In case you don't know, I have just "retired" from being an English teacher in Japan and am now taking a month off to travel before heading. Currently, I'm in Saigon (HCMC), and tomorrow, Lord willing, I'll head to Australia. So since it's my last night in Vietnam, I thought sitting down at a computer and typing a lengthy blog would be the natural thing to do... actually, we're in for the night, and I have some memories I want to record while they're still fresh--ergo, this Top 10 list of sorts:
Some of the Really Cool Things We Saw in Vietnam:
10) Last night, when we arrived in Saigon from our coastal resort/village, we discovered a surprise thunderstorm (rainy season is still a month away) had completely flooded part of the city--nearly two feet of standing water in some of the streets. Not exactly what you hope to find in a place that already has problems with sanitation.
9) The Traffic. It's crazy. Motorbikes are everywhere in Saigon, and their only rule appears to be, "Don't get killed." Horns blare constantly. On our bus ride through rural areas, our bus honked its horn an average of about 12 times per minute--at anything: huge military trucks, motorbikes, suicidal cyclists, chickens, road kill.
8) There were several tourist sites near our resort, where we found the children to be very helpful. When we stopped at a certain temple, a gang of elementary and preschoolers met us and gave firm assurance that we need not worry leaving our rented motorbikes there--they'd keep an eye on them for us. And they did, for which service they expected a little bit of dung (Vietnamese currency) upon our return. Extortion by preschoolers...
7) But they were nothing compared to some kids we met near the red sand dunes. They flagged us down on our motorbikes, led us to the dunes, carried makeshift "sleds" for us, took us to a premo spot on the dunes, prepared the sleds and the downhill slope with damp sand (which apparently lessens viscosity)--and then cussed us out thoroughly in English after it was over and we didn't pay them as much as they wanted. Oh, the evils of child labor--kids as charming and sweet as money, not affection, can buy. But we made up in the end, with all but the oldest and savviest of the lot, too sly and world-wise for his own good.
6) Travis and I having ample opportunity to flirt with two girls (i.e. young women) who worked at our resort, to the great personal amusement of Jessica.
5) In fact, in general we've seen a lot of giggling and stares. Flirting is a major facet of the price negotiations going on in the markets. Tonight as we made our way through Saigon's biggest marketplace, Travis and I eventually abandoned making any attempts to find something actually to buy--instead we just got to stopping to talk to very pretty girl we saw--quite a busy night. Strange as it sounds, that crazy, busy, sweaty market in downtown Saigon had no shortage of good-looking girls. I'm thinking of proposing to one tomorrow... I'll keep you posted.
4) Talking to our hotel manager last night. A Vietnamese man whose father fought for the south (the pro-US side) during the Vietnamese "Conflict," for which reason he faced in-country discrimination and thus had to attend university in Australia. Gave us lots of insight into Vietnamese thoughts on tourists, Americans, and the state of things in 'Nam. Very enlightening.
3) Meeting all kinds of crazy travelers, many very friendly, almost all of them white. Only recently have I realized how privileged and wealthy white people are in general, the world over. Sheesh... FYI, in Vietnam, as in most Asian countries I've visited, they avoid the sun as religiously as we bathe in it. The reason? To prevent getting darker--they want to be as white as possible. Whitening skin creams, as in Thailand, Japan, etc. are big business here... Wow, don't I feel like the rich young ruler (and I'm currently unemployed).
2) Worshiping with the Christians at a small but thriving congregation (denomination unknown) in the fishing village near our resort. They used an organ that sounded more like an accordion, which, combined with their sing-song language, produced an unfamiliar but quite beautiful effect.
1) Today we went to a waterpark in Saigon (the best I've ever been to). While finishing out on the Lazy River, Travis and I were having inner-tube races. I neared two little Vietnamese girls, who seemed to be a little frightened. As I passed the older of the two, she gave me a curious look, then said, "Are we wacing (racing)?" I said, "What?!" and she repeated her question, in perfect little-kid English. So I answered, "Yes," and the game was on. Turns out the two girls were perfectly bilingual, though I have no idea why, as all personal questions, such as, "Where are you from?" were met by an immediate stone wall (those girls knew better than to talk to strangers), but for about two laps on that Lazy River, Travis and I had ourselved two very cute and very fluent little friends. Then we parted ways so that we could find Jessica and they could find their mommy. Kids are so cool--everywhere.
That's it! I'd better head up to our hotel room so that Jessica and Travis can chide me for wasting nearly an hour typing on the computer--when I'm in Vietnam! Good night!
