Monday, December 04, 2006

Ho Chi Minh City

I had a long night last night of jet-lagged sleep. There are no windows in the bedrooms here, so I had no idea what time it was when I kept waking up.
I got up this morning and went to the HCMC Museum. It was built by the French for the governor back in the 1880s. There were about 5 couples getting wedding photos taken in and around the museum. It was neat to see wedding dresses, etc.
When I left the museum, I decided to go with a persistent man who insisted on taking me around the City. I was going to walk, but now I'm glad I went with him. He biked me around and told me about the city, took me places I probably wouldn't have gone otherwise.
Walking in the streets here is taking your life in your own hands. Everyone gets around on mopeds and motorcycles. There doesn't seem to be any system for taking turns, staying in lanes, crossing streets, etc, except cross your fingers and hope no one hits you. It's like that frogger episode of Seinfeld times 100.
I visited a Chinese pagoda, built in 1900, the old presidential palace, and the Vietnam War Remnants Museum. The last place had an amazing display of photography taken during the war by photojournalists who were later killed.
It's hot here, but not unbearably so. There's a nice breeze that blows. None of the museums were air conditioned, so it got a little oppressive.
The city looks a lot like other cities I've been in. I'm looking forward to getting out of the city. Tomorrow, I'm going to visit the Cu Chi tunnels. They are tunnels the VietCong used during the war. Then, I'm going to explore the Mekong delta for about 3 days before I head north.

4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Lauren,
George (Habitat) here. Glad to learn that you arrived safely and survived your first day on the streets of HCMC. I'll print out your travelogue and post it at the site for the rest of the crew to read.

We had our annual Habitat celebration last Thursday evening at Orchestra Hall. They fed us with a buffet of "light hors d'ouvres" then ushered us into the hall for a couple of relatively short speeches followed by the main event, which was a concert by the O'Neill Brothers. (Two Pianos...mostly Christmas Carols and some "favorites" {Great Balls 'o Fire, Minnesota Rouser etc.} called out by the audience). It was enjoyable to visit with the crew and their spouses away from the job site.

It sounds like you've got your first few days pretty well planned out and we'll look forward to reading "chapter 2".

Take Care.

George

9:07 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The long Texas goodbye,
Nada mas que estoy aqui casi llorando porque no ni siquieres sabes lo cuanto que te quiero. sabes que tines lo envidia de muchos por lo orgullo que tenemos en ti. estoy bien feliz que llegaste bien y me imagino que por los proximos meses va todo con los ojos increibles del mundo de tu alrededor. No te preocupes mi amor, lorenita, sabrs que estare leyendo esto y que esatre rezado por ti, por tu felicidad, y que no tengad parasitos. te quiero mi capitanta. que te agarre la vida


julie

8:36 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

p.n.

estaba pues un poco..... perdoname por lo mal escrito

8:39 PM

 
Blogger Raquelita said...

I've signed up for a fake blog I'll never use. Sorry, internet, for the pollution, but I want be able to comment on lauren's lovely blogs. I'm sure its not the worst anyones done to you. I digress.

Lauren! You are safely on the other end of the world! Thank goodness. I'm so glad that you can write as you travel, it makes you feel a little less far away. Good luck with everything, I can't wait to hear more. Much love.

1:46 AM

 

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