Started the day by walking (or rather, dodging motor bikes) to the Saigon River and then back around to the ReUnification Palace. The palace is the former home of the South Vietnamese president and is best known for the image of North Vietnamese tanks knocking down the front gate at the end of the war in 1975. Everything is still in place, including the president's meeting rooms, the radio room and living quarters. It looks like Nguyen Van Thieu just left for vacation and will be back soon.
Against my better judgement, I also visited the War Remnant Museum. If you believe the exhibits, it looks like the Americans lost the war and we were the bad guys. I suspect there is enough blame to go around. It is an effective anti-war presentation.
Ended up at Ben Thanh Market, a large indoor and outdoor market. I got chased by several shoe shine boys who insisted that I desparately needed a shine. I tried to pursuade them that the "scruffy" look was in vogue in America, but they were unconvinced.
It is 92 degrees and muggy. Think I'll go upstairs to my air conditioned room and take a nap. Life is good!
Against my better judgement, I also visited the War Remnant Museum. If you believe the exhibits, it looks like the Americans lost the war and we were the bad guys. I suspect there is enough blame to go around. It is an effective anti-war presentation.
Ended up at Ben Thanh Market, a large indoor and outdoor market. I got chased by several shoe shine boys who insisted that I desparately needed a shine. I tried to pursuade them that the "scruffy" look was in vogue in America, but they were unconvinced.
It is 92 degrees and muggy. Think I'll go upstairs to my air conditioned room and take a nap. Life is good!
1 comment:
Hi Joel, just found out from Jared that you were in Viet Nam-what an experience! Looks like you are enjoying life to its fullest (as usual!). I passed your blog around the Potlatch office and everyone wishes you well.
Also, Rand is jealous and wishes he were there riding with you as well. Please email us some pics when you return.
Take care of yourself and hopefully we'll see you when you return to the states
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