Vietnam Vet
8/19 Flew from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City
8/21 Drove to Mui Ne
8/23 Back to Ho Chi Minh
8/24 Day trip to Cu Chi Tunnels
8/25 Day on the Mekong
8/26 Flew to Hue
8/27 DMZ trip, flew to Hanoi
8/28 Razor mountains and Tam Coc
8/30 Train to Sapa
9/1 Train back to Hanoi
9/3 Halong Bay
9/5 Flew to Bangkok
...A really boring trip, basically.
And no time to waste – I leave for Sri Lanka in a few hours! I gotta switch gears: swap my Vietnamese phrasebook for a Sinhala one, swap Jamie for Kyle (another awesome Rustic dude), tackle the monster pack once more, and cash in the dong. No more motorcycles, no more dog, no more massages. Okay, so there’ll still be massages, but other than that…
Shalom!
Loved the pics!! Downloaded all of them to iphoto, easier to show people the slideshow that way with fun music and the works.
How’s Sri Lanka?? Sinhala? That should be another fun language for you to learn. I’m hoping now that you have your computer we can video chat before I go back to Boston. Any chance that’s possible?
Anywho, it’s late, I’m exhausted after a relatively uneventful day, and just sent you an email, so I’m going to call it a night. Btw, HW starts tomorrow, just think where you were last year at this time, and now think about where you are now…weird.
Love ya!
-LB
September 7th, 2005 at 1:50 amHey, pal, great talking to you this morning. BTW, I left a phone message for the Fongs a few days ago, haven’t heard back yet. Stay tuned. Sounds like Sri Lanka adventure is off to a great start. Another chapter begins! Love, YGOP (yer good ole popsy)
September 7th, 2005 at 8:59 amYour trip looks AWESOME!! SOOOO Jealous!!!! I wish i was travelling around the world!!
September 7th, 2005 at 10:50 amHey, grandson, those are “wow” photos. Far more interesting than the usual travel montage, your camera vividly captures your adventures in novel ways. Starting with a keen eye and a real feel for composition (thank you, Martha), your wide range of interests and that ever-present sense of humor (your father’s gene, perhaps?) is revealed in your selection of wonderful out-of-the-way subjects most of us would miss completely even if we were walking the same path with you. And if that weren’t enough, there’s something sui generis about your ability to relate to children that clearly makes you the Karsh of Kids! If this turns out to be where your passion takes you, the world may miss having a great trout fishing guide, but these photos say there’s a shining career path ahead for you!
September 7th, 2005 at 11:13 pmLove,
Papa
Hola chico -
So guess what? I just finished Life of Pi!! lol - it was long in coming, but I feel a great sense of accomplishment
. Interesting book, more thought-provoking than I thought it would be at first glance. Thanks for the recommendation.
I’m sorry I missed your call this morning, it was obviously way too early for me (I woke up at noon). Glad to hear that you’re safely in Sri Lanka.
Let’s see, the day in review: Got up, talked to Connie on the phone for the first time in a little while, twas very nice, she seems to be having an amazing time (as does the whole UVA crew). Trying to plan her fun trip to Boston, yay! Went to dad’s office for lunch with Mary Leah. Nice place, nice people. ML and I went to this great fried chicken place called Honey Kettle, had fried chicken, biscuits, pie, probably a delicacy you won’t find in Colombo. Then to a haircut (looks mighty fine if I do say so myself), then to the tailor, then home for the afternoon. Hung out with Gabi - she had her first day of school, she’s a senior?? what?? weird…, then with dad and Gabi. Watched the daily show and its coverage of the hurricane, hilarious. Then watched part of the best tennis match ever. Agassi vs. James Blake. Blake won the first two sets relatively easily, then something started in Agassi and he won the next two. Then the fifth went into a tie break that Agassi won. Amazing. Ended at like 2 in the morning. Then watched an OC with Gabi (the Risky Business one, hadn’t seen it), then came back home and relaxed, finished life of pi in a hot bath, and now am talking to you. Relaxing, fun day. I’m having a nice unwinding period as summer comes to a close.
Orthodontist appointment tomorrow, always fun. Won’t be the same without you there. Can’t wait to hear from you. Lots of love and stay safe.
-LB
September 8th, 2005 at 2:22 amSup fool -
Just got back from “Four Brothers” with Candace - not bad actually. But also not the best movie ever (sorry Melissa).
You haven’t posted in a few days! I know that you’re living the wild life in Sri Lanka, but I feel like I haven’t read the news in a few days, I’m out in the dark here!
Saw Dr. Woo today, he says hello. Going to HW tomorrow - yay! I’m sure everybody will be asking about you (I’m definitely looking forward to that…) and I’ll obviously direct them to your site (do you have the visitor count, by the way).
Looking forward to a return to normalcy (as Harding put it) - aka you posting again. Love ya!
-LB
September 9th, 2005 at 2:28 amCharlie!!! I know it has been forever but I just finally got Internet in my apartment in Boston. My mom left this morning and after a week of hard work and sweating, I am finally completely moved in. I have a few white walls and I was thinking of picking some of your pictures and blowing them up a little and covering my walls, so keep posting! Two weeks in and you are still having a wonderful time. Always thinking about you. Take care!! xoxo
P.S.
September 9th, 2005 at 9:43 am- Four Brothers was awesome!! Nick clearly doesn’t know a good movie when he sees it!
-Jeff, it seems that you are on your way to a good recovery so take care!
-Martha I’ll see you soon! My mom made the place look great so you and Nick will have to stop by!
It sounds like you are having such an amazing time! I miss you! Keep having so so so much fun!
September 10th, 2005 at 12:07 am