...still on China Beach

(written on 09/08/09, posted 01/10/09)

After delaying my bus journey by a day, I ended up staying for 6 nights in total. T, L and a whole bunch of brilliant people hanging out on the beach, listening to people strumming on the guitar and at Hoa's. I really couldn't leave all of that just yet. So travelling plans out of the window for that week whilst it was fun time.

More shopping and visits into Hoi An for cocktails and an amazing visit to Danang to the Deaf-run Bread of Life cafe. Food was amazingly droolingly delicious and I had a conversation with a Vietnamese Deaf man, C. We slowly picked up each other's signs and managed to communicate. Vietnamese Sign Language is very much influenced by ASL (American) so quite different from my British signs. Apparently watching this conversation, the other 5 had tears in their eyes due to this ability to communicate with a local from another country with no Vietnamese language but just by finding common ground between our Sign Languages. I found this very amusing of course.

We all did mostly nothing but relax though there were a few trips about on scary motos. Great views and we saw some great places like a massive Buddha statue up in the mountains. It was fun and took all my powers of concentration. You get used to driving after a while then a cow flings itself in the road at you.

There was also the festival of lights in Hoi An held monthly at the time of the full moon. Scary being on a small rowing-type boat with 6 of us and a rower. Thought we were all going to drown our paper lanterns not float them. The kids were amazing as well. Bartering with us for lanterns and chatting away in English. We suspected sadly that this was perhaps not down to good schooling but having to communicate with the tourists to get extra cash for themselves.

I also had great long chats with T, L and other people around about religion, love and life in general. Amazing what happens when given the time and space to relax, take stock and think. So it was not only fun but there was a bit of soul-searching going around too. Someone told me to go and find myself whilst I was away. I don't think I was ever lost but perhaps I did learn a little more about myself that week.

On China Beach (sing along now)

(written 03/08/09, posted 28/09/09)

We arrive after a 20 minute taxi ride and even after ice creams we still feel het up. I walk in and ask a man if this is Hoa's Place. He shakes my hand tells me he is Hoa, that I should grab a beer from the fridge and I can order lunch if I still want it. Instantly I relax. I realise how tough it's been travelling round China on my own rarely being anywhere longer than a couple of days.


I grab that beer and chat to Hoa. He is playing cards with a British couple that come here for 5 nights and stayed for 24. Hoa points to the shelf behind the bar with 23 guestbooks from the last 15 or so years that he has run this place. When he talks the couples eyes shine. This is an amazing place and I've never experienced hospitality and trust like it. I ask Hoa if he can phone the bus company and change my ticket to the next night.


T and I spend the afternoon on the beach getting back to normal. We amazingly bump into L from Halong Bay who had spent some time in Danang and Nin Binh. We spend time gossiping in the sea before heading back to Hoa's for the local family dinner. This basically means you are served up a buffet where the local food keeps on coming. You write your own beers down in the book under your tab and you meet like-minded people to have a damn good drink with.

By 9pm we are told that we're to loud so grab a crate of beer, write it down and get lost down to the beach. That we do and a great night is had by all. Guitars, beach, beer and great company. What's not to like?