The long awaited day has finally come. After 3.5 long years a family member has come to visit. Not only is it a family member but it is my 18 year old nephew who has never been out of the country. For your first country to be Hanoi, Vietnam takes guts. This is not a starter city, for sure. After the months of planning and anxiety, he had arrived. So, Les Go: The Arrival.
Pre- Landing
I’ve travelled in my day so one would think that I can book some flights. But for some reason I booked a flight where he had to switch airlines during his short 3 hour layover. Shit you not. Any seasoned traveller is rollin their eyes at this mistake. When I say the 3 hour phone call with him as he traversed his way through the Korean airport was hella stressful, this is no joke. I’d rather had back-to-back board meeings than that shit!
Once he was secured on the plane enroute to Vietnam, I decided to take my dog on a little walk. You know, expel some energy, refocus, and prepare for my nephew’s arrival. So, Hanoi is not exactly a green haven. I mean, there ain’t no grass, it’s not a thing. As we were walking (of course I take a different route this time) we find a little patch a grass that doesn’t look particularly inviting but nonetheless my dog rolls in it. No biggie, right? Wrong.
As she gloriously flays her legs in the air, smiling her pitbull smile from ear-to-ear I realise she is starting to look a little dirtier each time she emerges. When she fully emerges from her magnificent small patch grass roll, she emerges covered in human shit. Hu.man. Shit.
First night
I remember when I was 18. I was such a twat. I had all the opinions in the world and prolly thought I was the shit. Well, not my nephew. He is cool as a got damn cucumber. We went out riding for the first time and he was so solid. He had no trepidation about anything and just took everything in stride.
He even ate at a super authentic Pho spot. Like, old family house, back alley, mold on the ceiling type spot.
The amount of peace I get having my kin here is unreal. I already don’t want this time to end yet am anticipating every second of our coming weeks. To think, when I was 18 I was out here being a drunken American and he is out here doing more than the average. Trying new foods, experiences, and fully embracing life; That shit’s inspiring.
Les Go... 