Here I sit at the Cú Chi Tunnels outside Saí Gón. Tourists can shoot an AK47 or an M16. How the worm turns.
They have made part of the tunnels bigger for western tourists. A short film to show how they made the tunnels, traps, and weapons from used US artillery. Now I know how Germans must feel. Hard to listen and watch as people want to have photos taken with mannequin Viet Cong. I feel so heavy in my heart. I flashback to husband Richard that was a 101st Airborne paratrooper here/twice. I cry for him and all the others touched by this madness.
The symbol for Viet Nam is the bamboo-flexible and strong. They are that. And forgiving. And they have a lot to forgive. I wanted to see what this part of the world was like. Not the war film on TV, not Richards trauma. I am pleased to see it is green now. Locals and foreigners are extending help to orphans, the victims of Agent Orange and other atrocities.
Stopped at a rubber plantation to see how the trees are bled. The bark is cut off to a depth of about 3/8 in. In a 45 degree angle with a cup made from 1/2 a coconut to catch the liquid. It smelled like glue.
Saigon has a mosaic on the side of the road that goes for almost 7 kilometers. Tells the history of VN. Another addition to the landscape are mile after mile of topiary trees, all shaped different. Very pleasing to look at.
Had lots of foot massages, know I will have more. Been on many boats from Hanoi's Han Long Bay to the Mekong Delta outside Saigon. Ate a deep fried silk worm, And some new fruits. Saw a different bottle opener and a man that can open 6 bottles at once with them. Good trick. It consists of a nut and bolt almost to the end if a piece of wood 7x1x1.5. Hook head of bolt on the cap and firmly strike the other end. Voila, it pops off with a flourish.
Three train rides. I did not know girls really scream and jump on the bed when spying mice. Yes, there were many on one trip. Yes, they do get into Orio's.
A Japanese company is introducing milk for babies. Conference at our hotel. So against nature. Lots of Russian tourists in Hoi An. Beach resorts are the draw.
Traffic is amazing, I do not use that word lightly. Walking on the sidewalk to get my, yet another new, suitcase fixed. I was surrounded with motorbikes. They go anywhere, any direction, red or green-no matter. Like a school of fish how they work around each other. Bike helmets have an upside down U space at the back for the pony tail. Kids are held on with a sling around it and driver.
Was told that one chopstick will not feed you, two together will. Shows how working together is the way. Can see it here.
The houses are one room wide, and many stories wide. All side by side, like fingers.
Some prices: $1.00 = 20,000 Dong
New glasses: $120-exam, Celine Dion frames; $20 for replacement lenses for old frames, and done in one day.
Baskin Robbins: two scoops, $4, oh, it was candy floss and praline.
Found my favorite European hair color: Keune-$7. Color and developer
French bakery: four goodies-$4
Pedi socks: $.50
Lemonade: $1.50
Taxi: $1 - 3
Purse: $4
Face mask with polka dots: $.75
Brocade small bag: $1
Shoe repair men on the street corner, sitting on tiny stools, fixing away. Got my new hand made $35 shoes fixed inside the heel, had given me a blister. $2. They have good glue and all the tools they need right there. Impressive.
Foot bath with the tiny fish was a laugh. $5.
Just had my last massage, it was a whopper. Said my back hurt between the blades. That little boy walked all over me, with his feet, knees, hands, Tiger Balm, hot towels. He really worked out, lots of grunting on both parts.
Oh, and the toilet is called, Happy House. Like it.
Good by Viet Nam.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
China part 2. 2012
Sun-maid raisins took on a new meaning. The Urumqi area is the grape capital. Brick buildings with open work, for poles to go through to hang grapes to air/sun dry.
Hunduang has big arches over the street with lots of lights and color. Did help to identify where the hotel was.
Hugh rocks are used for signs or that they look like an animal or another significant deity.
Liujiaxia is akin to scary science fiction in that it is so industrial. A tall stack with hugh gas burning flame. We could feel the heat in the truck.
Around Urumqi, in the Taklamakan desert are hugh mounds of dirt, that I imagine were dumped by giant dump trucks. Devoid of life. Another part of the desert was dark, flat, bit rocky. This is the desert that says if you go in, you will not come out, in the original Silk Road days. Then, when a city is finished, roadsides are covered with flowers, greenery, sculptures, topiary.
Stopped at a roadside stand for roasted chicken, my bowl had, not one but two heads. Guess it was good luck, not for the two headed chicken.
Foot massage: herbal soak, reflexology, massage of-feet, calves, thighs, arms, shoulders, hands. All for about $8. Nice.
Beijing hotel lobby. Had three cycladis in a cage, three cages of singing birds-2 to a cage. They all made noise.
Boiling water available everywhere. Train station had many instant noodle eaters, including me. I was eating mine, noticed many eyes watching. The noodles were hot, so I gave a bit of a show. Also had to change my suitcase, the Greek one busted an axel, not rolling well. That seemed to be very entertaining to watch me change suitcases. Now I have a giraffe pattern one. Yippee
When a new vehicle is bought, a red ribbon is tied on somewhere. And, it stays.
Umbrellas are made for motorbikes that attach behind the handlebars and extend back over the rear seat. Ponchos for bikes and bicycles, even saw one with two heads.
Little stools are used to sit on about the size for kids.
The new rich can buy the expensive new clothes, however, do not have the knowledge to put it together well.
Many Williebets trucks out of Germany that transports goods to the US groups in Afghanistan from Lithuania.
Money: 6.2 Yuan = $1.00
Gas: 6.2 liter
Water: 2 to 10
Beer: 2 to 10
Noodles: +- 6
Hunduang has big arches over the street with lots of lights and color. Did help to identify where the hotel was.
Hugh rocks are used for signs or that they look like an animal or another significant deity.
Liujiaxia is akin to scary science fiction in that it is so industrial. A tall stack with hugh gas burning flame. We could feel the heat in the truck.
Around Urumqi, in the Taklamakan desert are hugh mounds of dirt, that I imagine were dumped by giant dump trucks. Devoid of life. Another part of the desert was dark, flat, bit rocky. This is the desert that says if you go in, you will not come out, in the original Silk Road days. Then, when a city is finished, roadsides are covered with flowers, greenery, sculptures, topiary.
Stopped at a roadside stand for roasted chicken, my bowl had, not one but two heads. Guess it was good luck, not for the two headed chicken.
Foot massage: herbal soak, reflexology, massage of-feet, calves, thighs, arms, shoulders, hands. All for about $8. Nice.
Beijing hotel lobby. Had three cycladis in a cage, three cages of singing birds-2 to a cage. They all made noise.
Boiling water available everywhere. Train station had many instant noodle eaters, including me. I was eating mine, noticed many eyes watching. The noodles were hot, so I gave a bit of a show. Also had to change my suitcase, the Greek one busted an axel, not rolling well. That seemed to be very entertaining to watch me change suitcases. Now I have a giraffe pattern one. Yippee
When a new vehicle is bought, a red ribbon is tied on somewhere. And, it stays.
Umbrellas are made for motorbikes that attach behind the handlebars and extend back over the rear seat. Ponchos for bikes and bicycles, even saw one with two heads.
Little stools are used to sit on about the size for kids.
The new rich can buy the expensive new clothes, however, do not have the knowledge to put it together well.
Many Williebets trucks out of Germany that transports goods to the US groups in Afghanistan from Lithuania.
Money: 6.2 Yuan = $1.00
Gas: 6.2 liter
Water: 2 to 10
Beer: 2 to 10
Noodles: +- 6
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