This morning we travelled to see the Cu Chi tunnels which lay about 2 hours drive north west of the city. Before the bus collected us from the travel agent we stocked up on food from the bakery and I got a yoghurt, strawberry and banana smoothie to help start the day. The slight travel agent joked that I must be drinking elephant milk, he was a little camp so it brings into question just where he was looking or what he was referring to, so there's a 66.6 % chance it was a compliment.
But then there's the other 33.3%.
Our guide for the trip was a colourful chap called Mr Tom. Its quite nice to hear someone here explain to the group of mostly caucasian westerners that we all look "same same" to him. Imagine getting away with that one back home. But there's no offence meant or caused. Sometimes life is life hey, you can choose to be offended if you wish.
En route to the tunnels, just outside Hoc Mon we stop at a factory which is run by the government, which employs people who have suffered from adverse affects from the dispersal of Agent Orange by the US troops during the war. Here works of art are created either by lone individuals or in small groups and the level of care, attention and quality of the final pieces is truly amazing. Finally there is a shop where you can buy these items and send them overseas if required. But as impressive as it is, the cynic inside of me is starting to think that basically the tourist here is seen as a cash cow, to be milked and suckled upon at any given opportunity. Don't get me wrong, it's both impressive and sobering and the world should not be shielded from the reality of the affects of the damage that can be caused by the use of chemical weapons. But if we are to learn from the mistakes of the past to ensure these kind of things are not allowed to happen in the future, maybe it should be the politicians or those studying politics with a view to yielding some sort of influence in the future should make up the crux of the visitors to places like these.
So finally to the tunnels, Mr Tom took us for a whistle stop hour and a half tour of the grounds, showing us fox holes, tunnels and different traps as well as animatedly explaining the tactics of the war. Cu Chi was his home, and he showed us the scars that he received here from a gun ship during the conflict. You could understand this man being tainted, he lost family and friends during the same period, but shows absolutely no signs of resentment or blame. His account and explanation of the war and how it came to be is very matter of fact and balanced, a distinct contrast to the feel of the war remnants museum the day before. He seems to revel in his role of teacher, his goal is just to explain and educate, to put everything in context. As he tells it, Vietnam is a country that wants to catch up with the rest of the economic world and forge relations wherever it can. "Let bygones be bygones" he says, again a sentiment you can't help but agree with when you look at lifes bigger picture. A wise man that Mr Tom.
And then, after assuming that everyone on the trip was wealthy tourists, we were basically asked for a small tip when the trip ended. He would have got one anyway as the insight and education he had provided throughout the day was quite enlightening. Unfortunately though, just like the strong Vietnamese coffee which is served here, it just leaves a slightly bitter taste and reaffirms my feeling that maybe I need to grow more teats.
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