— August 12,

Java time upon awakening. We were watching rain come to our town — from inside. Then we talked with my sister on a WhatsApp video call. Always enjoy keeping in touch. Now we had our breakfast: a yogurt each and French toast. Next we talked with Jeff's sister and her husband on WhatsApp video call. Again appreciate technology and being able to keep up. It really started thunder-storming (but no lightning🤔).  It continued to rain – “Rainy days and Mondays” 🫤!   

We actually looked at the puzzle 🧩 here in our condo. But upon opening the box… it was not what was in the same as the cover. So we were not interested in doing it. If we have to do this puzzle – well, let's just say it will be because of boredom. We made a lunch of stir fry (after Jeff ran down to the little convenience store that is at the bottom of our hotel and bought some broccoli, peppers, and onion.) We had some leftover salami and some different soy, vinegar sauces at our place. We combined it with our newly bought stuff – it was pretty good.

Finished watching the Olympics, including the cool hand off to LA. Yeah, for Tom Cruise!! This was the afternoon as it was still raining, or appearing to do so at any time (it did stop around 1400). Supper was salami and cheese on a baguette (after we went back down to the convenience store and bought some baguette, lettuce, and some local Korean kimchi chips.) We also had the local red wine – Vang DaLat, Red Wine Export version, which was better, but…lacking.

After supper we watched the sunset and then 'our' fireworks display, which is still great! 

— August 13,

Jeff, woke at 0330 this morning!! Yuck! I was up around 0730, which sounds much better. Anyway, we had our morning javas and then decided on PB&J on the (last of three) sub-size baguettes from yesterday, and a yogurt each. It was a nice start.

Again, it rained this morning. I was getting into a funk; Jeff was stir crazy as we had exhausted our You tube videos. We went down to the close restaurant – Meet n' eat – for lunch. We had the Beef Pho with greens, and a Brie and Beef Baguette, which is  a chopped beef, brie cheese, honey mustard, sun dried tomato, and balsamic cream sandwich. I had a diet coke and Jeff had a beer. We finished and it was still spitting a bit. So we went back to our place.

Around 1500, the rain seemed to stop! Yeah!! We went up on the rooftop/pool area for a 360 vista to make sure. We had blue sky!! After Jeff heard back from the scooter guy (he's Russian, BTW) — we took advantage and hit the road on our scooter!

We set off to get Jeff's new helmet, but first we went by the Immigration Office to see about a Visa for the mainland of Vietnam. The office just closed when we arrived @ 1605, Humph! Now we went to the Grocery Store – Kingkong. We bought our list and now went to the scooter place.

We arrived at the rental scooter shop, and they brought out a new helmet for Jeff to try. It did not fit his big head. The lady went back bringing out another one. It fit him! Yeah! I kept the other new one, because it fit me better. So we both got a new helmet. We left and went to get some petrol – which cost only 55,000 Dong ($2.19) to fill up. 

We hit the road back to our place… and Jeff's new helmet flew off as we hit 80kmph (50mph)! What??!? 😲😮😯He safely stopped and I ran back to retrieve the helmet. It was defective also! The clip attachment was broken!! Really?? So many questions? We went back to the rental shop — 15 minutes – to exchange this helmet for yet another helmet. When we showed up the lady was shocked to see us!! Join the group, sister was what I thought…as well as third times the charm!

So now we went back to Sunset Town. I was leery of flying helmets, but thankfully it did not happen again❗

We unloaded our goods and took the scooter back to the street market. We watched sunset from here, then we bought two sausages and a corn-on-the-cob. Back at our place we had dinner of the sausage, a real baguette, the corn and a new Vietnamese Red Wine, DALAT BECO, (which was better) all while watching the sunset evolve in a brilliant display of color. Forgotten was the rain, the helmet issue… God is spectacular! Then we were blessed with an unexpected fireworks illumination (Tuesday there is not a light show)! God is, well… He is God! Amen!!