My thoughts so far

Vietnam is definately an adventure.

I realized that I'm pretty bored of the city, especially on a vacation. The countryside and small towns are what I'm interested in. Maybe it's my roots showing or just simply the way that I was brought up. I'm really glad we got a chance to see the Halong area so far, waiting to go to the center region of the country. That should be beautiful.

I love food here, we're not eating enough authenic food/larger shared portion type of home-cooked meals yet though. I think the tour company is shooting for some comfort for the guests. The food in the north is amazingly bland and boring. I'm really anxious to eat more from the coast.

Americans don't eat much compared to the Viet people who are here. Put some food out and the Americans will pick at it and eat small amounts of things, the Viet people will not leave any waste. I think that the Vietnamese mindset is still that of famine and hunger. It's closer in history than the US depression. Americans are also kind of put off by the thought of eating dog meat but people around here just don't care.

Speaking of the people, it's very interesting to be able to understand people. Let me give you a few examples:

• While walking the markets and taking photos, the ladies running the dog meat stand said, "Why are you taking photos?" She told the group to get out and not take photos. The rest of the group didn't understand this but I did. It hurts because some of these people are embarassed by the situation that they are in and don't want others to see it. They don't want tourists walking through their country and taking photos of their poor lives... their pride is hurt.
• I've been confused as not a tourist because people are surprised that a Vietnamese person would take the tour. At our home dinner, the whole group was greeted and they kind of overlooked me. I sat down and they were surprised. I spoke Vietnamese to the hosts on my end of the table and had a discussion with them and forced the group to speak English and figure it out on their own. Tina listened in and talked a little as well. That's definately a surprise for most people.
• We ran into some kids and one of them dropped their bike. I helped pick it and and told them to be careful in Vietnamese, the little girl said, "Are you Viet?"

I asked Quang if I 'look' Viet enough. He said that I'm too clean cut and the way that I dress would make me stick out. People here are impressed that I can speak and understand, as am I. I can understand quite a bit... was afraid that I couldn't. Speaking is pretty good, there are words that I don't know but it's working out. I'll have to let Tina tell you how she feels about the language so far.

Traffic is intense. The rule of law is pedestrians have right of way over motorcycles and cars have right of way over everything. People pass on the right and the left with no hesitation and pull U turns everywhere. They drive in the wrong lane of the one ways and really don't care. Speed limits are suggestions. You'd never get anywhere if you did it. If people say that Bangkok is noisy, Vietnam is worse. The only thing that you hear are car and bike horns everywhere. That and everyone flashing their lights at each other. I rode in the front seat of a small bus two nights ago... I couldn't believe the driving! The bus also pulls over for photo stops anywhere it wants. We've blocked roads and nobody cares.

The only good thing about the traffic is that it is all motorbike traffic. 90% of the veichles on the road are motorbikes. Regular bikes you don't see in the city much. I heard that the government charges 100% tax on a car built in Vietnam and 200% on an imported car. Toyota, Hyundai and BMW have local plants so they are considered built locally. This sort of a tax keeps the number of cars down to the very rich and diplomats. We saw a Ford Explorer with Virginia plates. Gas is about as cheap as it is at home.

Employment. Everyone works. You either work for someone or you're self employed. We are constantly followed by solicitors on the street selling T-shirts or post cards. This is non-stop but they only target the tourists. If you don't have skills to get a white collar job, you'll sell something. Everyone works, young and old.

Pride. The Vietnamese people are very proud. As I said earlier, people don't want to be caught doing something that others would think lowly of them. People will run away from someone taking photos... well from me, not necessarily the American tourists in the group. The fronts of their houses are painted beautiful colors while the sides and back are still concrete gray. This is because it's not visible and as important. They are proud of their families and of their elders. We always get introduced to others in the family when you talk to them and their family is nearby.

The people are strong... hard workers and healthy. The old are still as witty and spry as the young. The morning tai chi around Hoan Kiem lake was really cool. The people live in a world of being with others and find reasons to congregrate with others. This is just a natural feeling.
Machinery is not found much here. Most agriculture is still human powered. This adds to the strength that you see. The tour group asked if they use tractors for harvest. A tractor would be like going to the moon for these people. They couldn't afford mechanized agriculture ever in their lives.

Back to my original thought, the countryside is beautiful. I'm sitting in the hotel room and looking outside. The mist is rolling in and I can see outlines of the islands in the bay and also of the ships. The sun is slowly breaking through the clouds... every minute is another photo shot. This is beautiful. Yes! I can see more islands! The mist is lifting!

I'm a simple man, give me some rolling hills or some mountains and I'll be happy.

That's it for now. Time to pack.