Pearl land and the water park. They were sitting in the lobby mulling over what to do. There were the mud baths, snorkeling, island tours, and then I said “what about a little white water rafting”? That was the ticket!! They agreed that that was what they wanted to do, and I decided to accompany them on the adventure so in the future, I can talk from experience about the trip. The tour is run in part by a friend of mine and a simple phone call was all it took to set it up.

The minivan arrived at 9:00 am to drive us the one hour into the country. The van turned down a small dirt road where we were blocked by some men working on the power lines. They moved aside and we slowly rolled up to our

A beautiful river

 parking spot. To my surprise, from the van was unloaded inflatable Kayaks. Cool!! I thought we were all going to be in 1 big raft. We relaxed and chatted while the craft were inflated. For some unknown reason, the power utility guys took pleasure in using the foot pump, so our guide was happy to oblige them, less work for him after all. I walked down a path past a tree buzzing with big Asian bees and was greeted by a beautiful sight. The river wound its way through sand rock and jungle. I snapped a photo and rejoined the group. The Kayaks were carried down to the river and we were

The 4 J's and me

off. The guide, and the 4 J’s were all in heavier boats that carried two, but I was in a smaller Kayak all by myself. All of us started off a bit wildly, but soon got used to the rhythm of paddling. Down the river we went soaking up the beauty and the sunshine. We negotiated a few not to rough rapids and had to avoid some rocks, stands of bamboo. I was half expecting that we would have to avoid water buffalos, but not today. About an hour or an hour and a half we stopped to enjoy some swimming. Everybody was having fun. We climbed a hill to an orchard that had Pomello, banana, bell fruit, mango, jackfruit, and durian. We enjoyed the fruit picked fresh from the trees. Back on the rafts

Down the river

 and we travel a little longer to a small beach area where we docked for lunch. And what a lunch it was. It started with a dish or rice paper in which we were to wrap lettuce, cucumber, pickled carrot and parsnip, green banana and Mango, mint and BBQ pork. Out also came the ice cold cokes and beers that were free with the trip. Our hunger sated, and cooled by the beer, bread with veggies and Grilled sausage was served. Wow!! We were full already, but it was so good, that all of us continued eating. Now we were very full, and washing it down with another beer or Coke seemed the right thing to do. Oooooohh Nooo!!  The grilled chicken is now being served!! I do not know how, but we managed to put a

mmm mmm good

good dent in the grilled chicken breast, then washing that down also. Burppppppp… A great lunch. The guide urged us all to go swimming to burn off the food and drinks. Ha Ha Ha… we gave each other knowing looks and decided just to continue on the trip. An hour or so we were at our pick up point aver running a couple of more small rapids and enjoying the peace and quiet of the jungle. We even had the pleasure of hearing some o o o o a a a a’s. I thought those sounds were only in the movies. After deflating our Kayaks we mulled around and watched the local farmers working the sugar cane fields. All in all it was a very pleasant day. I would recommend the trip to most people. It is not too strenuous, and it may be the only quiet and peaceful place you will experience in Vietnam.

Bell fruit

Hooray!! Today my sewer was finally fixed, and the impossible is becoming possible once again. I have been encountering a lot or resistance to me ceramic tiling the front sidewalk so the entrance looks clean and I can set up a couple of tables to watch the people pass by, sort of a sidewalk café feel. Until now I have been told no I cannot do it, or the city will fine me, or a number or other reasons. Well today after constant pushing ahead and me saying “I don’t care what they think, I am doing it anyway”, I won. It is going to get done. ( insert sticking out my tongue at everybody here).

time to rnd the trip

The power loss is causing a lot of turmoil here. I understand the necessity for it, but people are up in arms about lost business and thawing goods. Hopefully there will be some good rains inland ant the power generation will be back to normal soon