VIETNAM
DECEMBER 20, 2000
I hope the above picture doesn't offend anyone. But often times in the backpack traveller world, the excitement of each day is ended with travellers swapping stories and drinking beer well into the night. Its part of the fun. So when I came across the picture of a monkey with a beer can, it seemed appropriate.
Anyhow, I just arrived in Saigon. I was expecting alot of the 3rd world harrasment combined with what i'd read in guidebooks, of having to hold on to everything you own, because people on bikes will steal it right off of you. Well, when I landed at the airport, none of this happened. Seemed pretty good to me. I guess I've seen worse though, because a few people complained about the constant 'where you going' of people who wanted to take you places for a buck or two.
Driving through the streets from the airport was quite a rush. All of the ladies with conical vietnamese hats. The incredible amount of bicycles, roadbikes, and mopeds, and all types of 2-wheel vehicles were quite amazing. The streets were filled with them. There aren't any crosswalks either. When people take left turns, they just start veering across the traffic and everyone goes around them. Also, when you cross the street, you just have to go into the traffic, and everyone works there way around you as well. Its really quite amazing. I expected alot of accidents with the chaos, but I didn't see any.. (well, not yet anyhow).
That night, I went to get a few drinks in the streets with one of my fellow backpackers. There are tons of these cool places, where you sit at a small table, and all of the tables and chairs face the street. The life in the streets are so incredible, it was a fascinating place to just sit and try to make sense of the chaos. It also seemed to be a popular activity among the Vietname, as I saw this throughout Saigon (not just in the backpacker area).
To read the Next Journal Entry (In Vietnam):
December 22, 2000
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Wintermoon2@yahoo.com