Odds n' Ends

Serenity

 When travelling by air, I do not do checked luggage so there are no surprises when changing planes or landing. 

I use a carry-on knapsack and a personal bag. So careful packing is really important. I packed some older t shirts and shorts. I can buy a few articles of inexpensive clothes here in Vietnam if needed. I then donate all those laundered items to a local neighbourhood services agency when leaving for home. That leaves lots of room in my carry on for souvenirs and provides clothing for those in need. 

I found a "refill" store here in Hoi An and scooted there to confirm they take donated clothing items. And yes they do. As luck would have it they are next door to the first communal organic farm that was established in Central Vietnam. The farm boy in me had to investigate. 

They have a restaurant, provide cooking classes in which one harvests their produce and then a chef guides the tourists in making 5 Vietnamese dishes. A class was in session, but luckily the al fresco restaurant was serving too. I ordered and watched as my waitress picked three limes from a tree and shortly after presented me with a cooling iced drink with bits of apricot in it. 

I ordered the mustard leaf and pork salad. The waitress trimmed off a large handful of leaves, pulled an onion and plucked a tomato  and within a few minutes my salad arrived. A delicate vinaigrette with a touch of sweetness balanced the gentle heat of the leaves.

And finally a chicken stir fry with pecans was brought to the table. All the vegetables in the dish were growing in the gardens around the restaurant. Even the chicken was free range from their flock. It was not as fresh as the other ingredients in my lunch (thank goodness), but I was told fresh within the previous week. 

Slowly savouring my meal, I was able to watch the happy cookers laughing while chopping and flambéing, and inhale the fragrances of the several acres of garden produce growing all around me. I kind of felt I was in a Garden of Eden, but there were no allow trees, so I guess it was more the Garden of Eating. It sure was a filling and fulfilling meal - true bliss. 

As I was paying, three actual US army jeeps used in the Vietnam (American) War pulled in with the next cooking class. I asked one driver if it was difficult maintaining the jeeps. He winked at me and joked, "There are some capitalist car company parts in these jeeps, and some Vietnamese creativity. 

Today the pampering continued. I braved a haircut at a barbershop staffed by all male barbers. They sure take pride in their work. My guy clumped my hair with three clip combs, right, left and centre. I told him not too short because my ears stick out. He had a good laugh and pointed to an area getting rather thin and asked, "And very little off here too?" Then it was my turn to laugh. When finishing each of the three sections, he held the mirror up for my approval, went on to the next area and then spent 5 minutes cleaning up little bits. I then had my first ever hot straight razor shave. I felt a little squeamish when he shaved my neck and Adam's apple. My face hasn't felt as soft as a baby's bum since ...well since when I was a baby. I must say tho'  I clean up quite well.

Oops. Well close......

Then just down the street, I had the second massage of my life. An hour for $15. I had to concentrate scooting home as I was so very very relaxed. Two days of serenity. Mind you I haven't had even one bad day here.