The past few days Kenny and I have spent the majority of our day sitting on our booties. However, we were also watching the countryside of the Central Highlands wizz by from the back of two motorcycles. Lam and River, our guides, picked us up in Dalat and we spent three days with them driving to Nha Trang. Along the way we visited several minority villages, coffee and tea plantations, flower farms, waterfalls, and an automated silk factory. We also saw many rice fields, dead areas sprayed with Agent Orange, and got lots of "heellloooos" while we drove past. It was a very unique way to ring in the New Year.
It was great to have local guides and get away from the tourist path. However, it did provide for some interesting meals. At one meal Lam and River told us we were eating pork, and although it was flavorful I could tell that something was unusual. It was only when I inquired further that we learned we were eating the tongue, lips, and ears of the pig. Yummy!! Lam and River also explained to us that many people in Vietnam began eating dog meat during the American-Vietnam War when there was little else to eat and it has stuck around as a popular dish. When we asked they told it tasted a lot like goat meat. We got quite suspicious when later that night Lam and River told us they were taking us to a "Goat BBQ." I was convinced they were trying to get us to eat dog meat. It was a great dinner and although they assured us it was goat meat we will never know for sure.
We are now in Nha Trang where we have spent lots of time walking and trying to get the blood flowing back into our legs and bums. We leave tomorrow for DaNang where we will do a one day orientation to the volunteer program and then head to Tam Ky where we will be throughout January. We are really looking forward to volunteering and will try to keep the blog updated as much as possible. For some reason we have not had great success being able to log-in since we left HoChiMinh City.
2 comments:
Ah at last I have been able to contact you. I have tried your email and cell phone. It appears that you old cell phone number has been issued to a teenage girl somewhere in CO. Over this next weekend i will spend some time reading through your blog. It looks quite intresting and it seems like you have had some amazing experiences. That is great!
Well dont fret i will keep you updated on college hoops. As it is now your Hoosiers are doing quite well They are something like 12-1. I have even taken the liberty to record a few games for you so that when you return to the states you can watch them. Unfortunately though one of the games recorded was their only lose. And it was not just a lose, it was a drumming, and absolute drilling by 15 or so points. Do you know who beat them. Of course you do. Even from across the globe you could see this come light years away. Yes the mighty musketeers of Xavier demonastated their basketball superiority against the Hoosier et's. Yes it wont stop here either. I have taken the liberty of burning this game to CD/DVD and have made 52 copies. If you would please send me you address so that i can send you a new copy every week for the next year. Hope all is well. Talk to you soon. Go XU!!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday, Katie! I hope you are having an unforgetable one this year...I am thinking of you!
Post a Comment