Letter home

Dear Dad and Mum
I was posted to the Border town of Ha Tien, we have strike out for Rach Gia and then further into the Mekong Delta. The locals of this small provincial towns are really friendly and have looked after me, they seem shocked to see me as I pass and are always yelling out hello. I have crowds gather when I stop to view my transport, In fact when I was poising by my bike someone asked me to move out the way so they could have a better look at the bike.
The terrain is mostly flat with a few small hills, after leaving Ha Tien my path hugged the coast line. On leaving Ha Tien I came across the locals up to their knees in mud on the mud flats at low tide, it seems hundreds head out to gather crabs. It looked liked colored spots through a dark brown land scape.
The road carried along the coast for some way till it took a turn in land, no hostiles here at all, I stopped for food in a small town of Kien Luong, the locals gathered around me to watch me eat, it is a strange sensation, I felt a little uncomfortable, not that I was threatened but more that I hoped I was eating with the correct ethics. Not sure if Ethics is the right word but you know what I mean.
I had thought Rach Gia was only 50km away but it was 95km away, by the time I got there with the late start and the hot day I was pretty tired. I found a good room just across from the local market, The colors and the people are amazing, already had a few local girls tell me they love me. I had had a break earlier in the days and was invited to sit down with some locals, I was told by one that I was a handsome man. Seems myself esteem and ego are getting a boost in Vietnam.
Once I was stationed and dug in for the night at Rach Gia, I headed out to find a map, the first shop I got directions to did not have the maps I wanted, a local girl offered to take me to another book shop that might have the maps I wanted, it ended up that the shop was across town so I rode her bike and she sat on the back it was a bit of a laugh, at one stage she asked me to slow down. We managed to get the book so I can work out the distances and the terrain I may encounter. Very sweet young lady.
I stopped for dinner at a café next door to my hotel, it seems cafes here don’t sell food, I was given a coffee drink, and then one of the girls went across the road and got me some food. You know how I don’t like coffee and I would have felt bad about sending it back, so the plant that was by me had a bit of a drink, hope it servives.
I think you would love this country, the people are amazing, I only hope it stays like this all the way north. I have about two months left of my tour of duty.
Hope all is well at home, Take care.
Love Steve