Hello all,
Well as is usually the case when I travel it was a truly jammed pack day. I
sometimes am amazed at how much I do in a day when I travel and wish I had
that same stamina back home in the states.

Well, alas my friend made in yesterday late afternoon and was glad to see
him. I had not seen him in about 4 or 5 years when he visited in Los
Angeles. We spent the evening walking around Saigon and eventually went
out for a late dinner. Got to bed relatively early.

This morning started with waking up at 5:30...after getting ready we started
our day long tour which picked us up at the hotel. This is by far the
hottest and most humid place I have visited...you move and you sweat leading
to rashes and dehydration. After a heroing drive through the city we headed
northwest toward the Cambodian border where we went to the Cau Dai
Temple...Caudaism is a mix of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism,
Confucianism, etc. All mixed together. The temple was truly breath taking
and we were there in time for the noon service so we go to hear all the
chants and prayers...it was very interesting. I also learned the at
Caudist wanted to be there own nation and fought against both south and
north Vietnam but lost in the end..but there are 2 million caodaists here.

After the tour of the Caodai Temple we had lunch then headed to the Cu Chi
Tunnels which I was anxious about visiting because of the closed underground
tunnels. It was hear that the mosquitoes really came out...I put on my 100%
Deet and started taking my Anti Malaria medication the other day...so I think
I'll be ok. No bites yet! WE went through the jungle and saw where many of
the bombing took place and where Agent Orange had been used. They had a
movie we watched about the history of the tunnels..and was it ever
propaganda...it talked about the war, the values of communism, and the enemy
"America" The Viet Cong built elaborate tunnels underground with booby
traps and torture. It was very sobering to see. One of the tunnels is a
bit expanded for 100 meters and you can crawl through it. Every 30 meters
is an escape route for people who start to panic. In our group of 12 people
only one guy went the 100 meters. My friend went down in the tunnel and
immediately retreated. I did go down...and started to panic but was able to
make it to the 30 meter emergency exit. I was a bit bummed I couldn't make
the whole 100 meters but it is very small, dark, and deep and you have to
practically crawl on your stomach to get through. By this time I was
dripping with sweat and had to deescalate myself from a major panic attack.
We then went over to the firing range and for 100,000 Viet Dong you can
shoot an M16 or AK 47. My friend did it but I desperately wanted to do it
but to be honest I've never fired a gun and 2) I couldn’t stand the
noise...there was no ear protection and it was really rattling my nerves. I
probably should have done it but it was fun to watch Michael shoot an AK47.
At the end of the tour we had tea and ate tapioca...not the pudding...some
"nasty root" that is peeled and boiled. I didn't like it but was polite and
ate it.

After the tour we went to a factory that is run by the communist party to
give jobs to the handicap painting and lacquering.

It was rather sad to see war torn men and women, teenagers afflicted by
Down Syndrome, or missing limbs working in this hot factory and selling there
goods. I bought a few items as I felt I was in some way helping these
people..I hope but who knows.

The drive back to Saigon was insane and we got back this evening about 7
pm....so Michael is taking a nap, and I'm doing my email thing. Probably
go grab a bite to eat and call it a day. Tomorrow we leave for the Mekong
Delta...so I'm not sure what the internet situation will be down there. We
will be in the delta for 3 days and 2 nights before heading up the delta by
boat to Phnom Penh Cambodia...hopefully I'll be able to drop a note before
then.

Well, that is today’s adventures...until later..

Hello all! I hope that life is well. I've never been to a country that is
so hot and humid! Unfortunately in all my photos I will have sweat stains...it's
unbelievable the humidity here!! Well, I am in my first Communist
Country...but you would never guess it...capitalism is alive and well and
the downtown part of Saigon (which I will use since Ho Chi Minh city is so
long)...is filled with stores like Gucci, D & G, etc.

After I wrote last night...I went to bed about 2 am...and woke up at 6:30
am....After gathering my sense I called my mom to see what happened to my
friend from Minneapolis...apparently he got very ill on the flight from
Minneapolis to Tokyo and had to stay in Tokyo to recuperate...but he should
be here tonight! I hope.

