Just South of the Mason Dixon Line!
Trip Start
Jun 05, 2006
1
54
94
Trip End
Jul 15, 2007
Hue,
Vietnam
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Where am I?
I am in a Central Vietnam in a town called Hue. Hue is about a hundred kilometers South of the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (AKA the "DMZ" or the 17th parallel.) The 17th parallel was the line that during the war divided the Communist North Vietnam (poor/undeveloped) and pro-Western South Vietnam (more developed.)
Super basic facts on the Vietnam war:
The Vietnam War was a conflict in which the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV or North Vietnam) and its allies (Soviet Union, People's Republic of China) fought against the Republic of Vietnam (RVN or South Vietnam)and its allies (United States, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.)
North Vietnam = Had a Communist Government
South Vietnam = Had a Democratic Government
Now all of Vietnam is communist
Viet Cong Spy
.American combat troops were involved from 1959, but not in large numbers until 1965. They left the country in 1973. The war ended on April 30, 1975, with the capitulation of South Vietnam by North Vietnam forces.
I have been really surprised by the high quality of life in Vietnam. I am anxious to see what the North is like. Travel in Vietnam has been super easy with very little hassle so far. The quality of Vietnamese hotel rooms are super high! Maybe the highest quality for the price that I have ever seen. For on average $5-6 a night you get a private hotel room with color/cable TV, clean towel, hot water, and a comb. I bring up the question, who uses a communal comb?
Random comb story (my only one):
When I was growing up in the late 1980's "switchblade combs" were super cool! If you want to know what a switch blade comb is you must have not been around in the 1980's? It looked like a switch blade knife, but instead of a knife it had a comb inside. Anyway I won one of these at "da fair." You must be thinking to yourself right now why am I still reading this? He has finally run out of material! You are 100% correct! It is raining and I am bored! It was the only comb story I had in my "bag of stories," but seriously who uses a communal comb?
Random semi(but not really)related story:
When I was in University the "gel" or "wet look" was a super popular hairstyle with guys my age. I really wanted to take part in the "new trend" so one night before "going out" I put some gel on my head. After a few hours of "working the dance floor" I could not figure out why no girls were picking up on "the vibe" I was tossing out thick? Not a single girl even wanted to talk to me? Then I went into the bathroom and had a look in the mirror. In all the commotion of me "tearing up the dance floor" I had not realized that all my "man gel" had worked itself into a "greezy puddle" on my fore head?......... OK, so not a single bit of this story is even remotely true other then I sometimes get "funky" out on the dance floor! But I bring up a second hair related question of the day? Besides "the Fonz" who looks cool with greece in their hair anyway? But honestly, it really is raining!!! I going to quite while I still have some dignity!
"I ain't got nothing against no Viet Cong." ~Muhammad Ali (On refusing military induction. He was jailed for draft dodging)
"The future's for discovering the space in which we travel in." ~Coldplay (Square One)
Dancing with the stars! Your "greezy" host....... ~Johnny Nomad
I leave you with a random pirate joke:
Q: What did the two retired pirates say to each other?
A: LONG TIME NO SEA!!!
