Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
I'm on the first leg of a long journey today. My first flight this morning takes me from Hanoi, Vietnam to Bangkok, Thailand. From there I fly to Kathmandu, Nepal with a stopover in Malaysia. One day, 4 countries, 19 hrs in transit. I excitedly await the next chapter of my travels. Everyone I've met that has been to Nepal has a look of fondness in their eyes as they speak about how lovely it is there. It is my pleasure that I will be joined by my friend Jen. For those of you that know Jen (St. Paul's crew what, what!), it is obvious what a perfect companion she will be for this trekking and exploring adventure. I greatly anticipate catching up with a good friend for the first time in months. Poor girl will be getting the biggest hug, collective of all the love I'm feeling for her and all of you back home.
Now to reflect on my last few weeks in Vietnam. I landed in Ho Chi Minh City to an overwhelming chaos that I would soon know as my daily norm. The visa area was a mess of recently landed foreigners scattered everywhere. There were no lines, no signs, no one to guide us in the right direction. After half an hour I finally navigated myself through the system (or lack of) and then waited the 90 minute processing time. To give some prospective, if I added up all the time I spent getting into the last 5 countries I entered it would be about half the time it took here. So 2hrs later I'm through immigration and then of course I can't find my luggage. A nice airport staff member walked around with me until we found my bag lying in the middle of the floor all by its lonesome. At this point it was getting late and I was pretty much over it. Luckily when I exited the airport I was immediately greeted by a familiar face. His ear to ear smile was so big his eyes turned to slits. My whole body relaxed. I was home again.
We cabbed into the city, dropped my bags at the hotel and headed out to get food with a few of our other friends (or German family if you're following each post). First Vietnam meal was of course pho! Rich, salty, delicious, $2 pho. And here began our regular Vietnam ritual. Food, iced coffee then more food. All day, everyday. For two weeks. "Hello! $1 noodle! Very cheap!"
If I could sum up my Vietnam experience in one word: YUM! We did have some notable adventures though- Halong Bay cruise, trying to slide down sand dunes in Mui Ne, a smelly 26hr train ride to Hanoi. Oh yes and that time we bought a motorbike and drove up the coast from Saigon to Nha Trang... We set out into typical Vietnam traffic which is a chaotic mess of thousands of motorbikes weaving through trucks and buses. The road varied from smooth pavement to an intricate maze of potholes to bumpy gravel all within a few kms of driving. Not to mention the endless construction resulting in trucks on the wrong side of the road coming at us full speed while reefing on their horns. We even ended up on a long stretch of construction where there was literally no road, just a narrow aisle of sandy clay. We had to slowly manoeuvre through sandpits and potholes for over an hour. And we only went over on the bike once! We were traveling so slowly and cautiously though that we made it out without a scratch. (Minor leg burns from the exhaust pipe don't count, right?) Sorry Mom and Dad but it was sooo fun! I'm just grateful I was only co-pilot and I had a very capable driver leading the way!
Vietnam was delicious, adventurous and iced coffees. (Yes, that was a proper sentence.) I will miss risking my life every time I cross the street as much as sitting in a child sized plastic chair on a crowded sidewalk for every meal. I had to say a tough good bye this time but Nepal promises its own thrilling adventure!
*Leave me a comment even if you have before. If you were given a link to this blog then I most definitely miss you and would love to read even a short hello. 5 more weeks until I'm home!
- comments
Leah Missing you Riesha. Loving hearing about your amazing adventures and picturing where you are at right now. I want to hear all about it soon! I can't say enough how happy for you and how proud of you I am. You're inspiring. Love you lady.
Mom Oh Riesha...everyone here misses you too only we don't want to say that because it would make you miss us more-so nevermind. Life here is just as you left it and yes it's getting long for us too...the first part went fast.....I am so proud of you-who knew you were a writer....if nothing else you know you can always write a book! I suppose one of the best parts of going somewhere is coming home....so this is the best part of your journey....5 weeks will fly by and when you come home....we'll order asian food and you can fill in the blanks for us....Chedan and Khyah and Jesse and your Dad and your cousins and friends will never be the same now that you have gone on this amazing adventure.....because you make us feel rich-just to know you. There is nothing like being a wonderful person. And you are that. I will hug you until you actually produce a fart when you get home..........Lots of smiles...oh-and really....I will send your Dad and Brother over there in a heartbeat to find you-soooooooooooooooooooooo stay on the radar blueberry muffin!
Jesse I can't believe all the crazy adventures you're having! I wish I was going to Asia. Oh wait... I am. It will be fun to swap stories. I probably won't be able to match serenading the police chief with Disney tunes. Or if I did, it wouldn't be a pretty picture. I can't wait to hear about Nepal. Oh and your writing is awesome! You really paint a vivid picture in the mind's eye. Love from the rainy side
Khyah Wow you make my trips seem so boring. :-P You always had a nack for having the most possible fun in any situation. Love you so much Riesha!!!
amy ford Hey Riesha, Just caught up on your adventure. Hope you enjoy the rest of your journey!! We miss you and are excited to hear about things we missed IN PERSON.
Tatym RIESHA! Soon you will be back and we will celebrate! Miss you and save up the stories, I want to hear all about them! Bog love and hugs from Tatym. (-: