Another day on the go. A car and a driver and off we went, leaving at 9 and getting back around 6.
There were 2 main attractions. The first were the "razor mountains," as Jamie appropriately dubbed them, surrounding the ancient capital city. After a steep set of 275 steps (we counted), a little boy greeted us and then took off, indicating that we were to follow his lead. I wasn't used to 4-feet tall guides with baby teeth, but the intimidating mound of dagger-like rocks was apparently his childhood playground. With nothing more than plastic sandles, a t-shirt and shorts (with tiny rips on the tush), he climbed up the razor mountain as if it was a sand dune. While he hopped from sharp edge to sharper edge humming a little song, Jamie and I grunted our way soaking in sweat. We did make it to the top, however, and have plenty of photos as proof.
We took some time to absorb the spectacular view of rice fields, pagodas, villages and more mountains, extending in every direction until all was lost in haze. It was awesome. And then it was time to go down. Not so awesome. Jamie sliced his foot and hand a bit, and I put my hand in at least 6 patches of goat terds.
As we approached the base, the other boys got to work. Bringing us cold drinks, holding our hands (which actually made it harder to get down), finding us shade and a smooth place to sit, fanning us with magazines, tending to Jamie's wounds with nearby plants, and even taking our sweat-drenched shirts that we had taken off and wringing them out. They were cute kids, but they weren't doing this stuff out of the kindness of their hearts. As much as we told them to stop, they knew that if they pampered us we would be obligated to pay them. It was a nightmare at the bottom of the steps and quite sad to see such young boys be so savage and desperate. We finally just had to get in the car and drive away. Good preparation for India, Jamie reminded me.
The rest of the day was spent on a river in Tam Coc. Jamie had done the same boat tour before and was kind enough to let me do the rowing this time. Ducks, goats, caves, mountain islands, people - we weren't shy with our cameras. And a lot of good laughs as we greeted passing boats and found ourselves lost in numerous Vietnamese conversations. I've mastered the smile and knod.
After the hiking and rowing, it was definitely time for a massage. It had been 2 days, after all.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, August 28th, 2005 at 10:02 am in II. Vietnam.
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Glad you’re not letting your adventures get in the way of your massage routine. Priorities. Meantime, I had a so-so day yesterday (Saturday); laid off the Vicodin for last ten hours or so and feel much better today. Watched Man U beat Newcastle 2-0 this morning, so things are looking up. Red Sox and Cubs need help. Will work on that later today. xxoo the old man aka the gimp
August 28th, 2005 at 11:34 amCharliee you are crazy!! Do you ever sleep (not including the massages)? You are always on the go, which is nice because I can now experience the world without leaving my room
The only thing missing is some pictures of you with poop on your hand…I’m waiting!
D.C. was short but sweet. I met the family, which was great, but then I had to fly to New York for my only family reunion. I actually saw my cousin who wrote the book and of course told him (and everyone else in the NY area) to check out your site. I even made it Emil’s homepage. So I have a week back home before I move back to school and I’m a little scared to go to your house because when I get close to your room I might get a lil emotional, then Nick will probably yell at me and tell me that the “better” of the two Melvoins are still here and that I shouldn’t be sad. So I’ll give him a hug and say, “I know, at least your not leaving me”, but really I’ll be thinking about you. Hopefully Nick doesn’t read this as religiously as I do…
Alright Charlie, keep enjoying yourself. I miss you!
August 28th, 2005 at 4:01 pmxoxo
And I LOVE YOU TOO NICK!
I am Gabby Davis. I have become sexified.
August 28th, 2005 at 10:17 pmmary lee -
(based on an inside joke)
“Tossing Floss”
I floss my teeth every night,
It’s really quite a pleasant sight:
I dig up lunch, dinner as well,
Most from that day, but hard to tell.
I never miss a single crack,
I floss up front and way in back.
And though the dentists tell me to,
That is not what makes me do.
It’s afterwards that I enjoy,
With dirty floss to go annoy
My friend slash sister Mary Lee,
And watch her scream and try to flee.
But now flossing is no more fun.
What do I do when I am done?
In the trash I have to toss,
A shame to waste such dirty floss.
meliss - so you met the fam? good parents-in-law?
you know nick too well, haha, that is exactly what he would do. i kinda miss it, actually.
now go to zen zoo and drink one for me. and use the monkey. and see a gigantic spider web. and everything else. have a great last week. love you!
gabalicious/bobolicious - last day in la! i mean, the valley! def no hat, gotta represent with the bun in princeton (it’s weird youre actually going, no?). you were lacking with the posts (i was actually thinkin about that before i got one), but your little “you are the ___ to my ___”s made up for it. hilarious. take care, ms. right. just be yourself and nj will love you.
ps. whoever wrote “gabby sexified” is obviously not gabrielle - they should know i would NEVER call her gabby.
moheny (better than megdoh) - i want you to know that i actually have been collecting postcards for you, thank you very much. but you want me to send them to you, i cant just bring them back? then ill need an address, silly…
connie - “it’s like waking up to a good newspaper at the foot of your bed” - i love that. thanks
August 28th, 2005 at 11:53 pmhello hello — i made a trip to the melvoin house today! just thought id share. it was sad though - another goodbye. This time I’m the one leaving. And all day this is what i’ve been hearing: All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go…okay enough with the peter paul and mary cuz im just gonna make myself cry. again.
August 29th, 2005 at 12:56 amI love that your posts make me feel like I spend every day with you. Hey, just like normal! Zack and I picked up Teddy from the airport last night - lots of fun. I should really get to sleep seeing as my actual flight is in about 7 hours. I apologize for the choppiness of this post but im dead tired, a little dazed and severely overwhelmed.
miss you
Em
P.S. Watch out for those patches of goat terds, they’ll getcha