Still walking the streets of Vinh Long.

26/5 - I didn't fancy hot breakfast or bread today, so strolled to the market to pick up a pineapple. The market is about 50 metres from the hotel and now spills over to outside the hotel. I strolled on to a cafe that has a good people watching spec, to have a tra da, iced tea. I passed Dan the American from the other day along the way. He was sat on a bench reading a paper, outside his in-laws I guess. I said Hello and he blanked me, tried again and his head twitched. Strange, I thought. Never one to be put off, I stopped and tried to got an "Oh Hello", then back to his paper. He must have thought I was after his lottery money. A very strange going on, but never mind, better off out of that one. Off for my tra da. The cafe was peaceful, hen students started turning up for a drink, some park their motos out the back. THey sit for quite a while, in fact longer than me. I left them and went for an e-fix. There was a lot of flirting going on, I felt a bit out of placeand even more so when I spilled my tra da dregs as I got up. Wandered back for a midday kip after the e-fix, dont slag me off, I'm getting up at 5.00, well waking up then. I'm getting into S.E. Asia mode, about late considering I leave in a week or so. Up and out for a wake up stroll and bumped into the lottery lad. I offered to buy him a drink, but I think he just likes to say hello, sit a while and field all the comments from the locals about his pet Englishman. I bought a couple of baguettes and headed back to the balcony with a beer. Half way through the 2nd baguette, the crown on my front tooth dropped out. Now I am a real bonny lad, a proper ladykiller if I ever saw one. It did make me laugh when I looked in the mirror. It could scare the touts away too, but I doubt it.

27/5 - Early rise a bit of exercising, not much. I am doing a bit and feeling better for it. I just lack the discipline to keep it up. Down to reception to scare them withmy new style smile. The lady gave me directions to the dentist, but I know better regarding me and directions, so I took a moto for 20p. I'm first in the queue, but an hour early, the receptionist at the hotel was wrong, he opens at 8.00 not 7.00. I did a bit of log writing, I'm an expert waiter nowadays. When I got in the dentist smiled at the broken crown, then got to work. A new post, a bit of grinding, some glue and Bob's your uncle, less than a fiver. No wonder UK dentists are rich. It cost me over 100 quid for almost the same in the UK and it still dropped out. Keep checking the blog for how long this one lasts. The holiday insurance is a bit of a joke. I have to pay the first so many pounds, but it never gets passed that in Asia. I am happy at that though, I don't want any big hospital bills.
Back along the riverfront, picking up a nuoc mia, sugar cane drink, then plonking on a shady bench, watching the Mekong flow by and the boats busling along, al sizes, carrying all sorts. Ony my way back to the hotel Mr Trung spotted me. I met Dung through him. I managed to duck the English lesson for today, but have a 7.00 am appointment at the cafe, tomorrow. Did a bit of this and that and nothing much, had a wander around and back for some kip.

28/5 - Up for some early market snap, pork and noodles, before meeting Mr Trung and Mr Phuc. It's a bit of a struggle trying to converse, so I didn't try too hard, then Mr Linh came along. Trung and Phuc, sit here for 3 hours a day. It's relaxing, but 3 hours is a killer, so I excused myself after 2 before they hatched any plans for the rest of my day. I did some e-stuff, then had a kip. I've picked up manasianbird flu on Phu Quoc, so you can imagine how sorry I'm feeling for myself, hence the kip. It's actually just a bit of a sniffle, I'm just lazy. I've been trying to eat 3 meals a day and put some weight back on, but it is hard work trying to eat 3 meals a day in this heat. I wandered a bit more and watched the rush hour, it's prime time viewing, then I had a meal, I ordered Bo luc lac, all I know is that it is beef. This is a return visit to t his restaurant, they are very friendly and the Bo luc lac is very nice. I can tell you now it is fried diced beef with rice and salad. I headed forome yet again, stopping to watch the sunset by the river. I'm on a date tonight, so I'd better shower, not doing so cuts down on the touts, but I doubt it is good for a date. We went up to the Mekong bridge and pulled over. It is beautiful up here. It's a main highway, but loads of couples pull over for a romantic moment, in fact so many that there are street endores pu here. It was too cold to hang about, the wind whistles by up here. Back to town for some more beef, Pho Bo, beef soup and more, then I got dropped at the hotel. It was pointed out that it is very noisy here and she's right, so a plan is hatched to move me to An Binh, a nearby island, but it floundered when the hotel was full.