I'll take some of my FB reports, maybe edit slightly, and leave here as time permits:
Oct. 30: Big jump across a big pond... 13 hours SFO to Taipei. My friend (NNN) was here only a week ago, and another friend will be here within a week. Too bad, missed them both.
Oct. 31: This is my wife’s first time to Vietnam since she left as a refugee 35 years ago. Consequently the surprises started early. There was nothing familiar to be seen on our way from the airport to our hotel. By the time we walked into the hotel we had no idea what part of the city we were in (everything was arranged by our tour guide). We went out for a walk and before we’d gone even a quarter mile my wife turned suddenly down an alley. With a little trepidation I followed but after 10 more steps I stopped and asked (with an edge to my voice, which happens easily under the stress of jet lag), “where are we going now?”, to which she responded “I’m looking for somebody.” “Honey, you’ve been gone 35 years, we have no idea where we are right now, and you expect to find someone you know just 10 minutes from the hotel? I’ll eat my hat if you even find someone who knows anyone you’re looking for.” We walked a few more steps, she looked right and decided to go left, and almost immediately we came across an elderly man eating noodles while sitting on the sidewalk. She asked some questions and in no time we found out that 2 of the “somebodies” she asked about had passed away, and the other had divorced and moved away. I have yet to eat my hat, need to find something for the expected indigestion. |
