6th Month Sojourn: Xin Chao...... Da Nang

Looking for Smiles

Causing belly-laughs due to our height and bad Vietnamese

After a big day at Friendship Village with all the kids and veterans, we arranged for a flight to Da Nang. Luckily by waiting out the typhoon that never hit we were able to visit the Village. The next morning we met with Chuck, Panky & Sheelu for breakfast and a last chat.

Mike & Sheelu chatting about
Friendship Village

David Thomas & Mike

While we were there a group of artists doing pictures of the war were also there and the person leading the group (David), just so happened to have been stationed in Pleiku the year prior to Mike. Both Combat Engineers. same office (probably the same chair), same co-workers, same spot in the highlands of Vietnam. Small world. Great to see them both chat about their past.

Always a sad departure from the hotel staff. Trang was
a delight and kept us laughing...

So finally Trang lead us away from our little hotel in the alley and made sure we were on our way to the airport. After several delays we finally made it to Da Nang. On my previous visit to Vietnam, I was fortunate to meet Chuck Palazzo an Vet who has made his home in Da Nang. One of his pet projects in DAVA (Da Nang Association for Victims of Agent Orange). He is also involved in Veterans for Peace which has a chapter in Da Nang. I definitely wanted him to meet Mike.

Chuck and two directors of DAVA

The difference between Friendship Village and DAVA is that DAVA set up centers in the villages surrounding Da Nang to make it easier to bus the children to their homes at night. Pretty much trying to teach skills to the kids and helping with medical treatment.

Peace boat in front of DAVA Center

Doesn't matter where you are the kids are great

All smiles

more smiles

working the sewing machine

Mike at the craft table

everybody wants a photo

A great morning with the kids and chatting with the directors, as with most programs, a shortage of cash and volunteers minimizes their effectiveness, but incredible resolve to help those in need.

Back in Da Nang we strolled about the beach and got pretty wet from the afternoon rain showers. But when in Da Nang and on the beach, best to enjoy the incredible seafood.

Next morning, Chuck recommended we visit the Cham Museum, which surprisingly enough deals with the Cham Dynasty that was in central Vietnam from the 3rd to the 17th century and was heavily Hindu influence in all their sculpture and religion.

Ganpati (Ganesh) hanging out in Da Nang....

A couple of South Vietnamese Veterans talked us into
rides on their Cyclos. This guy was the same age as Mike.

Not only was he quite the talker,
he gave a great tour.

Most of the South Vietnamese found it difficult to get by after the war due to the fact that the North Vietnamese were none too thrilled with them helping the Americans. So finding a job, getting their kids in school was tough. One of the few jobs available was the Cyclo driver. Funny, the North seems to have forgiven the Americans, but not the South Vietnamese.....Anyway he took us to a couple of temples, the first a Buddhist temple and then to another that looked like a Buddhist temple on the outside but it's shrine was a large Eye. The Cao Dai (The Holy See) mixes several religions (Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Islam). Beautiful Eye......

Big Happy Buddha

The altar during a service of Cao Dai

Thao was our hostess and cashier and
Becky and I met her last year

After the Cyclos ride we had the guys drop us at a restaurant that I visited in Feb. with Becky, "The Bread of Life". Great food and almost all the staff is deaf. The program teaches them Vietnamese sign and a job skill. Once again, great energy and huge smiles.

The walk back to the Hotel led us across the Dragon Bridge and a close up of the head that breathes fire on Sat. and Sun.