Good Night Vietnam...

Saigon, Vietnam

July 6, 2007
N 10°46.071
E 106°41.665

I woke up at 5:00 AM unable to go back to sleep no matter how hard I tried. I quietly got out of bed, trying my best not to wake Marc; I wanted to finish my story from San Francisco. I stroked the keyboard stealth like, without making a peep.

Not only was I suffering from jet lag, but I was afflicted with a mean case of culture shock. When I left Vietnam ten days ago I had become accustomed to the sea of scooters, bikes and cars forcing their way through the wet Saigon streets, with their horns blaring. I had adapted to dodging scooters, cyclos and cars, sidestepping piles of garbage, and fending off street vendors; my skills of navigating through chaos were honed. However, after being in the States for a week, where laws matter and chaos doesn’t reign supreme, I was stuck between two worlds—one at home, one as a traveler.

I had a tough day re-adjusting. I was happy to be back with Marc, of course, but the busy streets of Saigon were overwhelming. Street peddlers sold everything… during dinner, in a matter of 45 minutes; we were approached by at least a dozen people selling everything from bootlegged books, fake Zippo lighters, hashish, mushrooms, opium, to chocolate chip cookies. Don’t worry—we didn’t touch any of that stuff—but we did grab a few cookies.

We loved our time in Vietnam, but one can only handle so much time in Saigon. Saigon is a city that is on top of you all the time, forcing you to stay on your toes every minute outdoors.

I know we have so much more to see and my family and friends will be at home when I return. A good night’s sleep and a new country will help me get back in the travel state of mind. I know Marc will play a huge role in my quick recovery too.