Ha Noi - Opening a new door to perception

Get me out of LA

No flight out of Los Angeles International is complete without a walk on the beach while avoiding traffic grid lock. This flight was no different and a stroll down the Strand in Manhattan Beach was just the ticket.

Mike & Ginny walked the Strand while I walked the sand.

 LAX newly restored International Terminal is pretty glitzy, just an extension of Hollyweird and along with that the TSA agents were even friendly, which made for a surreal wait for our plane.

For a 15 hour flight to Guangzhou and having the exit
 row, we arrived in pretty good shape. For our last
 15 minutes we were treated to In flight Yoga...only
 on China Southern Airways.  A 4 hour lay over with
 a 1.5 hour flight to Ha Noi.
First visual for our arrival into Ha Noi was a large US military plane parked in front of a very large red flag with the hammer & sickle on it. Times have changed.

Fun watching the big eyes on Mike and seeing his reaction to everything around, the traffic, the jumble of electrical wires, the old buildings, the food and the friendly people.....priceless.

swarming motorbikes

Hanoi lineman

Everything is "good price & my mother sews it"......
Sure it is.

Temple of the Golden Turtle.....

Temple of the Golden Beverage....reward for risking our lives
in traffic...

.

XOI-sticky rice, Pho-flat noodle soup, Ga-Chicken
great way to start the day

Hello...You so tall......

      Breakfast Bun on tiny stools and
                 too much legs

Turtle Tower on Hoan Kiem Lake

                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

(Mike's) We took a walking tour of the city.  Merging with the constant motor-bike and bicycle traffic that never stops in any direction, pedestrians (and us) would even cross the streets in the middle of intersections (no traffic lights or signs anywhere), with vehicles passing within inches in all 4 directions (even driving on the wrong side of the roads).  Every type of riders -- professional business people, families of 4 & more,  students, trades people,  large cargo hauling - all on the standard 2-wheel motor bikes & bicycles.  Most cars are small taxis, but we did see a newer Bentley hogging the space of a dozen motor bikes.  Most places you had to walk in the streets, because the sidewalks were taken up with masses of parked motor bikes, as far as the eyes can see.  Never saw any angry drivers, or accidents -- just observant and patient drivers.  Walking around the city was great, seeing and visiting with the wonderful, happy people.  We went to the large lake in  the center of the city, and walked  around it, with gigantic trees and beautiful flowers.  A quiet reprieve from the crowded and busy city around it.  At the end of our walk, we went up to the 6th floor of a building of restaurants stacked on top of each other, to have a light dinner and a bottle of "Ha Noi" beer
                                                                                                                                                                           

Ao Dai...traditional women's formal dress......great for posing
at the Temple of Literature.

Always kids saying Hi and these two sang Mike a song

Who knew that they would have a park
and statue of John Lennon in Hanoi?

Coffee & Tea before the storm that never came...School's
and some businesses stayed closed for Monday the 11th
to wait out the storm and potential flooding from Typhoon
Haiyan. It was a whole different town without the traffic.

Met with Chuck, Panky & Sheelu. Filming Mike talk
about his experiences. 1st time I ever heard him talk
so openly.....

                                                                                      Chuck is an amazing "go to guy" for Vets in Vietnam and has been in Hanoi for 18 years working with Vets and Vietnamese with projects for Agent Orange, UXO (unexploded ordinance) and others. Truly a Vet that has made a difference.
Panky is making a film about Vets returning to Vietnam and Sheelu is her friend/assistant.

Together we all went out to Friendship Village to see one of the projects started up by an American Vet (George Mizo) who was also affected by Agent Orange. This Village helps children affected by helping them learn crafts or skills (now 4th generation affected). They also give the Vietnamese Vets a place to come for treatment and socializing for a month at a time.            
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Panky, Sheelu & Mike chatting and filming.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Friendship Village...A gesture of Friendship and Reconciliation
Well done George Mizo

Learning the English alphabet...about time I learned

working puzzles

(Mike's)     Had a 45 min cab ride out of Hanoi to Friendship Village and were taken on a tour of the classrooms where the older and younger children were doing beautiful crafts to sell to support Friendship Village.  No matter what their physical and/or mental condition, they were all smiles and so glad to see us all and interact with us in their projects.  There are also older North Viet vets (my age & older) who come to Friendship Village for a month to be checked out for various conditions, and a change to relax and rest up before leaving, to make room for other incoming vets.  We met each one of them, who were like being reunited with old friends. 

Long has been with Friendship Village for a while, now
30 years he now is an instructor for computer skills,
Incredible spirit and now my Facebook friend.... 

beautiful embroidery work 

Learning sewing skills for deaf & mute, looks like they
already learned how to pose....

This gal had incredible manual dexterity while making
note cards.

The Viet Vets giving us a most welcoming experience.
Their glow & grace was truly amazing

Panky captured it all and was encouraged by all.

More photos with the tall guys....

 Watching Mike interact with North Vietnamese Vets
 was heart warming. They told Mike...."Peace is Better".....
words to live by.

                       


.Each classroom we entered we were met with big smiles and bigger Hellos. No better welcomes could be had.
























































































Now it's off to Da Nang and meet more Vets from both sides of this fence. A fence that  doesn't even appear to exist in this forgiving land.



http://www.vietnamfriendship.org/wordpress/get-involved/visit-the-village