Same Same But Different

Nha Trang
April 19, 2009
8:30 am

Two days ago I was sitting on the back of a dive boat with my wet suit around my waste, I had just finished my last dive for my PADI certification. The boat was rocking gently, the sea a glowing blueish green, and green mountains jetting out of the water. I tilter my head down from the sun and the cool breeze and glanced at my diving compass. I was facing north. I adjusted myself and found the direction of home, some 8,000 miles away. I could see fishermen in the distance. In that direction, I thought, was home and family, friends, love, and familiarity. In that direction was me or what was supposed to be me. All I could think, however, was that I have never felt more at home here. By `here` I mean traveling. I miss my loved ones but something tells me in my heart that this is the way for me to live. That this is who I am. And all I can think of this morning is something an expat from texas said to me last night, `Fortune favors the bold`.

We arrived in Nha trang yesterday from whale island. The very first thing that Charlie, Kate, and I did was to go and get some different food besides rice, fish, and noodles. Nicely we found a restuarant right next to our hotel called TEXAS. And you may have guessed it that it is a Texas steakhouse. The owner is from Fort Worth and imports all of his beef from the USA. We had steak and chicken wings and apple cobbler and Holy Crap it was awesome. I know that I am supposed to be overseas and experiencing different cultures and food but sometimes a little piece of home is the best pick me up. I will do some exploring today of this nice beach town. Later I am going to get a haircut which I have decided will be a MowHawk. That should be interesting and I will post some pictures of that soon. Then at 9:00pm tonight we hop an overnight train for Siagon, or Ho Chi Minh City. That will be our last stop in Vietnam before Cambodia.

Peace