Again I bid farewell to the city of my distant memory

So it has come to pass, my little return home will be over by tomorrow morning as I'm due to fly out of Saigo to Danang in central Vietnam at 10:15am local time Monday, Dec 3rd. It's been quite a pleasant journey to revisit "home"; nothing of what used to be can be captured again, but hints, remnants, fragments of memories still resonated vividly, particularly the tastes of the food, deserts, scent of the markets and din of the noisy bustle daily life.

The brief stay here afforded much respite from the previously weeks of long travel. I'm worned a bit, probably tanned the darkest I've ever been in my life, and lost a few pounds; but so far it's been well worth the visit. The last few days have been spent catching up with my cousin, eating a lot of food, playing cards and touring a good part of the town. I visited my old alleyway and house (of which nothing remains but a lone grapefruit tree), visited my old school and courtyard that has not fallen into disrepair. Aside from that, I got an opportunity to fulfill a promise I made long ago to some one dear to repay a social debt. It has been thoroughly enjoyable and at times emotional... but every moment will be cherished.


Having late night clams and beer with the cousins.


A bit of serene beauty in amid the chaos in central Saigon.


A temple we visited two days ago with spiral incense hung - they burn for a full week.


The parking zoo that is Vietnam: motorbike storage below underground parking of a modern western style mall where a CK shirt can be purchased for $100; comparitively, a laborer's salary is less than $50 a month!! Talk about wealth disparity.

Saigon is by no means a beautiful city, but it has a unique character of its own and many sentimental attachments.