Surviving Saigon traffic is an art form

   The ride is essentially complete  but I do want to see something of HCM/Saigon.  Compliments of Goggle, I rode several miles in the wrong direction looking for the war museum.  Eventually I arrived at the site and spent a good two hours absorbing the horrors of the Vietnamese-American war.  It was very sobering. I thought about posting some pictures and quotes but passed on it, knowing that it was a subject that has two volatile sides.  Thank you Robert McNamara.  Anyways, the museum was worth seeing despite its grimness.  Related to the war, Peter Doan’s wife’s father was a colonel in the North Vietnamese army.  His job was to plan out an implement the missile defense system protecting Hanoi.  I find it utterly astonishing that Vietnamese seem to have moved on and do not dwell on the subject.  Of course, my generation was essential elinminated.  The   US lost 55,000 troops, the Vietnamese lost 3,000,000 (2,000,000 civilians).  We had 30,000 missing in action, Vietnam had  300,000 missing in action.  If Robert McNamera had leveled with Lyndon Johnson, chances are thousands of lives could have been saved.
        After the museum, I found the huge central post office, mobbed by tourist, and mailed off some postcards.  Back at the bike shop, at Victor’s recommendation, I found a nice upscale cafe a few blocks away and had a smoothie and some lunch.  At the end of the working day, one of Victor’s employees helped me disassemble and crate my bike. He had saved a crate that a new bike had been shipped in.  Topping off the day, Victor’s eighty-one year old mother cooked us another delicious meal. I was given some tips on using chopsticks.  Holding the small rice bowl right up to my lips is legitimate.
        I am packed and ready for my flight to Hanoi. I almost royally screwed up what day I was leaving on.  Thinking my flight was the day after tomorrow, somehow I realized  it was tomorrow instead. Talk about a fire drill when I was just settling in for the evening. Victor kicked into gear and helped me get all the bags packed and weighed.  With the high humidity, my bed time T shirt was drenched. Rise and shine at 3:30 for my 6:30 flight.  A Grab car is getting me to the airport.  Why go to bed.