These lyrics have played through my mind often in the last several weeks especially while exploring Vietnam and finding a much different country than expected. We crossed the border into Nam in one long 6 hour bus ride from the capital of Cambodia all the way to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). The transition was smooth since we rode the same bus and only had to get off briefly at both borders, a relief after our last border crossing into Cambodia where we constantly were approached by scamming locals with fake visas and currency exchanges at half the going rate. We arrived in HCMC on a Friday, the kickoff of a weekend long tourism festival that was being held at the city park 2 blocks from our hotel. We took the opportunity to indulge in Vietnamese fair food at least once a day Josh enjoyed green papaya salad while I preferred the artery clogging dishes (deep fried steamed pork buns, tempura shrimp, sweet marinated meats, anything battered and greasy). The weather was hot and humid so we spent a couple days touring the sights around the city and made plans to head to the coast. We visited the War Remnants Museum which consists of left over US aircraft from what the Vietnamese know as the American War, weapons and artillery and several displays on different American offenses. The most upsetting display for me to see was the images of mutated bodies of Vietnamese people effected by the use of Agent Orange, very graphic and disturbing. We also toured the Independence Palace which used to be the White House of Southern Vietnam before it fell to the communist regime in 1975. Ultimately the palace was a collection of big rooms with stale smelling carpets, polished wood furniture and a basement full of 1970's radio equipment where the president had his war room.
Independence Palace
Presidential Receiving Room
Helli-pad on the roof of the palace
Bomber jet at the War Remnants Museum
G.I. Josh
Sweet sticky rice and banana log purchased at the festival
The good view of the Saigon River
The ugly view of the Saigon River
Ho Chi Minh City SkylineSeeking relief from the hot sticky weather of Saigon we headed Northeast to the coastal town of Nha Trang. It was your basic beach vacation destination complete with sunbathers, little Vietnamese women offering massages and rice cakes while you try to relax by the water and overpriced snorkeling tours to the surrounding islands - all of which we thoroughly enjoyed =)
Josh Hasselhoff =)
Palapas with comfy beach chairs to rent at 25,000 dong per day ($1)
We were the only non-Asians on our snorkel tour and for some reason they really wanted us to sing with the band. Josh serenaded them to the metallic version of Zombie upon their request, unfortunately I don't have a video.
Set break
We visited the local Aquarium with this cool gaping Lion Fish entrance.
Moray eels were one of the many aquatic species at the aquarium.
Hawk beaked Turtle
Giant pouting groupers
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