SVA guy The South Vietnamese Army guy told us several interesting stories. He decided to fight for the South while his brother fought for the Viet Cong. They would both call home to mom in order to relay warnings to each other not to be in certain places where attacks were to take place.
His brother apparently didn't marry until after the war when he returned home a war hero. His home villagers lined up all the eligible women and gave him his pick. Apparently, "he chose the youngest one" and now they have seven children.
The ruins were partially ruined by American artillery during the war -- the VC was operating down in the valley where the ruins are while the americans held the surrounding hills.
The SVA guy learned english during the war and is now a freelance tour guide -- as he was telling us these stories he flicked his finished cigarette among the thousand year old ruins. Clearly the UNESCO world heritage site designation isn't all that it is cracked up to be.
Pithy Susan is very pithy. I guess her boss has finally taught her how to write. Why should I not be suprised that she fell and got hurt. All is normal. All I need is Sheila calling up with a wierd disease. Maybe a Neuropathy from old agent orange. Well for all us boring parents, stay safe and have fun
So comforting... to know that Sue is falling and hurting herself so far away from home. Makes me feel like the world isn't so big after all, and maybe we all can get along... Happy New Year kids!
Ho Ho Ho Chi Minh I arrived three days ago as the first of the southeast asia seven in Hanoi. The hustle and bustle of this city is overwhelming and can be summed up in one word, SCOOTERS, like ten million and counting. The communist government apparently took the brakes off of the economy ten years ago and it shows. The people here are extremely friendly, the monkey fetuses and duck embryos are delicious, and best of all, everything is dirt cheap. I spent my first two days doing the typical touristy things on my own, vietnam revolution museum with a different perspective on the American war, zooming around on the backs of scooters after negotiating a 60 cent taxiing fare, and cruising out to Halong Bay on a junk to see the beautiful limestone cliffs and caves. Last night Seth, Sheila, Sean, and Sue arrived and we hit the big New Century disco with one of the hotel clerks for some techno dancing. The club was on par with some of the Tokyo clubs that I've seen during my stay in Japan for the last year. Looks like we'll be getting Christmas dinner tonight with Melissa and Colin where we'll engage in the Armenian gift exchange ritual. Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas.
showering in Seoul Much to my fellow travellers' joy, I did a little airport showering in Seoul -- probably not as clean as Singapore, but quite refreshing nonetheless.
elaine
non-member comment
bikes?
where did you rent mtn bikes in siem reap?