After Nha Trang, I spent two days in Saigon before finally concluding the Vietnam portion of my trip. In total, I spent two and a half weeks in Vietnam--several days longer than planned, and at the expense of other locations. Totally worth it. The highlight of my trip.
Then, I flew to Bangkok and ultimately caught up with Derek in Phuket, Thailand, a few days ago. Before I write about Thailand, however, a few closing thoughts on Vietnam:
It is necessary to realize that a visit to the country requires a significant relaxation in Western standards. The place is dirty. Rules of the road as we understand them do not exist. Socialism, black markets, and the country's bribery culture make it tough to run a profitable business.
Yet the system works (according to non-Western standards, anyway). It's useless to try to compare the level of happiness of a typical Vietnamese person with that of an American, for instance, because our philosophies on freedom, individualism, and natural rights are derived from wholly different underlying assumptions. (I'll refrain from pontificating on why our system is better, and more consistent with the dignity inherent in being a human. Leave it as an accepted truth for the moment). But overall, they do seem happy, and they genuinely appreciate visitors' interest in their country. This is all the more impressive in contrast to the tragedy that's befallen Vietnam for a large part of its history.
(While I am on the subject of tragedy, I made sure to visit the Vietnam War Remnants Museum in Saigon. It was graphic, candid, and tough to stomach. I was reminded of a quote I once heard, though I can't locate its source (paraphrased): "There is no evil of which the human mind cannot conceive.")
***
On the brighter side, you'll be pleased to know that I can see the white sand and emerald waters of Kho Phi Phi (an island off the coast of Phuket) from where I'm currently seated. Derek and I are taking off for an afternoon boat tour of the surrounding islands in about an hour.
My first two nights in Thailand, in Phuket town and Patong Beach, respectively, were uneventful. Patong resembles a sad combination of Bourbon Street in New Orleans and the Strip in Panama City Beach--the two most distasteful spots on Earth, in my opinion (Times Square in New York gets my vote for third place). And it is crawling with so-called "Ladyboys." Google the term if you don't know (or can't guess) what it means.
Kho Phi Phi (pronounced "Ko Pee Pee") is an infinitely nicer spot, and the crowd composition here is more consistent with what I might care to be associated in real (non-vacation) life.
***
The countdown to the 16th is getting louder. Derek and I will spend a week or so in Thailand, and then choose between Cambodia and Laos to close out my part of the trip (Derek's staying on after I return to the States). Until next time...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment