The Call of the Wild

Beach Weather

Sunny and 26 with a cooling breeze and the beach was calling. So I scooted over in 10 minutes. 

The gig economy may have started years ago in SE Asia. A huge percentage of people here run their own businesses. The unemployment rate is 2.24 %. Canada's is 6.67. However consider this - when I got to the beach I paid 10 000D to park. There were three teams of people madly waving passing traffic to come to their specific lot. Then a gentleman who was lopping off the tops of coconuts with a machete and popping in a straw (machete in his right hand, holding the coconut in his left, yikes) offered me a drink for 30 000D. Then as I got closer to the actual beach a lady offered one of dozens of "kindergarten" chairs for 20 000D and would also bring a drink and food for a price. So are these people termed employed? Are they authorized to managed their slice of the beach pie? Not that it matters to me. I'm impressed by the initiative demonstrated.

The beach reminded me of Ocracoke, which does not have the resorts who offer umbrellas and lounges but the does have a long tan sand waterfront. There were large waves like at Ocracoke, just not as many.

Most of the red chair sitters were either Viet or day trip tourists like me. The loungers appeared to be staying at the resorts. I heard a lot of German and French wandering though that section. 

The beach was badly damaged late last year when those 3 hurricanes hit, all in one week. The berm, covered in burlap was constructed as a defence agains future erosion. Whatever is inside is rock hard. I saw pictures of this beach after those hurricanes and the sand was not visible under the garbage and seaweed. It was a major clean up project. Da Nang is visible in the background. 

 

A reminder of the power of nature is still on the beach.

The Cham Islands were more visible rather than the ghosts in the mist in earlier pics. Boats rarely attempt the crossing until March as the waves and current are unpredictable. Yellow flags indicated the swimming could be dangerous and therefore not advised. Hugh the dive instructor says he wouldn't try a dive at all until at least mid March. I went up to my knees and man it was cold. 😱

I have a buddy hanging out with me, never inside tho. Kitty loved to sit in the sun on the big pillow on the basket chair in the courtyard. Viet for kitty in méo con, so I named her Meow. Anytime I came outside, kitty was gone in a flash. I bought some kitty kibble and put a bit out for her. Over five days, she would approach fairly close when I shook the kibble package, but still waited to eat until I went inside. Two days ago the pillow disappeared and Meow has not been back much. 😞 Mark, above me has no idea where the pillow went. I never feed her much as I don't want her to become dependent on me. Aha! The cleaning lady just now told me she stored it in the cleaner's shed in case of rain, and it's back in the chair now. 👍 Hopefully Meow will return more frequently. 

I tried the signature food of Hoi An  the other day. It's called a banh mi and is essentially a submarine sandwich, altho' a baguette is used. It was good, but left me wondering about it as the number 1 food in marketing Hoi An. I have had a number of foods that were more enticing. There are punny tee shirts all over the old town. 

 

Hmmm. Made myself hungry. Time to try a new restaurant. Haven't had a mediocre meal yet.