It dosen't rain in Kansas!
Trip Start
Jun 05, 2006
1
52
94
Trip End
Jul 15, 2007
Nah Trang,
Vietnam
Monday, September 18, 2006
I sometimes think about how I end up in the places that I do. I am on the other side of the world? Here I am today in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Last week I was in the middle of the "broken world" of Cambodia, and in a few weeks I will be in the People's Republic of China! It is crazy when I think about how much praying was done during my parents generation that they would never have to end up here in Vietnam, and then to think about how big of an effort I made to be here.
5 reasons why I am more out of place in Vietnam then the "Dixie Chicks" at a Texas BBQ.
1. I am a foot taller then any Vietnamese person that I ever meet.
2. I am closer to a shade of "pink" then I am to "yellow."
3. After 2 weeks in the country I can successfully "not" speak a word of Vietnamese.
4. I look like a "fool" in a Vietnamese rice hat.
5. I am living in a world of uniformed "crazy eyed people," which makes me the one with "crazy eyes!"
Random story:
Two nights ago I was leaving from a beach party at about 2 A.M. to walk home my Russian friend. The Russian girl made a comment about wondering if the lady boys would be out on the corner tonight? I thought nothing of it, lady boys are everywhere in Asia. When we got about a block away from the bar we were approached by a group of "lady boys." I need to mention that this was the worst excuse for a group of lady boys that I have ever seen! My first thought when I saw them approaching was, "what the hell is that?" Within seconds we had 3 of them surrouding us. The first thing one of them did was grab my crotch. I noticed right away that "it" had his other hand in my pocket. Of course my first instinct was to shove away this "creature of the night"(sorry to use such a harsh term, but he was grabbing my crotch and trying to steal my money.)After we finally got away from them the girl told me "oh yeah, they are there every night doing that." I said WHAT? You mean to tell me that after he "violated me" and had a go at my pockets? Needless to say I was upset with her about not giving me a little warning! I later found out from other travelers that these "freaks" stand on the same corner every night and wait to "feed" off of drunk tourist. They are not even lady boys. I was not drunk so I realized right away what they were doing. But I could easily see how this scam could work. Most people are so shocked by the "freak" grabbing them that they would not realize he has his other hand is in there pocket.
USA - kicking Ass and bringing Democracy to the world since before you were born! Unfortunately we lost the war and over 2 million people lost their lives in the process, but think about all the fun that was had, and besides it makes for a great film.
VIETNAM WAR FACTS!!!
* By the end of 1973 when the USA pulled its forces out of Vietnam 58,183 Americans were dead or listed as MIA, 223,743 South Vietnamese Soldiers were dead, and an estimated one million North Vietnamese soldiers were dead.
* Approximately four million civilians (or 10% of the Vietnamese population)were injured or killed during the war.
* The war cost the USA $165 billion (A bargain really if you think about "bringing democracy to Iraq" has already cost the USA over a trillion dollars!)
* 15 million tones of ammunition had been used.
"When you live out on the border of everything and nothing, There is nothing but waking a dreaming" ~Counting Crows (Barely Out of Tuesday)
I'm off to see the wizard! ~Johnny Nomad
