Light at the end of the tunnel

Shuffling back to Hanoi thru Da Nang

My Khe beach in Da Nang

It appeared that we brought the good highlands weather with us to Da Nang. We dropped off our bags at the Sea Wonder Hotel, and headed into town to eat at Bread Of Life. Great food and big portions and of course the great staff, headed up by our friend Thao (I bet she is only 4' tall with a 6' smile).

Thao  and some of the staff at Bread of Life.

As we left our hotel a pavilion was being set up next to the hotel. A family of Vietnamese that has lived in the states for the last 30 years all came back and threw a block party for their Grandmother who was turning 90 years old. The family had lived in Southern Cal. but now from Boston. They invited us to join them later. When we came back from lunch, the party was just getting started, I decided I better join them and was paired up with one of the nephews (Rin) for him to make sure my beer glass stayed filled.

Pavilion took up the whole street, live band and karaoke.

Between the Vietnamese toasting (Yo) me and Grandmother and anything else, the food started rolling in. Seafoods, chickens, soups, salads, spring rolls was tossed in my bowl and another toast (Yo). so they say in Vietnam (or at least these guys at the table), If you are toasted then either 1/2 the glass or all of the glass must be downed.......

Rin & Grandma

After the party, the obligatory photos.....
Rin was a great host....
Thanks Rin, my best to your family.

One of our connections here in Da Nang was Chuck Palazzo, we weren't able to meet with him this time through and talk some more about his Agent Orange project (DAVA) because he contracted Dengue Fever. He said he felt like he had been hit by a truck, hopefully a small one. Get Well Soon Chuck and Thanks for all your help while we were in Vietnam.

So we visited the Linh Ung Pagoda, she is a
female Buddha and must be 100 meters tall.
She looks out over Da Nang from her perch
on Monkey Mountain.

Beautiful grounds and views of the area.

Back at the Sea Wonder Hotel, we became guinea pigs for their new lunch menu. After many photos, we finally got to eat the food.

Thuy is the big smile in the middle and was the hotel
cook/accountant.  

The owners

Chou, the receptionist and travel agent....Big Smiles

Thanks to all at the Sea Wonder, hope to see you all again soon.

Tony (on the right) from the Sea Wonder ( our home in Da Nang),
 insisted on one  last Ca Phe in Da Nang at his fav coffee place. 

After several hours of delays at the airport, we made it back to Hanoi and it's seeming chaotic traffic and incredible street food.

BBQ chicken, soup, chopsticks and new buddies. 

(Mike;s)  The birds are singing this morning, outside our balcony door.  There are many song birds in cages that the people have hanging in their homes or along the streets.  Helps to distract the sound of the traffic.

Our local neighborhood on Hang Hom.

(Mike's)  Yesterday, met with Chuck S., who brought along an American lady (anti-war veteran), who is retired military, and now is an associate professor at UNC - Chapel Hill.  Trude Bennett teaches in the Dept of Maternal and Child Health.  Nice info from her.

We met Chuck Searcy and Trude at an old French mansion in the French Quarter of Hanoi that had been turned into a swank restaurant and coffee shop. Trude was at a conference here in Vietnam and presented an eye-opening talk on the dangers of GMOs. Surprisingly the very company that brought Agent Orange to Vietnam during the American war is the same one pushing the Vietnamese government to test GMO crops in Vietnam. Will that circle every be broken?

Biker school kids, terrorizing the streets of Hanoi with
big smiles and waves

(Mike's)   Took a walk around the lake park last evening, and were immediately surrounded by university students wanting to talk American with the tall guys.  Many gringo tourists, but they want to speak to Americans.  We spent a couple of hours in two groups, talking about their interests and America, so they could improve their pronunciation.  Much fun, and invigorating.  Many thought that I was an English teacher.  I guess that I am, just not officially.

Where you from?   Can I have picture?

Great evening on Hoan Kiem Lake, I'm not sure how many Mike
talked to, but I spoke with over 20 university students.
Great positive energy for the future.

Chuck S. met with us several times to tell war stories, heart warming stories of returning American Vets and the good will they have brought to this wonderful country. These Vets along with Chuck in Hanoi, Chuck in Da Nang and my other Vet friends Suel Jones and Mike Cull have been the true ambassadors from America. Their good will and efforts to make a difference is inspiring and makes me proud to call them my friends. 

Spectacular last night in Hanoi
Hoan Kiem Lake and the bridge to the Turtle Temple...

With that we embarked on our forever flight back to America, sad to be leaving, but incredibly happy that we came. Those doors of perception that we opened on the first days of our visit were left wide open and the reality that is Vietnam is in our hearts and minds.......Yowsir!!!!!