Arrival

Here I am again in Chu Lai, Quang Nam, Vietnam for nearly 3 weeks.  I was met by around 10 people at Da Nang airport around 9.30pm, having left England around 7pm the previous evening.

Heathrow, T5, checked my luggage in, but was taking 2 suitcases, my first is free. However, excess luggage for my second suitcase was to cost 945 pounds to send all the way to Saigon.  After fainting, the man suggested to send to Hong Kong, where I was due to change flights, for 40 pounds and check in for my connecting flight as luggage.  Hmm, good idea…

Hong Kong, after taking an hour through customs, I picked up the bag from the carousel, and trotted off to get my boarding card for my onward journey, asked at the counter “is this your only luggage?” to which I replied “yes” and so it was sent to my flight with no additional cost.  A result for once.

Saigon, for my final flight I paid just over 10 pounds for it to be sent on the flight to Da Nang my final destination.  Being greeted by so many people at an airport, was I thought for other people, never would I expect such a reception.  Wow!, thank you to cousins, friends, and babies  who came to see me.  Yes me!  People must have thought it was the return of the Messiah – suitcases and all.

We finally arrived home at about midnight. A bed and sleep was very welcome after the airmiles.  Even better I was upgraded by BA to a larger seat and cabin.  The woman next to me and I never exchanged a single word, only I heard she was travelling to Vietnam, she sat in frnt of me on the flight to Saigon and never said a hello, some grump.

First day, Tam is off for a driving test, and drinks afterwards, so she’ll be drunk, I will be  full of beans.  I have already done some washing, my Australia towel has gone 3 months without a scrub, it is filthy, I couldn’t dry myself on it last night, yeuch! even after the scrubbing brush it is still dirty.  How can these people ignore such hygiene?

Breakfast was unlike England, but typical Vietnam, rice – expected, con cua (Crab) a treat, fish – ok, meat – ok, and washed down with a beer – unusual!

The house has been truly modernized since I was last here in April, new mezzanine, 2 bedrooms, entrance, stairs etc, see photo’s for comparisons.

It is hot here around 31 degrees, no mosquito’s but very hot, will I be allowed to sit in the sun? I doubt it.