Vietnam

        Cambodia was an amazing experience, but I missed out on Vietnam.  When I got back from Cambodia I ran around the ship leaving sticky notes on everyone’s doors.  With no cell phones, we rely on little notes to meet up with friends.  I went strait to bed and waited for the phone to ring.  I slept through two phone calls, about 18 hours.  I was so exhausted.  I desperately needed to catch up on sleep.  I only had a day and a night in Vietnam.  That definitely was not enough time.  I went to the market place and bought some “real” dvds and a “silk” robe.  I rode on the back of a motorbike three times.   The traffic there was terrifying.  Crossing the street was definitely an experience.  You just had to go for it and the bikes and cars would just weave around you without slowing down.  The bikes would almost run over your toes, they got so close to you.  No one stopped for red lights.  They would just blow their horn as they sped through.  You would see entire families on one motorbike.  Four or five people piled on one bike including young children and babies.  The ship has been cleared and I’m free to go into Chennai so I’m writing this extremely fast.  I am hopefully hopping on an overnight train to Cochin tonight.  If my tickets are still waitlisted I’m going to look for a bus, or maybe take taxies across India.  I’m pretty sure the overnight train will work out though.  In any case I will somehow make my way to Cochin within the next few days.  I hope to ride an elephant and buy some fabric.  I’ll let you know how that worked out when I get back in about a week.