still in Saigon...

Hahaha, yeah, my whole trip has been about getting the chance to write those words. Haven't gotten myself wasted in the hotel room only to punch the mirror and bleed on the sheets yet. If you've seen Apocalypse Now, you know the reference.

The last few days of this trip has kind of been like "Fear Factor Lite: Vietnam". First, there were the three suspension bridges. As most of you know, I can't swim worth shit, and those things were basically balancing acts. You had to keep your foot in the middle, directly above the middle cable. Only three of us could fit on at a time, and some of those planks were looking mighty worn. Then we went to the Cu Chi tunnels and partly crawled, mostly squatted our way through 120 meters of tunnel. Did I mention there were bats in the tunnel? Fortunately, it was too dark to see them. You were lucky as long as long as their wings didn't flutter in your face. Now today, I rented a bike and made my way around Saigon (I know it's Ho Chi Minh City, but everyone still calls it Saigon here). That was fun. It's kind of like driving stoned. You're so paranoid that it you're instantly sober and paying attention like your life depended on it. Cuz it does. Will be heading out again after I take a shower. If you don't hear from me again...Just kidding, I'll be sticking around this neck of the woods, relatively safe.

All in all, Saigon is a pretty cool place. I was put off before from warnings of previous backpackers, but this place is like a macrocosm of Asia coming to terms with capitalism. Hanoi was old, rickety and very homogenous. Saigon has a pulse like New York or HK. Of course, I haven't had any encounters with thieves of beggar children with sticky fingers either, so this rave might all change by the time I leave. Merry Xmas and Vive La Révolution!