Bon Voyage ~ Homeward Bound

 

Yesterday was fifty years since the last helicopters left Vietnam at the end of what they call the “American” war. We left two weeks ago. It’s a very different country now, alive with vigor, youth and high expectations. It’s still communist but with some capitalism built in. In Saigon it was very modern with shiny tall buildings competing with the low European elegant buildings.  

Frankly I didn’t care for Saigon much. Yes there were nice green trees and parks but the lack of culture and old crafts made it feel empty for me. I was disappointed that this was the final leg of our wonderful journey. I much preferred the wild electric chaos of exciting Hanoi. 

But truly what makes the trip memorable and touching is the kindness of strangers. All the locals who work so hard to make everything come together to provide a seamless and comfortable journey for us.  

Here are a few I will miss the most…

Phuong and his brother who provided us with a comfortable place to lounge at the beach and brought us delicious pho and crispy wanton with shrimp and mango.  And anything else we desired. 

Louise, who made Ron and I lovely Kimonos. She was always snacking on some sweet fresh tamarind fruit or fresh chewy ginger her mother made. 

Anh, the adorable manager of our Vina Beach Pool Villas, where we stayed for fifteen nights.  She and Minh brought us coffee and fat bananas every morning and made our stay there so comfortable.

Ms Han, the owner of our favorite breakfast cafe, Cozy Corner.  We went every morning for the best cappacchino, freshly baked bread and my favorite, the avocado toast with poached egg. 

We’ve traveled 108 days on this trip. As it turns out 108 is a most spiritual and mystical number. Galileo said that the universe is written “in mathematical language”. Numbers offered a secret language for awakening. Yogis found the number 108 to be such a key.  It is considered to be the most auspicious number of all with special meaning both in meditation and prayer. There are 108 beads on a Buddhist prayer mala and 108 refers to spiritual completion.

In yoga, Sun salutations are often completed in nine rounds of the twelve postures equaling 108. And, there are 108 stitches on a baseball!  We didn’t plan this. We figured it out after we had gotten our tickets with our miles plan. You get what you get. It was just luck. We felt blessed.  An auspicious beginning to our trip.  

We have now been to four countries. Slept in 21 beds. Flown on 13 flights and have taken three boats, countless taxis and several Grab cars. What a wonderful renewal. I doubted myself before we left. Was I getting too old, to weak, too unsteady. It had been four years since we last traveled and the Covid crisis had filled my head with new fears and anxiety.

Now, I am once again sure footed, mentally stronger, confident and grateful for the opportunity to go gallivanting around the world.  

Life is precious. Seize the moment.  Believe in yourself. As someone brilliant told me “Don’t stop traveling when you get old. You get old when you stop traveling”.

I would like to thank all the friends and family that went along with us on this trip, read the blog and sent notes and comments to me along the way. How I loved hearing from each of you.  

And I would like to especially sing my praises and heartfelt thanks to my dearest friend, and blogger extraordinaire, Robert Sommers. His blog, Blue Heron Blast, is my ideal. Without his help I could not have made Rice is Sacred look as nice.  I was unable to load my photos from my iPhone to my iPad to the blog site. Every photo you see has been artfully arranged on the blog by Robert. I am truly in his debt for his generous help. Take a look at his blog. It’s the best.  

So, with a sad but fulfilled heart, I bid adieu to these travels.  Until the next time…