9) Ho Chi Minh City- It's the new Saigon, which is the new Paris, which is the new St. Paul, MN

2/16

And off to Ho Chi Minh City. I've developed a fascination and love of airport bars that only seems to be growing with age.




















I had a 6 hour layover in Singapore starting at 5:00 AM, which I spent sleeping underneath a bench at the airport. It was either that or gamble on horse racing in the airport smoking section, where even if you win, you lose.

But for the record, yes, you can gamble on horses at all hours at the airport in Singapore. So there you go.

It's Dr., actually, but all will be forgiven for a couple of dongs.

Dong is the national currency of Vietnam. A beer costs about 15,000 dong. While that is about 80 cents, the mental image of 15,000 dongs is just so much more pronounced. What is that, like a swimming pool full of dicks? Ok gross, but you get the idea.

I think the biggest thing about Ho Chi Minh City for me was the motorcycles. Just seas of people on bikes, very few traffic lights and no cross-walks. Yet it all seems to work in an odd way. Though there are 15 motorbike deaths a day there, so I suppose I need to rethink what it means to "work."

Bikes forever

And ever

Doesn't it look like the starting line at some budget road-rally?

And kids on bikes? Apparently dad needs a helmet but baby-girl is cool without. I suppose she'll be protected by her pigtails and surgical mask

But really, this practice was commonplace. People seem to see their children as airbags that talk.

Actually, this kid would probably be decent protection in an accident. Plus, like my airplane seat cushion, he can be used as a floatation device in case of an emergency water landing.

2/17

My first meal in Vietnam. This was to begin a month-long diet of fish and rice. Heaven.










No way Jose. This place has bad news written all over it.










The first night I met some chick in the park who traded me a ride around town on her bike for ice cream and English lessons. I taught her that helmets are called "fag hats" in English. Point, Drury.





















Only in Saigon could someone sleep in the middle of roaring traffic, in a haze of neon lights atop a motorcycle. Man, I can hardly sleep on airplanes. Lucky duck.

2/18

The American War Museum. The "conflict" was presented as a massacre/war-crime by the States. The accounts of unspeakable acts on behalf of the U.S. troops were pretty shocking.

Most people wrote shit like this in the comment book at the door.

Or this

But some guy from Chile owned the day. Way to be, hombre.

This is a wicked combo of hacky-sack and badminton played in parks. Basically you kick a shuttlecock made for hacking. I bought several for Hither Hills. See you there! :)

A numbered tree system doesn't make for the best looking park, but it does create great meeting spots for you and your friends. Plus you know you can always score weed from the hippies at tree 420.

Tiny people playing volleyball = hours of entertainment. Ice Man and Slider (far court) were simply unstoppable.

I only stayed in Ho Chi Minh a few days. It was pretty intense and the beach called. Later skaters.