End of Bangkok and Vietnam

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So I am now in Vietnam... I am still in culture shock after two days here... but first I should finsih up Bangkok. I spent the last day there (the 28) going to the Jim Thompson house. Jim Thompson was apparently in the military stationed near Thailand for WWII and loved it so much he set up a house here - which is really six or seven Thai houses put together. The gardens were beautiful. I also ate lunch at the biggest shopping mall in the world I've ever seen. I've been to many places but I have never seen something as intense as this.

Hanoi - 8/29, 8/30/2006

Now on to Vietnam... "motobike motobike" anyone. Wow.... so I got here yesterday as was so overwhlemed. The women who owns the guest house where I am staying is really nice (its pouring outside now). I was able to set up my tours to Halong Bay and the Sapa hill tribes in the North. My first night in Hanoi I saw a water puppet show. It was really cool but the damn battery in my camera ran out so I couldn't really take any pictures or video. Then I came back and went to bed.

Today (8/30) I did a lot. I decided to take a three wheeled bicycle thing to the Ho Chih Minh Mauseleum. Bad idea. It started pouring and the guy bought me a poncho. He then said once we got there he wanted 20 USD. First mistake. ALWAYS ask how much something is before getting in. Now I know.. I always knew but it wasn't in my mind... now I ask the motobikes and its usually likew a dollar (the rain here now is intense covering everything like a sheet).

So I saw Ho Chi Minh in flesh and blood. Scary. Apparently its a big draw for locals too. I was lined up with hoards of Vietnamese people. There were no cameras allowed inside. Afterwards I went to the One Pilla Pagoda. Then the Temple of Literature which was apparently the first university in Vietnam decidated to Confucius, It was beautiful. Lots of gardens and pagodas. Oh yeah I also bought a three prong adaptor so I can charge my laptop and another cell phone recharge card (I now have cell phone numbers in three countries). I was able to load my pictures onto the computer (my USB is temperamental in my three year old laptop).

Then I ate lunch. I;m never really sure what I'm eating here. I just point. I had pho with beef for breakfast and some soup thing with dumplings in some little stand for lunch. So far my stomach is holding up fine.

Off to Halong Bay tomorrow which is supposed to beautiful. Sleeping on a boat. Then off to Sapa in the North - a 12 hour train ride away.

Looking forward to getting to Maw Sot and starting my work (and maybe learning some Thai).

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Photos

Jim Thompson house
Beautiful gardens and house of Jim Thompson.

Hanoi is crazy...
Life in Hanoi...

Poverty in Hanoi
Makes me remember why I'm doing public health. I stumbled onto a small sidestreet.

Temple of Literature
Beautiful.

One Pillar Pagoda
Beautiful Pagoda right near Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum

Comments

[Wayne]

Looks Beautifull!
Although I miss you terribly, It looks like you are seeing a lot of beautiful sites and experiencing wonderful cultural events. So many westerners clump "Asia" into a category, but as you are seeing, the countries and cultures are very diverse. I hope the rest of your Vietnam experience is awesome!