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Other entries in Saigon

a few words about...

my guide...before I leave HCM city. this is the guide I had on the tour of the cu chi tunnels. he used to serve for the US military and when the war broke out, he was called back to viet nam to fight against the viet cong. according to his introduction on the bus, he'll be retiring from guiding in a few days. he sent out the disgruntled-employee-vibe in huge waves - always seemed 2 steps away from flying off the handle... it was a little creepy at times. and I realized then that I get embarrased by other people's mis-directed anger....and that it's been a long time since I've seen an angst-ridden asian. (maybe those 2 women brawling in chao doc, but that's about it).

he was also a monologist - a perfect job for a guide! (that or school teacher). this was fully confirmed when he opened the floor for questions, a question was asked, he answered for maybe 4 seconds, but then tangented back to HIS topics.

despite the challenge of his accent, within all that talking, he had a few good lines worth recording, plus a few other observatins along the way:

-the chinese are a tiger country, but SE asian countries are ruled by the chicken. know why? cheep, cheep, cheep. (to which I silently added - also a pitcher country. pour, pour, pour)

- "a lonely planet is a bullsheet book" (here here)

- with the guides accent, "cu chi" sounds like "gucci". does get a socalite mixed up on this tour...

- I finally see grafitti, but ironically, it's in the rich neighborhoods here.

- when our bus backs up, it plays "its a small world afterall".

- on how narrow the cu chi tunnels were in spots: "americans and their fat asses cant fit through here"

- a classic (I bit my tongue): "a good cook is a good wife - that is all."

- also from guide: "american boot is bullsheet" (in regards to boots vs. sandles in the jungle/monsoon)

I also saw an exhibition of childrens drawings - intense to see their images of war. SO not influenced by video games (which a kid from the US would likely include in their drawings). these had images of handicapped people, amputees, crutches, wheel chairs, families, blood, burning houses, tears. in addition to the 'usual' bombs, weapons, guns, tanks. very eye opening - especially seeing drawings of planes with "USA" written on the side bombing the country).

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