First day waking up with our wonderful host in Vietnam, Luke. I first met Luke and his infectious laugh at the same time as I met Richie nearly 10 years ago....Richie and Luke have known each other for years and get along like brothers (some years ago they dated sisters!) Late afternoon arrival, layover and interior flight delivered us to a cool afternoon storm and luscious green hills. We drove the winding roads past mega waterside developments through the mountains, past the coast and along to the outskirts of Nha Trang. A dinner down the road at at a local food vendor of veg mock meats, rice and veggies.... All negotiated by our guide....Luke has been living here nearly 3 years teaching English. My initial dubiousness about eating raw, local treats soon flew out the window and I decided to jump right in! Carpe diem eh? This morning we were up at 6am, surprising as last night we stayed in and had numerous its been so long since weve seen each other catch up drinks.... As the dawn broke over town, Luke ran to the window and shouted gooooood morning Vietnam!!!! -still giggling at that one. Bananas and papaya for a snack and Vietnamese style coffee for the boys. We ventured a few streets away to the local produce markets where we saw lots of amazing unidentifiable fruits and vegetables (as well as other more -not for long- living beings) we wound ourselves through the tiny alleys, smiling and being smiled at, giggling and commentary following us behind by the stall holders. Fresh carrot juice in a maze of wooden huts married together with tarps, rope and tin... We also ordered a green alfalfa tasting super powered green juice that apparently grows everywhere and is quite nutritious. Again, I set aside my fears and jumped in, trying to trust my instincts with whats ok and with a little nip of *medicinal* vodka as back up I am all in like Flynn! Luke is amazingly encouraging, courteous and helpful in seeing that I am fed well and as we wandered back he got me a plate of rice noodles with gelatinous ricey type saucer looking puddings, spices, coriander and chilli.... Imagine me sitting on a tiny plastic red chair by the side of the road under a tarp choosing down with cop sticks from a plastic plate..... nodding and smiling in the awesomeness of a new experience in a new place. So weird but delicious!! The boys got themselves an egg roll with cucumber and sauce from a roadside seller. Adventures on the motorbikes after a quick fix it job for the ever important horn at the local mechanics (totalling 50c) and away we went down to explore the tourist streets of Nha Trang. Riding around with Richie on the bike always feels safe. Hes such an amazingly alert, attentive and practical rider.... Feeling very lucky to have him to be my driver as I explore a new place in an adventurous way! Lunch after a quick walk up and down a mountain at a lovely vegetarian restaurant. We arrived just as the early afternoon storm broke and nailed the wager between the boys on wether it was going to rain..... Pho (soup with noddles and veggies and tofu), Green papaya salad with peanuts and herbs, amazing seeded crisp bread, spiced lime dips, mock chicken herb salad and a clay hot pot of fried rice.... My belly is on over load but my taste buds are singing!! Really hoping to do a veg cooking class while Im here! Apparently most locals are Buddhist and they adhere to a veg diet at the new and full moons so I am, so far, having an easy time of finding nosh! We are happy, comfortable and so very cared for..... And this is just day one of our exploring!!
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 08:28:33 +0000
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