Day One, Tuesday, October 25th, 2011: Motor bikes
War Rembrant Museum or Chi chu Tunnels, The Mekong Delta or lights of skyscrapers in Ho Chi Ming City, kindnesses of people or crowded markets, difficult to describe and to understand. Vietnam is going to be one the hardest country to describe, so I will try to be short and to make it the way I saw it. Once we left lovely ship, we took a shuttle to the city center of Ho Chi Ming City. I was shocked how crowded it was. Motor bike were everywhere around us, chaos started J Standard people were with me, Woody, Luke, Kemel, Chelsey, Michelle and Megan. Couple of us wanted to find internet to buy tickets for China to go to see the Great Wall and Beijing which I was extremely excited. Once we found internet, we booked our tickets, it was time to go around Ho Chi Ming and meet our city for next 6 days. Me, Chelsey and Megan split and took our tour to somewhere.
Let’s be honest, I love tours on my own. I love people, but when there are 10 of us, it is very complicated to fulfill everyone’s wishes. Chelsey desperately wanted to find some temple where she could interview a mosque, so we tried to find some transportation to get there. I mean, there, she didn’t know where, so the things got a little bit more complicated. So, in the corner of the street, we decided to take a motor taxi which is pretty common in Vietnam. We found three guys who barely spoke English, but one of them understood word temple, which was kinda enough to get us where we “wanted”. Finally, in crazy streets of HCMC we got to some temple where we couldn’t find anyone which was annoying, but guys then took us to some beautiful place with couple of temples, lovely garden and nice people all around.
Three of us spent some time in this amazing garden and after a while we decided to have a lunch and to try local food what we usually do in every country. I love street food. This one was different, haha. We found some small “restaurant” on the street and decided to give a try. It was one of the most disgusting things I ever tried. Apart from some weird meat, we got some purple soup which tasted more like acid than like soup. Since, it didn’t smell the best there; we left that place very quick. Walking through that area, we found a guy who wanted to drive us to some famous garden in HCMC. The problem was that he was alone and there was no one around to get us there. Guess what? He suggested that all of us sit on one motor and get there. That is exactly what we did. Four of us on that tiny motor; it was just hilarious. Everyone was looking at us, because it was weird even for Vietnamese people.
We got there after one hour, since we had some stops, to meet locals. It was weird; however, once we got there it was closed. Nja, nja. Finally, we found one more guy, so we split. Me and Chelsey were with our driver and Megan went with another guy. We wanted to go to Opera House. After 30 minutes ride, we lost Megan, but we taught that her driver knew where we were going. We got in front of Opera House, but Megan didn’t show up after more than 45 minutes which made me a little bit worried. After having argued with our driver about the price, he finally left and we were free to explore HCMC on foot. We walked to the ship and went to our rooms to prepare ourselves for going out. That night was hilarious.
All dressed we took a cab to go to Apocalypse Now which was the name of the club. On our way to the club, taxi driver turned up the radio which was playing Serbian pop song. WTF? However, we got to Circle K, bought some drinks and started drinking on the street. Chelsey and Michelle were out of control very soon, which forced us to go to the club. It was cool, but full of SASers, which I personally didn’t like. Well, I was dancing the whole night until Michelle got really drunk, so I had to take her out of the club. I hate being the one to help, but I didn’t have choice. Once I got out of the club, I had something to see. Chelsey was throwing up and Luke, Megan and Woody were there to help her, I mean support J Very soon, we took a cab and got to the ship. I was really concern that Chelsey would not make through the security of the ship, but somehow she swiped her card after three times and she got it. Michelle did pretty much the same. We were safe and passed out in less than 3 seconds.
Day Two, Wednesday, October 26th, 2011: School for deaf and orphanage
The second day I had my FDP, which was visit of school for deaf children and orphanage. I was so excited for this FDP. First school was interesting, because I was able to use my knowledge from sign language that I was studying on the ship. Oh, I was so happy. Kids were amazing and adorable. Even they are deaf, they are capable for anything. After we passed through that school fast, we took our ride to orphanage.
