Month: July 2019
Da Nang
Life
Travel
Vietnam
The End of the Beginning
We spent the last few days together tying up loose ends and getting things organized. Qatar Airways gives two checked bags at 50 pounds each and the family had gathered a collection of items they would send with me from the countryside.… continue reading Read More
Da Nang
Life
Travel
Vietnam
The Road Less Travelled
We had another snag at the government complex and our paperwork was to be pushed off another day. This time however, we dealt with an older woman who seemed more professional and human than the gentleman we had been dealing with in days prior.… continue reading Read More
Da Nang
Food
Life
Vietnam
The Domestication of Time
It had become apparent that my time in Vietnam was going to be, at least for the moment, indefinite. The local people’s council was not making my ability to secure our proper documents an easy task by any means. I had secured our apartment on a day to day basis and taking full advantage of our extended time together, Diễm and I settled into a wonderful routine of daily walks to the mart, trips to the market and dinner at home most evenings.… continue reading Read More
Da Nang
Life
Travel
Vietnam
Everything in Vietnam is stamped in red, an endless conveyor built of bureaucracy bathed in blood. The blood of the red stamp. Paperwork, handwritten ledgers, massive books holding the information of all the citizenry in which it upholds. A red stamp on a grocery receipt that denotes it’s been paid.… continue reading
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The Land of the Red Stamp
Da Nang
Food
Life
Travel
Vietnam
After an incredible evening we retired to the apartment where the floor had erupted into quite a flat party. The festivities carried on into the wee hours of the night. Over the course of the evening guests came and went. So I took some time preparing a few treats for our rotating circle of friends on the floor.… continue reading
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The Honeymoon
Da Nang
Food
Life
Vietnam
What an incredible process. Primarily fun and new and exciting, somewhat bureaucratic and painful. Traditionally in Vietnam, the wedding photos come well before the ceremony. This is done for many reasons. One, I’m assuming, is that no one buys dresses here as it is an exorbitant and excess purchase.… continue reading
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The Wedding Festivities
Life
A Letter From The Editor
Where do I begin? This is less of an editorial and more of a thank you letter. A thank you letter to all who have ever graced my life in one way or another. An unconventional acknowledgement to all those that have at one time or another made an indelible enough impression in my mind to make mention of here.… continue reading Read More
Da Nang
Food
Life
Travel
Vietnam
Tom, Jerry and the Mallrats.
Diễm and I went out for a little breakfast at a nearby restaurant and it was a beautiful scene. We sat in the cooler morning breeze as the rain had returned and the temperature was much more bearable outside where there was a nice coastal breeze.… continue reading Read More
Da Nang
Life
Vietnam
A Sleepless Night With Cúp Điễn
I had just finished feeding the family when the power went out. Emergency lighting came on in the apartments stairwells and hallway and every one on the floor seemed to not be surprised. Windows were opened there was some mild chatter and everyone settled down for the evening.… continue reading Read More
Food
Hoi An
Life
Travel
Vietnam
As I’ve discussed previously the heat is blistering here. In Southeast Asia one of the many beautiful things that is either directly or indirectly caused by an attempt to avoid the sun are night markets, and Vietnam boasts some of the best.… continue reading
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The Night Markets and Returning To Hội An
Da Nang
Life
Travel
Vietnam