US met their nemesis in Vietnam.
Bon, my Vietnamese collegue took me to see the Cu chi tunnels which were used by the Vietnamese gurrillas to deliiver fatal blot to US and ultimately made them leave Vietnam. These Gurrilas were ordinary village folks of Cu chi, who hated americans too much to be ready to sacrifice even their lives.
What were their weapons?
All ingeneously developed. Traps having shapened bamboo sticks. Mines made up from left over american sheels. They made the tunnels their home and these tunnels were so narrow that only the small vietnamese structures could moves through these. These were used very skillfully. There were oxygen ports at the ground level. They used to cook there but made sure the smoke ould comeout at a far away palce so one would know their position The entrances were well hidden and sometimes, it was through river.
We went inside some of the smaller tunnel and I was getting goosebump thinking of the fighter's years ago, moving around there, with a just a dream to sustain them. For, often their food used to boiled potato and rice and salt.
They proved tenecity can win a war, even against the technologically advanced country.
Bon had lost his brother in the war.
Manytimes, he said, 'same fate awaits Americans in Iraq'.
Finally, he said softly, 'we are very proud'.
Every vietnamese has reasons to be prooud off. Its a country of strong people who have retained their culture inspite of being under the occupation of other countries for long duration of times.
Bon told me that lot of Americans visit Cu chi tunnel now. Dont know what they come to see there though.
I bought a cannon and a bike as souvenir for our little boy Shenna.
I came here in Ho chi Minh city on 7th and will go back home in Manila on 14th Jan. A weeek in Vietnam.
Modern vietnam has only a single negetive, their english needs so much polishing and learning. It is one of the thing can hold back this country.
Snake in Whisky
One of the most safe city so far I have seen is Ho chi Minh city. I went for a walk at 11pm and barring few guys interested in providing me girls, no one even turned and looked at me.
Contrary to my assumptions, Ho chi minh city seem to live the communist values without being too vocal about it. Didn’t see writing on thhe walls like one sees in Calcutta proclaiming that the ‘Leader of of China, is our leader’ or ‘ Red salute to you comrade Marx’. Yet city runs on motor cycles, thus saving millions of dollar for the country. Visitors aren’t allowed in room in the hotels after 9pm. Taxi driver’s seemed to be honest and didn’t ask for tips like the thai taxi drivers would do in Bangkok. There aren’t many karoke bars like one seems in Manila, with girls in skimpy dresses inviting one to go there to have a good time. Things are cheap.
Went to a bazaar called Saigon Square and in one shop, one lady of around 35 years of age asked me if I was married. Then she added, smiling at her sister who was sitting there, ‘ my sister says that you are very handsome, are you married? I think you are’. Such candidness seem be all pervasive in many of these Island countries. South Aisan countried are very different in that respect.
However, read in papers that in many of the road side food joints, hygiene conditions are extremely poor and many even add raw animal blood to the soup, logic being its fresh and refreshing. I read it the very first day I arrived in here and since then decided not to eat any of the small joints scattered in many of the roadsides.
Since then have discovered two Indian joints near the hotel Sofitel where we are staying. Alibaba is cheaper and food is quite decept. Ashoka is costilier and food is one of the best I have eaten, even in my beloved India.
We went to a joint where whisky having snake in it was being sold. My thai friend tried and liked it so much that went on to have four glasses. I couldnt master couragee to try it.
We got picked up in the morning from hotel and noticed all of us were going to the same factory and there were a Philipino, two Thai, two Spaniards, one Indonesian and an Indian based in Manila. The world suddenly seem to have collapsed.
Vietnam is still poor but it seems it is doing extremely well and foreign investments are pouring in and the country may see a turn around in 5-10 years time.
I spent 0.15million Dong on a dinner. Inflation might hinder Vietnam’s progress and shatter it’s dream, if not contained.
These are just my very first impression of the city Im visiting for the first time and hope it doesnt offend anyone, its not meant to be.
Contrary to my assumptions, Ho chi minh city seem to live the communist values without being too vocal about it. Didn’t see writing on thhe walls like one sees in Calcutta proclaiming that the ‘Leader of of China, is our leader’ or ‘ Red salute to you comrade Marx’. Yet city runs on motor cycles, thus saving millions of dollar for the country. Visitors aren’t allowed in room in the hotels after 9pm. Taxi driver’s seemed to be honest and didn’t ask for tips like the thai taxi drivers would do in Bangkok. There aren’t many karoke bars like one seems in Manila, with girls in skimpy dresses inviting one to go there to have a good time. Things are cheap.
