I just spent six halcyon days in Hue. It was all hibiscus and honeysuckle, butterflies and bumblebees. The weather was gorgeous and the company welcoming. I went to stay at My's aunt's house with My's mom , Na, My's brother Tuan, and several cousins.
One day we celebrated the anniversary of the death of My's grandmother. In Vietnam it is customary to clean the grave of the loved one and have a big feast on that person's death day. If you saw "Vertical Ray of the Sun", it was just like that. The food was fantastic at the party, and I fell in love with no fewer than seven of My's cousins. At one point I was roped into a drinking contest with My's aunt. She kept ordering me to empty my glass as she emptied hers. I figured I could outlast this little woman, but it was pure hubris, and Tuan and I ended up passed out on a mat for a couple hours.
The next day we all climbed in a van and drove to Suoi Voi, a natural spring near Bach Ma National Forest. It was some of the best natural swimming I've ever seen- like a classic Mountain Dew commercial. Rope swings, caves, waterfalls, clear, clean water, all at the foot of the mountains...just beautiful. We all had a blast, needless to say.
Right now I'm back in Saigon with My. She has come down to visit me. We are having fun in the SG.
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2 comments:
From Joel NY. i'm hanging with dave beauvais in nyc, we're rockin the blog. he's moving to Vermont. it's been too long since i've gotten to catch up with my old friend. In fact your blog has absorbed you, it's like the blog is you, howell is the blog. i'm having a drunken sci-fi moment.
much love. sorry i missed your bday.
hey joely- keep spewing the sci-fi, you know i love it.
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