And now we look like a pair of tomatoes.
We’d forgotten how long it’s been since we did any serious sunnery. We’ve been mostly doing things, as against soaking up rays. And the weather’s been pretty so-so for a long while. So even though today has been mostly whispy sun, with patches of overcast, we’ve really copped it. Still, it’s been really nice – and I got some proper swimming in, which was great.
Once again we found ourselves surrounded by Chinese millenials, who really are the most peculiar creatures. They appear to have no interest in anything other than taking photographs of themselves, and each other. And all in a limited array of pouting poses, with or without gangsta fingerspreads, all presumably picked up from Tik Tok. What in the world did they do before the advent of mobiles?
Actually, I tell a lie, because mid-afternoon we were driven off the beach by a combination of our fast-developing char-grilled appearance and the sudden appearance on the beach of one, then a second, gaggles of Chinese yoot partaking in fun group activities, led by young men with microphones attached to VERY SERIOUS AMPLIFICATION! The noise level had to be experienced to be believed. And it just went on and on and on. And this on a small beach, where there was literally no getting away from it. As we packed up and departed, we passed a number of westerners looking no more impressed by it than we were.
So, mutual immortalisation by mobile and ear-splitting community hand waving. What larks, Pip, what larks.
Personally I’ll take the heroics of Vietnamese youth any day, this from last night on our way back from an excellent dinner:
I love these propaganda posters. You see them all over the place, and they all have this distinctively soviet graphic look about them – all earnest young people engaged in Honest Endeavour for the Good of The Nation. This one was just by the bus station back in Ha Giang. I don’t know what it says, but I’m sure it’s an inspiration to all.
Bet they don’t spend their days mincing about on the beach, pouting at each other for hours on end.
Still hoping for more nice weather for our last few days – it’s clouded over again just now. But next time we’re going to have a little more respect for Mr Sun.