Vietnam at Christmas

It's been 3 months now traveling, and the new year is fast approaching. Usually during this time, I'd be home with the fam, soaking up the holiday spirit and eating sugar cookie dough. Mmm.. cookie dough. This is the first Christmas where I won't be home in Oregon, but understandably, no one there really feels sorry for me. My madre tells me about the freezing cold weather in the burrito, but I'm sweating in the non-air conditioned internet cafe at the beach. I semi-wish there was a way to make it home for the holidays, but I knew when we started this trip, I wouldn't be making it home. Maybe it's time to cut the apron strings anyways. Naaah.. Spending the holidays with family is what it's all about. Hopefully there won't be too many years where I am absent, but at least the first time that it has happened, I'm in paradise. Did I mention Vietnam is awesome?

We went to a water park in Saigon, which was amazing. We were severely punished by multiple water slides, but that just added to the fun (don't ask me how.. it just does). Now, we're at a beach called Mui Ne, the wind surfing capital of the world (or, that's what it seems like). We are taking lessons, and of course, Hbf has picked it up quicker than me. He actually made it into the water today, where as I wrestled the kite for 2 hours and then called it a day. Maybe tomorrow I'll actually get to go in the water and have the kite drag me around. Our room here is sweet and comes with a nice balcony that over looks the ocean. I couldn't ask for much more.

The food in Vietnam is.. well it's better than Cambodia, but worse than Thailand. I also think my standards have lowered considerably, so I hope that gives you a good idea of what I am eating. There are days when I'm really happy to eat, and days when I dread it. It all depends on my mood, oddly, and what sounds good at the moment. Lately, I've been craving milk and cereal. I had a brief taste of good milk in Cambodia, and I think it has unleashed my obsession with milk again. I went through withdrawl of milk while we were in Asia, but I was pretty resigned to the fact that I wouldn't get milk for 6 months. I'm very picky about my milk and I wasn't about to drink any warm, powdered, or otherwise different milk from what I am used to in the States. So, when I briefly tried it in Thailand and it tasted very different, I had given up on having it until I got back. At a grocery store in Cambodia, I spotted a box of Honey Bunches of Oats, the best cereal ever made! I was so happy, I didn't a dance right there and really considered buying 5 boxes. Hbf sternly insisted I only get one, and he also convinced me to try some more milk. I was very skeptical, but once that sweet, sweet nectar touched my tongue, I wanted more. I think I drank the carton in about 30 seconds. Since then, I have been on the look out for more milk, but to no avail. Water and juice is such a poor substitute for ice cold milk and the withdrawl symptoms are rearing their ugly head. Moodiness, restlessness, spontaneous shopping for milk.. I have all of them. I know I'll survive, but I want some dang milk!