Vietnam: Day 5

April 4, 2019

Today was fairly chill compared to the others. I woke up this morning for a shower, then Phuc and I went to breakfast at a nearby pizza place. We shared a seafood pizza while watching a tank full of tropical saltwater fish. Afterwards, we just hung out back at the house for the majority of the day.

Not long after we got back, Phuc showed me their artificial beehives from which they harvest and process raw honey. I'm not too sure what species they were, but they weren't large like bumblebees, about the size of Ceratina sp, but not as distinctive.

 

 

 

The bees were pretty protective, but their stings are really mild
such that they were just an annoyance rather than a genuine danger.

The raw honey was delicious, but had the texture of gum that barely lasts in flavor.

 

Afterwards, I cleaned up a little, changed my shirt, and took a couple portraits of us together.

With the extra time at the house, I took some pictures of the birds (chim, /tcheem/) they had in a couple bird cages.

 

Later in the day, as the sun was on its way down, we headed to the graveyard where my grandma's brother, mom, dad, and her own grandparents are buried.

Great-great-grandpa (Phaolo Huynh Lu) and
great-great-grandma's (Anna Nguyen Thi Quy) graves;
1901-1948 and 1900-1975

Granduncle's (Lu Ca Huynh Van Hanh) grave;
he died as a toddler, hence the smaller plaque.
1953-1956

Great-grandpa's (Phero Huynh Chi) grave; 1922-2004

Great-grandma's (Maria Huynh Thi Ngua) grave; 1923-2009

Next to the cemetery was a mango garden that Phuc manages and harvests for resell all year.

After the busy days we've had earlier this week, it was good to unwind and chill out before planning any more excursions out of the house. I'm happy I had the chance to connect with my grandma's deceased, because my grandma let me know that when she dies, she wants to be buried with her family here, which I know I want to respect.