Just returned from my trip to VN, CHI, HK, and JPN

[OneLungMcClung]

I've been overseas for a month in Asia, and just returned two days ago. My brain is still in the phase where I am trying to figure out why the sun is up - but that will end soon.

My wonderful adventure took me through Vietnam, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Tokyo. What a blast! I think that traveling overseas is a definite plus - more Americans should do it.

I had a great time - lots of stuff to do, lots to see, gallons of cheap beer, great people. In our hostel in Beijing, you could buy 600ml bottles of Tsing Tao beer for about .63cents US - I would literally have about 7 to 10 of those a day *hIc*. In Japan, they had beer vending machines! I am in love....

Oddly enough - I got to shoot a firearm. In Vietnam, at the Cu Chi tunnel complex, there is a firing range which has a bunch of western and Soviet/Chinese weapons that you can fire. The guns are on pintle mounts, so you can't hold it. Yes, it was more like a carnival and less like a firing range, but I don't care - I got to shoot a full-auto M-60!! And yes, I'm in love, I want one. NFA here I come.

Here's me on the Pig, the last shell has just hit the floor when he snapped it:


That fuzzy stuff on my face isn't normally there- I forgot to shave BTW - those earplugs are my own - I brought them just in case. Good thing, too: you're in the third world! Not a single damned person was wearing ear pro - an OSHA inspector would have a fit! They'll all be deaf in a matter of a year. Ha! And don't lecture me about the Vietnamese being commies - they're capitalists, through and through: the cost is $1.30 per round!

The scene was a bit comical - I was the only American in my group. The Aussies and Kiwis who wanted to shoot would usually buy one or two rounds and plink it out of the AK-47 that was available....and here comes OneLung with his 30 round belt (cash only...and I forgot my $100 bill back here, so I didn't get to buy 100 rounds like I wanted ). I ripped off about 3 little bursts, then fired the rest in a big chain. Weeeee!! All the Euros and Aussies were looking at the mad American. I didn't care - they're all soon-to-be subjects as far as I'm concerned [because they're disarmed] (that's for another thread, though ).

Cu Chi is a bit somber when you put your brain to it, though - I got the same feeling that I got at both Gettysburgh and at Omaha Beach in Normandy: a hush is over the place because it is a battlefield where a lot of men died on both sides. Wow.

Going through those tunnels was fun - I'm 6'5" so fitting into them was hilarious. The real surprise wasn't just the size - its the heat. It's hot as Hell down there - something I wasn't expecting. Those tunnels are dark as a well digger's ass and scary - during the war, firefights were usually in the 2 foot range, when you stumbled across eachother. I've got mad respect both for our Tunnel Rats and for Charlie - a hell of a place to fight a war.

Those of you who were in the 'Nam on the Government plan may want to return - some of the country is exactly like it was when you were there - and other parts are stuck in the 70s during the Commie era, and yet others are modern. The Vietnamese very much want to be a part of the modern world - I found them to be wonderful and friendly. They've got the money bug though - shameless capitalist with a totalitarian a-hole Govt ruling over them. You have to be on your toes - scams are common. Violence is not however - the VN gov't has made it a very serious offense to commit violence against a tourist - like 35-65 years in a tiger cage for a strong arm robbery on a foreigner. Petty crimes (pickpocketing, scams) are far more common. The city of Saigon is amazing - something I will never forget. Good food, cheap beer, and beautiful women.

[bubba23]

I think that traveling overseas is a definite plus - more Americans should do it.

Good report. Absolutely agree. My four year vacation (thanks Uncle Sam) to East Asia was an incredible eye-opener. Now if I could only afford to spend some time in Europe....

[LorDiego01]

fantastic post!! +1 good rep for you friend!

I agree with you that more people need to see what the world has to offer, how about you post more pics of your trip, so that those in denial can see that there is actually a planet outside of the borders of the U.S.

[MichaelB]

Sounds like a good time. I am headed for Tokyo in August. Any recommendations?

[OneLungMcClung]

how about you post more pics of your trip, so that those in denial can see that there is actually a planet outside of the borders of the U.S.

Wow! OK, definitely. Ill do this in sequence. I may need to break it up, but here we go.

Sounds like a good time. I am headed for Tokyo in August. Any recommendations?

I'll get you in a few Michael, maybe send you a PM. Stand by for pics!


VIETNAM
Vietnam was cool. The traffic is fking insane! No rules. No red lights. One bazillion little scooters. At intersections - just lay on the horn and drive into the intersection! Brake at the last minute. All that chaos and no accidents...I don't get it. Picture is from the bar on the roof of the Hotel Rex, Saigon. More info on the Rex below.


Vietnam has one of the largest Chinatowns outside of China - Cholon. Vets will remember it. Saigon has 6+million peops, Cholon = 2 million of that.
Here is the Cholon Mosque/Market. Built 1932


Giac Lam Pagoda. Buddhist, built 1744. I was fortunate enough to be there on the 2,251st Birthday of the Buddha!


