Happy Chinese New Year! The whole time we were in Vietnam we focused on trying to out before "Tet"or the New Year because things tend to shut down during that time (little did we know, same goes for Cambodia..that's later). After Mui Ne beach we headed to Ho Chi Minh City. This was like NYC for the Vietnamese, ruthless motorbikers - not so different from other cities in Vietnam - but in Ho Chi Minh it was worse because there were TOO many of them! The rooms were getting pricey because of Tet but we managed to find something decent. Carrying our backpacks - that weight as much as a little child - up a very narrow and winding PINK staircase was the last thing we wanted to do after yet another bus ride, but the room was cheap and we were tired of looking for a "better deal." We ate at an authentic place where Rachel and I got a seabass hot pot served with rice noodles. YUM! It was great at first - the fish had some bone in it and I felt one go down my throat and all of the sudden I was reverted back to Italy when I was 5 years old and choked on a fish bone - so after that moment I decided to eat slowly and quietly and double checking before I swallowed to avoid that traumatic feeling again. Towards the end of the hot pot it was starting to taste too sweet and on the way back my stomach was feeling funny, but no troubles :).
The next day Rachel and I booked a trip to see CuChi (pronounced coochie) tunnels. These were the tunnels the Vietnamese used during the war to live, escape, cook, and trap intruders. We all got to go into a hiding place (one at a time) which was cool and very inconspicuous. We also got to crawl through some of the tunnels. As everyone entered the tunnel one by one I saw the people in front of me start taking their time and stopping so I freaked out! I consider myself a semi-claustrophobic person, so I decided to run out the same way everyone was coming in, pushing people to the side so I could get out!!!! Why would anyone wana spend longer in those tunnels then they have to?!?! they seemed TINY and HOT and I had to get out!
I go to meet Rachel at the other end and the first thing she says, "Dude be happy you didn't go, it was so small and hot!" So I didn't feel like I missed much, but an unnecessary panic attack. During our tour we also got to shoot an AK-47, of which I couldn't really feel the power of it because there was a man holding your shoulder while you shoot so you don't feel much of a recoil - I wanted my money back.
We ate some multicolored corn on the cob (too chewy and needed butter) and tapioca (looks like a yam, no taste). We also had tea with our fellow "groupies" where an Aussie couple questioned my claustrophobia and called me "mate.""
--Side note about these people with accents - so funny when you listen to them talk, but not so funny when they look at the blind stare on your face because you could barely make out what they said - and you find yourself having that 'äha' moment and suddenly you understand and respond to what they said after what seems like / or probably is, 10 minutes later.
After our COOCHIE tour, we went to the War Remnants Museum - but before that we had to eat, of course. So we stopped at a local Pho place and ordered beef Pho. The beef was too chewy for my liking and after we finished I asked the guy if the beef was cow beef or dog beef...? He laughed and said "oh, I dunno" (don't worry, I ate just the broth and noodles).
Back to the museum, saw a photograph taken during the Vietnam War protests in Kent - a very emotional pic of a girl on her knees crying, and screaming in horror. There were plenty of horrifying pictures which left me questioning why did American get involved and also understanding why Vietnam War Vets are - for lack of a better word - fucked in the head. So devastating. Being in this museum had made me conclude that everyone hates America especially when we got involved in Vietnam, but there was no history in this Museum about America and their explanation.
Also, this museum has lead me to the tangent of how war is selfish. The government can't get their shit together so INNOCENT people suffer - hardworking men, women, children and UNBORN babies suffer because there is no resolution until one day they have a meeting and say, "hey I think we reached the quota for killing pregnant women and fucking up the future generations who will suffer from deformation, mental retardation, and other horrible unforeseen things due to the horrible chemical warfare and killings we have bestowed on these people because we can't communicate and agree on peace until we fuck up some lives - but not our own of course." And I understand that people join the army to protect and serve their country, and that's great, but the INNOCENT people who just live and love get tortured and killed too. Maybe they should leave the fighting between the armies and not the people who didn't sign up for possible death.