Went to a bazaar called Saigon Square and in one shop, one lady of around 35 years of age asked me if I was married. Then she added, smiling at her sister who was sitting there, ‘ my sister says that you are very handsome, are you married? I think you are’. Such candidness seem be all pervasive in many of these Island countries. South Aisan countried are very different in that respect.
However, read in papers that in many of the road side food joints, hygiene conditions are extremely poor and many even add raw animal blood to the soup, logic being its fresh and refreshing. I read it the very first day I arrived in here and since then decided not to eat any of the small joints scattered in many of the roadsides.
Since then have discovered two Indian joints near the hotel Sofitel where we are staying. Alibaba is cheaper and food is quite decept. Ashoka is costilier and food is one of the best I have eaten, even in my beloved India.
We went to a joint where whisky having snake in it was being sold. My thai friend tried and liked it so much that went on to have four glasses. I couldnt master couragee to try it.
We got picked up in the morning from hotel and noticed all of us were going to the same factory and there were a Philipino, two Thai, two Spaniards, one Indonesian and an Indian based in Manila. The world suddenly seem to have collapsed.
Vietnam is still poor but it seems it is doing extremely well and foreign investments are pouring in and the country may see a turn around in 5-10 years time.
I spent 0.15million Dong on a dinner. Inflation might hinder Vietnam’s progress and shatter it’s dream, if not contained.
These are just my very first impression of the city Im visiting for the first time and hope it doesnt offend anyone, its not meant to be.
Diving and new year (07) in Batangas
We didnt have any plans for new year till 24th Dec and Prinx was getting more and more restless. Ever the fun girl, she couldnt take it that Shenna wasnt going anywhere for holidays.
We met some couples at a party on 24th Dec and a plan for the new year was born. We chatted and decided to go to Batangas on 30th and user in the new year there. However, getting place there was to be difficult this time around the year at such short notice.
We booked ourselves in a diving resort called Planet Dive. 16 of us was to go. There were to be four kids, with oldest beiing Shenna at four and Joao being just thee month old.
The planing happened mostly over phone. The guys met for an hour in the evening of 29th Dec to mostly decide who was to carry what drinks.
We were skeptical on the trip as we werent thinking of diving and if one doesnt dive, why go to a diviing resort on a mountain? Yes, planet dive was located on a mountain.
We nonetheless decided to go and hoped that we will atleast have fun in the beach.
There was no beach there, except for a rocky strech three feet wide, we found out on arrival.
Otherwise, the plave looked great, on the bay, amist trees and shrub allaround.
We partied till late in thhe night on 30th, played a game called 'Murder' sitting in a room with allsides wide open and lights outside, not enough to dispell the darkness completely. Other's were very keen and confident to do diving. Prinx and myself were on the borderline, not being able to decide if atall we should do it.
Nextday, I got up early and went for a trek, alone when everyone else was sleeping. Countryside of Philippines reminded me of the coutryside of India where I grep up. Both are same. Nice clean air, stray dogs, chiken and cocks. Friendly people, many kids playing around.
Came back and went to the introductory class for diving. PRinx and myself, were deciding now that may be we should try. The dive master was funny and brutal about making the points. He explained te process and told that if we fail to take air from our tank for sometime, our lung could brust and we were to equalise the pressure inside our ear drums at different levels of water. It sounded very difficult to do and we were allmost ready to chiken out.
Only, our hearts nevel allowed us to chiken out.
There were only three dive masters and we went in groups of three. I was on of the three in the first group.
Shrihaan in between came and asked me, ' when mama and you go, whom will I stay with?' We treat kids as kids, but they think like adults and understand things much more than we think they are capable of. I told him not to worry. Soon, he was playing with the people of the resort and the dogs.
The dive master soon took in inside. I was sacred and unsure of myslf andd thought manytimes to let him know that I wanted to go up. I persevered. There was fishes of all colours and fuana of many hues. It was breattaking view below the surface of the water and soon could see the surface of the water. We went 30 ft down and it was blue water all around. Could never catch a fish through many came very near to me when I let out some bread crumbs.
Once the initial worries subsided and became coomfortable with the breathing from the air tank, I experienced bliss. I felt like I belonged to the life there under water and could move around and stay relaxed, very effortlessly.
Inside, I was thinking that Shrihaan shouldnt ddo it ever but I know in my heart, he will do it when we gets a chance.
