Epilogue: Viet Nam

One month ago I left for my magical adventure to Viet Nam. It felt like it took forever for the day of departure to arrive and now, like a blink of the eye, it's over and I am back home. I imagine me as an old woman, sitting in an easy chair thinking back on all the adventures I've had in my life. My cycling trip to Viet Nam will certainly be part of that reflection.

The old adage; when it rains it pours, is so true in my life right now. Returning within days from my trip extravaganza and just in the nick of time, I was able to greet my second grandchild. Considering that my first grandchild was born in August it certainly feels like my life is on the fast track right now. I think I'm looking forward to some quieter days and a little more predictability in the daily routine but then there are times that I wish I was on my bike, letting water buffalo pass and feeling the freedom of the remainder of the day floating before me.

[Abby, two days old]

Arranged by my work colleague, Philip, originally from Viet Nam, I was met by a petite travel guide named Quinn (I'm sure the Vietnamese spelling is very different but that's the closest I can get to the way it was pronounced.)I traveled from Hanoi to Halong Bay. An alternate Michelle must have decided to ride on the back of that motorcycle for the three hour trip because as I sit in my 'boffice" (combination bedroom/office/baby room) it seems impossible for the sensible Michelle to think that this was a good idea! But when you say "yes" to life, it opens up a multitude of possibilities.

[Picture: Salt fields]

Speaking of motorcycles I learned that there is no limit to the amount of people or things you can fit on the back, sides and front of a small 250cc motorcycle! Americans could learn a lot from the Vietnamese drivers; never once did I see even a small incident of road rage and believe me, there were plenty of opportunities between the buses, cars, carts and motorcycles on the road.

[Our tour guide from Pedaltours, Nham]

Sunday, February 22, the tour van met me at my hotel and I was soon introduced to my riding partners for the next 16 days. From Hanoi we traveled by airplane to Hue. Arriving there we stayed in the first of many beautiful accommodations; we all held our breathe thinking this was too good to be true.

On Tuesday, February 24, we began the riding part of our tour. We traveled from Hue to Hoi An, a lovely ancient city that has become a tourist paradise. Located on the Thu Bon River, one can find Buddhist history, custom made shoes and clothing made in hours, wonderful food and a beautiful backdrops for photography.

After a two day rest in Hoi An (one day of riding and then a day off!) we traveled to Quang Ngai. We visited the museum documenting the massacre at My Lai. It was a sad and sobering day. Many of us 'baby boomers' grew-up with the backdrop of the Viet Nam war on the evening news. To be actually standing in one of the most horrendous and shameful locations of American war history was sobering. We were all moved to tears when by coincidence a survivor was visiting the site with her granddaughter. Our guide spoke to her and interpreted her forgiveness to us. It was humbling.

[Women in the center of picture is a My Lai survivor]

From Quang Ngain our trip took us to Qui Nhon and then on to Nha Trang - our first glimpse of the beautiful South China Sea. We stayed in an amazing hotel where each room had French doors that opened on to a balcony overlooking the water. That evening the reflection of the water was filled with lighted boats fishing for squid. It looked like, "a thousand points of light" to channel George Bush Sr., twinkling in the dark water. I tried to get a picture but my camera couldn't quite capture the beauty of the scene.

[attempt at picture of squid boats]

Traveling in the van for part of this leg of the tour because some of Viet Nam is still very rustic, we moved to the Central Highlands of Nha Trang and Dalat. Dalat will forever be in my memory because that is my first exposure to Vietnamese coffee. It was raining hard when Rick Tobin and I began to explore the city without Jennifer who was suffering from the viral infection that targeted our group. We stopped for lunch at one of the many cafes and both of us ordered coffee. AMAZING is all I can say. If you're a true coffee lover then try "white coffee," it tastes like coffee candy on steroids!!

From Dalat we went to Loc An, another ocean location. Do you like seafood, fresh fruit and tropical weather? Please, run, don't walk and get to Viet Nam, because all of your favorites are located right there!!

From Loc An we began the final leg of our tour to Ho Chi Minh City. You can smell the "westernizationalizim" in the air. Everywhere you look there are high-rise cranes building luxury hotels and condominiums. If you have a fleeting thought to go to Viet Nam - go now, before our Western influence takes hold. It is a magical place and one that will forever be in my heart and soul. I spent an additional two days there with my new friend, Marjie Bowker. She was one of the many new friends that I had the pleasure to meet and get to know. For that short period of time I was able to sample some of her life style while living in the community, staying at the Castle - the Bum Bum, turmeric rice cakes, pineapple lady, sweet seamstress, T & T, the twins and all the other characters she writes about in her blog.

For now, this is the end of my blog. I think I will add to this virtual location as my life progress - I am open to what God has planned! Certainly I can give you pictures and progress as my two grandchildren grow. I will write when the spirit moves me!

[Where helicopters took off during the Fall of Saigon]

Today, as I was driving to work . . . I normally take the train - I was thinking about the trip and what my next adventure will bring. There are so many things that I want my life to include. But how many are possible, how many can be actually done in the time I have? I want to volunteer in a Spanish speaking orphanage, to cycle in Europe, spend real time with my grandchildren, find true inner peace, fall in love. . . I think about many things I wish to find in the future and look with joy and anticipation at what lay ahead.