Wednesday, July 15, 2009

We're leaving for Vietnam

This morning, my father and I are leaving on our trip to Vietnam. I am bringing my laptop, so I will post when there is interesting food/chicken/bee-related news and an internet connection.

I have never been to Asia. My father spent a year there in 1967. It wasn't a vacation. The picture above is of the two of us shortly before he left for Vietnam. He looks like he's about nine. Here's another picture from that same vintage: 

This is my father's first trip back to Vietnam, and we're visiting the city in the central highlands where he was stationed. Here's what Frommer's says about it: "These days the town of Pleiku is just a polluted commercial center. If you're in a pinch, there are a few hotels here, but most visitors give Pleiku a pass. "

Who is this Frommer person, anyway? Sheesh. In addition to Pleiku we are visiting more popular tourist destinations like Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat, Hoi An and Hue.

Now I need to finish packing and leave.
 

7 comments:

  1. Please eat weird and exotic foods while you're there, and give us excessive details. Balut! Balut! Balut!

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  2. I went on a literary Vietnam bender a couple years ago. If you're looking for related reading, I liked Denis Johnson's Tree of Smoke, Dispatches by Michael Herr, and finally got around to reading The Things They CArried, which may be one of the best books I've ever read.

    And Anthony Bourdain had a good episode on Laos. These are all bad advice for you right before a trip, though, so good luck packing, and enjoy!

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  3. Since Tipsy has yet to resurface (make landfall?), I'll offer this update from her farm. The chickens are latched up in their little house but surely missing their human mom. The kitchen is dark.
    Regarding Girl Detective's book suggestions, we'll have to see if any of them match the books Tipsy saved to her Kindle for the trip.

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  4. Girl Detective - Those are great suggestions & agreed about Things They Carried. I'm reading Bright Shining Lie by Neil Sheehan and it's enormous, but/and excellent.

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  5. Wow. Bon voyage to you, Tipsy. I love that first b & w photo of you and your dad. Amazing that all these years later you get to make that trip with him.

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  6. make sure to follow all of the salon lady's advice!

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  7. beautiful, beautiful photos of father and daughter.

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