Our Home in Da Nang

So here we are,

Da Nang AKA China Beach. 30 km of white sand and clear blue water, and deserted between the hours of 9am and 4pm. For a Vietnamese female, inhabiting the beach between these hours would mean the possibility of a small fraction of skin getting slightly brown thus making her look like a peasant farmer and rendering her obsolete from the marriage pool. However, once the sun begins to set, fifty thousand locals come down to the beach in their jeans and t-shirts and swim (fully clothed) between the flags. From a distance it looks like someone has spilled a giant pack of raisins in a tub. At 4.30pm they play music at 1 million decibels through small tiny megaphones. The other day it took 15 minutes to play a rendition of ‘lemon tree’ as it kept cutting out so they kept starting it again. The music is interrupted by the news, which by the stares we get is broadcasting the arrival of two international Kiwis with food on their faces.

Hardly anyone speaks English here and our Vietnamese is coming along like a cat learning how to speak dog. The same words that mean 10 different things pronounced 10 different ways. I am a face paint away from looking like Marcel Marso on a daily basis. The people that do speak a little bit of English are really eager to learn and love to sit down with us during dinner to chat. They are so friendly and often yell HELLO into your face. Or they will try out what ever phrases they know, like the other day a guy said “Hello, What’s your name” I said Shann and he said “ What the fuck” and continued to ask the question as he strolled up the beach.

I have a pet fly, his name is Gerard. I love him so much. He follows me everywhere. I often shoo him away in jest but he just lands back on me. If I catch him one day I am going to rip his wings off and feed them to him.

Jules and I went and looked at a couple of houses today. One was too dark and did not have a sink. The other one was so big we could have started a roller derby downstairs and pretty much not have heard it if we were upstairs. We have a Polish guy named Peter looking around for us who does not have a wolf but does have a good grasp on expat properties in the Da Nang area so we hope to find something soon. For now we are holed up on the 5^th floor at the Sea Wonder hotel. It is neither by the sea nor does it conjure up any wonder as it suggests but it is comfortable and has more staff than occupants. One in particular is Huong or lady perfume (her name means perfume) She is a chatty we thing with a heart of gold.

Took my first motorbike ride at peak hour today. It was pretty much like being in the millennium falcon in an asteroid field accept we were on a nifty fifty and the all the asteroids were trying to pass us. Jules will be having a lesson soon at 3am at the far end of town in an abandoned car park……..and I think I may have to start her off on a trolley. Jules starts work in a couple of weeks but has a day relieving at the local International School on Friday. This is good news as she will be now top of mind once they start back in July after the holidays. We probably have to go to Hanoi this week end as Jules needs a working Visa stamp in her passport. I look forward to seeing the capital and we will probably go to Hao long bay for a looksy. Anyhoo, having lots of fun. Trying to get settled and laughing a lot. Hope you are all well.

Shann and Jules