TRAVELING TO EXPLORE AND PHOTOGRAPH NEW SITES AND CULTURES
PAGODAS AND PALACES
We left Hanoi today after the hotel staff gave Troy a tiny birthday cake a joyous rendition of Happy Birthday and encountered the commuters coming into the city. Again dad and mom with youngsters tucked between them on scooters, laborers balancing poles and equipment on their shoulder as they soldiered through the traffic, sleeping buses, cars and tuk tuks were making their way into or out of the city. Our first stop was the famous Vai Dinh pagoda which honors the monks who have become Buddha. A long pathway takes the visitors past their statues and each rendering is unique. We were touched to see the statue of the monk who died in 1973 when he burned himself in Saigon protesting the war. Vivid memories of that horrible event came rushing back to each of us. An enormous bell and drum and temples filled with Buddhas in every form and fashion are on display. Altar tables with fruit, water, cookies, and flowers offer a rich display and joss sticks burn lifting up the prayers of those who come to pray. There is a hotel on the grounds for those who wish to have a longer spiritual visit. We were exhausted and eager to get to lunch and iced green tea. Troy and I obviously have not reached that happy nirvana. The second stage of the journey took us through the countryside on long boat trip down a river, through four caves, around a pagoda with a live concert of beautiful Vietnamese music. The trip took us by workers bringing in building materials on these tiny boats most of which were paddled by women. These women in the country work hard doing farm work, roadwork and other labor intense jobs. Most of the harvest is over so they do what ever work is available. One crew was sweeping up a load of rice that had spilled on the road. The roadways are full of cattle, horses and goats. They roam freely and manage to survive the onslaught of scooters. Our last stop was a visit to the pagoda honoring the first king of Vietnam. His symbol was the water buffalo and a gorgeous buffalo wearing a bright red ribbon stood proudly on the grounds. We headed out past barbeque goat stands, pineapple and mango salesman to a lovely hotel in the middle of nowhere. Our guide and driver are giving Troy his second birthday party of the day. We are blessed.