Cu Chi Tunnels

Here the South Vietnamese people, siding with the North Vietnamese, hid for up to 10 years.  This is what made warfare so frightening and difficult for the Americans, because these rebels could not be found.  The tunnels go for 200 miles, 3 levels underground.   There was no evidence of tunnel entry points.  Some of the tunnels went under the American Base to secure there would be no fear of being bombed out.  The pictures shown have enlarged tunnels for visitors, they were actually narrower.   Unbelievably tiny and frightening inside.

Booby traps everywhere. 

What is this large ball?

a.     Alien Egg

b.    The Sun

c.    Fuzz Ball

d.    Large fried Rice Ball

Motor Bike Capital of the World

 

The drivers are crazy, there is so much traffic.  More Scooters than cars, with many people on one bike, including babies.  These bikes are the main transport for the locals.  The passengers eat a meal, drivers transport large flat screen TV’s along with a couple cases of wine, vendors peddling tropical fish, people taking home live ducks in sacks and very large pigs straddle each side.  We couldn’t get enough pictures of what we could see on the bikes.

Saigon, 12 Million people, 5 million Motorbikes, dozen Coffee Beans, 3 Starbucks and 1 McDonalds

Saigon, now known as Ho Chi Minh City, in South Vietnam, is a fascinating Communist country.  We are enjoying it here more than Bangkok.  Communists started easing up restrictions a few years ago, and investment dollars are evident in huge skyscrapers, high cell phone use, and high end shopping malls.

Ko Kood Island

 

As crowded as Bangkok was, Ko Kood Island in Thailand was extremely delightful.  We spent a beautiful day on the island, the water was the warmest we ever felt, and so clean and clear. Sadly we didn’t have our water proof camera so we couldn’t document the Caviar in the Surf.  The cruise line set up a buffet in waste high water, serving Champagne and Caviar.  What a trip, never experienced anything like that.  This service did get everyone off the beach into the water.

Remedy for a Back Ache

The study of Yoga.  Must remember to practice this move

Buddha Culture

 

So many Buddhas!  At the Grand Palace, Temple of Dawn…..reclining, sitting, winter, summer, bejeweled…..The Buddhist temples are plentiful in Bangkok and extremely ornate

Fabulous Bangkok by Night

 

Far more beautiful at Night, mostly because you can’t see the polluted river and crumbling buildings. Far less river traffic as well.  We enjoyed a wonderful River Cruise Thai dinner featuring the Tom Yum Soup served in a coconut.   

 

Visited a hooky amusement attraction paying homage to the Buddhist Faith.  There was a graphic warning before entering the park that the scenes inside might be disturbing……See for yourself.  Scared straight by the ten gates of Hell exhibit.  Refer to #8 and share with your children.

Beauty in Singapore

 

We enjoyed a fabulous array of color and rainforest setting at the Marina Bay Gardens under a huge glass doom.

 

We flew this far to enjoy a California Roll at dinner, seriously.  We had dinner at the Marina Bay Sands hotel roof top restaurant, 57 floors up (owned by the Vegas Sands Hotel chain).

 

Our cousin Harrison served as our tour guide.  Glenn quizzed him; he has more studying to do.  Harrison’s brother Scott arrived in Singapore this week as a guest of Singapore on behalf of the Congressman’s office he works for.  It’s so cool to meet bi-coastal family half way around the world.  He enjoyed the original Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel.  Side note, this is one of the most prestigious hotels in town, but strangely enough, the peanut shells are thrown on the floor.

 

We arrived at the end of the Chinese New Year, the year of the horse.  So many beautiful orange trees bearing fruit, everywhere.  The oranges symbolize gold coins for wealth and prosperity.  FYI, you are supposed to bring oranges and tangerines to someone’s home on a visit to wish prosperity in the New Year and in exchange you should receive some in return.

Singapore , we arrived...

 

After the longest flight we have ever taken, 20 hours in the air, it took us several days to shake the jet lag of a 16 hour time difference.  We awoke to find a very modern Singapore, like any large metropolitan city in the USA.   No bicycles, dirty roads or shanty towns, but a well-developed Socialistic, financial mecca of Southeast Asia.  A melting pot of faces and religions.