I left about 8 am into a wild surprise of traffic, no lights, 1000s of bikes,
and you have to just walk out into the traffic blindly and hope you don't
get hit. It's insane...but kind of fun! My first stop was the Reunification
Palace which is left exactly the way it was on April 30th, 1975 when Saigon
fell to the North Vietnamese army...it was a sobering tour. To be honest, I
did not know that much about the history of Vietnam or the war before coming
here. Vietnam goes back thousands of years with contact with the Roman in
166 AD. But then for 1000 years it was ruled by China and in the late
1800's became a French colony until the Revolution and ultimate take over by
Ho Chi Minh and the communist party. Saigon was the last to fall and I even
went on the roof of the palace where helicopters were evacuating the last
refugees. After touring the palace I walked over to Notre Dame
Cathedral...built in 1885 by the French. Beautiful..but kind of funny as
they had neon lights around the statues...it looked like a red light
district with holy icons! I then went to the Post Office which is gorgeous
architecture. I then stopped to have a coffee...it was so hot an ice mocha
sounded good...after I was done I thought uh oh...I just had ice. Oh
well..we shall see. I then walked through the downtown district and to the
oldest Mosque in Saigon though I couldn't enter because I was not dressed
appropriately (shorts and tank top). I then walked down to the Saigon
river. After that I went shopping at the Ben Taht Market which was
amazing. Crowded, crazy, hot, humid,....people were literally pulling me
to come into their stalls.

I did buy some stuff and then stopped for a late lunch...deep fried pork and
rice. I get so nervous about stomach problems..but I figured deep fried
will kill any bacteria. I then went to the Revolution Plaza and the War
Remnants Park which had tanks, helicopters, etc. Again, like on my other
tours of war, battle fields, death and destruction...it makes you wonder
what was the point..

Everywhere I've went I meet such friendly people...many of the Vietnamese
girls want to take a picture with me...which I oblige! Even sitting in the
park people come up and I think they want something..but they simply want to
talk to me about the US, their daughter goes to UCLA, their son works in
computers, etc. Its so unlike the US where no one talks to
anyone..especially strangers.

So...now it is late afternoon...I'm going to go buy some snacks and waters
(the room has a fridge!)..write out some postcards and wait for my friend
Michael to arrive. I bummed that he missed so much today...but when I
travel...I go..go..go. I am thinking tomorrow I may go tot he cu chi
tunnels from the war. The prices here are unbelievable. I just had a nice
lunch for $3! Everything is super cheap...so cheap that I get carried away
buying this or that.

Health wise...everything is ok...no anxiety, no arrhythmias, and no "travel
diseases"....the worst of my casualties is a blister!

And incidentally for those keeping track...Vietnam is my "Silver
Mark"...it's the 25th Country I've been to...so I'm 1/4 of the way to my
goal! Well, I hope all is well with you. It's so nice to end my days and
feel connected to those back home that I miss...even though I'm 9,000 miles
away..you are all just a "click" away.

So until the next adventure!

Hello all...I am currently in Hong Kong...it's 7:41 pm here....in Los
Angeles like 4:40 am!! The worst is over. This was a 15 1/2 hours straight
through. No major anxiety or panic and I didn't even use my nicotine
patch! though I was dying for one when I got to Hong Kong and they do allow
smoking in the terminal....nice terminal with free internet!! So I thought
I would have a smoke, email, and then catch my flight in one hour ....the
next flight is to Saigon...but is is only a 2 hour flight so that is a piece
of cake.

Everything has gone smoothly thus far....check in at LAX was less than 5
minutes and I was so lucky with my seat...no one sat next to me. Still
cramped but I could spread out a little. I have to admit...this was one
hell of a long flight I am so glad that is over with. I did get anxious at
one point and did self talk, deep breathing and calmed down.

