Pleiku....Escape from English speaking Vietnamese

Central Highlands

Pleiku

Arrival in Pleiku Airport was site of the U.S. Air Base during the war. Not too much had changed other than we didn't have to wear Olive Drab clothes and we could go anywhere we wanted. The town on the other hand had been totally destroyed by the North Vietnamese and only the name was familiar to Mike. The town definitely had no old buildings or small alleys, but big wide streets and boxy buildings. Busy, busy and all of a sudden very few people that speak English. Better yet, with a booming tourist industry, there was not a map of the city to be found.....guess I'm still old school and need that smartphone. It does make for a bit more of a challenge.

Downtown Pleiku, with space needle in the foreground
& our hotel in the background....The big one, Duc Long 2,
Great views our room on the 18th floor.

One of the great surprises for me in the central highlands was that this province (Gai Lai) is a major coffee, producer. Vietnam has some great coffee and so far in Pleiku it's been even better.

I couldn't have said it better...

Individual coffee filters drying and ready for the evening rush.

Our guide for the day, Le.
Note she is standing one step up.....

(Mike's)Another fulfilling day!  WOW !!!!!!  This morning, we took a tour with a guide and cab driver to several places in Pleiku.  Our guide, Le was born in 1969, the year before I was here.  She was born in one of the Montagnard (minority mountain people) villages that are all around Pleiku.






 (Mike;'s) So she took us to her village to see the rural life of the non-Vietnamese people.

Proud of the baby and her produce.

The Montagnard people are known for their clean produce and meats. A truly organic focus and you can't get much more local.....During the American War the Monangard tribes were caught in the middle, not really caring what the war was about, just leave us out of it. Today they are still treated as 2nd class citizens by the Vietnamese. Regardless, the are a very beautiful and proud people...

African/Montagnard lady and her produce.

The Montagnard were no slackers when it came to smiles

   

Montagnard Kids watching the tall strangers

pots & pans sales lady on her scooter.

Coffee beans drying, Robusta, Arabica beans

(Mike's) We saw all of the farm animals (water buffalo, cows, chickens, pigs, etc.) and the crops that they grow (rice, bananas, pineapple, many kinds of coffee beans, and huge forests of rubber trees).  The  photos shows the normal Montagnard home from what I remember in 1970, but now many are more substantial to avoid constant upkeep of the grass roofs.  We visited the guide's uncle and family, and enjoyed the tour around their newer elevated home.  Very basic, but they do have electricity, which comes from a new hydro dam.

Le & Mike at the traditional community building

Le's uncle & Mike with some coffee beans.

nap time

water buffalo hanging out...

spare time basket weaving for the men
while the women are out in the fields.

Offering to cook breakfast.......no takers.

Dr

Carved faces outside communal Montagnard grave site.

coffee plants around village

(Mike's)  When we arrived back at our hotel, we went to lunch across the street and had some great pork chops with rice.  Then we walked over to the Catholic Church and Orphanage, where several GI's in my unit and I (in 1970) had their parents and friends in the States send clothing and money.  Sister Madalaine was wonderful, but didn't know much English, only French and Vietnamese.  The 50 children there range in age from 1 month to 16 years old, and are a great bunch of kids, who are so eager to learn and meet new people.  Stretch and I had some really great interaction with the older children, who are learning English very well.  We will go back to see them tomorrow.

Quick get a photo of those guys

The whole group at the Sao Mai Orphange

Mike showing them pictures of California.

We were invited back for dinner and another go round of playing with the kids. Very fun, but exhausting....










(Mike's) Just came back from 3 hours with the children at the orphanage.  They know their English words and how to spell them, with very good penmanship, but don't have anyone to help them pronounce the works.  So Stretch and I were going over words and pictures to have them sound out.  Also, I sang many songs to them, especially Christmas songs that they knew most of the words.  What a joy to be them and see their interest and enthusiasm.  Even the shy ones slowly came around.  We are having a late lunch, and then go back to join them for dinner at 6 pm. .

Photo, take another photo

We acted as portable playground equipment and to practice
Engilish

Buy my sticky rice or I'll just stare at you.
Her persistence paid off 

Two big kids, playing with the little ones.













Back on the streets of Pleiku, we wandered and found great food and lots of "Hello, how are you?" and then giggles....the limit of their English.

Mobile tropical fish salesman, all mounted on her bike

Off to the Montangard town of Kon Tum tomorrow by bus, only about an hour and a half.

More to come.