Saigon is now called HoChiMinhCity (HCMC) by the Commies up North, but the locals still call it Saigon.
Here is Saigon's Main Post Office, originally built by the French in 1891. That's Uncle Ho watching over you, making sure you get the correct postage.


Captured US (more likely ARVN) CAR-15s....this is the Grand Daddy to all of our M-4s.


"Reunification Palace". This is the old South Vietnamese Presidential palace. It is frozen at 1975...eerie as hell. Filled with commie propaganda and totally frozen at the moment of defeat for the South Vietnamese While our nation was watching the Last Helicopter on TV (our embassy was just up the street from this location), NVA T-54 tanks were on their way to break down the fences!


Here is Tan Son Nhut airport - AKA Ho Chi Minh City International Airport, formerly known as Tan Son Nhut airbase - our main base for the Air Force fighter-bombers that controlled Warzones III and IV (The southern half of South Vietnam) and terrorized the VC; as well as the main hub for MAC (Military Airlift Command). If you were a young grunt, REMF, or whatever on your way to the Nam, you likely passed through this airbase.

In this picture - the old bunkers that we set up to keep our planes safe from Charlie's annoying and many times deadly rocket attacks. Still in use, they now house everything from equipement, firetrucks, government aircraft, housing, and storage.


Here are old South Vietnamese Air Force C-130A's. Just rusting away... this was as close as I could get in the Terminal, but I got closer on the way out. They aren't in use. It's strange, they also arent on display, they just sit there, rusting. The Red arrows point to their tails, they are the Camo aircraft. The white ones are (I think) old Soviet Illyushin (?) transports. And look at the wall next to the middle Illyushin - that's an old shrapnel barrier, now 40+ years old. We built that during the war.


Thunderheads. Roof of the Rex hotel. Rex was the billet for US Army officers during the war. I was on my 3rd Saigon Beer when the thunder started..... it sounds like distant artillery. Sent chills down my spine - 40 years ago, its possible that a young officer around my age was drinking a Saigon Beer in that same damned chair, blowing off steam before going back to the bush, where Charlie was waiting for him........



I will post more later tonight. Now, I eat!!

[dnar]

Hey OneLungMcClung,

Thanks for sharing those unique pictures with us, I would love to visit Asia one day!

Take care,

Rand

P.S. By the way, Welcome back!

[OneLungMcClung]

Thanks for the support, Rand!

Just ate, so Here's the next stop on my East Asia tour:

HONG KONG

An incredible city. Non-stop, built to the sky, and loaded with money. I loved Hong Kong the most because it is a city of expats - everyone is a foreigner. Not really Chinese, not really British, filled with Chinese and expats from around the globe. You can go to Hong Kong and fit right in, no problem, no matter where you are from. I met residents who were born in HK, were from Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Argentina, France, the list goes on and on.

Get used to sky scrapers - Hong Kong builds up, not out. I think something like 90% of the land has to remmain untouched, so it is mostly forest. This leads to incredible skyscraper cities.
This is on the ferry dock at Tsim Sha Tsui, looking south towards Hong Kong Island. MAP <clicky>, then zoom in


Oh, BTW, they are a former British colony, so they drive on the wrong side of the road. Cool double decker buses. You sit on the upperdeck and you can swear that these big ass billboards are gonna take your head off - until you drive under one!
This is on Kowloon, TST (Tsim Sha Tsui) I think


Here is their street car system, down in Wan Chai on the island. This was built in the 1930's and has run continuously, even during the Japanese occupation during WWII. Electricly powered, and usually packed - it is convenient and the cheapest mass transit on the Isle.



This is on Macao, another little island to the west of Hong Kong. A former Portuguese colony with the same rights as HK, it lies about an hour west by ferry or 10 minutes by helo. I took the ferry over and damned near barfed because of seasickness (I didn't inherit my GrandDad's sea legs ), so I took a Helo back. Beautiful ride!
This picture is of the Ruins of the Church of St Paul. Built in the early 1600's, it was a Jesuit mission. Big fat fire destroyed all but the facade in 1835. Now a landmark to Macau's Catholic Portuguese past. The guy in the foreground is my friend C. He doesn't normally have that square on his face

Macao also has casinos - lots of them (22 last count - may not sound like alot but remember that the island is no bigger than, say, south Philly). These casinos are a trip - everyone is either playing Baccarat or one of those asian games that Gwai Lo (foreigners) like us have no clue how to play: Daii Sai, Faan Faan, Pai Gow, Mahjong (not the one you play at work when you're screwing off on company time ). They have BlackJack too, with an interesting twist on the western game for all you gamblers out there: In Macau, a push is a loss - the house wins. You have to beat the house to win. Ouch!
I don't have any good pics of any Casinos, but it doesnt matter - just look it up on the web and have some Portuguese beer and you're as good as there!

