I'm in Nam, man.

Ignore what you think about Vietnam, throw your bias to the wind, come to this place. I was really not aware what I was in store for when coming to Vietnam. I was crushed on not being able to go to Thailand at first, but realized my safety was more important, and the sanity of my family. Even though there is political chaos there I was still more then excited to go, and I have been talking to many people who say they wouldn't even think twice about bringing their families with them there right now. But thats neither here nor there, I am in Vietnam and frankly, it is nothing like what you think. I am having such an amazing time here. I go out expecting to eat my dinners alone and end up talking to people for hours, both Vietnamese and foreign. But let me backtrack, before I get too into Nam. I ended up making it all night the other day, and shortly after I had blogged I was apprehended by Singapore airport police and questioned. I apparently had spent too much time at the 'Starby's' and at such random hours that I was raising suspicion. And as it turns out I had no proof of further travel, the online documentation I had didn't have my name or anything pertaining to my personal information on it, and I didn't even have documentation on what airline I was flying. I had all my information written down, but that wasn't good enough. I eventually got out of dodge and having only given them my flight number and airline and departure time they let me continue onward, but made me leave my nice little zone in the nice Singapore terminal. Turns out I was flying budget and had to make my way to the budget terminal. I took a bus and got there around 430am, checked in around 530 and wandered around the terminal. I bought a new camera in the terminal as well! It's a sick little Nikon deal, good megapixel count and a solid zoom. It was very cheap, as far as cameras go, so I was fired up. Anyway, pretty much went to full delusion on the airplane, tried to sleep for a little but couldnt do it. I was sitting in the emergency exit row, so I had tons of room, but no recline function and no arm rest. No problem though, I played Fruit Ninja on my Iphone for the hour ad half flight. Best game ever, you use your finger as a ninja sword and cut flying fruit in half. Highly suggested. Anyway, I landed safely and hopped the first cab to my accommodation. Got here with no problems and talked to the ladies that run the place for little, they were all so funny and interested in me. Honestly, I was expecting the Vietnamese to be very anti-American, but from what I have experienced thus far, they are amazing. Actually, not even 30 minutes ago I was booking a train to Hanoi and Halong Bay and the lady at the travel agency told me she liked me and I made her smile. And before that I was having some dinner and ended up striking up conversation with a Vietnamese guy, same age as myself, and ended up talking to him for about 2 hours. They were so stoked on me they even gave me a discount on my meal, which blew my mind. I saw the prices, and the prices they gave me where much cheaper. I left the difference as a tip, which I guess nobody tips here, but one of the other guys I talked to there said he loves Americans and how well they treat the staff. Awesome people, go to a restaurant called 333's, if Lee is working tell him AJ the fuzzy american says hello. The first thing we talked about was beards. I haven't shaved in about a month now, and i think this is the best beard I have ever had. It probably looks like filth to everyone else, but I think its awesome. It goes well with my wildman hair. Anywho, back the story, a friend of mine, Emily, had come here maybe three years ago and said she was pestered for being American and her and her mom were not really big fans, but she did get proposed to by a 4 foot tall man, so that was a plus. I am having a completely different experience so far, I believe she said that was mainly up north in Hanoi. So we shall see. I will claim Australian or something if I feel harsh vibrations. Everyone assumes I am Australian anyways, I don't know why, I am not that loud... just kidding all you aussies, kind of.. But yea, Vietnam. Love this place so far. Granted I have only been here two days, today was a definite eye opener and truly amazing day. Yesterday was kind of a travel/rest/cruise day. Once I got to my hostel/guesthouse I just relaxed and got some good sleep time. I did go out last night for a little and it was a bit of culture shock. Eating dinner and having man sodas and having 7 yr old come up and hassle you to buy cigarettes is a total mind blower. Its pretty wild how young the kids are walking around working; selling books, cigarettes, lighters, jewelry and whatever else you can think of. There's even moms waking around with babies thrown over their shoulders selling things. It is a pretty heavy sight. But back to today; I was wandering around the street after eating 4 massive doughnuts at this wild little Vietnamese doughnut shop called 'Doughnut,' creative I know, and some dude approached me. He asked where I was from and I said California, and he immediately became thrilled. He went into a full frenzy, "I love America!," he was saying, "Americans are good people" and a bunch of other stuff. I was caught off guard and a little taken back, waiting to get stabbed or something. Keep in mind this is in the middle of the street that we are talking, I am looking around like what the heck is going on, so we get over the side of the road. He starts showing me this book of all these things people have written about him, how he showed them around and gave them the best day ever. He showed me all the writings from these Americans he helped out, trying to make me feel comfortable or something. He told me he would give me a great tour of the city and show me all the best stuff, I said whatever and hopped on his little motorcycle with him. His name was Ngon, he was 50 but looked like he was 30. He even showed me his drivers license later because he thought I didn't believe him, it made no difference to me really, besides the fact that I got a little scared that he was 50 and driving me around on a dodgy little motorcycle that would stall randomly at intersections. Ngon was a true legend. He took me to the Vietnamese War History Museum, which if you are an American and you want to really feel embarrassed, go there. There is no sense of pride in America found there. The pictures will make you feel about 3 inches tall. If you look at another American there, you will see a similar expression as to what you are feeling. Its heavy. I am not anti-America one bit, but I am just saying the way the museum is, is very intense. It will get to you. If not the pictures of the innocent bomb victims then the pictures of the aftermath of the Agent Orange will really get you. Very disturbing. Ngon and I also went to the Vietnam Historical Museum, and saw some other cool monuments through the day. But the highlight of the day was our trip to the Cu Chi tunnels. It took us about 45+ minutes to get there on his bike, but it was worth it when we got there. It was super interesting and pretty amazing. The Cu CHi tunnels where basically the way the Vietnamese outsmarted the Americans. These intricate and tiny tunnels where used to sneak attack and sabotage American Troops. They made me try to fit in the tunnels and it was so small. Some where bigger than others but it was incredible to think of how they could move through such small places so fast and diligently with firearms. It was also interesting to see how they used American weapons against Americans, breaking down bomb shrapnel and dud bombs to make horrible, and very aggressive booby-traps. But as unsettling and oddly captivating all that was, the highlight was shooting an M60. The gun from Rambo. That was how they pitched it to me, and I was sold immediately. I wanted to know the maximum amount of bullets I could fire, that was expensive, so I did about 30 rounds. Which I felt was not enough, but still awesome. Unfortunately the gun was fastened down so I couldn't go nuts with it and light up the hill side that you got to fire at. But I still got to go a bit crazy. The first few rounds where short bursts just to get a feel, they I let her rip. Full automatic power, watching this small section of the hill just light up. Even with the gun being fastened down you could still feel the power. It was a very fun time to say the least. I was all sorts of fired up after that. I want to go to this place in Cambodia that friends of mine have gone to where you can shoot more guns, unfastened, and you can shoot more things. That sounds like a good day to me. But yea, Cu Chi was a very engaging and interesting journey. The only kicker is the video they make you watch before you start the tour, about how beautiful Cu Chi was before the "evil Americans" came and destroyed the lush land. Its messed up. It, again, makes you feel slightly embarrassed. They show video of before and after and how the Americans shot women, children, sacred temples, animals and all this other stuff. Its hectic. But good to know about I suppose. The guns where my favorite part. I felt like Rambo, but like a safer version, because my gun was fastened down, and I had sunglasses on. So yes, I am tired now, and am going to zonk out. I have been trying to make a new facebook photo album but the website wont work for some reason on my computer... its very odd. I will keep trying though, I have a few pictures from Singapore and Indo that are neat. Goodnight! Ps Sorry for another novel, I can't help myself.