Back in the 'Nam

It's been almost a week since I came back to Saigon. This is my third time since 2008, and it will be much shorter than either of the other two trips. Much, much shorter. The difference is that now I don't have to make new friends all over again. This is actually my first time traveling somewhere where I already know people living here and can feel right at home immediately. It's a pretty awesome feeling.

Within the first two hours of us landing in the country, Héloïse and I were already greeting many old friends at a big street-side gathering for food and drinks. Here's a not so great photo I quickly snapped:

My iPhone is my camera this time around, and I try not to have it out as much as possible, especially in crowded areas. As you can see in the photo, the table took on an L shape because of the amount of people in our group. What you can't really see in the photo is the awesome cajón rapping session we were having in the corner. This is the kind of thing that happens all the time here. It's not an event. It's normal. And it's exactly what I was looking forward to the most.

It's been almost a week now, and we only have a little more than a week left. The time is flying by way too fast. Next up on the agenda: Bass Republic at Vasco's. I went there last Saturday with some friends and was shocked at how much it has changed. Even the parking area is gone now. It'll be interesting to DJ there again. It'll be almost as if it's a brand new place.

I'll finish this post with a quick video I took while waiting outside to pick Héloïse up from work. This is rush hour in Saigon. Yes, I drove a motorbike in that. Yes, they are driving on the sidewalk. And no, it's not a big deal. It's just Saigon.