The Vietnam Experience

I came here becuase I wanted my own little slice of the Vietnam Experience. I slept in because I woke up and turned off Robin Williams doing his GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD MORING VIETNAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM skit I looked in the mirror and my eyes were all bloodshot. That's a sign of something and considering I wasn't drinking I figured I needed more sleep. Plus my ERDL poncho liner was warm and cozy. But by sleeping in I was paying the price which later I'll get into.

Hit the restaurant across from my place and instead of banana pancakes (my usual) I went for honey coconut pancakes. I love coconut sprinkled on desserts and such, but I wouldn't take a big bite into one. Get my food and it was good, but it was big chunks of coconut. Since they were cooked too they were flavourless but at least I know now. I figure they'd be sprinkled into the pancake batter but oh well. I checked out a new street in my area and tried to finish christmas shopping. I'm going to have to go back as I found some cool stuff, like Communist Propaganda posters varying on topics like feeding your buffalo and growing more coconuts to fighting Richard Nixon and claming to have shot down the whole US inventory of B-52 Bombers (it's called propganda for a reason, not truth haha). I also found a place that sold backpacks and stuff, but they had modern tac vest pouches, a medical rucksack, ammo dump pouches and some other cool stuff. I toured the area and made it back to Pham Ngu Lao street which is one of the main roads along the backpacker district. It started to rain but that was alright, I had an umbrella. Then it started to rain, and rain, and rain. Now before it was small so it wasn't a problem, but it picked up and flooded the streets and sidewalks, tiny rivers flowing down the street. Socks and hiking boots sucked, literally they sucked up the water and every step was welcomed with a squish. I wanted a Vietnam Experience, and I got it. WELCOME TO THE RAIN!!!! Muhahahaha. Everyone went inside to seek shelter as they knew this wasn't going to be a 5 minute sprinkle haha. The only person walking around was a foolish Canadian trying to get to Ben Thanh Market to finish his shopping. Long story short I'm done :) I also picked up adidas sandles as I finally figured out why most of the population wears them. I'm also addicted to The Sting cherry pop and Mirinds orange pop and I figured out why. the syrup is soooooo sugarary! It's like a tastey can of crack! I also want to bring home an empty bottle of Saigon Red beer. I saw someone in the market selling it for 17,000VND/$1CDN so I bought it, but this one was unlabeled. I mentioned I wanted one with a label to which I was answered "Same-same" haha. I comitted a crime. I didn't want to sit and drink so I left the beer and walked away. I know it's a crime to waste beer because there's thirsty kids in Afghanistan but I did it and won't lose any sleep tonight because of it. That reminds me I have to try The Sting's other flavour. It's green so it could be apple or lime. Pepsi makes both The Sting and Mirianda locally near the town of Bien Hoa, probably on the old site of the Long Binh Complex, the US's biggest base. Coke and Pepsi come both in glass bottles and cans and since my mom loves Coke I'd like to give her a sixpack of bottles. Now I'm off to Pizza Hut and the bank. Might book a tour tomorrow to Cu Chi or down in the Delta. That reminds me, I need a machete. I want to go into the tunnels, but I need something sharp to swing. The tunnel rats and people living in the tunnels did, why can't I? Don't worry, I'll probably end up buying a trifold shovel but I have to use my tunnel rat flashlight too. I could use my tunnel rat gas mask but it's all dirty. Just need to find a sawn off M79 Grenade Launcher loaded with fletteches and I'm set. See ya later.