It's time to summarise Vietnam and wrap it (for now at least)...

I'm writing this last entry from my new location of which I will write and entry soon but let's have few thoughts about Vietnam to close that chapter decently.
What I learned in six months was that Vietnam for me was a place of contrasts. Like everywhere, you had some a-holes whilst the majority was really friendly. I might have said this before but for me the rural areas without other tourists made the Vietnam. Like anywhere else, money has ruined the morality and the forthrightness of many Vietnamese people in the touristic places and cities. Nha Trang being the worst case example of what mass tourism does to the native people. Don't get me wrong, I know I'm part of the problem as a tourist. I'm not gonna name any specific nationality but for example in Nha Trang you couldn't even get a smile from the Vietnamese waitresses because the crap they have to swallow from the tourists from one country have killed their souls. And god damn that I tried to get a smile for being extra friendly but it was useless. If you never get a thank you for your service you just end up giving a shit and that's what has happened in Nha Trang but also in few other places.
Then again, I managed to meet some of the friendliest people I have ever met. Once again special thanks to Kha, Chau, Wind and Dung who made my stay at Wolfpack Hostel  unforgettable, amazing experience and a backpackers dream. There's many more I should name but they know who I mean.

The Wolfpack-team!

One of the contrasts was the beauty/ugliness of the country. I loved the nature. Beaches, sea, mountains, jungle, lakes, pine trees etc. The problem is that they are still in process of understanding the value of the nature. Everything gets thrown straight to the nature. In some cities they do recycle, in Da Lat for example, but still majority of the Vietnamese people just don't care about that. If they drink a cup of coffee, it gets thrown to the ditch. In bigger cities they do have a working waste management system which operates at night time but still every thing gets first thrown straight to the streets. In more rural areas the garbage just stays where it was thrown. Such a pity since they have a wonderful nature. I hope that in few decades they start some kind of projects to preserve their nature. I'm not in high hopes though. Vietnam is in a state where for many people and the officials everything is about making some quick money and the government is completely rotten and just trying to fill their pockets with money. Hail capitalistic communism where opposition doesn't exist! Don't get me wrong, democracy works exactly the same in many countries =)

Before this my entry gets too political and serious I shall change the subject. So what did I do during the rest of my stay in Vietnam? I played guitar and bass. Yes! I found a place in Da Lat where I played for the last month or so almost every night. Thanks to Reyman and Curtis who made it possible. It was a blast and most importantly I noticed that I can still play. Way too many and too long guitar solos  =)
The last day in Vietnam with Reyman and the drummer was also unforgettable. The hangover we (I) managed to get after the last show at Escape Bar was washed away with a hot pot and a bottle of vodka and a even bigger bottle of happy water aka moonshine =) Good times!

Check out my bass face. Reyman on
the right.  

Curtis playing some harmonica next to me.

If you go to Vietnam and you have the courage and the opportunity to buy/rent a motorbike there do that. It's the best way to meet friendly people and to stay away from the most touristic route and the notorious coastal highway AH1. And the coffee, I'm not even a coffee drinker but I already miss the Vietnamese coffee. Like anywhere else where there is street food available, at least try it. Usually way better food than in restaurants and if you get a Vietnamese to cook for you, don't say no. Stay away from western food unless you know where to get it from. It's still Vietnamese food usually even thought they say it's western and by this I mean that they just don't have the ingredient's or skill to make western food. Luckily Vietnamese food is so good that you rarely have a craving for anything else my favourite being the Banh Mi. French style baguette filled with Vietnamese goodies.

There's the ancient fight between cat and dog on this plate.
Dog wins by the length of his snout! Barkmeoww!

Last but not least, thanks to Sprocket Rocket, my 100cc "Honda Win" with whom I shared the best and the worst moments in Vietnam. I'm happy to tell you that he is in a good home now. Kha bought it from me to give it to his parents. Couldn't be happier how I came to an end with my bike.

This picture is taken on our last day together. I will miss you
Sprocket Rocket.

                                    Thank you Vietnam! I shall be back someday. Tam Biet!