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These blog entries are becoming fewer and further apart! Sometimes I find it hard to write as our experiences here are a lot like those in Quang Ngai and I often feel like I'm repeating myself. However one thing that is different is our semi-rural location - it's not like our little built-up, busy laneway in central Quang Ngai, so the feel of the place is quite different.
On our return from our month of winter in Perth, we were thrust into the heat and humidity of the wet season and with the shock, presumably, I immediately broke out into a heat rash - fortunately short-lived. Then not long after our return we had a big storm when it bucketed down and rained for several days. This gave a few days welcome relief from the heat and humidity and I thought perhaps it signalled a turn in the weather - the beginning of the countdown to winter. Not so. We soon went back to hot and humid and the reinforcements of winter clothes brought back are still waiting in the cupboard.
The weather is actually changing though. We get nice sunsets and misty mornings and patches of rain (though not enough to bring lasting relief). We can now sleep without the aircon on and with the windows open. We go to sleep to the chorus of dogs and frogs - sometimes drowned out by the crickets. Little bats flap around silently at dusk and after turning out the light at bedtime I can sometimes see the odd firefly below the bedroom window. In the mornings we are woken by the noisy chorus of birds, or the public address system which bursts into life, across the rice fields, with the 6am time signal and news and announcements. Or sometimes by the early departure of the landlord's father-in-law's truck which resides in our front yard.
There are many birds in the "jungle" behind the house - I'm no good at identification (not counting the chooks) but I enjoy listening to them. Once I saw a largish bird with a very long tail. I'd love to know what it was but it didn't come close enough to get a decent photo. A few times I've also seen a Kingfisher swooping on the pond nearby and eventually managed to grab Owen's camera and he got a reasonable shot. There are also lots of unfamiliar bugs, grubs and beetles in striking hues. I rush about taking photos but they're a bit boring for anyone else. Enormous butterflies too, but they don't often stay still long enough to take a photo, so I've taken a few of dead ones which seems a bit sad.
We watch the passing of time through our bedroom window. The rice crops come and go. We see the farmers planting then watch the seedlings grow. After a time the farmers reappear to harvest the crop and clear the field. We go for a walk round the "block" sometimes on the weekend. It's a short walk (longer walks await the cooler weather) which takes us past nearby houses and down a track and past rice, sugar cane, vegetables growing and duck or fish ponds. They change regularly - a while back there was a large trellised patch growing gourds, then they suddenly disappeared to be replaced by sugar cane. A few people had flocks of ducks which disappeared around Tet - perhaps they were fattened up for the occasion. I'm waiting to see if any reappear leading up to next Tet. The other indication of time passing is where the sun sets in the evenings - it gradually moved north and now it's moving back south again. Means we are more than half way now.
The passage of time is also reflected at the market. Lychees were in season when we left for Oz, then longan berries and custard apples when we returned. Now there's no dominant fruit on the street, but a mix or watermelon, dragon fruit, pomegranates and the rest imports from China. A large variety of green, leafy vegetables have appeared however, but I'm not good at telling them apart or knowing how to cook them. I did recently learn a new recipe - chopped wormwood leaves stirred into beaten eggs and fried. Slightly bitter - loved it. I've discovered chokos and long cucumber-like gourds, also bitter gourds which I stuff with pork mince, but I'm really waiting for beans and broccoli to reappear, then I'll be back in familiar territory.
Things are pretty quiet of late - apart from the great excitement of the Mid-Autumn Festival - but that will have to wait till next time. The work in the library petered out a while back, so I'm largely occupied with the domestic front. I know my memory is short, but I've had enough of summer - I'm now waiting for winter.
- comments
Zig Hi Avenel, Reading your blog I feel like I'm there. You've written and described it all so well! I'd love to experience that lifestyle - sounds very relaxing out in the countryside but I don't think I'd last too long. Although I complain about being too busy, I think the countryside in Tuyen Quang may be a little too quiet for me.Love your blogs. X
Moira Hi AvenelLike Zig, I find your writing very descriptive and I feel as though I'm now very familiar with Tuyen Quang and your daily activities and culinary experiences.I'm not sure I could accept it all with your calm equanimity. You're impressive!Moiraxx
clive miller Hi Avenel another brilliant blog! I always look forward to them, they are never boring. Don't worry about repetition especially the minutiae of everyday life, it is always engrossing. Could we see some of your wildlife photos? Love to you both Clive and Judy.xx
clifmaree I love your stories Avenel! It seems that you have adapted very well to the different types of food that there is on offer and you describe them so well. We missed you both this morning at our "runners breakfast"! You are looking forward to the change of season, so are we! It has been so cold here. (for us anyway)! Keep up your stories, we both love them. Maree xxx
glenys davies I agree with the other commentors!And feel a bit warmer reading of the heat - still cold here and its October!!