Ten days since the sale of my house closed. Seven days since I arrived in Vietnam. I first went to Da Nang, a city of a million people on the coast of the South China Sea. Why? My Vietnamese friend, Thao, says it’s the best city in the country. Friendly and open-minded people. Beautiful beaches. Great food. But somehow I’m not connecting with this city yet. Everything is far apart and with no real mass transit system, you get around by motorbike, bicycle or taxi.
It’s a bit of a catch-22. I won’t be more comfortable until I commit to some things: buying a bike, renting an apartment (instead of a hotel). But I don’t want to commit myself unless I’m comfortable, convinced that I really want to stay here for a few months. The heat is stifling. With the jet lag and the heat and the stress of having sold and cleaned out my house in just a few weeks, I’ve been feeling sick. Staying indoors. Eating only once a day. This may not be the best frame of mind to make a decision like this, where to live for the next few months. So I decided to take a break and went to visit my friend Thao in Dong Hoi.
It’s hotter here typically but a storm came through yesterday and it rained all day, dropping the temperature considerably. Today Thao took me to one of her favorite restaurants, QB, where we gorged ourselves on chicken. After that I was ready for a nap.
Lately I’ve been reading some books on Vietnam, including A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain by Robert Olen Butler. I’m trying to decide my next move. After a few days here, I may go back to Da Nang and give it another try. I’ve also been looking into rentals in Saigon. I’ve never been much of a beach person, really. A few days swimming in the ocean, drinking margaritas and I’m bored, even with a good book. I need the city.