Walking alleyways (known as hėms here) in Ho Chi Minh City District 1 this morning — partly in search of good coffee, mostly to start to get my bearings and explore this new-to-me city — I was suddenly struck by the excitement that often hits when I’m in a strange place for the first time. It’s become a familiar feeling over the last 16 months, one that promises new languages, culture, experiences, smells & tastes, and all manner of challenges. It’s pretty damned invigorating, though I’d not experienced it in quite some time, probably not since Guatemala last October. I’m surprised that I didn’t feel it last month in Tokyo and perhaps ought to take time to consider why that might have been, but not to the detriment of enjoying Saigon.

The preceding thoughts were quickly typed out while enjoying an India Pale Ale at the bar of a little microbrewery tucked down one of the aforementioned hėms