In one of the crowd streets of Ho Chi Ming City, covered with all these motor bikes and vehicles, there is a small place close to the city center, known as Thung Tam Bao Tho. This place is a home for approximately 300 kids who do not have parents and who are disabled. These children are the consequences of the Vietnam War and Agent Orange Operation. Walking through the orphanage, you could see disabilities that we could see only on the TV and the scientists’ channel. Facing reality of people who suffered for many years during the war, but at the same time, facing the reality of children who are not guilty for anything, who did not have time to be quilt and who are still suffering. Suffering for someone’s mistakes, interests or just political moves? One president, another, one leader, another. Really, it does not mean anything. Who cares about presidents and leaders, their goals and interests? Every war is lost before it even started.
We should first educate our youths about the past, so we will not repeat it again. It is not easy and it might be painful, but it is less painful than repeating mistakes over and over again and killing thousands and millions of people all around the world. Vietnamese people are more than kind, especially in this orphanage, but this kindness makes me feel even worst about the things that happened just 35 years ago. Agent Orange was done 35 years ago, but consequences are still very obvious and who knows for how long children will feel consequences. They are paying for the things they have never done. Generations after Vietnam War are still going through the hell, even though many of these kids were not born at that time.
We should all learn from ours and others mistakes and that is the way to make this world better place to be. Around the globe, achievements lead to joy, injustices lead to anger, and risky situations lead to fear. Some things and feelings are the same everywhere in the world.
I entered the room with 20 kids lying down in their beds and absolutely unable to move anywhere. Some of them were able to sit and normally to use their arms and legs; most of them have serious problems with head and scenes that I saw there were disabilities that I could only watch on discovery channel. I hugged each of them, caressed and spent some time, but there was one bed isolated from all others where I could see a little girl not able to move her legs and barely able to move her arms. Her spine was straight and not able to bend. I was shocked. Her hands were squatted and cold. I caressed her for 30 minutes singing songs for kids and holding her hand. After 30 minutes, she opened her squatted hands and started smiling. For me that was a gift better than I ever got in my entire life. When I came back the last day, I spent most of my time with her, trying to give her as much energy as I have.
There are no words which can describe my emotional states. I felt blessed for having opportunity to give all energy to kids that not just need it, but deserve it. These kids were not just born disabled, but they were left by their own parents. I am always asking why? Most of these kids are consequences of Orange Agent and Vietnam War, which made my emotional state from sad and weak to angry and helpless. On one side, we are promoting human rights, but on the other we endanger them for our goals and interest. I survived bombing of my country when I was 12 and I know that I am not quilt for anything, but I was a victim of couple world’s political figures and their interests. These kids are marked forever. My emotional states went from love and positive energy that I shared and got, to absolute angry after visiting War Museum and realizing how far away human stupidity can go. For whose mistakes are these kids punished?
After I finished my FDP, I met Chelsey and Megan to go to hotel where we stayed, since Chelsey’s dad came there to visit her and reserved one room for us. Niceeeeeeee.
Day Three, Thursday, October 27th, 2011: The Mekong Delta
Ok, from now on I am making this shorter, I promise.
The third day, we decided to go to Mekong Delta. It is approximately 2 hours away from HCMC and it is amazing natural resource of Vietnam. It was nice the whole day. We had a chance to try different types of fruit on the way to Mekong Delta. Also, we had couple of performances of Vietnamese people who were singing and dancing for us. Once we got there, we had a ride on a small wooden boat and it was great. All of us had lovely Vietnamese hats and we looked like from the postcard J
Lunch was very good, we had a chance to try real local food and it was so delicious that we ate that again in HCMC. Also, I tried honey directly from bees. It was scary, but I did it. I hold piton which was scary too, but it was not the first time, so I was courage. Haha. During the lunch, I met backpackers from Germany and I loveeee them. Very cool people from Munich. Finally, we took a long ride on a big boat through the Mekong Delta and it was really nice. I enjoyed the whole trip.
After we came back to the hotel, we showered quickly and went to some fancy restaurant where Chelsey’s dad paid the dinner. Obviously, since my poor budget cannot afford it. Me, Chelsey and Megan went to have a walk that night. Actually, we were looking for Sky Bar, but on the way there we met some cool guys in one park and decided to stay with them. They are from HCMC and most of them work, because they can’t afford to study or they don’t want whatever. We rode their bikes and spent all night with them, made a deal we will meet tomorrow night, same place, and same time.