The next post will start on a very bright note, I promise! (we are going to get beachy!)
The next day Rachel and I booked a trip to see CuChi (pronounced coochie) tunnels. These were the tunnels the Vietnamese used during the war to live, escape, cook, and trap intruders. We all got to go into a hiding place (one at a time) which was cool and very inconspicuous. We also got to crawl through some of the tunnels. As everyone entered the tunnel one by one I saw the people in front of me start taking their time and stopping so I freaked out! I consider myself a semi-claustrophobic person, so I decided to run out the same way everyone was coming in, pushing people to the side so I could get out!!!! Why would anyone wana spend longer in those tunnels then they have to?!?! they seemed TINY and HOT and I had to get out!
I go to meet Rachel at the other end and the first thing she says, "Dude be happy you didn't go, it was so small and hot!" So I didn't feel like I missed much, but an unnecessary panic attack. During our tour we also got to shoot an AK-47, of which I couldn't really feel the power of it because there was a man holding your shoulder while you shoot so you don't feel much of a recoil - I wanted my money back.
We ate some multicolored corn on the cob (too chewy and needed butter) and tapioca (looks like a yam, no taste). We also had tea with our fellow "groupies" where an Aussie couple questioned my claustrophobia and called me "mate.""
--Side note about these people with accents - so funny when you listen to them talk, but not so funny when they look at the blind stare on your face because you could barely make out what they said - and you find yourself having that 'äha' moment and suddenly you understand and respond to what they said after what seems like / or probably is, 10 minutes later.
After our COOCHIE tour, we went to the War Remnants Museum - but before that we had to eat, of course. So we stopped at a local Pho place and ordered beef Pho. The beef was too chewy for my liking and after we finished I asked the guy if the beef was cow beef or dog beef...? He laughed and said "oh, I dunno" (don't worry, I ate just the broth and noodles).
Back to the museum, saw a photograph taken during the Vietnam War protests in Kent - a very emotional pic of a girl on her knees crying, and screaming in horror. There were plenty of horrifying pictures which left me questioning why did American get involved and also understanding why Vietnam War Vets are - for lack of a better word - fucked in the head. So devastating. Being in this museum had made me conclude that everyone hates America especially when we got involved in Vietnam, but there was no history in this Museum about America and their explanation.
Also, this museum has lead me to the tangent of how war is selfish. The government can't get their shit together so INNOCENT people suffer - hardworking men, women, children and UNBORN babies suffer because there is no resolution until one day they have a meeting and say, "hey I think we reached the quota for killing pregnant women and fucking up the future generations who will suffer from deformation, mental retardation, and other horrible unforeseen things due to the horrible chemical warfare and killings we have bestowed on these people because we can't communicate and agree on peace until we fuck up some lives - but not our own of course." And I understand that people join the army to protect and serve their country, and that's great, but the INNOCENT people who just live and love get tortured and killed too. Maybe they should leave the fighting between the armies and not the people who didn't sign up for possible death.
The next post will start on a very bright note, I promise! (we are going to get beachy!)
What's up Anya???...dang sounds like you had a really prolific experience!! that's awesome...even though it obviously came at others expense, but i'm glad you were able to take from it what you did...i'm reading the autobiography of Malcolm X right now and i'm all fired up to...pretty incredible what the White Man has done through out history and has been priveleged by the rest to get away with...ok any way...it's cold as ever here in T Ride and still no snow...kinda a lame winter but it's almost over and then on to DENVER ...did you say you ate dog hahahahah that's classic man...hope you don't bring that habit back to the states folks over here might lock you up in a white coate....so how Ginormous did those lil tunnels make you feel hahahah....i shot an AK once it's pretty wild feeling....also a wild feeling going all the way over seas and then seeing your al matar in pics dealing with a war...pretty profound stuff...well keep on keepin on and i'm really enjoying reading about your trip....stay Lost so you can get Found!!!!
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