Alternate Universe

First Vietnamese coffee, which I guess you just call it coffee, in Vietnam

I remember when I used to play Super Mario as a kid, when I unlocked and travelled to a new world, everything would be foreign: different terrain , characters, and physics.

That’s much like travel.

I arrived in Vietnam late last night, today is my first full day. I feel uncomfortable. Not in a bad way, but in the way that it’s a new, unfamiliar environment. I know next to nothing about Vietnam. In classic James fashion, I did almost zero research leading up to this trip. I’ll figure it out as I go.

First order of business this morning, I just exchanged some money and asked the lady at the currency exchange if she had any breakfast reccs. She told me that the spot across the street is really good. She walks me out and points towards the hole in the wall spot with plastic tables and stools. She waves at the staff, looks like they’re all friends.

I take her up on her recommendation. I arrived at the resto and sit on my small, plastic stool. At my small, plastic table there’s sits a small boy slurping on some noods. I’m pretty sure I’m sharing this small table with the owners son.

They don’t give me a menu, they just give me a warm bowl of noodle soup. I assume it’s Pho? I’ve eaten a lot of Pho but I actually don’t know wtf pho is.

I eat it anyway. Absolutely delicious. Just what I needed for my first meal in Vietnam.

All that for 1.90USD.