Maserati's, Ferrari's, yachts, personal helicopters, the highest per capita rate of Rolls Royce's, that's Hong Kong, a place with lots of big boys with big toys. If living in Hong Kong is my version of Never Neverland then that makes Will Peter Pan. And 'Peter' took a trip to Saigon about a month ago. It's unlikely that my story telling capabilities will do justice to the events that unravelled during the course of our three day visit to the epicenter of Vietnam's War with America but I'll go on. For the history buffs, war veterans and baby boomers who give this entry a read, please forgive my glossed-over summary of the war. Here goes:
Saigon served as the base of the American forces during the Vietnam war and as a result suffered many casualties. Thus the city contains numerous memorials including a very graphic and powerful war museum as well as the Cu Chi Tunnels, which much like the German concentration camps, have been turned into tourist sites. Tourists can visit the Cu Chi Tunnels at one of two places - Ben Dihn (B1 for ease) which is in as-is condition since the war and Ben Duco (B2) - which has been restored. Both sites allow guests to walk/crawl through the tunnels and fire AK-47's, among other weapons that the 'evil American enemy' used to unsuccessfully take down the will and hearts of the Viet Cong. B2 also allows visitors the option of dressing as Guerrillas while touring the site. Choosing which site to visit was a bit confusing. The were both approximately 1 hour from downtown Saigon, and while the hotel could arrange a car to take us to B2, our guide book mentioned it was a bit like an 'amusement park' and not as authentic a section. Personally, I didn't care either way, I just wanted to check the box and see the site. Will on the other hand, agonized over the decision. Partly because he wanted to pay fair tribute to Dudley's efforts in 'Nam and partially because he can nit-pick over the smallest decision to his hearts content. Several times he mentioned that he 'really didn't' want to go to B2, 'it sounded lame and he wasn't into dressing up in guerrilla gear.' Fine, neither was I - and I didn't really care to shoot a semi-automatic weapon either. We talked about it in Hong Kong, then on our flight, then at breakfast on Saturday, again Saturday afternoon and after we had finally arranged for a trip to B1 (the more legit site) and once more on Sunday morning before we departed. The constant harping on the guerrilla gear had me wondering what was going through his mind but I figured he couldn't be making that mistake. No. Will wasn't thinking that tourists were dressing up as King Kong and running around a powerful war memorial that recognizes the death of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, civilians, women and children, fearlessly beating their hairy costumed chests, in 90 degree heat. That confusion was impossible. So I let it go....until he mentioned it one more time and I had to ask if he was thinking visitors were dressed in GORILLA COSTUMES as opposed to GUERRILLA WARFARE GEAR and by the stunned look on his face, I knew the answer...
Saigon served as the base of the American forces during the Vietnam war and as a result suffered many casualties. Thus the city contains numerous memorials including a very graphic and powerful war museum as well as the Cu Chi Tunnels, which much like the German concentration camps, have been turned into tourist sites. Tourists can visit the Cu Chi Tunnels at one of two places - Ben Dihn (B1 for ease) which is in as-is condition since the war and Ben Duco (B2) - which has been restored. Both sites allow guests to walk/crawl through the tunnels and fire AK-47's, among other weapons that the 'evil American enemy' used to unsuccessfully take down the will and hearts of the Viet Cong. B2 also allows visitors the option of dressing as Guerrillas while touring the site. Choosing which site to visit was a bit confusing. The were both approximately 1 hour from downtown Saigon, and while the hotel could arrange a car to take us to B2, our guide book mentioned it was a bit like an 'amusement park' and not as authentic a section. Personally, I didn't care either way, I just wanted to check the box and see the site. Will on the other hand, agonized over the decision. Partly because he wanted to pay fair tribute to Dudley's efforts in 'Nam and partially because he can nit-pick over the smallest decision to his hearts content. Several times he mentioned that he 'really didn't' want to go to B2, 'it sounded lame and he wasn't into dressing up in guerrilla gear.' Fine, neither was I - and I didn't really care to shoot a semi-automatic weapon either. We talked about it in Hong Kong, then on our flight, then at breakfast on Saturday, again Saturday afternoon and after we had finally arranged for a trip to B1 (the more legit site) and once more on Sunday morning before we departed. The constant harping on the guerrilla gear had me wondering what was going through his mind but I figured he couldn't be making that mistake. No. Will wasn't thinking that tourists were dressing up as King Kong and running around a powerful war memorial that recognizes the death of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, civilians, women and children, fearlessly beating their hairy costumed chests, in 90 degree heat. That confusion was impossible. So I let it go....until he mentioned it one more time and I had to ask if he was thinking visitors were dressed in GORILLA COSTUMES as opposed to GUERRILLA WARFARE GEAR and by the stunned look on his face, I knew the answer...
(photo courtesy of BJ Scarritt) 
1 comment:
You two are so perfect for each other. It's awesome.
Post a Comment