Closing up the Trip.
It's now been about 2 months since returning from Asia to Colorado. I realize I didn't really conclude the trip so I will try now.
After 7 relaxing days in Hoi An, Vietnam we flew to Ho chi Min City (formerly Saigon). Today it is a bustling city with worse traffic than I have previously described. Full of micro Entrepremeurs, tour buses, backpackers, McDonalds etc. Interesting visit to the former Presidential Palace and the War Rememberance museum.
The War Rememberance Museum includes a captured US helicopter, small piper like US plane and a couple US tanks. Although there is occasional talk of American Imperialists it is not dominated by that attitude. More an attitude of "we won...lets not brag too much except to thank the present government." Included was a section of the effect of the war on children, journalists who died during the war and non US press accounts of demonstrations against the "American" war. No mention of assistance from Russia or China. Reguardless very moving.
We happened to be there on the "liberation day" anniversity in which the Viet Cong took Saigon and America left. How did they celebrate? Fireworks....looked a lot like our 4th of July.
Leaving for the trip to the US included a flight from HCMC to Hong Kong with an overnight in Hong Kong. Hotels are expensive in Hong Kong so I booked a $50 a night on a web site. Seems address changed from booking to instructions and to find the location we went up in what can only be called a tenement....found a woman with no English skills...but she understood I would pay $50 for a bed in a box for the night. She took us a couple buildings down an alley and up to 5th floor (sign on elevator said if elevator stops, Don't Panic) to a room about the size of two double beds with one double bed inside. We survived safely behind the three locked doors.
Long flight to LA (Security twice in Hong Kong due to regulations for US bound flights) and eventually into Denver with new train from Airport to downtown and on the bus to Alamosa.
In the briefest of summary, I enjoyed South America and it's majestic mountains and vistas. I found Asia interesting and educational but not on my list for an early return. I believe Denyse felt just the opposite. That's why it's a big world!
It's now been about 2 months since returning from Asia to Colorado. I realize I didn't really conclude the trip so I will try now.
After 7 relaxing days in Hoi An, Vietnam we flew to Ho chi Min City (formerly Saigon). Today it is a bustling city with worse traffic than I have previously described. Full of micro Entrepremeurs, tour buses, backpackers, McDonalds etc. Interesting visit to the former Presidential Palace and the War Rememberance museum.
The War Rememberance Museum includes a captured US helicopter, small piper like US plane and a couple US tanks. Although there is occasional talk of American Imperialists it is not dominated by that attitude. More an attitude of "we won...lets not brag too much except to thank the present government." Included was a section of the effect of the war on children, journalists who died during the war and non US press accounts of demonstrations against the "American" war. No mention of assistance from Russia or China. Reguardless very moving.
We happened to be there on the "liberation day" anniversity in which the Viet Cong took Saigon and America left. How did they celebrate? Fireworks....looked a lot like our 4th of July.
Leaving for the trip to the US included a flight from HCMC to Hong Kong with an overnight in Hong Kong. Hotels are expensive in Hong Kong so I booked a $50 a night on a web site. Seems address changed from booking to instructions and to find the location we went up in what can only be called a tenement....found a woman with no English skills...but she understood I would pay $50 for a bed in a box for the night. She took us a couple buildings down an alley and up to 5th floor (sign on elevator said if elevator stops, Don't Panic) to a room about the size of two double beds with one double bed inside. We survived safely behind the three locked doors.
Long flight to LA (Security twice in Hong Kong due to regulations for US bound flights) and eventually into Denver with new train from Airport to downtown and on the bus to Alamosa.
In the briefest of summary, I enjoyed South America and it's majestic mountains and vistas. I found Asia interesting and educational but not on my list for an early return. I believe Denyse felt just the opposite. That's why it's a big world!
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