ImagiNation

Good morning Vietnam!

After a couple of days in a bus we are at the 17th parallel- aka the DMZ or the middle of the country! Hanoi was pretty great, it reminded a lot of Kunming (the city in China that I was at the longest). We got to see Ho Chi Minh (literally, these communist countries preserve their leaders and show them in a glass case), he sends his love! The homes here are not all like I expected them to look like. They are actually pretty nice for such a poor country, though that could be because we only see the ones near the road. The countryside is SO beautiful! And now that we are in the narrow part of the nation their is the South China Sea to one side of us and Mountains to the other. Speaking of the sea, we went to the beach two days ago. It was interesting to say the least. You know when we go to the beach its a time for relaxation and fun- here its the same only there are people constantly walking up to you trying to sell seafood or other goods. And I mean constantly. The saddest part was seeing children pick at the food that others had left behind. Its really hard not to want to just give them a wad of cash sometimes.

The group that I'm traveling with are really great- unlike my last trip like this all the people actually are here by choice which makes such a difference in their attitudes. I hope to write some more this evening as we are getting ready to leave in a few!!!

posted by imagine @ 9:17 PM