So today has been a whirlwind of a day. We started with a tour of the Ho Chi Mihn complex...what an experience. He died only ~40 years ago yet the Vietnamese regard him as a God as he was responsible for securing their independence. As Americans, we view communism as evil and democracy as good. We've fought many wars (including the loooooong one in Vietnam) to rid the world of communism yet these people seem to think it is perfectly fine. Very interesting perspective....
Our first stop was at the Ho Chi Mihn mausoleum. What a surreal experience. The man is literally embalmed and on full display for everyone to see from 7-12am during the spring and summer. He is actually flown to Russia for a "touch up" during the off season. The man waiting in line in front of us was a war vet from New Jersey there on his psychiatrist's orders to help treat his PTSD, while the family behind us were Vietnamese there to honor their hero. What a strange dichotomy. From there we toured his bunkers and homes before heading to the "Hanoi Hilton" (i.e. war prison). Most Americans know it as the place where the American pilots gunned down during the Vietnam war were held, the most famous being John McCain. The locals have preserved it mostly as a museum to remember their ancestors that were tortured there during the French colonial reign. The propoganda and slanting of the facts of war are astounding. Photos of our soldiers playing billiards and raising chickens plasters the walls, whereas our textbooks report our men being starved and tortured. Perspective is everything!
We made it to Cambodia this evening and the people here are so warm and kind. We're off to the Angkor Wat temple tomorrow so off to bed early. I'll post more pics soon!
Hope all is well back home,
ER
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