Kham Trapped with Jacob & Joseph in Vietnam!!!

sorry i have not posted for a while!!! i did not meet with some accident or tragedy... it's just that vietnam has been kind enough to block websites containing potentially offensive or devisive content. (blogs would fall into this category). so cindy is posting this for me (thanks cindy!) - I feel like I have so much power right now, Joseph must really trust me. This speaks a load to the situation in Vietnam. but i must say, i am inpressed with the progress made here. the cities are big, and they easily dwarf anything that Laos can offer in the way of goods and services (not that happiness can be measured by how many TVs and DVD players can be found for sale on the street.)

anyway, we made it to vietnam after some interesting obstacles. (the bus that was supposed to take us broke down, so we were delayed for a while - but finally got an 11-hour van ride after that) we found jacob where he said he would be, and made an attempt at the city of Danang, visited China Beach, and hassled over plane tickets out of Danang to our individual destinations... which leads to another interesting turn in events: kham wasn't able to make it down to Dalat because all the flights were full; he tried everything too - rerouting thru nha trang, or saigon, etc, etc., but it just wasn't working out for one reason or another, so he didn't get to go. (jacob and i are glad he didn't get to go cause hanoi wouldn't be as fun (or funny) without him. comic relief is good) so he is still in tow as we made our way to Hanoi this morning.


we are off to halong bay tomorrow... and back on friday. we are spending the night on a boat. longer post when i get back. but hanoi is big and time is limited. and the best news of all: i found mangosteen... out of season or not, i found them, i ate them, (a whole kilo to myself) and i thought i might burst with happiness. more pictures to follow...