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Published: June 10th 2004
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Haircut
This was the best haircut I have ever gotten. They massaged my head for twenty minutes. I hate Supercuts now. Greetings from hot and humid Hanoi!
Hanoi is one of the two largest cities in Vietnam but it has such a small town feel because most of the architecture is older and French style. Remember that Vietnam was occupied by the French, Chinese, Japanese, U.S. at one time or another although the French were here the longest which is why they have amazing french bread here. After being devoid of bread in China, Danielle and I are devouring bread like...well the French. I've learned all of this history from going to the museums here and it's a bit disconcerting to see the Vietnam war called the American war .
But it makes sense that their museums are slanted to a more pro-Vietnam-Communism view. They have a right to be bitter after being invaded so many times. By Portugal, China, Japan, France, and us. We look a little bit better because we didn't want to actually take over the country like those other guys, we just wanted South Vietnam to beat North Vietnam (communism). However it seems like America is vilified much more than any of those other countries. Everyone mentions how terrible the Vietnam war was yet are happy
Chinese Train
Kids like me and Doc Ock again that the Vietnamese have such wonderful French bread and desserts. The U.S. is not only a bad guy, but seemingly the worst guy and that’s just not true. We shouldn't have been here, for any reason. But despite some of the supposed anti-American sentiment, (people have warned me to to say that I'm American and that I’m Canadian), I'm not listening. Most of the Vietnamese people weren't alive during the war and I am one of them. Every country has black marks against them, it's the way of the world. It's also the way of the world to move past it. To always remember, but to move past it. If John Mccain can, anyone can. Living in this heat makes you appreciate how hot it must have been for the American troops. I can't imagine them in full gear in this heat. It's so hot here, that the trees by the lake actually grow in the direction of the water in order to get more moisture (true)
Speaking of which, the Hanoi Hilton is a scary place. Originally it was used by the French against the Vietnamese, but as you know, it became the prison for Americans. I look
Sick Eric
I'm steaming up... in those rooms and it makes you shudder to think that someone actually lived there. They have pictures showing how humane the Vietnamese were to their prisoners, but there was a war going on. I'm sure they weren't following the Geneva Conventions to a tea either. It puts what's happening in Iraq with the prison abuses in a educating light for me. It's a war that's going on and bad things happen during war, plain and simple, on both sides. Again, going back to what I said before, this is the way of the world and the way of history. Every country was or is guilty of something at sometime .
To add to the small town feel is the fact that it seems like all people do is drive around in scooters and eat ice cream. Seriously, hundreds of people are parked on the street and eating really bad chocolate ice cream. The vanilla's not bad but it's definitely not Baskin Robbins.
Danielle and I are millionaires. No, we didn't win the Vietnamese lottery, but their money system (Dong) is pretty whacked. $100 USD is worth $1,571,000 Dong. I have used every joke that I could with their
money that I could think of. Feel free to shoot back some of your best "Dong " humor. Just remember that "I whipped out my Dong and the Vietnamese lady was glad to take it" and “Can I get change for my dong” has already be used. This isn't Monopoly money, this is Milton Bradley’s game of Life money. Although our meal yesterday cost 200 grand so I think our millions will go quickly.
I'm still eating like a pig ,and even had my first burger, which for those of you who know my love of burgers will be amazed. A 60,000 dong burger, but it was worth every damn dong. Unfortunately, it's true what they said about dog. They do sell cooked dog in the street. Here is the Western joke that we've heard. When they Walk The Dog, they really Wok the Dog. (insert rim shot here)
We are headed for Sapa and Halong bay on a tour, which should be a great great time and some relief from the heat.
Take care and please pray for a breeze for us because we haven't felt one in the past 72 hours....Here are some last pictures from
China...
Eric
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