Vietnam

I have always had mixed feelings about traveling to Vietnam because of my country's role in what is locally called "The American War."

Despite my own sense of guilt about US military activity in Indochina, today's Vietnamese do not harbor any negative feelings toward the US or Americans.

The kids are particularly wonderful. They are very friendly and sweet... they wave as you pass by and sing "hello hello." I started in Saigon and worked my way north to Hanoi with a stop in Central Vietnam (Hue and Hoi An). Vietnam is bigger than it looks and has a diversity of scenery (river industry, beaches, big cities, sea with karst formations, rice terraces) and lots of history. Unfortunately, as I headed north, the weather worsened: non-stop rain and flooding in Hue gave way to freezing temperatures in the highlands of Sapa.

I am excited to get back to some warmer climes! Tomorrow I fly to Bangkok to work my way toward Angkor in Cambodia. I also predict a beach in my near future.