Far away places with strange-soundin' names Far away over the sea Those far away places with the strange-soundin' names Are callin', callin' me
Goin' to China or maybe Siam I want to see for myself Those far away places I've been readin' about In a book that I took from the shelf
I start gettin' restless whenever I hear The whistle of a train I pray for the day I can get underway And look for those castles in Spain
They call me a dreamer, well maybe I am But I know that I'm burnin' to see Those far away places with the strange-soundin' names Callin', callin' me
(I pray for the day when I'll find a way Those far away places to see) Those far away places with the strange-soundin' names Callin', callin' me

This is a song by Bing Crosby.

I first heard it from my dear old dad over the phone after we were talking about my trip plan to Vietnam. He sung it to me in his aged Irish accent voice and it was wonderful.Even now, as a young man my fathers voice still has that same effect on me from when I was a boy.I hear it as a gentle unrelenting force that calms me down. The only way a father can. I see my Dad in a whole new light these past few years as I've gotten out on my own and seen a thing or two. I'm inspired by his adventures and mis-adventures that are the back bone to his career as a author.

Like all our dads he was once wild and like the wind and now has the stories to prove it. He has always told me "David , you're doin' da rite ting" in pretty much anything that involves some risk .All through MAST, he was a phone call away from telling me before every week long outing to the woods "You're doing the right thing" When I asked My beautiful wife Elissa to share her life with me he said " David, You're doing the right thing" My doubts are strong and I'm often lost in thought about all the things that could go wrong abroad. But if you think forever things will never change. I trust my dad. He has been around a couple few times. He might know what he's talking about. But then again he is my dad.....but I love him anyway. Thanks pops.

So looks like when I land, I'll have a few days to check out Ho Chi Minh city by my own because my climbing partner doesn't arrive until the 11Th. classic Toby. So send me your prayers and good thoughts my way if you think of it. You would be doing the right thing. Ha.