day 8 vietnam
Day 8 vietnam
A quiet stillness entered the room with the sun's first rays, kissing my face in the most tender way possible. A sweet voice chimed, after what seemed like years "can we cuddle with you?" The boys have been filled with a different carefreeness this holiday. They have been almost adult travellers, enriching our journey every step of the way. This sudden reticence to childhood warmed my heart, and I greedily opened the envelope of my blanket, and drew them in. Puru was reluctant to cuddle, a bit shy about the gender differences that have suddenly formed a wedge between us. He is very aware of who he is, and now comes out of the bathroom carefully wrapped in a towel. I'm proud to see these small changes. However I must confess, the close proximity to him over the past 8 days have shown me how lacking in responsibility he is! Most of the work is done by the baby brother, and he bosses over him with an unfair air. To be honest, he is a boy who would benefit from boarding school: I'm embarrassed to say he is lazy and won't throw wrappers etc away without being told. And then invariably passes on the job to the quick second born. I had decided I will make a conscious effort to make him grow up: public transport, taxis, etc. he must must start to act 13years old! I think I have babied him a bit too long, giving his absent mindedness a hall pass attributing it to add. But maybe it is just a bit of over pampering which needs to be nipped in the bud, right away. I'm worried you will dislike him when you read this. Please don't. He is a wonderful boy, just needs to grow up a bit.
Coming back to our last day, it was a sleepy one, a much needed rest day. We took a few nostalgic kilometers around the old quarter, bidding farewell to the gelateria where we tried matcha icecream (awful), to the sushi place where we tried the world's best sushi, to the corner shop where we had delicious Bahn Mi. It's a gorgeous country, with interesting people. In all the chaos of Hanoi, we ran into Peter (the American doctor) and his step squared grandson Elcid!!! What's to be said about ships that pass at night?
A late evening flight and we are on our way back home. I'm sorry to say, any holiday ends as soon as you board the flight to Mumbai. It is always FILLED with gujjus who are noisy, mannerless and disgusting. Pardon my hate. Yes, that's a strong word and i dont hate anyone, but these people get on my nerves!! No sooner had the plane taken off (it was still at a 30 degree incline) that they removed their food boxes and began slopping around the daal rice and thepla. As.soon as the plane was mid air, they took off their shoes and put their feet on the seats. I could see the airhostesses frustration. They must HATE flying this sector!
OB, I will not do this flight to Mumbai with you, because I don't want to subject you to this. Maybe you do Hanoi- srinagar.
I bid you farewell at the airport at Hanoi.
I will see you tomorrow, back on the #otherside
Prayers always, please come home safe
#here
Aai