Treasure to Trauma

Today I found a bag of money under my bed.  No, really.  Check it out.

Booty

It turned out to be about $14 USD.  Winner winner, chicken dinner.  It belongs to Ryan who had the room before me and he had forgotten all about it.  I'm guessing it is poker money due to all the small note denominations.

After a little bit of cleaning, I can't help but hear a child screaming non stop down the bottom of the building.  I peer over the balcony and see her, sitting on a scooter, screaming for some strange and unknown reason.  It is now I notice that the two shops on either side of our building are open and have tables out with people eating noodle soup.  PHO TIME!
I scurry downstairs like a crazy person and burst out the door, turn to my left and greet the man there with a friendly hello.  Nope, they're out of food.  I turn to the right and ask the lady, making chopstick to mouth actions and saying "pho??" ... Nope, they're out too.  Unimpressed.
I did however learn that a seemingly universal sign for being empty or out of something in Vietnam is twisting your hand.  Imagine you have your hand on a door knob and are twisting it back and forth.  That is it.  I thought to myself, why the heck does that mean "empty" or "no more"?  Then it hit me... maybe it is symbolising an empty cup or glass!

I retreat back upstairs and continue to clean the bathroom and floors.  Afterwards I am stupidly hungry so I embark on yet another food adventure.  I start walking towards downtown and eventually find some strange shop that sells noodle soup with fish cakes in it.  Very nice!
I continue my route down town and start looking around.  Remembering that the I saw the "War Remnants Museum" on google maps in this area, I head on over in that direction.
It isn't hard to miss considering the military hardware in the courtyard outside the building.  Seventy-five cents to get in and it turned out to be some of the best, yet worst seventy-five cents I've spent.
The American military hardware on display outside is unquestionably impressive to see.  Tourists are everywhere having photos of themselves taken against the various machines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In hindsight, I can't help but think that seeing all of this equipment prior to entering the building was sort of setting the stage to show you how it was used and the utterly horrific devastation it wrought.

Dead Mangroves

A large photograph of dead mangroves, killed by the various chemicals sprayed by the United States, greets you at the side of the building.  When I saw this, I knew I was going to be in for something disturbing inside.

I stopped taking photographs at this point because the content of the museum was truly horrific.  Being mostly ignorant as to what went on in the Vietnam war (or the American war as the locals call it), it was like a punch in the face.  I had no idea as to the inhumane and depraved things that were perpetrated in that conflict.  It was staggering and quite upsetting.
Before I could finish going through the 3rd floor, a bell rang and the building was closing.  I didn't mind.  That was more than enough and certainly the best and worst seventy-five cents I've spent.

I start walking home and the sky opens up, teeming with rain.  At first I am worried that I will get drenched, but quickly remember a great quote from Bob Marley :

"Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet."

 I ignore the rain and continue walking home, slowly, drenched to the skin.  I receive giggles from some locals who are all hiding under cover and wearing rain coats.

Overall, a good day, despite the experience at the museum.  You learn new things everyday.