Next stop: Macau (day 43)
VIETNAM | Saturday, 16 August 2008 | Views [198]
Tonight is my last night in Southeast Asia. I'll be heading back to China (but to the unrestricted portion) for a few nights before finally making it back to the great continent of North America. I can taste it. And I can't wait to taste it. I've decided my first meal in Canada will be a sandwich. A real sandwich with real cold cuts and real condiments. It's been far, far too long.
Vietnam was a pleasant excursion, as all these countries have been. But it was tinged with the horrors of the past, as all these countries have been. I realized about halfway through my trip that there are many, many things to depress one in this part of the world apart from alcohol (if you consider the fact that it is officially labeled a depressant).
From the Killing Fields to the Vietnam War Museums, they have many things to look back on with cringes and hateful stares. But, somehow, they don't.
I haven't felt the need to lie about my nationality one single time. And when I respond with "The United States," I always get smiles and tales of how they have family that live Stateside. I even met a man who has family that lives in New Orleans.
In my part of the world, people are stopped in airports for having the wrong nationality. But here no one is suspicious or questioning. No one has a shred of disgust in their eyes when they hear my accent. Everyone is just smiling and happy.
And it's not for lack of knowledge. They sure know what's happened to their country at the hands of mine. They have an entire museum devoted to it, and they have the tunnels that the Viet Cong used on proud display for tourists to try to squeeze through (I skipped that excursion mostly because I've seen enough depressing but fascinating stuff). But I guess they figure what's done is done. They don't hate the Chinese for what they did either.
I think there's a lot to learn from these laid back, lackidaisical, almost happy-go-lucky people. They even give directions without asking for money! There are a lot of countries that could learn from that...
Tags: macau
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