Get Organized- Get Our Lives Together

Dear my loyal vicariously living readers,

This will be a report of recent occurances, but also, it will include my thoughts on Vietnam as a whole. Nate and I have dubbed each leg of our trip as a tour. Like a tour of duty. Cambodia was "Earn Your Stripes Tour 2005." This was because we were getting our feet wet, adjusting to travel life, and also, to be honest, we were both quite lazy and didn't want to go to the bar to get beers. It was kind of like pledging all over again...get ready Sean. Malaysia was the "Mark It Zero Tour." This was in part due to our mutual obsession with the film "Big Lebowski," but it also was because it became the catch-phrase for rolling with the punches thrown at us by airlines, buses, trains, and moto drivers. Things never goes as planned, so "mark it zero," and move on. Vietnam is the "Get Organized Tour." We have hit more snags with Vietnam due to visa problems, lack of planning, and a basic carelessness, so we are trying to put our lives back together. I think its working. We are now on a health kick that includes more fruits and vegetables, less fried spring rolls, stir fried pork, and of course, less beers.
HALONG BAY:
It's been said for generations, and I will say it once more, Halong Bay is“heavenly.” It is so breathtaking and supernatural that you would think it is from another world. Over 3,000 islands occupying a small part of the ocean. This was a three day adventure. We stayed on the boat for a night. This of course turned into a ridiculous evening of cards, ending up in a midnight swim. The weather was less than stellar, but that added to the islands mystery, intrigue, and ancient feel. It was thought that dragons swam about and lived in some of the grottos and caves. I could see why. Mark this place as a MUST DO in your life. Inexplicably amazing.

HANOI, Part II:
Our Halong Bay tour featured Brits, Germans, Aussies, a Canadian, and a Dane. So, we all came back to Hanoi together and rolled thick to the pubs. At least now I can speak a little German- "Ich bin bertrunkene" - "I am drunk." For most of today, Nate and I have been running around planning out the rest of our trip, buying plane tickets, getting visas, etc. We are forced to do some flying against our wills. However, I must say, the hellish 38 hour bus ride from Hanoi to Vientiane that a Brit descibed for me sounded like it would be more fun to cover myself in honey and lie in an ant farm. So its a hour and fifteen minute flight for $100 instead. Phew, I am almost glad we are short of time and forced to fly.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Saigon is a microcosm of the whole country. Saigon is a city in transition. There is no shortage of contrasts that you would expect to find in any city pulling itself out of the depths of what we once called the Third World, and now, what we politely call underdeveloped. But no sooner do you think it has broken free when you turn a corner and come face to face with a group of homeless children shaking their cups at you. Around another corner dilapidated buildings that should have been condemned and torn down long ago house dozens of families. Yet, only a block away plush hotels line the streets, and Gucci and Chanel products are readily available. Such diversity, gaps, and unique development, this is Vietnam.

In response to my comments about being hassled and smiling, my dad said "Each time the bus stopped, the entire village would swarm around me like I was a big fat turd, and they were flies. They had never seen anything like me before. I shooed the flies, but of course, if you're a turd, that doesn't much help. They just laughed, never having seen a turd wave its arms in such a funny way." You said it man. But you get used to it. Im back to my super-smiley self, and everyone always gets a polite "no" in response to any question.

In the end, it's a gorgeous country. Mountains, hillsides, small villages, big booming cities, beaches, jungles, rice paddies. As the cliche goes, my pictures don't do it justice. I will be posting Vietnam soon...I hope. The food, I mean, simply put- delish fish, always mo pho, and rice is nice. The people, as smart as a dart is sharp. They never cease to amaze me. Rice is not just a staple, it's a way of life. Planting, growing, gathering, and eating is non-stop. The people don't have much, but you really don't need much to love and enjoy life. Perhaps everyone should take a step back from their daily lives, and ask yourself, what do I really need? Needless. Live by it. You will take pleasure in the little things more. AC, good books, delicious cheap food, a ice cold coca cola on a hot day, an ice cream after a sweaty bus ride, a walk through a market after a meal, you know, the little things.

So that's it. Nate and I are off for the northwest to a place called Sapa. We look forward to a soul building rest as we climb Vietnam's tallest mountain, Fansipan. We fly to Laos on May 16th. Crazy. It's the middle of May. Time flies- aprovecharlo- take advantage of it.

SHOUT OUTS: Happy Mother's Day to all of you mom out there, you are loved and appreciated; to my MOM, you are the best there is, thanks for everything; Got to give it up to the graduates, good work, now brace for the real world, or those lucky souls graduating high school, get pumped for college; to those taking exams or finishing them, congrats and good luck, respectively; Kate Jay, keep em coming; Carrie and Paul, good luck with the wedding planning, I hear things are getting out of control; Katherine, welcome home, don't worry, I will have him back in one piece