I'm Back

 Three weeks, five cities, two countries.   It was an adventure.

After a trip I will do some reflection.  What did I like?  What didn't I like?  Would I go there again?  Would I spend a month there?

I never could have navigated China without my bf.  He set me up on Alipay and other apps.  He navigated the subway systems in three cities, bought high speed rail tickets, smoothed our transactions in the native language and rented a car on Hainan Island.   It is a modern, cashless country.  Super crowded.

I've concluded I will never be a fan of authentic Chinese food.  I watched my bf eat plates of green, slimy, boiled seaweed and meat with so much fat, gristle and bones.  Boiled lettuce.  It turned my stomach and forced me to learn some Chinese:

 有春卷吗？炒饭吗？    and   你有叉子吗？

My bf was working late nights during part of the trip.  I have to admit I sneaked away to a Middle Eastern restaurant a block from our hotel in Shanghai for chicken shawarma.  We arrived in Shenzhen and there was a McDonald's next to our hotel.  I breathed a sigh of relief. 

I did try a lot of Chinese food that I liked.  I went out in the morning some days before my bf work up and bought various stuffed pancakes, dumplings and warm soy milk.   I got better at chop sticks but sometimes my bf said "I can't stand it" and got me a fork.

Ho Chi Minh City was somewhat chaotic, even though we barely left District 1.  Generally pretty inexpensive.  We saw all the sights and did some shopping.  I liked the food better.  So many knockoff clothes and shoes for sale.

Only one massage on this trip.   These cheap massages are a highlight of Asia trips.  Only one gay club this trip, in HCMC.  Interesting but underwhelming.

Overall good trip.  Happy to be back.  Now thinking about where to next.

*** 

P.S.  Do you have spring rolls?  Fried rice?   Do you have a fork?