No more cycling for me – just quality snuggles with this fella 🙂

So I’ve never been on a family destination vacation. Previously I would have told you it’s totally not my speed and I can still stand behind that. There’s something… unseemly (?) about the situation.

We’ve arrived at a bubble that’s completely different from the countryside I just rode through. Every one of our needs is catered to in the utmost luxury, a luxury we certainly could never afford without devalued Vietnamese currency and incredibly low wages for the people serving us. Last night I learned that most of these people had to pay a serious bribe to get a job like this, with tips and a chance to improve their English. It could take them a decade to pay back the money they borrowed for that bribe.

But, at the same damn time, I’m loving every minute of it. My nephews make it pretty easy, and it’s just unbelievable to be at a four star resort right on a sandy beach sipping orange juice and watching the sun kiss the ocean every evening. It’s so easy to coordinate five adults and three kids when amazing amenities are at your door and tons of staff are working to serve you. We’ve all had one of our best ever days here. And, I mean I guess we’re injecting foreign currency into the economy to enhance the living conditions of the people around us? It’s hard for me to believe that, but it’s also hard to think about the contradictions that create the beautiful bubble I’m spending the next week inside.

So, not my speed, but still an experience I’m enjoying. I think I’m going to spend the next few days posting b-sides from my photo album, since I’m just hanging out with family and y’all don’t need to be bothered with proud Uncle photos. We’ll see what comes up!