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Published: October 29th 2007
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Saturday 27th October - Had a great smooth flight from Vientiane (Laos) to Hanoi (Vietnam). Arrived on time in Hanoi and had to wait a few hours before my flight to DaNang (Central Vietnam). When I landed I felt like it was "coming home". Had a quick cup of coffee before being taken to a new hotel and "Madam, I am sure you will be very happy. Must say, it is a lovely brand new hotel with my requisites of a lift and bath !!!! and the staff are very obliging and yes, it has the luxury of free internet even though quite slow and keeps going off the planet. After I had a bit of a rest, I got a ride down to the Baby orphanage and once again, there are two dear little babies (7 and 10 days old). The "mothers" gave me a very warm welcome back. I stayed a while and fed and changed the babies and then was taken to "my permanent" rider's home. Uyen was not there so he arranged for his brother to take me places. So very convenient. Then it was up to the volunteer's house and what a great surprise - Vicky,
At DaNang
3 young bubs Martin and Beka who were my mates when I was volunteering in Quang Ngai were over and also Sarah from Tam Ky. Also another face that was nice to see was Stella my previous room mate from last year in DaNang. It was great to see them including King, Mrs Viet and Mrs Viet senior and of course Viet and the others I knew. I then went for dinner and sent Sandie a text and said I was sitting looking at the vacant chair that she was sitting in with me earlier in the year!!!! Then it was off to bed.
Sunday 28th October - Happy Birthday Charles - Was up and out to meet Vicky, Martin and Becka and then we went back and continued on with a big group of 24 I think, to a Vietnamese restaurant as it was farewell to Shereen (GVN) who is leaving on Friday to go to Australia. I then said my goodbyes and went to the orphanage once more to do my little bit of helping out. On the way home I decided to go to a hair salon and get a few grey hairs coloured. Well, orange hair is definitely not
DaNang
Don't know whether to laugh or cry but don't think I am meant to be an orange head !!!!! my colouring. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry but somehow I conveyed the message to the non English speaking lady I could not go out the place looking like that. So off she goes and comes back with another box of colour. On application it looked fine, but when shampooed I was a different colour of orange. So once more off she goes and comes back and we try and pray again. Was a slightly better orange enough that I decided after four and half hours I would go home like it was. She was full of Sen lois (sorries) and took me on her motor bike into the city. Had a nice meal and then got a motorbike to try and find a hairdresser open. We went up and around and around and down a few streets and then after no luck I decided to say goodnight to him and face the staff at the hotel. My (Me is the name of one of the receptionists) gave me the name of a more up market hair salon for the morning. Once more later to bed than planned.
Monday 29th October - Well, up and off to the
Tam Ky
With "my" little Lucky hair salon in a cyclo. Once more it was up and around even though I showed the driver the address. Eventually got there and in I went and showed them a photo of the colour I hoped to walk out with. I began to panic when out came this bowl of blue solution and it was being applied to my hair. Sat a while, then shampoo and massage - back to the chair and then another lot of whitish/grey paste applied. Another sit and then shampoo and massage - back to the chair and this time we had success. I walked out a "new" person. Uyen's brother then said he would take me to the bus station to go over to Tam Ky. Away we went and then "four minutes". When he returned from his house, he had two helmets and I thought why do I need a helmet for just up the road. In the meantime, Uyen had phoned him and told him to take me to Tam Ky - hence the helmets as we would be travelling on the very busy Highway 1 that goes from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi and believe me there are some
Tam Ky
nurse and little one Tam Ky. maniac drivers on that road. My memory served me well and I managed to find the little alley way you take to the orphanage and when I walked in the "mother" there recognised me and I did not have to show her the photo I had of the little baby I was wanting to see. She immediately took me around to the other nursery and there he was. He had certainly grown. Had a great cuddle session with him and photos and then a cuddle with each of the two dearest little few days old ones (once more, I was spoilt and had two tiny ones). It was great to see that the typhoon shelter that construction had just commenced before I left Tam Ky was now completed and looked really great. Maeve you will be very pleased. Once more had to hope I could find the volunteer house. Not only had I have to find the street but the new address. Fortunately, the GVN sign was up but noone was there. Waited a short while and Sarah arrived followed by Glenda and Wendy and a couple of others I did not know. Mrs Hahn our cook was there too
Tam Ky Orphanage
with new bub tam Ky and good to see them all once more. Finally, said my last goodbyes and Cam and I hit the highway back to DaNang. Although most of the trip was in darkness, we arrived back safely. Crossing over one of the bridges was a glorious sight with what looked like tiny lights - tried to get a photo but didn't work. Don't know the reason but looked beautiful. Cam dropped me at my usual eating place and then Uyen came and joined me for a cuppa and then drove me back to the hotel. Was a great day.
Tuesday 30th October - Today was a lazy day as absolutely teeming rain. I met with Tung my last year's photograph man and had a coffee and then I went to the baby orphanage to have my cuddles and feed the little babies and then met Uyen for dinner.
Wednesday 31st October - Was not raining today and spent the morning fossicking through stuff as mislaid my airlines ticket - that's what I get for changing my routine. Anyway, found OK and then went and had lunch. After that, Uyen picked me up and took me to the volunteer house and said my
Tam Ky
kids at Tam Ky saying goodbye. final goodbyes there. Down to the orphanage for another cuddle and feed the little baby before going to Uyen's for dinner. Poor Duc (Uyen's wife) has burns on her face as she scalded herself from dropping a hot tub of water. Uyen's brother and friend came around and we had a great night feeding ourselves on shrimps and drinking beer. Then it was around to Uyen's brother's for more drinks and some English lesson to his daughter and then home and now on the internet bringing my blog up to date before another major crash on the computer. This is my last night in Vietnam and naturally I have very mixed feelings but will be good to be home to see all after being away the 4 months but I will really miss the folk both in Vietnam and Thailand. It has been an amazing 4 months and learnt so much. I hope I have been able to make a small difference to the children over here. They have certainly given me some wonderful moments to remember.
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