Some of you have commented on the length and depth of this blog. (Thank you for the compliments and encouragement) I am using it to discipline myself to write daily, something I have always had trouble with and I will eventually turn this gusto towards my own personal writing, which has always been a part of my intention on this journey. It is also good to remember names and places and to keep track of details, those that know me well enough know that I love to catalogue everything. Then there is my core group of daily readers that are vicariously enjoying the adventures I am having and I lovingly appreciate you.
After Anne’s I am on the hunt. I go from café to café asking but no-one seems to have bagels! Then I remember there is a “Coffee Bean” on the north east corner of the block and behold – I have found the place for my daily mid morning warm bagel with cream cheese! It also has a third floor view across a main intersection where Vietnam’s industrious buzz can be viewed in air-conditioned comfort with smooth French café jazz – sickening music but somehow perfect for the thousands of bikes buzzing around below. Also across the intersection is a “Lotteria” – my junk food corner.
The sting.
Note the artistic, harmonious blending of the traffic and the wiring.
Amongst this mornings viewing I get to spy a regular tradition in Vietnamese law enforcement. A police bike pulls up at the intersection and within minutes the officer has pulled over a taxi. They go through the formalities of paperwork checking and detail taking followed by the inevitable passing of money which brings smiles to both parties, one of greed the other of relief. I can even see the amount the driver put in his pocket as he returned from his vehicle with his papers which he then passed to the officer upon return of his licence, one hundred and fifty thousand Dong – about eight dollars – and the taxi is on his way.
The pay off.
After my bagel fix I decide on a massage, my back is not too bad today but my mind is a little tense approaching the end of the book. This girl is fairly new and the massage is below standard for this place but I take it in my stride and tell her as gently as I can at the end she needs to relax and focus a bit more. She does not pay much attention to the words until I only tip her half of the standard tip and reiterate my advice, this time she understands.
Lan.
Lan and Hi look so similar when they wear these hats but Hi has the husky voice while to the trained eye Lan has the slightly more curvy butt.
Up to the GO2 for a midday Beatles soundtrack to a beer and another chapter. At one point the “psychic” woman from yesterday asks to read my fortune again and I remind her we spoke yesterday, she remembers and sits with me for a while before finding someone to con out of a dollar for use of her mystical powers. Doyen is looking sad behind the cash register at the bar so I ask what’s wrong. Seems she has been transferred here for now (she is normally at Alley Booz – they are sister bars dominating the two main tourist corners) because the manageress found money has been going missing the last few days and the regular staff have been sent home and Doyen entrusted with the daily takings. Nice to be trusted but she is stressed because the responsibility is all on her now. I try to cheer her up for a while with varying results – have something to eat and a couple more drinks then head back to my room for a lay down and a look-over tomorrows class material. Chan better have TXT me the correct pages to look at this time but, after faking my way through the two classes last night I can’t say I really care that much – it’s the Vietnamese way.
The mystic who couldn't even predict rain in HCMC.
Dung café for dinner and some vodka. I am joined reluctantly at MY outside front table by a German guy, I can’t remember his name, it starts with B. He is leaving tomorrow after nineteen days and wants to tell me his stories of whores and well, more whores - he wasn't here for the scenery. Great dinner conversation over my steak with mushrooms in cream sauce. At ten to nine Chan TXT me that he would like me to come in at eight tomorrow morning and assist him with a starter class he has just decided to open, my class is scheduled for nine thirty, well Chan, you are not even going to get a response from me, I am learning the Vietnamese way.
