What a life…

…I thought waking up with a stunning view over Lumphini Park for the management training in Bangkok…

…until I sat in A&W that evening, like a stubborn fast food lover chewing my chicken burger and that ultra-hot Thai bunny coming in with her headphones on the ears, ultra cool casual dress, and a huge Ford pick-up truck parked in the front of the shop. Again I thought I am doing something wrong. Need to change that. Time and opportunities need to be created again - faster!

 

It was a great training bringing many interesting future opportunities within the company into perspective. Then again, it is just a company and not mine, and whatever far you advance, this business may always remain more of a sacrifice with less return than many other jobs. Let's see what comes up. It will probably end up in an everything-or-nothing decision sooner or later.

It was a very short stay in the city this time, taking the earliest Saturday morning flight at 7am back to Saigon, going from airport to class, teaching a four hour session, followed-by Japanese lunch at the Sushi Bar with Chris and coffee section at the Bootleg Cafe respectively. Then needed a rest at home.

Summertime is Fam-Trip Time

 Spa area at the super luxury Nam Hai Resort in Hoi An, Central Vietnam.

Taking our clients for a foot massage at the Fusion Lounge. Unfortunately I was with clients and courld hardly ask for her number….

 Coninuted was the walking tour through the ancient quarter of the town….

 …along Thu Bon River and…

 

 …through beautiful alleys with craft shops on every coner.

Chef and owner Mr. Duc at the Mango Mango Restaurant - a brilliant personality with exceptional skills. By tuna was the best ever had in life and this is no exaggeration.

 Roads in Central Vietnam, serving not only transportation by also for drying the harvest.

 

 With Inspections at more hotels and Korean models almost as white as the towels.

 

 Continuing the trip up North, passing the beautiful Lan Co Beach…

…and crossing the Hai Van Pass, which divides Vietnam into two climate zones.

 

  …continuing for sightseeing in Hue, the ancient capital of the country.

 

 Then crossing the former Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) with its memorial…

 

 …with the old Hien Luong Border Bridge…

 

 ...and oversized loudspeakers that were used in war times to communicate propaganda across the border…

…and with president Ho Chi Minh (in gold) today overlooking the small museum

at one of the largest battle fields at that time.

We continued the trip to Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh province…

…where we visited the recently discovered Southeast Asia's biggest cave, Hong Thien Duong, or Paradise Cave, as it is called in English. The cave is 31 km long, reaches hights of 100m and can be 150m wide. 1,5 km can be entered. Trekking tours are available with special equipment offering opportunity to go as deep as 8km. Here some impressions from what was for me the highlight of the trip:

The world's largest cave Son Doong, that has been recently discovered here and got big publicity on National Geographic is not yet open to public. It must be even more impressive and will probably be opened for tourism in the near future.

We ended the trip in Halong Bay with a luxury cruise - and: a cave dinner!

And even better: finding, or taking, time to spend it with a lovely and inspiring friend before flying back home.