1. We waiting two hours in line to see Ho Chi Minh's mummified body. It was so hot. Rumor has it the day we arrived in Hanoi was the hottest day in sixty years. I am sweating like crazzzzy. I learned tonight that my clothes don't smell like sweat though... They smell exactly like the streets or in other words an actual garbage can. I might have the hotel do my laundry before we leave so it doesn't make the rest of my clothes stink. Anyway, back to Uncle Ho. While in line I bartered with a lady and got a fan for ten cents. After a lot of security and lines we saw ho chi for less than fifteen seconds. The guards inside wouldn't even let me fold my arms. Most people there to see him were Vietnamese. I am almost positive it isn't his real body though. How would they have had the technology to preserve his body in 1969 in a developing country. It is fascinating how revered these leaders are, for years and years. We went to his museum but that is highlight number two. On the subject of communism we also went to a jail where the French held the Vietnamese and then the Vietnamese held American pilots. I was amazed at how one-sided/biased it was. It was a very sly form of propaganda. It talked all about the horrible terrible torture the Vietnamese went through in there and then made the American prison seem like Disneyland. There were multiple pictures with captions, "American pilots play volleyball" "American pilots enjoy Christmas" "American pilots receive souvenirs before being released from camp" "American pilots raised chickens and plant a garden". I am really interest to do further research on actual stories from American POW in the jail. They had john mccains flight suit. Also debating the ethnicity of that.
2. By the time we finally got to uncle hos museum we were pooped. We all found some stairs and enjoyed our 45 minutes of roaming sitting on the steps. Shelby, Camille, and I were like an exhibit in the museum. Everyone wanted pictures and selfies. The kids are so cute and the people so friendly. Not many speak English (that was is for you mom). One Vietnamese boy loved me, his friend spoke English and asked for a picture. After a few pictures he wanted even more and the girl taking the picture said to do a big hug and when I moved in close he kissed me on the cheek. The picture is awesome but I couldn't find him on Facebook. Everywhere we go the little kids who don't necessarily work on the streets just stare. I want to adopt a little Asian baby one day!
3. For lunch I had pho! I was excited to try it. There were two options for lunch and just five of us picked pho 24. I really did like it! Hot broth on a hot day isn't ideal but it was good! We are at the night market again tonight but I didn't have much of an appetite. I sat with the group and during dinner it started to down pour. Like what we have been having in bountiful but more rain and louder thunder. Luckily it only
Lasted a little over thirty minutes. I had an orange smoothie at the night market but I am a terrible shopper! Also a terrible picture taker. Just trying to take it all in! I have some pictures on my phone but not many with me
In them.
Love you!
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