We got yet another bus the next day to Hoi An. Only this time the bus was a sightseeing one and we stopped at Lang Co beach and Marble Mountain along the way. The route we took was the Hai Van pass which is considered the most dangerous road and famous for the Top Gear episode. Great views from the top, and Sam made a fool of himself climbing down from a structure.
Hoi An is known for its tailored suits. There are shops everywhere doing it. Sam had done his research and we went straight from the hostel to Kimmy's, a Canadian-Vietnamese owned suit shop. Handed an iPad, Sam did his best to look knowledgeable. Over the next two days, he had three fittings, before he picked out a tie to go with his brand new suit. He was looked after by a tailor who called herself James Bond, and knew the quintessential British phrase "lovely jubbly".
I quit smoking in Hoi An. I got the news about Emma K and threw them away. It meant 4 days until getting back to my vape, and I definitely got a bit crabby, but I'm home now and firmly attached to my new vape kit.
After Hoi An, we got a shuttle to Danang airport and flew down to Ho Chi Minh City, aka Saigon. We stayed in a lovely hotel with a steam room and a pool and a roof terrace. The views were lovely, especially at night.
We took a trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels - where the Viet Cong (i.e. the resistance against the Americans) lived underground throughout the American War. We explored some of the tunnels - so hot, and cramped, sometimes we were crawling or crab walking through them. They had ingenious places where they made sure the smoke coming from stoves came out far away from the actual kitchen, as well as meeting rooms and medical quarters. It's hard to imagine that people lived like that for years, and it really brought home the fact that the Viet Cong were dedicated to protecting their country. And using such tactics, it's no wonder the Americans lost.
Sam left a day before I did, so I relaxed and used the gym and ate at the hotel until my cab to the airport. I flew to Kuala Lumpur, and stayed overnight in a transit hotel in the airport. And then home, with only 4 hours sleep.
And that was that. (apart from a short trip to Cancun the week after for something special), that was the end of 5 months of travelling. 14 countries. Many hostels, hotels, beds, seats, bars, restaurants, cafes, coaches, buses, taxis, tuk tuks, motorbikes, planes, boats. Rain, lightning, heat, water pistols. Wildlife, insects and people.
I'm hanging up my backpack (it is in need of repairs and you do not want to know what colour the water was when I washed it). I'm settling back in to life.
As I thought, I couldn't outrun my problems, I couldn't escape myself. But I learned even more about myself, as I did last time I travelled.
And I can say for sure, I do not like kayaking and Wagamama still does the best pad thai. (Sorry Thailand).
Comments
Post a Comment