Charlie >Does< Surf

Juice Cafe - HCMC, Vietnam

The net, that is.

There are a a lot of internet cafes in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC - my new hip-hip name). But it is no matter. Our hotel has got the free hookup and I am taking full advantage of it while seeking refuge from the afternoon heat and rain.

First impressions of Vietnam are mixed. The city is low, not very "nice" looking, and covered in noisy traffic strictly adhering to typical Asiatic (that is, nonexistent) traffic laws. I can only get about 5 feet out of hotel door before somebody tries to sell me a book, or a taxi ride, or a zippo, or whatever. Things are very cheap (double room in a nice-ish hotel for less than $30, beer for $0.20) and the food so far is excellent. I hope to spend one full day being an urban tourist before getting outside the city to enjoy the Mekong delta. We may also try out the horse races tomorrow or the next day if they are running. The maximum bet is $2.00.

Tickets are already arranged for our move to Hanoi. We leave by train Tuesday night and arrive 31 hours later. Jarah E will be there to greet us just in time for his birthday.