In a fine display of dedication I got up early on my last day to go and see Uncle Ho and pay my respects. I had promised Giang I would say thank you to him for making my visit to her country filled with such nice people. And so I did. I was nicely early so got in with the first stream - however that stream was a loooong one! Despite dressing carefully in full length trous and my red animal print overshirt, I was still singled out as being I appropriately attired and had to go off and purchase what turned out to be quite a nice scarf to cover my shoulders. I was a bit miffed about this as I thought that had kiboshed the last of my budget however found a stash later so was able to make it to the Sheraton. The queue snakes for a couple of blocks however it is mostly shaded. It was a clear day so what pics I got on my mobile should at least have blue sky and green grass, if I ever figure out how to download them here! Uncle Ho, Ho Chi Minh himself, was very dead and very air conditioned. A fine display of embalming, I did find it quite impressive and liked the way his hands were illuminated too so they were actually what you first saw on entering. I also noticed his ear. As you do. The guards were all in white and looked very suspicious if you met their eyes. The fact that it was against his wishes to be treated in this fashion was very much in my mind all the time.
I wandered around the so called botanical gardens ( the odd tree had a name on it and to be honest my Latin was not up to it) and visited Ho's house and his stilt house, complete with conference table in the lower part of the house. All polished and beautifully kept. I made a friend, Quang, who was curious about where I was from and we chatted a bit as we went round. She was from a nearby province and had come for the first time today with her sister, mother, husband and two children. Later on I was also accosted, literally grabbed by the arm and dragged over for a photo by another group of tourists who did not speak any English at all, which was very funny. I deigned to take off my sunglasses. The Vietnamese always make the V-sign when taking photos. I think as it was Saturday, I had come on the day the Vietnamese visit, I hardly saw any westerners, at least that early.
At the Sheraton this pm for a final air conditioned chat on Skype!
Misc: they have roundabouts here, have I mentioned? Some of the architecture is Art Deco making me reminisce on France. I've finally discovered what. Fried spring rolls are in Vietnamese: NEM RAN
Update: cockroaches 0; Fio 2
Electric storm over West Lake! A life goal fulfilled! Most amazingly, elementally beautiful.
No comments:
Post a Comment