Day Four, Friday, October 28th, 2011: Market Place
To be honest, I don’t remember what we did this day. I think we spent most of the time in the market place looking for some cheap things. Everything was really cheap, even for me J Bargaining was funny again and I got some cool things, such as jacket and back pack. Happy me.
Me and Megan went to War Museum. It was one of the hardest things I ever seen in my life. Museum showed pictures from Vietnam War and how it affected whole nation. I was shocked by photos and texts I saw. I learnt about Vietnam War, but I have never seen pictures and statistics. It was frustrating. Once more, I became sick and tired of American foreign policy. We are talking about human lives and not about dolls or objects. Too much about war I guess, time to move on with my blog. However, if you ever have a chance to visit Vietnam, go to War Museum and see what these people went through only 35 years ago and how actually they were nice with all of Americans while we were in HCMC.
Will we ever stop this battles that even we don’t know who are we fighting for? Believing that we are serving for our country, but in fact we are serving in interest of couple figures in politics. Someone said: “Only dead people saw the end of war”. Many people saw the end of war, but the question is are they going to be able to live with that?
Who is responsible for the war in Vietnam? The US government? What does it mean? For me nothing. Walking through the orphanage, I saw disabilities that I could see only on TV and the scientists’ channel. I faced reality of people who suffered for many years during the war, but at the same time, reality of children who are not guilty for anything, who didn’t have time to be quilty and who are punished. Punished for whose stupid interest? One president, another, one leader, another. I don’t care about them and I want this world to understand that every war is lost before it even started. You want me to make believe in something that I don’t want.
“Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all the people have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives.” Let me laugh about that and let me laugh to your face about equality and freedom of speech. I would like to include and very modern term self-expression value. I am sure you know what I am talking about. However, I don’t give a shit about that either. Go to the hell, you and your fucking hypocrisy. I was just wondering how you made all these poor soldiers believers in your stories. How can you live your life with a fact that you killed thousands of innocent people and that millions are born disabled? There are no excuses for the things that have been done. We should turn to the future. How to turn on to the future when innocent children are born every day without arms and legs, with different disorders?
Oh, yes, you big believers I am wondering how you would explain all these wars and inequality. Is the war something that you believe in? It makes me puking. This is really disgusting. You and your beliefs. Educate your youth about the things that have been done and then try to move on with your stupid and ignorant foreign policy. The world is sick and tired of your decisions, freaking outs and point of view. How about leave all countries and send your lovely soldiers home to enjoy their children, wives and families, instead of bombing and destroying everything that God made for human being?
So, yeah, that was my fourth day in Vietnam. And yeah, we finished our night with our friends from the park. Same time, same place.
Day Five, Saturday, October 29th, 2011: Massage, manicure and pedicure
If you come to Vietnam and not try Vietnamese massage, you are probably the lamest person ever. Me, Michelle, Chelsey and Megan decided to get some massages. Yeah. My massage was okay, but not something that I expected. I got a guy to give me massage and he was really good at it, but unfortunately last 20 minutes, he switched with a girl who was horrible. Honestly. However, I enjoyed and it was definitely worth it after all these countries, dirty trains and hostels, sleeping bags and floors. I was satisfied with this. After massage, my destroyed feet finally got massage too including pedicure.
Since the Halloween was very close, we got invitation from our park friends to come to their party in some club that night. Megan’s birthday was on 31st, so we all dressed up and went there. We were a little bit late, but we finally found them. It was soooooo cool, I was so happy to hang out with them, they were really nice guys. Megan got pretty drunk, so she went to some other club with Michelle and me and Chelsey went back to the hotel. People were dressed all around the city and it was nice to see Halloween euphoria in Vietnam. Good day behind me.
Day Six, Sunday, October 30th, 2011: Come back to the orphanage
The last day, I spent in the orphanage that I visited on the second day. I think these kids deserved it. This time was much better, since I could spend much more time over there. I was playing with some of them who were able to, I was feeding couple of them and I enjoyed being part of that community. Also, on the way back to the ship, I tried some more local food and it was absolutely delicious. I love Vietnam. In three days Hong Kong, China. 
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