The last leg of our trip was Vietnam… We flew into Saigon, where we were met up by former Soul Signature tattoo artist/my dear Vietnamese brutha from anotha mutha, Tin. We then drove two hours to his hometown, My Tho, where the insanity ensued. He and his friends reaaaaally went out of their ways to make us feel comfortable, being that Vietnam is still a third world country and is still extremely dangerous. And of course, over the years that we worked with him, he told us many-a-story of the crazy shit that goes down there. Really, there are no rules in Vietnam, well, none that would apply in America, and if it weren’t for them, we probably wouldn’t have left our hotel. I mean come on, he told us that it is cheaper in an accident to kill a person than to let them live, because you would then be forced to pay their medical bills. After all the stories that he has told us, I didn’t totally believe him, that is, until our stay in Vietnam.
Our new found friends showed us the time of our lives in Vietnam. And, being Vegetarian, I would just utter the words “salad” and someone would disappear for a few minutes and come back with salad and pepsi light in hand. They told me that only the monks don’t eat meat, and vegetarian meals were hard to come by and I really appreciate all that they did to accommadate me. The Vietnamese food that we know in America is nothing like the real deal food in Vietnam… and the Vietnamese coffee in America will never ever ever live up to the high standards to which Lucky and I now hold for true Vietnamese coffee. When we left, we were having coffee withdrawals… these guys run on coffee… when you visit friends in Vietnam, be prepared to go to a coffee shop at least three times a day. You know a country takes coffee seriously when their coffee shops are bigger and more lavish than any restaurant.
To say the least, we didn’t lift a finger, and everyone fought over paying the bills, doing anything to not let us pay! So silly! And everyday was filled with something to do, all planned out by our friends. Sights you would never ever see unless you knew a local. So sweet. I don’t know what we would have done if not for them. Tin is like the king in his city, and no one fucked with us, and everywhere we went, we were guaranteed safety. One day my friends, we shall see each other again…
We miss you all! Much love, respect and aloha to you all!
**click thumbnails to enlarge view**
…amazing photos, photo cred to Lucky Olelo…not so amazing photos, by me, hehe. Next entry… LA and San Jose…
