November 3,

I awoke at 0600. Jeff said he'd been awake since 0500. We got up and about, packed and to breakfast by 0700. We had a fruit plate – sliced apple, persimmon, watermelon, passion fruit, and little oranges (that we took with us); second plate was sliced cucumber and tomato; third plate was omelet with tomatoes, laughing cow cheese, and bread; and final plate was one inch sliced corn on the cob and sweet potato. Also we were served fresh juice of orange & carrot, and me coffee, and Jeff tea. Last breakfast here! I'm going to miss the variety of fruits!

Jeff paid – she had to remind us as we forgot we hadn't paid yet. Anyway, that squared away she gave us two going away waters, and for “Madame” – that's me – a little Vietnam coin purse. That was very sweet. Then she offered to take us on the scooter to our bus pick-up, one at a time with luggage 🧳!! Interesting, to say in the least. I went first, missing the place, she let me off and got Jeff. I saw them and walked back to them. It was not very far, but she came to me to take me. I motioned I'd walk. Saying goodbye to her again, I blew her a kiss😘and she grabbed my hand with both of her hands and bowed her head. Humble people, but proud.

Anyway, the bus was there already and we boarded. It's 0745, and in five minutes we are under way. We both have an upper “lounge” compartment across from each other. Total ticket price for both of us was 1.2 million Dong ($47.40). The whole bus is made up of twenty of these compartments. Each lounger has a seat belt! Yes👍!! The bus drove just a couple of minutes and stopped –right at our hotel street!!🫤😜 We wouldn't have needed to do the scooter mess and adrenaline rush ride, if only we would have been told of this stop. Anyway, we move on, after loading up seven or eight more people.

Our driver is a horn honker – at cows, at people on scooters and bicycles, basically anything that moves, or might slow him down!  I think he's from India!🤣😂  At 1000 the bus does a pit stop until 1015. At 1100 we do a gas stop. Then at 1230-ish a lunch stop. We just ate one orange and some crackers, we had with us. It was spitting some rain here. Jeff looked at his weather app… it's supposed to be rainy the next four days where we're going. 😐 Then we all loaded up and left. As we moved on south, it rained more. Pooh! I know y'all need it back in Kansas. If I could, I'd bottle it and send it to you.

Arrived at Phong Nha at least one hour early, around 1450. Jeff texted our guy and he came within 5 minutes. We were driven to Hung Phat Bungalow by him. He welcomed us with hot tea and a banana. It's a cute place. The main house is out front, at the road; then behind it is six little bungalows up on stilts, arranged around a tiny pool – dipping kind not swimming. He asks if we want any tours. Jeff said yes, and he said he'd arrange the one we want for tomorrow. Great! He now shows us to our Hut, #2.

We unloaded and started walking to get dinner. Our host guy gave us use of a scooter – for free – to go. “It's too far to walk in rain,” he said. That was nice!! We drove to Lotus Restaurant in a misty rainy, barely got wet. We were greeted and ordered a Colorful Bean Salad – had red beans, white beans, pineapple, passionfruit seeds, onion and celery with a rice vinegar dressing (like a 3 bean salad, but not really–'same same, but different'); Stir-fried Pork Spare Ribs with pickled mustard greens & rice; and Beef Stew of beef, carrot, potato, onion and local red wine with bread. I had a great Mocha Coffee and Jeff had a Saigon Beer for our drinks. We enjoyed the meal heartily! Comfort food for a cool, rainy day.

Finished we readying to go and the lady owner(?) brought us plate of fruit – bananas, dragon fruit, and watermelon. Now we were finished and paid 310K with a 20K tip, total 330K ($13.03). We drove back to our place just in time it really started raining in earnest. Whew! I called my mom, forgetting y'all had set your clocks back, and woke her up. (Bad daughter!!) She gave us the good news, her husband's check-up came back cancer-free still! YEAH!! Then we relaxed and later linked up via ZOOM with our church family back home. Bed by 2345.