Ho Chi Minh, Won't You Be My Friend?

I can see Joseph McCarthy rising from the grave and red-baiting me for that title.

The Cambodian leg of my journey is drawing to the close, and tomorrow the third and final leg will begin.

Destination: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

If I had a little extra time....say, that one day I had a case of the barfs (thanks a lot, tainted chicken), I would've instead cruised the Mekong itself and hung around the Mekong Delta for a few days. But alas, it wasn't mean to be and HCMC has tour operators which conduct tours to the Mekong Delta. So, all is not a complete loss.

I also wish the last leg was longer for two other important reasons: my Vietnamese visa was expensive (I should have gotten it here in Phnom Penh....) and there's so much to see there outside of HCMC and the Mekong Delta. But those two areas will serve as a great introduction, and the next time I come through I can add the rest of the country to my list (and Laos too!).

I think one of the most priceless experiences I've had so far was last night. My tuk-tuk driver who took me to Tuol Sleng (S-21 Prison) and the Killing Fields invited me out that night to get some "lady boom boom" with him. I automatically said no in my head but to be polite I told him we'll see. Later that night, he saw me downstairs here in the lobby on the internet (d'oh!!) and asked me again. With a sad face, I told him I was too tired and that I was planning to simply relax in my room, eat oreos and watch movies.

He had this sad, puppy dog look on his face, like he had been disowned. Think of those anti-pollution PSAs with the Native American looking out at the huge heap of trash, and a small, gentle tear rolls down his face. It was exactly like that, and I'm sure the small, gentle tear came after I went upstairs. The little tuk-tuk driver's new friend didn't want to get lady boom boom with him. Sad night.

Saigon tomorrow! I'll be sure to tell Adrian Cronauer hi for everyone. Maybe he'll let me say GOOOOOOD MOOOOORNING, VIETNAM!