We arrived in Mui Ne after a long drive from Saigon. We stopped at the second orphanage for about two hours. The nun recognised me and was very happy to see us. Right now we are eating dinner at Terracotta. Vinh
I must say that the group is awesome! We have had so much fun. Massages, Pools, Shopping, etc. Today we are going to the sand dunes. I am quite excited, from what I heard from my dad he says its fun. Yesterday we went to the Orphanage. We had a lot of fun with the kids.
Sand dune sliding was a horrible experience. It was my first time, and the actual sliding down the dunes was quite fun, but the guilt and sorrow the kids made me feel made the experience something that I would not want to do again. If we were free to roam the dunes with our boards by ourselves then I think it would have been more fun, but we were left in quite a predicament once we parked the bus. Once the bus doors opened, the little vietnamese boys and girls swarmed around the door waving their hands to get us to ride their boards. Seeing that there were 12 of us and like 30+ kids, it was a game of pick who you want. I felt devastated knowing that 18+ children would be left out of the picture. We almost left the place completely because it would be to hard to decide who to ride with. We ended up riding, and pairing up with 2-3 kids. I felt like I would be spending a lot more money having to tip 2-3 kids, but then I realized that they need the money way more than we do. Someone in our group gave 10 dollars to each kid who helped them ride the dunes, and I was like, "thats so outrageous." Mr. Dang refused that we may more than a dollar. After hearing this, i felt like being a cheapscape and tipping a dollar as well, but the kids need the money way more than I do so I ended up giving way more than a dollar. I just remember the 3 hour bus rides and seeing all these poor people roaming the streets. In Hawaii if i ever want an ice cold drink or hot food, I can get all I want. These people in vietnam treasure every crumb of food, and I felt that they needed the money more than I did.
It was a very weird experience being at the Cuchi Tunnels a few days ago. We were given a tour of the tunnels used during the Vietnam War as well as the traps set up around these areas. What made this tour weird was knowing that on these grounds it was quite likely that many American Soldiers died. I always have had the most respect for those in the American Millitary. At the same time I realise that it is important to see these things and learn about the horrible consequences of war. Both the American and Vietnamese forces committed horrible acts during this war. As we saw in the War Remnant Museum the use of Agent Orange by the United States created a horrible aftermath. At first I was afraid that being an American at these Vietnamese War Memorials, I would either feel guilty or angry. However, neither was the case. Rather than either of those two feelings I felt an overwhelming sense of gladness that we are now at peace with Vietnam. I can only hope that we can learn from our wars of the past and do our best to be diplomatic. As Mrs. Dang said, maybe in 30 years we will be able to travel to Iraq like we are now traveling in Vietnam.
In 1989, Vinh and Mimi had their honeymoon in Paris. Since then, we have made traveling is one of our top priorities in life. This year, we have chosen several countries in Europe to explore. This is going to be our first, but not last, with the Ligons.
Punahou and Sacred Hearts Academy students at Cu Chi tunnels
7 comments:
Thank you for posting the photos so we at home can share in your adventures.
p.s. Drew, please remember to pick up a few gifts for the Fongs who donated all the dental supplies for the orphans.
Is that a T34 tank? If so vintage WWII history. Not Shirley but her husband Jack
We arrived in Mui Ne after a long drive from Saigon. We stopped at the second orphanage for about two hours. The nun recognised me and was very happy to see us.
Right now we are eating dinner at Terracotta.
Vinh
Terracotta looks great on the internet pictures.
Hope Drew survived his bout with the ants.
Hope you are having a great time.
Joseph
I must say that the group is awesome! We have had so much fun. Massages, Pools, Shopping, etc. Today we are going to the sand dunes. I am quite excited, from what I heard from my dad he says its fun.
Yesterday we went to the Orphanage. We had a lot of fun with the kids.
Sand dune sliding was a horrible experience. It was my first time, and the actual sliding down the dunes was quite fun, but the guilt and sorrow the kids made me feel made the experience something that I would not want to do again. If we were free to roam the dunes with our boards by ourselves then I think it would have been more fun, but we were left in quite a predicament once we parked the bus. Once the bus doors opened, the little vietnamese boys and girls swarmed around the door waving their hands to get us to ride their boards. Seeing that there were 12 of us and like 30+ kids, it was a game of pick who you want. I felt devastated knowing that 18+ children would be left out of the picture. We almost left the place completely because it would be to hard to decide who to ride with. We ended up riding, and pairing up with 2-3 kids. I felt like I would be spending a lot more money having to tip 2-3 kids, but then I realized that they need the money way more than we do. Someone in our group gave 10 dollars to each kid who helped them ride the dunes, and I was like, "thats so outrageous." Mr. Dang refused that we may more than a dollar. After hearing this, i felt like being a cheapscape and tipping a dollar as well, but the kids need the money way more than I do so I ended up giving way more than a dollar. I just remember the 3 hour bus rides and seeing all these poor people roaming the streets. In Hawaii if i ever want an ice cold drink or hot food, I can get all I want. These people in vietnam treasure every crumb of food, and I felt that they needed the money more than I did.
It was a very weird experience being at the Cuchi Tunnels a few days ago. We were given a tour of the tunnels used during the Vietnam War as well as the traps set up around these areas. What made this tour weird was knowing that on these grounds it was quite likely that many American Soldiers died. I always have had the most respect for those in the American Millitary. At the same time I realise that it is important to see these things and learn about the horrible consequences of war. Both the American and Vietnamese forces committed horrible acts during this war. As we saw in the War Remnant Museum the use of Agent Orange by the United States created a horrible aftermath. At first I was afraid that being an American at these Vietnamese War Memorials, I would either feel guilty or angry. However, neither was the case. Rather than either of those two feelings I felt an overwhelming sense of gladness that we are now at peace with Vietnam. I can only hope that we can learn from our wars of the past and do our best to be diplomatic. As Mrs. Dang said, maybe in 30 years we will be able to travel to Iraq like we are now traveling in Vietnam.
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