Back in the Jing!!!

The ride is over…literally and figuratively as I’m now back in Beijing entrenched in my mediocre social life and working once again. The 11 day that turned into a 14 day vacation to Vietnam and Thailand is nothing but a distant memory. At least I have 400 photos to help me reminisce and reflect on the two weeks I just had. So most people are probably wondering how much I paid that girl to spend the two weeks with the Chief. I’d say free…but that’s all relative don’t you think? No Hanh…yes…all you Clubbers out there…that is enunciated the same way as Steve Miller and Chicken Wing used to give you shots out with HON Daddy-O. She’s left handed, shares the same Birthday as me (8/20) and her name means cool to a select few. She’s from Vietnam…I call her my Saigon women…but she always reminds me she’s really just a village girl. My friend Mark likes to give me a hard time for having Pen Pals around the world…we’ll Captain…this is what 8 months of Pen Palling gets you sometimes;-) In all honesty, Hanh is a very good friend and we had a wonderful time discovering Vietnam, Thailand, and each other (whoops…sorry Mom). We spent a few nights in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City if you are on the winning side of that war), than we traveled the scariest road in the World…Hwy 1…to a city called Can Tho. I’ve been there and still can’t pronounce it correctly. Its 200 Km south of Saigon…but getting there took 4 hours…returning took 7 ½. Loads of fun my friends…especially with a girl who has motion sickness. After she passes out an hour into the drive you’re on your own to watch the landscape…you don’t watch the road in front of you or you’ll have an anxiety attack. I tried to capture the true essence of the roads dangers but a still camera just doesn’t do the trick. Its two lanes of traffic that they make into eight. If you’re not about to run over a motor bike, or you can avoid the oncoming traffic barreling down your side of the road…there are wildlife and street vendors to navigate around. I would call it 3rd world living…but I’d also call it population control. If you’re a sick person and want to see a dead body…I’d suggest a trip along Hwy 1 and you’re bound to find a cadaver or two. But if you can look past all the mayhem…and have your ride be the biggest on the road…it really is quite nice!!! My biggest part of the trip was heading to Hanh’s village where her Mother lives and the spot she grew up. I was introduced to the family and I shared a beer with her uncle. Once I was escorted to the great Aunts home I knew something was up. I’m not sure at this point by Vietnamese law if I’m married or not…but when they started throwing rice at me from there bowls I was a little nervous. I’m going to have to Google that and find out what the marriage laws are in Vietnam. I might actually already be divorced again for all I know and owe alimony. But it was actually interesting to see the village life and see the place that Hanh actually was raised. A little bit different than Bellingham, Washington…but at least they didn’t have hippies!!! After a few days in Can Tho, we headed back to Saigon for a night on our way to Thailand. Back to Phuket, Thailand…my favorite city in SE Asia. The Thai people are always wearing a smile and the beaches and weather are second to none. Mr. Paul my taxi driver from last May was once again on call to help shuttle me around the island to all my favorite destinations. Mr. Paul has become part of my family at this point with the amount of time and money I’ve spent with him. He actually invited me to his home next time I go to Phuket to host a BBQ for me in my honor. I thought I was popular in the Vietnamese village!!! After spending 4 days we headed to the airport to fly back to Vietnam. As Chris Berman says…Not so fast my friend. Mr. Thinh my travel agent in Vietnam screwed up my dates and booked my airline ticket for the wrong day. With it being the heavy part of tourist season we were screwed. So I used some of my last Holiday Inn points and booked a room back in Phuket. Unfortunately I couldn’t enjoy it too much as I bugged my parents to help me rebook my ticket and worry about not being able to get back to Beijing. Free tickets are wonderful to have, but if you are in SE Asia they take 10 days to re-issue the ticket. Hence…the extra few days of vacation and a little lighter in the wallet as I had to purchase a whole new ticket on Vietnam Airlines to get back home. Yes…I said it…Beijing is home…feels funny to type…even funnier to say. So we returned back to Vietnam and I spent my time hanging out with Hanh during the day and Jeremy Brim’s girlfriend Trang at night. The hotel people always smiled at me when I would be walking around with Hanh during the day and than I would meet Trang at night. I wish I was that much of a stud…but its all perception!!!! We might not have won the war against Vietnam…but I took a little pride back for the USA this past week!!! I had a great time all in all and I’m happy to be back in the Jing. Yes…that is local jargon. So in a nut shell that is my trip…nothing too earth shattering, but a good time through and through. It’s almost golf season and my company is sponsoring all three golf leagues in town. So I must go hit up the range and see if I can improve on my 99 I shot in Phuket!!! Til' next time my friends....