Though as long as the flight was...it wasn't as bad as I expected. I may
try to email when I get to Saigon tonight...but may have to wait until
tomorrow when I'm a little more with it and acclimated. It seems so odd to
have been in Los Angeles...and now in Hong Kong...my first time crossing the
pacific.

Its1:15 here and I'm at the hotel....need to be fast. My flight from Hong Kong
got to Saigon 1/2 early and the hotel was ready to pick me up. I waited for 3
hours for my friend from Minneapolis...he never showed up. I don't know where
he is or what happened. But I'm at the hotel safe...it's dark..and all I
could see driving here were 1000s of mopeds and bicycles. I hope my friend
gets here tomorrow....

I hope to get a good night sleep and start exploring tomorrow. Take
care..just checking in to let you know I am here!

Well my friends and family...we are about to embark on our next journey!
Welcome to the new people in this email group! ..It's Monday, November 5th
and I leave in about 2 ½ for the airport via the public bus. I can't
believe I bought this plane ticket on March 5th this year only a week after
my angiogram!

I'm filled with excitement and a little bit of fear. This trip has been a
bit overwhelming for me at times. This is truly a new adventure...new
language, religions, cultures, etc and will prove to be very interesting As
nerve wracking and overwhelming as it feels...I am so grateful to be going
on this trip. There is always so much to learn and see, new people to meet,
peoples paths that you cross never to see again, and of course all of the
spiritual lessons I learn on these trips...like one day at a time, seeing
the bigger picture of life, trusting in the universe, feelings of
gratefulness and thanksgiving and feeling the interconnectedness of all
people. I am all packed (35 pounds in my backpack) and ready to live out
of a backpack for 3 weeks. As most of you know I am a member of hospitality
club http://hospitalityclub.org and will hopefully be relying on some of
those people for accommodations and to meet for dinner or coffee. But it is
all very tentative which adds to the thrill of it. As most of you know, I
try to send out updates along the road with antidotes, historical notes,
places I've visited and people I've encountered.

The days leading up to these trips are always nerve wracking and somewhat
emotional as I find it a time of new starts, reflection, hope, missed
opportunities. As I get ready I think of people I have met on other trips
and I think of the many hills and valleys in my personal life the last 4
years-the loss of my father, my own health concerns, and other life issues
that have arose. Part of the reason I travel around this time is it's my
sobriety date on November 15th.God willing I will have 11 years of sobriety
and my travels are a way of celebrating my new life and seizing the
opportunity to experience the things I missed for so many years in a drunken
stupor. In the last few months I have been suffering from anxiety/panic
attacks which has been very difficult for me and has added to my anxiety
about this trip. At times the panic attacks have been so intense I have
contemplated canceling the trip. But as with many things in life, I feel I
must walk through it.forge through it.or if I allow things like that to keep
me from doing stuff, it isn't much of a life worth living. To paraphrase
Thoreau I do not want to get old and near death and realize that I had not
lived life.

My first hurdle is my flight.I leave LAX and fly for 15 ½ hours (my longest
flight ever) to Hong Kong where I then will catch a flight to Ho chi Minh
City (Saigon). I will arrive in Saigon at 10:20 on Tuesday night.so you may
not hear from me for a while. In Saigon, I will meet up with my friend
Michael from Minneapolis who will be traveling with me in Vietnam and
Cambodia where we will part separate ways and I will go on alone to
Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. I desperately want to get this initial
flight over with.

The tentative schedule is we will spend a few days in Saigon then tour the
Mekong Delta. WE will then head up by bus/boat to Phnom Penh, Cambodia for
2 days. Then to Siem Reap and to visit my highlight Angkor Wat!! We will
be there for 3 days. From there we will separate and I will fly to Bangkok
for a few days. Then hop a flight to the Malaysian Island of Penang. I
will then journey by bus to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where I must see the
Petronas Towers and the Batu Caves! The last leg of the journey will be a
bus ride to Singapore.

I will do my best to email updates along the way. Know that if you are on
this email list you have encouraged or inspired me in some way and a part of
you is with me on this trip. Though I am 9,000 miles away from
"homebase"..you will all be in my heart during this adventure.