VIETNAM TUNNELS

I like Vietnam.  In fact I think I like it here more than any of the other places.  Its funny how each country has its own "feeling".  The people here are very friendly and not so terribly poverty stricken (at least not on the level Cambodia is) that it becomes a barrier between us.  We had a fantastic guide yesterday.  He, as did all Vietnamese, came to see the American forces as the enemy.  He himself was born during the war, but he was brought up by a community that is still reeling from the effects of that war.  The US dropped napalm all over the area.  Consequently everything living died.  All the foliage we see now is regrowth.  They are into the second generation of children being born blind and missing limbs.  His own father died at 45 (after spending a year as a pow).  Thousands upon thousands of Vietnamese are still missing…and will never be found.  Millions died.

It was interesting being on a bus that had quite a few veterans of this war on it.  So many conflicting thoughts and feelings.  All I can say is I don't think I have ever been so glad to be Canadian.  We were not major players in this war.  We also had  some Aussies on the bus.  They played a pretty large role as well.  But what really can be said is this:  all around from every angle…this was not America's proudest moment.  They simply should not have been there.  Obviously someone somewhere profited from this war, but it sure wasn't the Vietnamese.

The country is beautiful.  It really is.  Its soft and gentle and rolling rice paddies etc…The area we went to was lush and green.  The tunnels were pretty mind blowing.  Its hard to imagine how they built over 250 miles of tunnel with little baskets and little chopping tools.  They are like the little engines that could.  When the fighting became too great, the whole village, several hundred people, would go down into those tunnels.  It was hot and almost unbearable.  But being blown to bits or napalmed was worse.  Truly incredible.

Today we are in Nha Trang.  We have hired a private car for the day.  I am happy about this.  Bill is increasingly difficult to drag around.  He does exactly what he wants to…no care for what is going on.  And if he pays attention he can hear what the guides are saying just fine, but he doesn't.  He depends on me to repeat everything, keep track of where he is supposed to go, remember the bus number and the times to be back to it.  So, yesterday I told him I just simply wasn't going to.  It was up to him to hear everything, pay attention and be where he was supposed to be at the right time just like everyone else does.  So I took off and kept up with the guide.  And sure enough, right away, I look back and there he is, all absorbed with the first display in the bush we came across.  We had all looked, taken a picture and moved on.  But Bill?  Nope.  There he stands, taking 40 million stupid pictures, paying no attention to us at all.    We disappeared into the bush on one of the many trails.  Left him behind.  The guide had a helper that continuously had to go back and show him the way.  Selfish much?  Later, much later, we ended up at a beautiful spot on the river for lunch.  I took a seat, saved him one and proceeded to dish up etc.  No Bill.  We started to eat.  No Bill.  The guide comes and asks me where Bill is.  I dunno! I state.  After a good half hour some lady comes over, with Bill in tow, and cheerfully states, "I found your husband for you."  I didn't speak to him, for almost the rest of the trip.  And why, I ask, is it the women that get the glares when their husbands misbehave?  Why are we supposed to keep them in line?  But, after yesterday I see he must be treated like an untrained two year old.  He could do it, he just chooses not to.  Makes me mad…can you tell?

Today will be better.  But I know I will have to interpret everything the guide will say.  Bill won't understand his accent and doesn't hear that well in a noisy car.  I will see if I can arrange for him to sit in front.  Should help.  Anyhoo, I gotta bounce and go get some breakfast.  Bill is still in bed.  Think I'll leave him there!!!  TTYL