Here is the Yuen Po st Bird Garden in Mong Kok (you love it when I talk dirty, don't you ). This is the place to go if you have a thing for birds, or just want to hear their lovely chirping. Also a good place to see grown men reduce themselves to baby-talking kissups: "Oh boo boo boo, kluk kluk!" LMAO! Man, these guys love their birds!!


On Lantau Island is the world's biggest sitting Buddha (scary, because that means that somewhere is an even bigger Godzilla sized standing Buddha! ) I think this statue is only supposed to be 34m (111 feet) tall, but because it is on a hill it is huge!


Avenue of the Stars, south TST, Kowloon. Similar to ours in Hollywood, this contains stars in the sidewalk dedicated to all of Hong Kong's famous stars who have made a contribution to film or stage or TV, and given HK a boost. Stars like Chow Yun Fat, Jackie Chan, Yuen Wo Ping (fight choreographer for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Matrix, and Kill Bill I and II), Sammo Hung, Michelle Yeoh, Jet Li....... and of course one of the greatest Martial Artists ever,
BRUCE LEE


I loved Hong Kong. Everyone has money, they are all succesful. The younger crowd is damned sexy - dressed to the nines, beautiful women, they take care of themselves and show it in public. I could easily move there (except....no guns allowed. Hmm, I'll have to make some Triad contacts )

Stay tuned!

[1FingrCHan]

Beutiful, OneLung. I hope to visit the Far East some day too. How is the dollar compare to the local currency there?


1FingrCHan

[Emptymag]

OneLungMcClung,

First, welcome back, I missed your avatar!
Second, thanks for sharing and describing the trip... your photos are awesome. It's like I'm there, but without all the freakin' foreigners!

( Ha! Gotcha, Diego!)
Seems like you enjoyed your trip. I'm happy for you.

One other thing, I don't know what I was showing my wife on here, but one day I was scrolling thru and she saw your screen name and CRACKED UP!
I don't know exactly why, but besides the humorous way it rolllls off the tounge, she worked on a lung unit at one time and she may have thought of it in that way... I don't know, but the combo of the name and avatar makes me chuckle too!

Have a good one!

[OneLungMcClung]

After Hong Kong, Me and my bud C. moved to our next destination:

BEIJING, CHINA

Home of Tiananmen Square, some of the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the 2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing is huge: 14 million people! Holy Beer Bottles, this city is huge. EVERYTHING here is supersized: when Mao took over, just like any good Commie compensating for a lack of freedom and money, he built all the buildings gi-normous. I heard from a fellow traveller that the only place to find bigger buildings is the old Soviet ones in Moscow. I'm not kidding - some of the Gov't buildings to the west of Tiananmen square have got to be half a kilometer long! And Tiananmen Square, which is actually a rectangle, is a kilometer (6/10ths of a mile) long. Gasp! The whole city is under panicked construction - they are getting ready for the games and are trying not to look like a bass-ackwards third world dictatorship when all the media show up.

Here is JiangWoMennei Dajie (Jiang blahblahblah blvd). In the foreground, friend C. In the back, massive buildings (all hotels, IIRC) being built for the upcoming Olympics.


OneLung is making a prediction - no World or Olympic Records will be set in 2008 in any sport that is mostly based on lung power (such as long distance running or swimming). Why? Because the air in Beijing is filthy! Beijing has had a pollution problem since Mao fired up the coal plants in the fifties. Now, it's cars. All this joyous hydrocarbon death mixes with the dust kicked up by the desert storms that have blown out of the west for thousands of years to produce a particle-sized breathing experience. Trust me that lung problems are cronic here. I had a hell of a time breathing when I got back from the Wall (I don't have the name OneLung just for grins, ya know! )
Here is a shot from the lake district Temple looking south over the Forbidden City. Notice the air. On 3 of the 5 days I was there is was possible to look directly at the sun!


Here's Mao watching over you making sure that you're being a good subject:

Mao pictures and Mao worship is as prevalent in CHI as Jesus pics and Jesus worship is in our Midwest. The commies just replaced one God figure with another

Forbidden city - very old. So called because it was off limits to foreigners for 500 years. Once the domain of Emporers, tourists can now view the spectacular complex.
Here is one of the many walls. Repeat about 80 times over 2 sq miles and you have the forbidden city


The "Bird's Nest". This is the olympic Stadium for 2008. Read that it seats 80,000 (but I heard that it is supposed to take 120,000, so IDK). This pic doesn't do it justice - it looks like something out of Independence Day - like the MotherShip has landed, grab your AR!!


Ah, the saving grace of Beijing. Here is the aforementioned 63 cent 600ml bottle of Tsing Tao beer, not 1 day old, fresh from the factory to me. Thanks Mao! This is, I think, my fourth or fifth of the night. The funny thing is... the pic didn't look blurry when I took it... *hIc*


And of course - the Great Wall. Wow. That's all there is to it - it truly is a wonder of the world.


More to come!