5-26-11 Trip to Hue

Beach by our hotel

This morning I had a wonderful breakfast, and got a pedicure and manicure ($5 a piece). This was the first time that I went to look at the beach by our hotel. It was beautiful… the sand, the waves, and the mountains in the distance. I went swimming for about 20min in the ocean. I would swim out and let the wave push me back to shore, and then I would swim out again. It was wonderful… and not a Jelly fish in site!

she did a wonderful job!

A monkey we saw on our way to Hue

After a peaceful morning we went on the bus… Our first stop was at a marble store. There were all of these marble statues there. It was beautiful. After that quick stop, it was a long bus ride (about 4 hours). There was a beautiful view though J it was nice seeing some of the country in Vietnam. We got to see some bunkers that were left over from the war. Our translator was telling us all about Vietnam, and Vietnamese history while we were on the road. Driving was still a bit scary… they drive very intensely there.

Finally we were in Hue. We dropped our things of and headed out to the restaurant for the evening. I could not eat a single bite. Instead, I went back to the hotel, with my professor accompanying me. I took Imodium and Cipro to try and stop things before it got worse. I quickly fell asleep.

5-27-11 Sick in bed/boat ride with musicians

 Much of today was spent in bed. In the morning I couldn’t even watch TV because it made me nauseous. I was sad that I missed the sight seeing that day. Later on I got better, and I was able to head out that evening on the boat ride.

We went on a short boat ride with musicians who were each related to the royalty that had ruled Vietnam in the past. The music was beautiful! The instruments were very unique, and I was amazed at all the notes they could get.

floating flower candle. Don't forget to make a wish!

three string instrument

Singers

After the concert the boat stopped in the middle of the river. We each were able to take a candle in a paper flower and send it down the river. If it stayed afloat then you got a wish come true, you could choose between wealth, luck, and success in our job. But like all wishes we couldn’t tell what we wished for, or it wouldn’t come true.

I skipped out on dinner again, not wanting to risk it, and fell asleep.

5-28-11 Trip back to Ho Chi Ming City, and Hard Rock Cafe

Today is when I did most of my shopping. I also got to see how well I can barter… which is not very good at all. I was able to talk someone down from $15 to $12 for a pair of pants. After shopping we head out. We were going to take a long ride in a van back to Danang, and from there we flew to Ho Chi Ming City. We got back to the airport over two hours early, and I guess they don’t let you check in more than two hours ahead of time. So we ate in a restaurant outside of the airport and waited. The food was very spicy. I think all the restaurants we had gone to before hand were holding out on us.

Brent and I in the Market... with my hat.

view from bus during our trip back

workers in the field

When we were able to go in we noticed that there were only three gaits for the airport. Our flight then was canceled, and we had to wait for a later flight. When we finally got back to Ho Chi Ming City it was passed 11pm. We were going to get foot massages, but it was too late now. We went to the Hard Rock Café instead. It was a lot of fun. We heard the last set from the band.

Vietnamese airport snacks. Yum!

band jamming out at the Hard Rock Cafe

5-29-11 Back to America/Chicago fun

I finally got to sleep around 2am, and we had to leave by 3:30. I was tired. It seemed to take forever getting our luggage checked in. The lines just weren’t moving! When we got to our gait I sat down, and in my tired state left my Vietnamese hat. I later tried to get it, by asking a flight attendant if someone could go out and find it… but the flight attendants checked for me and said they didn't see it... Alas! (however, after a quick e-mail to my professor who was still in Vietnam, she brought me a hat back with her)

I didn’t sleep at all on the first flight. Instead I crocheted, and watched Psych, and this interesting video on how silk is made. We then landed in Hong Kong. We ate at McDonald's and it was AMAZING! I only eat at McDonald's once every 2 years… it is my own personal ban on them after I saw the movie “Super Size Me.” It was completely worth it this time. I was happy that they had the fish sandwich on their breakfast menu, because that was all I was craving. I was able to eat it with ease.

Back on the plane again, and this time it would be for 16 hours. I was finishing up my dragon. There was a Chinese boy sitting near me, and when he saw the dragon he complemented me on it, and asked if I had learned how to do it in China. I told him that my mom had taught me. He was impressed that I had made it within the course of my trip, and amazed that Americans can make things like this too. He talked about how his mom makes different kinds of things as well (I forget what he said she made). He didn't know that Americans did anything creative.

I maybe slept for 5 hours all together during the course of this flight. I had a sudden urge to crochet R2D2… so in my excitement I didn’t sleep.

Our flight was sent to Minneapolis to fuel up, as Chicago was having poor weather. Then We were flown to Chicago. The landing went alright… but they cancelled our flight to Fargo until the next morning. After much fretting, we decided to make the most of our day in Chicago. Jennifer, Brent, and I were the only ones stuck in Chicago, but we got hotel rooms, and ate at the restaurant “the Blue Line” after taking a ride on “The Blue Line” which is a sort of passenger train. The food was amazing, but I couldn’t eat too much, as I was use to the overly healthy food in Vietnam. The cheesy and thick food placed before me was too much to digest.

When we got back we slept… this time for around five hours. Boy could I tell the difference. It was so much better than the night before where I only slept for 1 hr. Never only get 1 hour of sleep! It feels dreadful!!!

5-30-11 Flight to Fargo

The Chicago airport was very confusing. I’m glad that I was not a foreigner trying to figure out my way through it. It was hard enough as an American… and the staff, I am sorry to say, was far less than kind. However, we were able to make it to our gate. It is veterans day today, and on the flight to Fargo I sat next to someone who had fought in the Vietnamese war. I thanked him for his service, and was able to learn a lot about him and what he’s seen. I showed him some pictures of Vietnam as well. It was a good trip. It was short too! The flight was only 1 hour long.

In Fargo I was greeted by my friends Kristen, her beau Obediah, and my beau Greg. I think I slept for 18 hours when I got back home.

Now I am back to my regular life in America, but I won’t forget the things that I saw and learned in Vietnam. These memories are sure to stay with me for the rest of my life.