Dragon Diaries: Second Edition (The Constant Epicurean Series)

Dragon DiariesBy Dennis W. DavisA journey through lockdown, resilience, and unexpected paradise.In Dragon Diaries, acclaimed travel writer Dennis W. Davis invites readers into an extraordinary and deeply personal travel memoir set during one of the most turbulent times in modern history—the global COVID-19 pandemic. But this isn’t your typical tale of quarantine and crisis. This is the story of a family caught between worlds, living through the pandemic not from their home in Georgia, but from the vibrant, chaotic, and breathtaking landscapes of Vietnam.What began as a limited online series on Davis's popular travel website, The Constant Epicurean, quickly evolved into a sweeping, emotional, and at times humorous memoir chronicling his life abroad with his Vietnamese wife Diem and their children. From the empty skies above Da Nang to the quiet resilience of isolated mountain villages, Davis documents life under lockdown with striking honesty, cultural insight, and a heartfelt sense of wonder.Across typhoons, sudden lockdowns, closed borders, and intimate family reunions, Dragon Diaries explores themes of home, belonging, and adaptation. You’ll visit the lantern-lit alleys of Hoi An, endure rainy mountain treks to remote An Lao, and navigate the surreal reality of deserted tourist beaches, empty cafés, and shuttered markets. Amid it all, the book pulses with the heartbeat of daily life—homecooked meals, rooftop reflections, shared fears, and fierce hope.With the flair of Bill Bryson, the heart of Pico Iyer, and a touch of Bourdain’s irreverence, Dragon Diaries is a moving travel memoir, a pandemic journal, and a love letter to a nation that faced uncertainty with quiet courage. It is also a story of family, fortitude, and the beauty that can still be found when the world stops spinning.Whether you're a seasoned traveler, an armchair explorer, or someone reflecting on your own pandemic journey, Dragon Diaries offers a rare, immersive glimpse into a moment when everything changed—and what it meant to live through it with purpose. Read more