When I was working as an HR Manager in Kuwait, we had 24/7 operations. Some of the folks on night shift complained there was no HR representation available to them, so I volunteered to take the newly established 5:00 am to 5:00 pm shift to be able to take care of all of the questions/issues that popped up at night. Other members of the staff were relieved that I heroically stepped up to take that time slot, which meant getting up at around 3:30 am to get ready and make the drive and wait in line to get through security. Heroic? Not in the slightest. Quite cowardly, in fact. I was terrified of the 7:00 am to 7:00 pm shift. Getting off at 7:00 pm meant getting home at around 8:30 pm. And in my whacked out sleep that’s frequently the middle of the damn night.
Some people are night owls, some are early birds. My early bird-ness is off the scale. Or so I thought. I’ve been in Thailand and mostly Vietnam for the past month +. I’ve been coming to Thailand fairly regularly for about the last 40 years but I only visited Vietnam for the first time in 2019. On that trip, I discovered that my Circadian rhythm chirps to the same tune that many Vietnamese hear. And this time around things are the very much the same.
I started out in Bangkok to visit Bumrungrad Hospital, where I like to come every year for a comprehensive physical. I had just the first few days planned because I wanted to get a clean bill of health before thinking of my next move. Clean bill of health: cha-Ching! Then I spent a few days marveling at the fancy pot stores that had opened up since last year in Thailand and then hopped over to Vietnam. I thought I’d spend a few days in Da Nang and after day one, I planted my flag. Why? Well, there’s decent surf, there were a few museums I wanted to see and because my people were right outside the hotel, on the beach. Walking, exfoliating their skin with the sand, doing syncopated dances, exercising and swimming. There are people on the beach at around 4:00 am. It’s crowded at 4:30. By 5:00, it’s a party, completely thronged. Mostly old people, and that’s okay because I’m old too. Their Circadian rhythm says to me, “You are like us. This is okay. This is normal.”
Early morning aerobics/syncopated dancing
By 5:00 am, the beach is packed
I think it’s fantastic. It’s been pretty much the same in Hanoi, HCMC and Nha Trang - a LOT of people out early. Very early. Dancing. Playing badminton. Cycling. Of course, in part they are out at that time to beat the heat because it does warm up quickly. I’ve been all over SE Asia, and I’ve never seen so many people out - exercising - so early. When I head back, I’ll miss the long walks on the beach at a reasonable (to me and my Communist Vietnamese friends) time and the fantastic fruit and food as well. Time to settle back into the normal rhythm (for me) of life. 6th try at retirement was a charm!
The fruit
And the food. Mango salad. I’ll be adding this to my repertoire.
