Last night we went to a Lat Village performance. They are a minority people and did a tradional music and dance show for us. It was kind of hokey at first when we pulled over to the side of the road and had to walk in between a few houses to the back yard between some houses and here were the Lat people in their traditional garb and a fire pit. Then I learned that they used to live by the river and have been pushed out of the city further and further into the mountains because they are a minority people. This is a little spot they have been able to hold out for themselves. Their music, from bamboo reeds, and gongs and drums was upbeat with a great sound. They got us to dance with them (not hokey at all) and drink rice wine from a huge jar with big long straws. Everyone drinking from the same 2 straws in the single jar. Everyone had to take several turns and finish the wine. It was pretty gross but fun and everyone participated to their best ability.
Not much to add about today so far. Just arrived in Saigon and have a terrific hotel with a suite of rooms. I had received some sad news before I left the hotel in Dalat and then upon arrival in Saigon we stopped at the Vietnam War Museum which was really difficult. The Vietnamese have really tried to put the war behind them and celebrate a good relationship with the U.S. now, but it is so sad to see what happened during the war. Really horrific. So I'm not feeling very up today, although better since having some Pho for lunch. :) This place is filled with locals sitting at bar stools all sharing the same table. You get a big bowl of mint leaves, bean sprouts, green onion and hot peppers to add to your soup. Really tasty. The picture of the man waving is the motor bike parking attendant in front of the Pho restaurant. (I'm just now noticing his FBI hat.) You can barely see the people in the window eating their Pho with a big pile of leaves in front of them.
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