Hello all,
Just a few facts around Viet Nam. The average salary is $50/month. A tour guide can make $8/day, a waitress $40/month and a ceramic graphic designer $300/month. Needless to say our $ can go far providing they are charging you the same rate as they would a local. Take for example I wanted a pair of flip flops similar to the one the hotel receptionist wore. She told me where to go. They asked for $15 and were not open to negotiating. When I came back to the hotel and told the receptionist she was astounded and said she would go get them for me. Tonight I got my flip flops for $3.75.
I had some clothes made as well and today was the fitting day I have had to have them made a little larger as the Viet Namese ladies seem to wear their clothes snugger than what I am use to.
Today we took a tour to visit My Son. It is a world heritage site that has the remains of Temples celebrating the Hindu gods. We learnt that VN is made up of 54 different ethnic groups. The ancient language was sanskrit, the religion hinduism, muslim, and then buddhism. Unfortunately My Son was heavily bombed in 1969 by the Americans and the Viet Cong hid there believing the US would not bomb temples. Even today it is unsafe to stray off the beaten paths as there still are mines.
The shopping holiday is now ending and tomorrow we head to Nga Trang for our beach holiday.
Enough chatting, let's take a look at some more pictures.
Oh before guess what, Ted is eating VN food, rice every day (without the soy sauce). As long as we do not think where the food comes from (dirty market) or how it is cooked (even dirtier kitchen) everything tastes delicious. Especially when it is all washed down with a bottle of Da Lat wine.
Cheers
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Monique,
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting trip! The pix are great, and the stories, too! Make sure that Ted doesn't try to get a cheap thrill by jumping up when the local ladies attempt to rub his belly.
Keep up the good work, and take care.
Jim P