Halong Day

Just came back from Halong Bay. Nobu came to visit and brought his new girl. She's pretty. She is a flight attendant, this one – one who wore high heels and summer dresses to go hiking.

Spent my birthday having wine under the stars on the deck of a boat, wondering what kind of career I'll have, will I relate to my friends who are now VPs with salaries in the six figures, and sloshing around Captain Morgan's with Coke.

Smoked way too much. I'm going to have to go on a quitting schedule.

Jumped into the cold waters for a swim after kayaking. Laid on a small stretch of sand on Monkey Island, watching the world float by. Rested, that is, until the monkeys came out to beg for bananas. Played soccer with local Vietnamese guys until I got winded.

The limestone outcrops of the bay peeked at the world, rising out of the water like outstretched fingers towards the sun.

I thought about mom and dad and 15 years ago, then I thought about 10 years and 5 years ago and wondered where the time went – then furiously I worked through 5, 10, 15 years from now and wondered how it will turn out.

Hiked up a mountain with a scraggly line of tourists, but at the top, the trail ended and we had to clamber on vertical rock outcrops, finding footholds and grips with our hands. I came down from the peak, bettered by the view of Cat Bat island and also more alive, with the nicks and scrapes and other badges of life's touches.

I have no moorings to hold me back/down/still/consistent/true. But I do have the wind at my back and it's beginning to pick up. The wind is cold and it gives me a headache. But take some antihistamines and it'll pass.

More to come on Halong ('descending dragon) Bay. Pictures to be posted soon.