at one point during the trip i asked Tim if and how influencers are able to post blogs whilst traveling and still doing and experiencing everything. not because i want to be an influencer, in fact i think i'd be a rather indecent influence on others- but because i have a general curiosity on how people get things done. we were pretty constantly on the move, and it seemed inconceivable to me at the time. and he replied because they don’t actually experience it, they just go and take a photo and go back to their domicile. however much truth that holds, i earnestly know i'd be proud of myself if i was able to accomplish even just one blog post on this trip, all while experiencing all that was offered... but i haven’t even had time to stop and think, let alone type on a laptop while i'm trying to breathe in every second of this time and cling tightly to it forever.
i'm writing this in the back of the limousine on the way to one of Anthony Bourdain’s favorite locations on Earth. Ha Long Bay. there are 6 of us, 2 Italians, 2 Australians, and 2 Americans. there’s something poetic about that to me. i’ve finally had time to sit and be inspired about this travel website i’ve been working on, as i gaze out the window at the wonderful world around me.
staring out the window lost in the ebbs and flows of the ocean in my brain... trying to memorize every angle of every building, every outline of every tree, the landscape, the foliage, the atmosphere. distant clouds cushioned behind closer, puffier pearly white heaven-esque clouds. the sky a milky periwinkle. how your freckled skin looks in the reflection of the window. huge potted plants dotting the line of toll booths. a sign that says Ket, Tim points out and we laugh.
i’ve had some slight nausea, partly due to the bouncy back of this van. partly due to the absolutely stellar salt coffees (cà phê muối) i drained this morning before we embarked on our journey. those coffees were so goddamn good. sensational. but on an empty stomach before a 2+ hour drive to our destination? eh fuck it, i’d do it again really. i brought a few zofran with me which was one of the best decisions.
i just want to drink in every moment, i wish my eyeballs were panoramic like they say our mothers' are. i couldn't just sit in my hostel abroad. i want to experience just about everything. i'm studying every palm we pass and every lamppost on the highway. it’s easy to get swept up in the chaos and the speed at which information is hurdling at you, many kilometers per hour while you’re on the road. but it’s important to stop and take a beat when you can. to truly breathe deeply in and out. to meditate, to chew on the fatty underbelly of the meat, and savor the potatoes of this wonderful meal you’re served here. practise mindfulness. what are your senses detecting, what do you see, smell and hear? can you memorize every line on the pavement? can you hold onto this fleeting moment forever? i wish. but pretty soon it’s onto the next unforgettable unparalleled moment. and you can learn to let go of this one if only to open yourself to the next.
note: i'm posting this our very last night in Saigon, and Vietnam, with a very heavy heart. i'm not ready to go home yet. i fell in love here. but i did it.
