FEB 25 2:30 PM (ALASKA) FEB 1- DANANG TO HUE, TET HOLIDAY PARTY, TOOTHPASTE/BRUSHES

Well, I was up early, as always, and ready for pickup by the van (they call it a "limo") for transport back to Hue. The route follows Highway 1, a major artery now as it was during the war. The drive is about 2.5 hours, but it usually takes 3 due to having to pick up and drop off at various hotels in DaNang and Hue. 

After checking in at my hotel, Oanh (Hearts for Hue) and I went via motorbike to a large supermarket to purchase toothbrushes and toothpaste. I decided to skip passing out candy in favor of oral care. I ended up buying 200 toothbrushes and 100 large tubes of toothpaste, which we would distribute the following morning, along with eyeglasses, at Hong Ha School. It was too much to transport with the motorbike, so I grabbed a taxi back to the hotel, which was in the process of setting up its Tet holiday meal for employees.

 

Orchid Hotel-Hue Tet Celebration Meal`

 

Speaking of Orchid Hotel, this massage business is right next door:

Around 4 PM, I made the 30-minute walk across the Perfume River and to Khanh's Hearts for Hue office.  The office is located just across the moat from the ancient Citadel, which was the site of intense fighting during the 1968 Tet Offensive.

Citadel Moat and Gate

Citadel Moat and Wall

1968 Tet Offensive-Just Outside Citadel Walls

 Khanh was kind enough to invite me to their Tet holiday party, featuring loads of tasty food. As I snapped a couple photos, Khanh never ceased admiring my camera. I knew what he was up to! With no functioning camera, Hearts for Hue was restricted to just using cell phones for pictures and video. He was positioning for a camera takeover. I had a good time with the Hearts for Hue staff and manged to retain my camera.....for the time being.

Tet Happy Money!

Donating My Happy Money to Khanh's Sister, Who Prepared the Meal

With Khanh, My Humanitarian Brother

 

With the festivities over, I made my way across the Perfume River and back to the Orchid Hotel, stopping briefly at Lac Thien Restaurant. I even received a personalized bottle opener. I really like that place, but the founder's/owner's passing has left a huge void.

 

Making Bottle Openers- Lac Thien

My Very Own

 

We would be leaving at 7 AM for the drive to the mountain village of Hong Ha. With no computer, I couldn't communicate or provide daily activity reports, leaving me feeling very inadequate. I was contemplating an early departure from Vietnam.