After 30-40mins, I was taken back to the surface of the water. It was such a great experience underwater, I thanked my dive master Toto, profoundly. I honestly, truely felt enormously grateful to him for making it possible for me to gather this unique and once in a life time experience.
Prinx went in the next group and I just told her to relax and everything will be allright. She also had a great experience doing thhe scuba diving.
How many would have the diving experience in India? Prinx and myself would be among them.
Why do people dive? Afterall, what can be seen inside can equally be seen in a good auqarium like the one in Subic city. I guess its all about taking a great risk and proving one to oneself of conquering the fears and doing something that one thought he/she wasnt capable of doing.
We went for a boat ride in the evening and Shenna was excited all through out, he collected shells. we played vollyball there after.
We drank and played Taboo and Murder again in the evening. At 12, we opened the Champaign and wished each other many joys.
On first Jan, 07, we drove back to Manila.
We met some couples at a party on 24th Dec and a plan for the new year was born. We chatted and decided to go to Batangas on 30th and user in the new year there. However, getting place there was to be difficult this time around the year at such short notice.
We booked ourselves in a diving resort called Planet Dive. 16 of us was to go. There were to be four kids, with oldest beiing Shenna at four and Joao being just thee month old.
The planing happened mostly over phone. The guys met for an hour in the evening of 29th Dec to mostly decide who was to carry what drinks.
We were skeptical on the trip as we werent thinking of diving and if one doesnt dive, why go to a diviing resort on a mountain? Yes, planet dive was located on a mountain.
We nonetheless decided to go and hoped that we will atleast have fun in the beach.
There was no beach there, except for a rocky strech three feet wide, we found out on arrival.
Otherwise, the plave looked great, on the bay, amist trees and shrub allaround.
We partied till late in thhe night on 30th, played a game called 'Murder' sitting in a room with allsides wide open and lights outside, not enough to dispell the darkness completely. Other's were very keen and confident to do diving. Prinx and myself were on the borderline, not being able to decide if atall we should do it.
Nextday, I got up early and went for a trek, alone when everyone else was sleeping. Countryside of Philippines reminded me of the coutryside of India where I grep up. Both are same. Nice clean air, stray dogs, chiken and cocks. Friendly people, many kids playing around.
Came back and went to the introductory class for diving. PRinx and myself, were deciding now that may be we should try. The dive master was funny and brutal about making the points. He explained te process and told that if we fail to take air from our tank for sometime, our lung could brust and we were to equalise the pressure inside our ear drums at different levels of water. It sounded very difficult to do and we were allmost ready to chiken out.
Only, our hearts nevel allowed us to chiken out.
There were only three dive masters and we went in groups of three. I was on of the three in the first group.
Shrihaan in between came and asked me, ' when mama and you go, whom will I stay with?' We treat kids as kids, but they think like adults and understand things much more than we think they are capable of. I told him not to worry. Soon, he was playing with the people of the resort and the dogs.
The dive master soon took in inside. I was sacred and unsure of myslf andd thought manytimes to let him know that I wanted to go up. I persevered. There was fishes of all colours and fuana of many hues. It was breattaking view below the surface of the water and soon could see the surface of the water. We went 30 ft down and it was blue water all around. Could never catch a fish through many came very near to me when I let out some bread crumbs.
Once the initial worries subsided and became coomfortable with the breathing from the air tank, I experienced bliss. I felt like I belonged to the life there under water and could move around and stay relaxed, very effortlessly.
Inside, I was thinking that Shrihaan shouldnt ddo it ever but I know in my heart, he will do it when we gets a chance.
After 30-40mins, I was taken back to the surface of the water. It was such a great experience underwater, I thanked my dive master Toto, profoundly. I honestly, truely felt enormously grateful to him for making it possible for me to gather this unique and once in a life time experience.
Prinx went in the next group and I just told her to relax and everything will be allright. She also had a great experience doing thhe scuba diving.
How many would have the diving experience in India? Prinx and myself would be among them.
Why do people dive? Afterall, what can be seen inside can equally be seen in a good auqarium like the one in Subic city. I guess its all about taking a great risk and proving one to oneself of conquering the fears and doing something that one thought he/she wasnt capable of doing.
We went for a boat ride in the evening and Shenna was excited all through out, he collected shells. we played vollyball there after.
We drank and played Taboo and Murder again in the evening. At 12, we opened the Champaign and wished each other many joys.
On first Jan, 07, we drove back to Manila.
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