Definitely my last post from Vietnam!

My flight to HCMC (Saigon) was delayed by 1 hour and 10 minutes, so I decided I had time for one more happy hour at Amazing Taco, got to say goodbye to a few more friends from Da Nang (including Anna, my friend, and bartender).

Four beers later I was in a taxi heading for the airport, with lots of time to check in and chill. I have met so many amazing people while here it blows my mind! A couple of days ago I met a Russian police detective staying at my hotel, Maximus, mid to late '30s, super nice guy on his first vacation to Asia. I could tell it wouldn't be his last trip here.  The amazing people I've met and hung out with is mind-boggling.  This trip was worth it in so many ways, but the people I've met are definitely at the top of the list of why I had such a good experience in Vietnam! 
Traveling, especially alone is daunting, but exposes you to so many incredible experiences, that the risk/reward is so worth the fear/risk. I wouldn't trade the last couple of years for anything.

Mark and Gorm, my Norwegian friends. 

Going out on a limb is an expression of taking a risk without knowing the outcome, and it is when you feel most alive! I highly recommend it!   

It's now 9:30 in the morning in Hong Kong, foggy and dreary under overcast skies. my flight is supposed to depart at noon, but the gate isn't on the board yet, so I'm in the terminal I think it may depart from. There was no internet at the Saigon airport, no idea why. I am super tired, but can't seem to sleep in airports or on airplanes, that may change on the upcoming 13-hour flight. I'll keep ya posted!

Possibly my last post from Vietnam for 2019

Nice lunch place.

Made an executive decision a few days ago, decided I was ready to go back to the States. So I checked on the fare difference and fees and it worked out to be very close to what it would cost to book a hotel room for another month. So I moved my departure date up by a month and will be back in LA on April 1st. I leave HCMC (Saigon) at 5am April 1st. and arrive in LA at 10:30am the same day. I'll have been in South East Asia for 4 1/2 months at that point.

 My Son Raymond told me Spring has sprung in Oregon so I may as well go home and enjoy it, after spending a couple of weeks in the LA area.

I've met a lot of great people here in Da Nang (just a few pictured above) and many are now Facebook friends, it will be great to keep up with their adventures while I'm back in the States. And, as many are residents of Da Nang I should also be able to stay up to date on ongoing conditions and change in the area. 

I am very impressed with the beauty of the area, and even more impressed with the people I've encountered (Vietnamese and expats), and fully expect to return to Vietnam (and Da Nang) again, and to explore the Northern half of the country.

Cheers!

                                                                           

Still Alive (and well) in Da Nang

Mural on the side of a Korean restaurant

Not much to post about, haven't been traveling, just chilling and trying to stay on budget. Got another 10 days left on my hotel stay. Trying to decide If I want to stay another month, it really depends on whether or not I can change my flight date for a reasonable price. The prices for hotels are creeping up as it turns out this is the beginning of the tourist season here in Vietnam, while the high season is ending in Thailand. 

Roast goat.

My typical day here consists of me waking about 9am, watching the news (CNN, or BBC) and checking my email and perusing Facebook. Usually, being showered and ready for breakfast/lunch around 11 to 11:30. After breakfast, I will go back to the room for a half hour or so then either go to the beach or take a walk for an hour or two.  After the beach or walk, I will go back to the room and watch a movie (HBO or Fox Movies) then shower and head out to find dinner. After dinner, depending on the time I'll go to my favorite pub the Filling Station. There I'll have 4 to 5 beers, then head back to the hotel around 10pm. Although I'll admit that depending who shows up while I'm there it has been up to 8 beers ;) (over a 5-6 hour stay). Luckily at $.86 a beer, I still get away cheap!

Relic of a turbulent history.

While I am enjoying the great weather and the beautiful beach, after a couple of weeks it does begin to get a bit routine, but on the other hand, traveling is expensive, and my main reason for being here is to escape the depressing weather at home. Mission accomplished so far without going into debt. Da Nang has been a great place to realize that goal, but the place is changing so fast I think it may not stay that way long. With tourists come crowded beaches, more traffic, and higher prices.

These guys have a bright future as the high rise hotels continue to be built.
I'll keep you posted on my stay here, my return flight date (if I don't change it) is May 1st. 

Stay well everyone.