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This log is current to January 3, 2009 November 10, 2009 in Hanoi, Vietnam While we were not able to take pictures, we were impressed by the seriousness with which the viewing process is taken. Everyone -- Vietnamese and visitors alike -- showed the utmost respect. This former le Being here was a somber experience for us. We found ourselves pondering the wisdom of American intervention. A large statue of Ho stands in the museum near his mausoleum, and people line up to have their photos taken with it. (in this photo is Becky) We were surprised that so little of the museum is devoted to the Vietnam-American war, as is the case in the national museum in Laos. We have been made to feel welcome in Vietnam, and have enjoyed the friendship of the Vietnamese people we have met. We are pleased to add Vietnam to the list of countries we have visited over the years. November 14, 2009 in Nha Trang We are finding Vietnam about as expected: good value, pleasant climate, aggress November 20, 2009 in Saigon We find Saigon fascinating -- frenetic, varied, fast. It’s not a place to slow down, but we’re finding it interesting. We’re nearing the end of this 7th trip to Asia (we’ve spent a third of the past year in Asia) and will soon fly to Bangkok. After visiting friends, we’ll fly home, arriving on the day we leave, thanks to the international date line. This trip has been different. Although it will be only 54 days total, it will cost more than previous trips two or three times that long. In the past, we have rented apartments and lived as much as possible like the locals. This time we are just tourists...except for having saved a little girl in Nepal from a terrible and threatening situation. We loved b Photo: Saigon, from our hotel window (Vieng Dong). We didn’t expect a Communist country to be this open, but the only place we felt any signs of oppressiveness was at the airports and “Uncle Ho’s” mausoleum. November 22, 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand We leave Asia without having related a number of things. We’ll cover them in a new log when we are back at headquarters. Meanwhile, we offer this picture of Meena and Anna, the two girls we helped rescue from abusive and dangerous circumstances in Nepal. Meena came from near the Tibetan border and speaks Tibetan, Anna speaks Nepali, They live in a safe place in Kathmandu -- as “sisters.” We and a friend in Red Lodge will support them to adulthood. December 2, 2009 in Montana December 11, 2009 at headquarters in Montana temp end |
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n Hanoi we set off to view the body of Ho Chi Minh. He died some 40 years ago, but has been beautifully preserved. The body has recently been returned from Russia, where he underwent a professional restoration.
ader is revered for having defeated the Americans.
ive and loud but generally nice people. 
oth Hanoi and Saigon. Hanoi’s old quarter is a terrific place to hang out (don’t get run over), and central Saigon is the same (don’t get run over). People are friendly and an evening out stopping here and there for seafood and a beer is a special experience. 
in first class. We’ll have 7-foot long beds in little “bedrooms.”