–August 26,

This morning over our Java's we did a WhatsApp video with my sister. Because of this communication link I probably see and talk with her and my mother more now than I did when we were back home! But it's all good!! After we finished the call, we went out for breakfast around 0915-ish. A housekeeper was due to come at 0930 – it's the second of two cleaning provided by the hostess.

We went back walking to Tiem An Mami Restaurant. We wanted to try another breakfast item… Banh My Sot Vang, which is Vietnamese Beef Stew and a crispy baguette. We both had an order. Yes, beef stew for breakfast!! This is a common dish for breakfast, as well as Pho. It was super great! Having big chunks of potatoes, carrots, and beef in a red wine sauce –😋😋😋– it was just what you expect of a beef stew! The staff hardly speak English, except for the twentyish (daughter?) waitress. Her English is passable… better than my Vietnamese😅, which is none! But the staff are very friendly and recognize us now. The waitress said as we were leaving, “See you next time!” Definitely will be another time. 

We went back along the beach of the lagoon. We had never been down here before. It is not much of a beach, but it is mostly clean. Arriving at our place around 1015, we noticed the housekeeper had not come?? We decided to go ahead and do a WhatsApp video with Jeff's sister, then we would call about the housekeeper. Just as we connected with Jeff's sister, the housekeeper came – so we went to the reception area to do the video. (It was raining outside so we did not go to the roof/pool area.) We talked with her quite awhile as she had questions. They are planning a trip to Crete and Athens, and she wanted to “pick” Jeff's brain.

We then went back to our condo due to weather. We watched some You tube, listened to Worship 24/7. Lunch was rest of the huge mango, bananas and some cashews. The afternoon came and went with more rain action. This was probably the most rain we have had here during the day. We went to the local little store and got some veggies. Supper was some leftovers and salad we made here. The weather changed for sunset and the sky actually semi-cleared, and sunset was more “happening” than we expected.

Anyway, the Vietnamese are gearing up for their National Day, so flags have been going up everywhere. This also may have lead to tweaks in the night entertainment as well! I thought the show tonight was wee bit different, and we both knew the fireworks were some different (and conditions were good as the sky had cleared up). After the fireworks, the water show stage was all a glow with the backlight of the Vietnamese flag on the waterfall and stayed lit up until 2200. This was most assuredly new. The National Day of Vietnam is September, the second. We will still be here then, it will be neat to see the national pride! 

—August 27,

The day started out rainy again. We settled with our morning Java's. I did have my new Vietnamese Coffee. It was good I'm going to like it each morning! Breakfast was a little Muesli and yogurt with the last of our bananas. 

We watched more light rain this morning. We listened to a sermon series that we had started at the Evangelical Church of Bangkok when were there. It was a seven part series so we have three more to watch to complete the “I AM” sermons. Technology just enables so much that wasn't available 20 years ago – certainly not when I was a kid!  Anyway, lunch was PB&J for Jeff. I had a PB & Cheese sandwich. We both had more little finger bananas. Finally finished them off – we don't need bananas now anytime soon.

The rain stopped and the sky cleared a bit. We went for a walkabout around more of Sunset Town. We tried to go on sections we have not gone down.. We checked out some restaurants that we might want to eat at for our anniversary! We found a Japanese, and the rest were seafood/Vietnamese type. We came to the Merchant which is in the hotel, called La Festa. It is right next to the tall clock tower. (I found out the hotel, is Hilton affiliated when I went to the website later.) Anyway, we liked this one and made a reservation for Thursday night the 29th. 

Now we walked back up to our condo in the Hill complex. On our way back, the escalators weren't working so we got a bit of a workout, but we were definitely sweaty. so back at our place we cooled down a bit and then changed into our swimsuits and hit the pool. There was a couple with their young four-ish year old daughter, enjoying the pool. The day is pretty warm now. As we were just finishing our laps, a Bridal couple came up here for pictures – we had seen them below. They have been taking pictures for over an hour since we saw them! Anyway, we left back to our room and showered and planned for our Anniversary activities. Then I blogged. Jeff read.

For supper, Jeff went out. He came back with two different sausage-types to try concurrently. One was from the chicken rotisserie place – the other from the Night Street place we like. We decided we like both. But for me the local sausage (one in the town of An Thoi at the rotisserie) is very textured and I can't get past that. Jeff prefers the Night Street Bazaar also but for different reasons. The local place did give us a great spicy dipping sauce and some greens. We also had some bread. Anyway, we finished and went out on the balcony as the sky cleared that managed to provide a decent sunset. We even decided to go up on the balcony to see the whole sky. 

Plan on watching the fireworks and send up thanks for our blessings!