Bored of Paradise

(This is the beginning of a book I plan to write about the 6 years I spent in Vietnam. Bored of Paradise is a working title, which I will change,)

Cat Ba Island.

In Vietnamese, it means Lady’s Island.

An island of golden beaches and endless jagged, forest covered mountains like dragon’s teeth, surrounded by the mysterious beauty of Ha Long Bay.

He stood on the deck of the long motor boat as it made its way from Hai Phong City to Cat Ba. There was a pile of moterbikes and backpacks at the stern of the boat, and many travelers and a few locals stood or sat around him. He smiled into the wing and spray of the see,imaging the future and remembering the other times that he had been there. 3 years ago, with the beautiful and mysterious A. 2 years ago with the sweet and gentle N. 5 months ago with his friend and his friend’s wife.

It had been his dream to live and teach on the island, and now his dream was coming true,

The problem with dreams, is that sometime you must wake up.

PART 1

After 6 years in Hanoi, the sprawling capital of Vietnam, he looked forward to a new life on that beautiful island. 8 years of excitement, pollution, love and hate, corruption and near constant danger. The open sea and mountains were to be a stark contrast to Hanoi’s crowded alleys and vast highways.

He was leaving his friends and student’s behind, but he hoped to find new friends and lovers, and was determined to maintain contact with his old comrades.