Hello, Friends... Gary and I made it to Can Tho today, five hour drive including a ferry ride across the Mekong River. The ride was the most insane thing I have ever experienced. I have it on film and when you see it, you won't believe it. Our driver said there are four million motor bikes in Vietnam and I think he is underestimating. Ten million might be closer. I swear, I can't believe we did not see someone get killed today. Well, you will see the video and then you will understand. More about our driver. He is 30 years old, very polite and nice, born in Hanoi and moved south to work. His father is 60 and fought in the war for the North or Harnoi, he was an NVA. Truly a pleasure meeting and talking with this young man.
The Can Tho of today is one high rocking and rolling place. Kibbey, you are right, forty years is a long time and things have changed alot. Google earth is using pics that must be 10 to 20 years old. At 7pm tonight, Gary and I walked to my old neighborhood looking for the house. I did find the parking lot and "bar alley", however, where my house is supposed to be is a 3 or 4 story building. The area around my house has all filled in and I can see no remnants of my house at all. And it definately does not look like the pic from Google Earth. Tomorrow morning, we will meet with a lady who speaks good english and then go back to the neighborhood and start asking around and showing pics to see if we can find anyone who can tell us anything about them. We will be searching out the elders of the neighborhood. The young people wouldn't have a clue.
The hotel here in Can Tho is BEAUTIFUL, beyond anything I could have imagined. Truly beautiful and the food is out of this world...met the chef...fine dining. Every one we meet are so very nice and curteous...I am impressed with them as much or more than I was forty years ago. They are a kind and friendly people. So, the plan is tomorrow, we will walk the neighborhood and see what we can find. If it all strikes out, then it is what it is, but I must say, just getting this far has been really good for me. Even if I find nothing about them, it still will be closier and I am thankful for that. Well tomorrow is a big day, so I need to end this and get to bed.
Kibbey, I LOVE YOU.... more to come later. Love you all.
Thom
The Bunker & the Cracker Jack Kids
"I wonder what their choice of beer would be."
About Me
- Thom Rock
- Vancouver, Washington, United States
- "IF YOU ARE NOT LIVING ON THE EDGE, YOU ARE TAKING UP TOO MUCH SPACE." Thomas Rock was born in Belevidere, Illinois and moved to Southern California at the age of four. Thom lived there until he joined the army and was shipped off to Vietnam in 1968. His experience in Vietnam was life changing, never to be the same again. After returning from Vietnam, Thom had some adjustments to go through and over time came to grips with the issues that haunted him. He is now at peace with them. For some time, Thom knew he had a story to tell, but had put it off for forty years. During that period of his life, he continued to live it out "on the edge", always growing. Within his mind’s eye there dwells a vast resource of life experience that complements his writing— from Vietnam, to ranching, to exotic dancing, to rock climbing, sea kayaker and mountaineering. Over the years he has recognized an instinctive ability with written word, and, with the ongoing adventure of living with Parkinson’s disease, he continues to challenge, question, grow and learn. Thom is a member of the Willamette Writers in Portland, Oregon. He lives with his wife Kibbey in Vancouver, Washington.
No comments:
Post a Comment