One year and one month ago I came to Vietnam. It was right as summer hit, and I have never sweat so much in my life. Three months later I had sold all my stuff in the USA and was headed back, permanently. My mother was shocked. My father (they are divorced), had come with me on my first trip and is busy selling his house so he can join me. What gives?

Change is Constant

There is an energy to each city and to each country. I loved the vibe when I stayed in Guadalajara, Mexico. In Mexico it was laid back and fun. The dancing, drinking, and generally chill outlook were wonderful. I spent about a month in Kiev, Ukraine. I enjoyed that too but it was very different - more tense but determined. People talked about fighting Russia a lot and there was a fierce determination to be an independent entity as a people. It was inspiring.

Vietnam is apeshit.

The country is in a state of constant full throttle development. I mean like Wiley Coyote was using civil engineering to chase the roadrunner type stuff. Buildings, bridges, homes, up and down and up again seemingly overnight. A constant sight here in Hanoi is the spraypaint of for-hire demolition crews. Don't like your old house? BLOW IT UP!

There is something very mad scientist about it all. And I love it.

Plus everybody rides around on motorscooters, whole families on a single box.

OMFG THE COFFEE

Interspersed between the somewhat arbitrary erector set of civil planning is perhaps the worlds highest density of coffee shops per capita. Seriously - the 3 buildings next to my small apartment building are all coffee shops, as is the place across the street.

And for good reason - the coffee is fantastic. I'll never be able to return to Starbucks or the like. I tried once, in Germany. It ended badly.

If you are a hyper-caffeinated art/tech type person like myself you basically live on coffee. Coffee is like the nectar of the gods to me and here it is so, so sweet.

Crazy cities surrounded by gorgeous farmland

This was taken on a train trip down the coast. Vietnam has some of the most gorgeous scenery. I was coming from Nha Trang, a coastal city with fantastic beaches.

It's Super International

Inside these coffee shops are an endless array of expats, backpackers, and vietnamese people. And more than anywhere else I've been in the world - they are friendly. "Xin Chao!"

Apparently it's also where Shenron lives:

So.. Steemit

It was here that a friend introduced me to Steemit. I'm still trying to figure out how to join the Slack Channel, so help there would be appreciated. I love the ability to connect everybody and have it actually be worth something. That will drive the participation through the roof. I've learned so much living here because I was connected to those I never did before. I'm telling my local friends about Steemit - the VND isn't always stable so they like other places to put money. Steemit is interesting to them because they love the internet here and they love anything from abroad.