I actually didn’t sleep before…instead I worked on my
Vietnam packing list. Since our luggage
is not with us – it did get me thinking that I need to be more organized in my
packing (for instances like this). Also,
we are recruiting for Vietnam 2015 (February? March?) so I want to make sure I
have good notes for whoever decides to come with us!!!
Our luggage was supposed to be here by noon – but at 1230 we
decided we couldn’t wait all day and headed out! We needed something for lunch and since a) we
aren’t adventurous eaters and b) our stomachs haven’t adjusted yet, spaghetti bolognese
it was! I will definitely try anything
(slug and starfish in China) but I am a pretty picky eater, so I tend to eat a
lot of carbs over here. Also, since we
are just here for a week – I do NOT want to get sick – so am a bit more
hesitant to go with street food.
We got on the #3 bus (with a LOT of stares) but I think we
lucked out and either a) got an express bus! Or b) they changed the route – we
got to the orphanage in about 30 minutes! I did notice about half way through
the landmarks were a bit different…so that would be really nice if it now cuts
off some of the side streets. Last year
I struggled because we normally pick up the #3 bus at the bus station…and it
slows down out front and you literally hop on.
Well…I waited, and waited, and waited and figured something was wrong!! Turns out the bus now showed up in the back!
Who knew! Anyway I digress, my point is, luckily it still stopped where we
needed it to…just 15 minutes earlier!
A quick walk to the orphanage and who did we see sitting on
a chair! TOUNG!
We probably would have panicked if we went to
his room and didn’t see him there. It
took him a second (he can really be a grump sometimes) but he took my hand and
went to tickle mom (their thing). We
then went for a walk around the Pagoda..it was SO awesome to see him smile and
hear him laugh. We did some hide n seek
and scaring each other. Although,
overall he did seem a bit more blah.
Hopefully it was just today (he has been like this in years past, just
never on the first day) but he was good when we left and waved goodbye
(although granted he was eating). We saw
a lot of the other usual suspects (Dorothy real name: Car rot) and Cap real
name: Hai). Cho Con wasn’t there today,
although he usually never is during the week so I bet he will be there Monday. And, a worker from the main room (closed on
the weekends) stopped and said hello and definitely recognized us. She doesn’t speak English and we don’t speak
Vietnamese but if we COULD speak the same language the conversation would have
gone something like, “Oh wow, hey guys!
You’re back, it’s so good to see you again! How has your year been?” Anyway definitely cool that she recognized
us.
We spent some time playing with some of the younger kids,
but then it was time for them to eat and jetlag was kicking in so we headed
back. We decided, ok ok, I decided, we
should stop at Pizza Hut as I was starving (hey, we split lunch!) and
craving…carbs!
I tell ya, the Pizza Hut’s here have 5 star service! It’s
amazing!!! First of all, they probably employee 30 people for maybe, 6 tables
(but no, really, they do). A few years
ago one opened up in the backpackers district and so we thought maybe there
were so many people working because it was new, but nope – just a lot of employees! Anyway after a yummy personal pan cheese
pizza, we made the walk back to the hotel (down the man drag) and not too many
changes.
We tried to ask the front desk if our bags had come – which
somehow turned into us checking out…hmm…but this guy came over and said yes
they came and they were in our room!
YAY!
However, we showed up to our room with FOUR bags…hmm…but two
of them were ours. After a quick call to
the front desk hopefully two MORE people are happy because they have their
bags. However, mom’s bag was sort of
saran wrapped/taped (hint hint: BAD SIGN) as she soon realized a) there was
literally no zipper and b) the bubbles and rubik cube she had packed was
gone. WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE! The zipper thing was definitely weird….there
were no marks, just literally NO zipper.
The bubbles/rubik thing is annoying – I am going to give Cathay Pacific
a piece of my mind! Anyway, very nice to
have our luggage, and obviously things could have been MUCH worse, but still slightly
annoying. Just means we will have to buy
some new toys while we are here!
I took a quick shower (the one thing I REFUSE to travel
without when coming here is a massive bottle of the best smelling Dove soap I
can find). It actually wasn’t that hot
out today (low to mid 80s…and it was cloudy) but we were just so gross from the
busses…orphanage, etc. that showers are amazing!
I then headed out to meet up with Ashley and her boyfriend
Will. Ashley and I met in Thailand 4
years ago. She recently emailed me
asking for advice for Vietnam – and it just so turns out we were both in HCMC
today! So that was awesome!
Annnnnd Im fading. I
think in the past 48 hours I’ve slept about 10 of them!
Goodnight!
No comments:
Post a Comment