rewinded times

After a breakfast of Bun Bo the previous day, I happened upon Phuong, who was looking for me at the guesthouse, while I was walking around the area. We would then walk to Chris's house nearby to hang for a bit where I met Daniel, a Viet Kieu from the states whom interned at Green Bamboo Shelter, and Will. Relaxing there for a bit, I played a game of chess with Chris, and lost.

Around one in the afternoon, Phuong took me to a fruit kiosk to purchase some thang long and buoi for the visit to my great-uncle's home. Unfortunately, I have been away from this atmosphere for such a time that I forgot to bargain, so Phuong ended up taking care of that. With the newly acquired fruits, I would walk the rest of the way to my great-uncle's (but, not without a stop first to Incombank, and Kinh Do bakery.)

Their home has changed somewhat since my last visit in January--the walls are in the process of being painted light-green (leftover paint from a business of a relative), the folding screen for the first bedroom has been replaced by a sturdier wooden frame, with a newer folding screen, and there is now a washing machine. The time passed with discussion about the happenings of other relatives, the weather, things of monetary nature, and geographical calculations. The younger children, cousins-of-sorts, have grown since last; the youngest ones are now able to speak in varying degrees.

Later on, Chu Bao took me to dinner at a side street eatery serving banh cuon with fresh brewed sua do nanh.

The night concluded with a brief stop at Yoko (there was a new band, the speakers were a-crackin', and seating was even more limited), Lush (a shared bottle of overly expensive Johnnie Walker, seeing Ha and Phuc again, and meeting some new people), and another game of chess against Chris (I lost, again.)

I shall probably go to Phan Thiet tomorrow morning (three hours away instead of the six and a half for Nha Trang) for a few days of relaxing beach time.