Secret.

I've turned into a new type of traveler. I enjoy a clean bathroom and a nice place to stay. Hmmm, seems like ill need to find new ways to at cheap.

Traveling buddy, anyone?

P

Viet nam

This place is surreal. Jungles on the beach, lush green foliage, so many colors. I can understand why it has such a bloody history; it's worth fighting for. But I can't comprehend destroying the land for it. Apparently 20% of the land mines placed by American soldiers remain. We are intentional, and unapologetic.

I'm officially certified w my advanced scuba license! Deep sea diving, caves, night dives...it's all to come. I think East Timor is making it to the top of my list. I want to see marine life so badly.

I made my way to hoi an. A picturesque French/Vietnamese town w small nooks and alley ways. So pretty. And expensive. This is the place to shop; and get tailor made clothing....for relatively cheap. Not cheaper than India, but still cheaper than anything in America.

I can't believe this trip is coming to an end. Only 3 days left :(. I want to keep going, keep experiencing. But the real world calls. Ah, this was the fix I needed to keep me going for another few months...

After my last dive. Sexy goggle line on my forehead.

My dive team - Liao and Matt

Asian kids are the cutest

Adieu pour le moment. 

P

Une ode aux délices

Breakfast each morning in nha trang...Vietnamese coffee w condensed milk. Tastes like dark chocolate

Fresh fruit by the beach...mmmm, coconut

Freshly caught crab on the beachside. So good.

Morning grocery shopping before cooking school. Dragon fruit, green mango, Vietnamese grapefruit...

Our guide holding mangos, left is sweet, right is for cooking

Fresh rice paper...used in spring rolls

Jackfruit! My favorite

Fresh rice noodles, yellow has turmeric

Fresh basil and watercress

....and of course, garlic :). Yum

Chilis and tomatoes, so pretty

Just a pile of pineapples laying around

Neha! The jelly used in your fav drink

More crab...eeks.

Fresh banana leaf. Used in salads

Spices, spices, spices. From the top, left to right - oil, galangal, ginger, sugar (orange!), pepper, salt, five spice, shallots, chili paste, fresh garlic, watercress and coriander

Magnifique.

P

I. Love. Diving.

IYes, the past two days have been diving, diving, meeting Australians, and more diving. Honestly, it's not world class diving here, but it's such a new sensation that I don't even care!  

I'm getting my advanced scuba certification, which means a lot of learning the same stuff in greater detail. Buoyancy, navigation, rescue skills...love it all. It's so weird; I learn similar stuff in mountaineering, but it feels so much harder. This stuff just feels like fun - all the time. Except when your is clogged/plugged, as they are now.  Whatever, I got to see some lion fish, trumpet fish, starfish, memos, stories, and loads of other stuff.

It's funny. If I were to ask a 5 year old version of myself where I think I'd be in 20 years, I would have NEVER said 'diving off the coast of Vietnam'. But in some ways, its absolutely not surprising. My dad got us an encyclopedia for our birthday one year in India (typical Indian parents), and my absolute favorite book was the 'under the sea'.  I'd sit and look at the pictures for hours; I even remember the pictures so vividly. I didn't even realize how much I loved that book, actually I'd completely forgotten about it, until I saw a starfish underwater (my favorite page - the one w picture of broken starfish; they're one of those rare creatures that can re-grow broken limbs...nature is awesome!!).  I guess you're always consuming information, even when you don't realize it. Then one day, it hits you; and you can connect the dots backwards...and maybe even forward.

Ok, I leave you w a few pictures. Miss you guys. Don't wait up for me.

In transit to the dive site 

God, I love the jungle! Why don't I love here??

For my mother - buy this, it tastes really good

Today

I slept for 15 hours last night; apparently I was still jet lagged. Woke up, facetimed with Natali, ate breakfast at the local French cafe (fusion food is amazing) and did a practice GMAT exam. Came back to the hostel w high hopes of sketching the city after a quick email check...and then it rained. And rained. And rained.

All through the day, and it continues. I guess I really am in a tropical country. So I spent most of the day cooped up indoors, writing, drawing, playing chess, thinking. Nothing to complain about :). It's the same stuff we'd do wiling the days away in India. 

I start diving tomorrow. I really hope I stop blogging soon.

Seems I miss you guys more than I anticipated.

P

Effing crazy traffic

I've never seen anything like it.  It's scary. So many motorbikes....and millions of people. 

So how do you cross a busy street packed w buses, cars and motorbikes? Step directly into traffic - so counterintuitive. I guess it's like diving, head first into the water isn't a natural motion either.  It warrants a picture, but still catching my breath...

But here's the view from hotel 

And a delicious bowl of soup I ate...good food :)

In love w Vietnam

I'm not sure ill leave. It feels so good, not sure why I ever left...going to a culinary class soon. Stay tuned for more...

Love you guys :)

My favorite place in the world

 above the clouds...can't get enough! In seoul...6 hours and hcmc