Hi,

From November 11th to 29th, 1999 I traveled with my friend Susi Weiss to Hong Kong, Guangzhao (China) and Viet Nam.  Here are the pictures from that trip along with a little commentary.  If you want to ask any questions, please contact me at recife@sprynet.com or give a call at 206-709-8408.

The day after I returned I took part in the protests against the WTO.  In one day (and throught the rest of the week) a lot of what I experienced in Asia was overshadowed in a way that no other event has affected me.  Many thanks to those who spent months putting that action together.  For some great coverage on the WTO protests and on-going discussion of what happened in Seattle, see The Independent Media Center or People for Fair Trade sites.

Of course this show can't tell you about all of the wonderful food (besides the dog) - dim sum in Hong Kong, Pho in Viet Nam and all of the lovely cakes and surprises along the way.  Nor the sounds - honking like crazy in Ha Noi, the music of Dadawa in Hong Kong.  Nor the smells - aromas - everywhere.  All of the senses were kept alert during this trip - 1000 memories for each day.

Now, on with the show!   This is Roll 1   Roll 2

Hong Kong Hike.  Albert showing his buddha belly.  I am committed to losing 40 pounds and returning to my svelte former weight of 160.	Everyone in Hong Kong has a cell phone and my travel companion, Susi is no exception.  These are a few of the figures who guard the buddha.
Susi's collegues in Ghangzhao, China.  We had a lovely dinner in a restaurant that I'm sure is not in any guidebooks.  Everytime I left our little room the staff outside would guide me back in thinking I was lost.	We brought the roses which were quite a novelty.
Susi in a Guangzhao alleyway.	The buddha on the strees of Ghangzhao.  The action looks quiet but these streets move so fast you are lucky not to get hit while walking them.  The shirt is from Senegal.
More Guangzhao street action.  Note the accident about to happen.  Street lights are almost non-existent and following them may get you in trouble.	Leaving Ghangzhao for China.  The flight was quick, but it took a little while to get through customs.
On the streets of Ha Noi.  This is a typical lunch stand.  Pho, rice noodle soup runs about 3500 dong or about $0.25	Kids playing in the street.  The children were very friendly.  Often they come up and grab your arm but in a very light, playful way. Favorite game is competitive badmitton.
Ha Noi.  The main phrases which everyone uses are: "Hello, what's your name, how long you been in Viet Nam, how long you stay in Viet Nam, you like Viet Nam?"	Susi at rest after walking the busy streets of Ha Noi for hours.  This is a spot where we were taken by a woman selling rice cakes.  We paid her more for the rice cakes she was selling than we paid the proprietoress of the shop where we were drinking tea - making her very angry and us kind of confused.
Same tea place.  Cyclo in background - main mode for tired tourists and people coming too and from the market.	One of many Ha Noi markets.  We were pretty much alone in this market when we got there.
We're in a temple to the female buddha.  This is on the way to the Perfume Pagoda - a day trip from Ha Noi.  The whole day cost about $15 which included 2-hr. bus ride, 2 hours of being row-boated around and a guide.  These incredible mobile-like hangings are located only in the temples dedicated to the female buddhas.  They are fragile and beautiful	This is where the female buddha lives.  In each of these temple scenes imagine incredibly strong incense in the air and soaked into everything.  I especially liked the female buddha spaces. Less traveled and sweeter.
Another of these hangings dedicated to the female buddha	On our way to the Perfume Pagoda.  We took a day trip which included a 2-hr. bus ride and a 2-hour long rowboat trip
through some amazing scenery.  The river was about 3 feet deep, clear and full of sea grass.  The mountains you see in the back were breathtaking and all you could hear was the oars hitting the water	Susi and our rower.  Instead of oarlocks the oars were attached with heavy rope and mostly the woman rowed forward.  The boats are made out of welded steel.
We have reached and climbed up to one of the series of Perfume Pagodas.  Very peaceful, steamy with a breeze.	Albert and Susi at the pagoda
Again.  Now.  Remember the rowboat ride - one hour in length?  How did all of this get built, you may be wondering.  By hand, many centuries ago.  The complex of pagodas and temples in these hills is vast and the area so remote and high up that it must have been an extremely difficult task to build this.	Relaxing with a coconut in the shade.  Fresh coconut.
Another view of the perfume pagoda - on the right is the entranceway.	A view to the right of the pagoda - it had a very botanical garden-esque feel to it.
Susi greetings from the front of the pagoda.	After this first pagoda we climbed for 1.5 hours up hill to an incredible cavern.  On the way we met people climbing up and down the mountain with baskets balanced on their shoulders.  At one point I stopped someone carrying cassava and asked to try to lift it.  I could barely lift it let alone climb anywhere.  I also asked to try to lift some cement.  Couldn't budge it - it had also come from the bottom of the hill!!
The hills on the ride back.  By now the air had cleared some and we could see into the distance, villagers here and there planting and harvesting cassava and rice.	Sun is setting on the horizon.  A very tranquil ride home.
At the end of the rowboat home, I met someone with a guitar and serrenaded the locals while we waited for our bus back to Ha Noi.  Proud Mary was a a big favorite and the young people who had been with us all day were very amused.	Susi works in Hong Kong for the German Chamber of Commerce.  These are her collegues in the Ha Noi office.  Hi Tru!
I just had to see the Ha Noi botanical gardens. So, one day we took a cyclo ride for about a half hour.  The gardens are small, but somewhat quiet.  A nice break from the hustle and bustle of Ha Noi's busy streets.  After this we hunted for the Ho Chi Minh house on stilts where Ho had lived, but couldn't find it.	Dog.  My firs experience eating it.  It's pretty tasty, actually.  I bought the skewered meat thinking it was beef, then a woman pointed to a dog and then my stick and giggled.  I went "woof, woof", we both laughed and I took another bite.   Mmmm mmmm
One day we decided to take a 3-day tour to HaLong Bay and Cat Ba Island.  These are the many pictures that follow.  Before getting on the bus at 7AM, Susi is off, close to the lake practicing Tai Chi which a lot of people were curious about.	Susi on the Boat, heading to Cat Ba.  Bottled water - about $0.50 and for sale everywhere.   The mountains in the background are the same type as the ones from the earlier pictures near the Perfume Pagoda except these are separated by water.  This is a International Heritage Site and is protected, so pack your trash with you :)
We're just getting started and I'm so amazed I'm snapping photos like I haven't been at all since I started this trip.  Around here we stopped off to visit two caves, one of which has been discovered only recently - the lighting inside was on par with a Dead show.  I love them stalagtites and stalagmites.	Relaxing on the boat after the yucky bus ride and a so-so lunch.  I'm worried about becoming sea-sick, but luckily I am sparred during this trip.  I have not always been so lucky.
OK, I admit it, it is seriously time to lose some weight.  Funny thing though is that the children in Viet Nam would come up to me and rub my belly and say "buddha" in this really friendly way.  If I've already written about this, OK, sue me, but it happened a lot.  OK, need to lose the weight.	It's 6:43PM on 12/17/99 and I'm still at work on a Friday night.  This is Susi pointing to me and telling me - get your butt off that chair and onto the exercize bicycle and home.   If you'd like to continue on to Roll 2 and the rest of our trip, click right over here

Roll 2