Vietnam the third, Day -1

And we’re back, just about ready for the next trip. This time it’s back to Vietnam, and a few days on the way back in that Disneyland with the death penalty, Singapore. Our first trip in a post-COVID world.

The packing is almost done, just the few basic bits like electronics and toiletries to pack. Nothing fancy is needed on this trip, as it involved Hoi An so there will be many more clothes joining us there. It’s an early morning flight, so I doubt I’ll sleep much tonight, but L has done her magic on the bookings so it’s business class all the way to Hanoi.

It goes without saying we’re looking forward to this trip: there was a week in Queensland last year, and I’ve had a couple of quick trips to Singapore (Feb 2020) and Melbourne just over a month ago, but nothing big overseas since 2019. It’s overdue, and getting on that plane will be a big weight off our shoulders. Even a week ago I wasn’t sure that this trip would happen — nothing specific, just the feeling of dread and impending doom that have been constant companions these last months. Now, with less than 12 hours to take off, I kinda feel that it’s real.

Knowing that there will be many more clothes joining the trip, I’ve packed quite sloppy: backpack with mostly folded gear, none of the tightly rolled shirts etc to make sure everything is crammed in. There’s a bunch of space there, so I’m wondering if I’ve forgotten anything being so out of practice at this, but hopefully the habits I’ve built up over the last 15 years will see me through. Failing that, have passport and credit card, the essential fallback.

Apologies for the boringness of this post: I don’t think I’ve written anything more than 50 words that isn’t day-job related in quite a while. I guess I still speak and write English, just blandly and formally. Hopefully once my backside is flopped in an airport lounge seat and that first can of tomato juice is opened then some actual style might return (then again, some folks will say there was never any style to start with).

I feel that once the pressure is off, this trip will be great: we’re lucky to be able to travel these days, so will just be grateful for whatever happens. Just to have the break in routine, the feeling of being somewhere else, the different sights and sounds and smells and tastes.

So coming up in later episodes will be food, and more food, and lots and lots of food. Good food, fresh food, full of the flavours of south east Asia: fresh herbs and spices, chillies, tropical fruits, and more pho than you can poke a spoon at.

So, clunky out of practice prose aside, it’s gonna be good.