The Heat Is On In Saigon

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We flew into Saigon via a 777, monster plane. We definitely weren't expecting a beautiful 777 to fly us on our short hour-long flight from Hoi An, but weren't going to complain, especially when we had to buy Business Class tickets (our Visas were expired on the 20th and they were only $20 more, not to mention, the only seats they had). We arrived really early at the airport and got to relax in the Business Class lounge for nearly 2 hours before our flight took off - free noodles, free beer, free internet. Thankfully Coach was full. Haha. The plane was really awesome, too, because it had a screen that showed the pilot's point of view, so we could watch the plane take off. It was so cool!

The lounge.
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We were expecting Saigon to be like Hanoi (only a lot hotter), but this city is worlds away from Hanoi. It is built up much much more and you can definitely tell it has a lot more money. Again, it is filled with, what I like to call, motorbike madness. There are so many motorbikes here, it is unbelievable. And, of course, we couldn't resist getting on them. We cruised around the city, past parks filled with Vietnamese adolescents canoodling on parked motorbikes. It was so funny, every 10 feet there was a couple locking lips in the middle of the chaos of the city. We couldn't resist a photo op of us doing the same (minus the motorbike, plus a coconut) cozying up in the park outside of the gates of the Reunification Palace.

Like Pooh in a honey pot.

Planes, planes and more planes.
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The War Remnants Musuem (also known as the Museum of Chinese and American War Crimes) was quite a sight to see, especially being American. It was devastating to see the ruins of Vietnam and the complete one-sidedness shown through the Communist government of the Vietnam War. I think that everyone who comes to the War Remnants Museum gets the same picture, though - that war is completely violent and atrocious. The photos of dead families, Americans laughing and ripping people apart, people crippled from Agent Orange were horrendous. They had Agent Orange fetuses in jars for people to see. The whole experience was all very sickening. Reading the guest book, you see that people just don't learn. Comments from people all over the world, to this day, ripping apart Americans for what we did, from seeing the extremely one-sided museum. USA=MURDERERS from Denmark. It's so interesting these museums never say the reason why America was involved with the war in the first place. Of course, things were taken so far, but America was there on the side of South Vietnam until everything turned to mayhem. War is a very bad thing, simple as that. This museum shows the horrible brutality behind what becomes of people involved.

It was horrific seeing the effects of Agent Orange.
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I thought I'd have another go at the whole clautrophobia thing, and on our second day, we ventured outside of Saigon to the Cu Chi Tunnels. The Cu Chi Tunnels were much like the Vinh Moc Tunnels north of Saigon. Tourists can come and explore them, and although the Vinh Moc tunnels are about double in size and never redone for tourism, the Cu Chi Tunnels were so small, that they had to be made bigger for Western Tourism or nobody would be able to fit. Let me tell you, they are still miniature. Once again, thinking of all the Vietnamese civilians and army that lived, had babies, died, and fought in these tunnels is overwhelming. We watched a video before entering the tunnels where the video referred to us as "Evil Americans" coming in to destroy their land (to the tune of happy, cartoon-like music). They proudly referred to great fighters on their side as "American Killer Heroes." Gathering up the nerve to slip back into the tunnels, Kevin and I had our rounds at an AK-47. They have a shooting range set up, where you can have a go at guns ranging from hand guns to machine guns. I decided that shooting AK-47's wasn't really my style when my shoulder started hurting and went to have a strawberry ice cream cone instead. That should be a poster: Ice Cream, Not Guns. Really, it works. Same satisfaction... at least for me. Ha.

Motorbikes lined up, rearin' to go. There are so many of them in Saigon!
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Then it was on to the tunnels. Phew. Oh, man, these tunnels were not like the Vinh Moc tunnels, where at least you could be on your feet. You had to crawl on your knees the whole time. There was a time where Kevin's body was completely lodged, and I wasn't too far off myself. For some reason, though, these tunnels did not make me so claustrophobic because, before you went in, you saw the area you could come out. The Vinh Moc Tunnels went on for days, deeper and deeper, with no hope of sunlight. We went the entire 100 meters, no problem. Fear #1 Arachnaphobia - cleared (from the treehouse at Gibbon Experience in Laos). Fear #2 Claustrophobia (Vinh Moc and Cu Chi Tunnels) - bye bye. It feels good to face some fears head-on. I can't imagine being in these tunnels with bombs going off in the world outside. The Vietnamese were so tricky, too, starting with these tunnels. First of all, Westerners could not fit inside them, like they could. The US Army would send in their smallest guys (which I think would be the most horrific job ever) and once inside, there would be hundreds of booby-traps waiting for them. They even washed themselves with American soap and cooked American foods (such as hamburgers) so the smells would be of Americans to confuse the dogs searching for entrances to the tunnels. Pretty heavy stuff.

Us recreating the makeout park!
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Before heading back to Saigon to hop on our plane, we stopped at a "Handicapped Handicrafts." It is all men and women affected by Agent Orange (with disfigured limbs, sometimes missing). They sit in a line, all with their own part, making crafts out of egg shells and mother of pearl. And what beautiful works of art they create. Kevin and I really wanted to buy dishes and salad bowls that must have takens weeks to make, but they can't fit in our bags! Proceeds go to people handicapped from Agent Orange. It's a very good cause, as people are very much in need here in Vietnam.

Coconuts in the park. Yum.
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Vietnam was a whirlwind of new experiences. I personally learned so much more about the war between our countries years ago. We feel really good that things are basically back to normal now, although it was very hard seeing the repercussions of war, especially on Vietnam soil. There are still areas where things won't grow and it is so tragic because agriculture is their way of life - their way of money. It explains why so many people sit on the streets begging us to buy Pringles and Oreos from them. It's a constant struggle of pushing people away from you here, unlike in Thailand and Laos, but it has been our favorite country so far, and very much worth it. We wish we could stay longer and check out the Mekong Delta (Nan, I was dying to have pictures to remind you of when you and Heff were there) and Mui Ne, but I guess that will have to be another trip. Our Visas have run out and we have to save room for Cambodia, which we hear is worlds away from anything we have ever experienced.

Motorbiking mayhem.
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See you in Cambodia.