"Discover Vietnam" a Vietnam Travel Page by 34N118W

<Font color=red>March 1, 2002</FONT>
I have to say, a lot can happen in a year. A year ago today, my friend and I set out to travel around the world. We had slaved away endless hours at our jobs in order to save enough money to support us for the coming year. Had you told me then that I'd be married and living in Vietnam today, I'd have told you that you were nuts!!! Well here I am, living in Vietnam... married (See Culture Tip: Married Vietnam Style!!!). I'm living in Saigon teaching English. Sometimes I'll be relaxing at one of the local cafes when I get a sudden attack of reality: "My God!!! I barely recognize my life from a year ago!" I was watching Forrest Gump the other day. That feather floating around in the wind, symbolizing the random nature of life, got me thinking... my feather must've gotten caught in a freak'n hurricane!!!
<Font color=red>Vietnam 1st Timer!!! Feb.1999</FONT>
Vietnam was the first country I ever visited that wasn't part of the Americas. Talk about culture shock! I nearly froze in my tracks when I stepped out of the airport only to be ambushed by a horde of taxi drivers. With all the new sights, sounds, smells, and the 5 taxi drivers fighting for my business... my brain when into sensory overload, and I couldn't concentrate on what anyone was saying to me. Finally, after some adjustment, I settled on a taxi driver. We needed to get to a small town outside of Ho Chi Minh City to deliver a package for a family friend. The driver was unable to find our exact address, so we hesitantly got out of the car and proceeded down the road. I didn't even walk 5 steps before a hell-bent motobike collided with a street vendor. I stood there in shock as a group of people lifted the heavy vending machine off the merchant, who simply brushed herself off and resumed working! She'd have a major lawsuit in LA! haha! As we started our way down the road again, I noticed that everyone was staring at us curiously. Foreigners are a common sight in the city, but not here. I even had a couple kids come up to me and touch my arm. It wasn't long before someone had lent us a hand, and helped us locate the address. After I had gotten over the initial culture shock, I really grew to love the place. My friends and I really enjoyed sitting in the beer gardens, soaking up the atmosphere.

<FONT color=red>See also Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City pages for more details.</FONT>