June 2nd, 2024 - First full day in Vietnam

Slept for 7 hours last night. I am very thankful for my new friend harry from New York we did everything together today. We went for coffee at two different places. I got a lemonade and a croissant for a snack. Ate an orange and apple for breakfast. Caught a motorcycle to Da Son beach and I forgot to wear sun screen. Went swimming in the ocean. The water wasn’t very clear but it was still clean. It was like swimming in warm bath water. Went for lunch at a restaurant on the beach. I had some kind of pork, rice, a beer, a coke and a water. Went to a waterpark and did an obstacle course and went on a slide. Went ziplining. Couldn’t catch a motorbike or a grab taxi on the way back to my homestay so I had to take a regular taxi. It cost me 350 k dong which is basically 20 dollars to drive from the beach to my apartment. This is expensive for Vietnam. The drivers here are crazy. I think I could ride a motorbike or drive a car but I’d have to go slow and be very careful and drive on the far right lane. People say it is much easier for visitors to drive in smaller towns.

I am thankful that numbers are the same around the world. Thankful for grab. Thankful for todays technology. Thankful for things that have an engine. Thankful we live in 2024.

Went out by myself to get money and properly oriented myself with where I live. Always keeping note which way is which. Taking photos along the way as reminders. Next was finding something to eat. I got turned away from one stall because I asked for cooked beef and the raw stuff was sitting in front of me and they turned me away. Thankful for cold safe to drink beverages.15,000 dong for beef pho and a drink. Went to bed at 9 pm Did over 25,000 steps today.