Entries this day: Arrival_in_Vietnam Bus_to_Hoi_An Chow Tam Yay_Silent_Football internet

Arrival in Vietnam

7:27am ICT Monday 02 January 2006

I haven't ventured outside yet, but we have arrived in Vietnam. According to the announcement, we can go upstairs to see a performance on the shore. But, we should bring an umbrella; it's raining.

9:44am ICT Monday 02 January 2006

Ugh. it's raining outside, and I just don't have the (something) to go out in it. I partially just want to stay on the ship. I've got plenty of money to go out... part of it is I don't want to take my computer in the rain, but I don't want to leave it... What a silly dilemma.

I think I'll solve it by NOT taking it, but taking my handspring visor and keyboard. Although I wasn't smart enough to make sure those batteries are charged enough to use it.

- - - -

After a bit, I had a revelation which solved the journal problem. I remembered I had received a blank book from Secret Santa Karen on the first (second?) night aboard the ship. All concerns instantly melted away. I didn't take any electronic journaling equipment - just brought my camera and phone (for its clock).

I packed everything, headed up to reception, and felt blessed to find the GET Team just in line to disembark. I even had time to run back down to get _Xenocide_ (next in series after _Speaker for the Dead_), which I had forgotten in my room.

Bus to Hoi An

10:15am ICT Monday 2 January 2006

In Tien Sa (sea port near Da Nang) now, on the taxi-van with Petra, Nick, Laura, Phil, Carla, Maruan, IKellie, Daniel, & Lisa, and our driver, Gn. We're headed to Hoi An for 80,000 VND per person. I plan to find Tam (with a ^ over her 'a') who said she will remember me.

- - - -

I took zero pictures on the way to Hoi An. It was about an hour drive, and basically everything looked the same as 6 months ago. Traffic consisted mostly of motor scooters and bicycles with some cars and occassional large trucks or buses to shake things up a bit.

People have amazingly big things on their vehicles... bicycles with stacks of super long bamboo, motor scooters with washing machines.. a small cage with three dogs in it, facing opposite directions and unable to move. I saw a cage filled with ducks chillin' on the back of a bike.

Lots of marble carvings of pieces from Marble Mountain. At one point our driver pulled into a parking lot with a lot of marble, and was like, "this is Hoi An." We laughed slash said "no" and he backed up and drove us to the real Hoi An without further incident.

Chow

12:07pm ICT Monday 02 January 2006

In Des a Mis restaurant in Hoi An now. This was Laura's suggestion, I believe, after we checked in at a hotel (also Laura's suggestion).

This restaurant is between the 2 bridges, and facing the river, from the big bridge, just past the market brimming with veggies, fish, and motor scooters.

The portions were delicious and far far huger than I could eat, and I wished I had had my tupperware container to toss it into my backpack.

1:23pm

Dan and I were cleanup crew for a lot of the food, which was as delicious as ample.

We sat across the table from each other, and all food seemed to migrate our direction. Magic, that.

Tam

2:40pm ICT Monday 02 January 2006

I found Tam!!

It was only by the grace of an ANgel, that I found her:

Walking along the street, trying to get my bearings, a woman was like, "HI" and stuff. Her name was An, and she invited me to her shop, and since I was still not quite sure where in the city I was (compared to last time I had visited), I agreed. On the way, I recognized where Tam's cart had been. It wasn't there. No carts were there along that section of street. Hmmm.

Wound back through some small streets (that would unlikely get any random foot traffic) and saw An's shop. Told her I would come back after I looked for my friend.

On the way back to the main street, I found Tam!!! She and her peers and carts had been moved around the corner from where they had been because of a new building under construction. I may have found her without An's (indirect) help, but it's nice to think An was an Angel for me that day. Especially when I went back to An's shop and didn't find her.

Talked with Tam for maybe 2 hours, helping her a bit with English, and just exchaning stories and questions as best as possible.

Wandered a bit through the streets, then back to Tam's cart, as she was finishing her work day. She drove me back to my hotel after taking me by her house! I got to meet her mom, dad, husband, brother, sister, and various kids. I taught the kids how to do high five; they were great!

5:35pm ICT Monday 02 January 2006

Back at the hotel, where I found Nick and told him how I met Tam, and how she drove me to her house and the hotel, etc. Her house, our hotel, and her shop are all quite close, and I felt the magic of two maps merging like puzzle pieces long sought.

She offered to take me to the ship tomorrow for free!! It cost 80,000 VND to get from the ship to Hoi An. 80,000 VND for food, and 75,000 for the hotel. I be running' low on cash!!!

During the day I was with Carla when she found a dog that she decided to take home with her.

Yay Silent Football

22:00pm ICT Monday 02 January 2006

Just got back to the hotel after a lovely game of Silent Football (!) at a restaurant on the river. Maruan had the game nailed, and Nick made a few errors. I think alcohol damped Nick's ability to grasp the rules.

We had five players, but we laughed and had fun, despite the empty seats and those choosing to watch.

internet

10:15pm ICT Monday 02 January 2006

Kellie and I just got our internet fix. I read and replied to exactly one email: Paige's. Kellie found out her blog is editable, but not viewable. That bites. It's on blogspot, one of the bigger, more stable communities, I thought.

Once I logged off, I realized I hadn't responded to Paige's direct questions, though I did comment on her other points.

Magically, internet was free.