[Description: Travel - Group - Asia - Documentary]
16-07-07, 10.05pm [Current Vietnam Time]

The day started at 6.00am. We woke up and walked down the street to breakfast from a street vendor; Banh Uoch (Wet Cake, lit.). From there, we took a walk through the market as people were setting up stalls and preparing for the day. Hot tea was our objective, and we found it in the nearby park (served in a pot with shot glasses instead of cups). Usually, people bring birds in cages to the park and hang them from nearby hooks, creating a literal symphony of bird calls throughout the day.

We made our way back to the hotel shortly thereafter, picking up a coconut drink along the way. Tasty, refreshing and only $0.90. At around 9.00am, we met with a local director, who took a look at what we were planning and offered insight. He also ended up helping us gather the necessary paperwork and phone numbers to begin the process of being allowed into the "Peace Camps" (places where victims of Agent Orange are given rehabilitation). It is going to be a long process, but one we are ready to undertake. It is the legit route, and one that will probably hit closer to home than our original plan.

The rest of the day was spent in relaxation; Courtney and Hai had been at work on this project for months, and needed a day or two to relax. We met some of Hai's family at a local restaurant and had some type of fried Vietnamese pancake with shrimp and pork. At this point, it was about 2.00pm, and we were all pretty tired (Courtney having the pleasure of sicking up as soon as we got back).

After a 30 minute nap (which turned into a 3 hour nap), we went out again. At this point, it was about nearly 6.00pm, and we were headed to a less touristy marketplace. We ended up walking for 3 hours, only to find out that the marketplace was closed. After an overcharged taxi fare (I feel strange saying this - It was really only $2.00), we found ourselves back at the hotel, about ready to collapse. However, the nearby market called (supplemented by the soccer fans, who were recently overjoyed by a tie with Japan), and we checked out some of the stalls before calling it a night.

I thought this meant something special...turns out it's really a happy face!
What more could a man ask for?