Ok, I think my USB cord for my camera is shot, as it shocks me when ever I plug it into any computer, so the pictures will have to wait until I think of a workaround... (pictures below are from a friend, not mine)

Meanwhile, Hanoi happens to be experiencing some of the worst late monsoon season rains ever...

Yesterday I woke up early to go to the Ho Chi Minh Masouleum, only to find it was closed for the annual re-enbalming of Uncle Ho. Basically its Uncle H himself, despite his wished to be cremated, on display with 30 years of post morteum for the masses. Damn, too bad I missed it.

I settled on the near 1,000 year old Temple of Literature which was a stunningly beautiful old university grounds with massive displays of chinese architecture. But I had to get there first...My motobike taxi driver insisted on haggling me for 20 minutes over 5,000 dong ($0.20 USD) less than what he was asking for. I havent paid over 10,000 vnd for a ride to anywhere in the city yet, and I know I can just walk away from anyone trying to extort me, because 10,000 is already a significant tourist price. We get on our way in the pouring rain when we are suprised by several roads leading to the grounds in 3 feet of water. Sick of checking every road for more and more flooding (and already drenched) I tell him to drop me off and point me in the right direction. I take the plunge, pray that all my open wounds on my legs are significantly healed and head knee deep into the water. It takes a while to keep on the narrow sidewalk and I am the only westerner, only person in the water at some points so I take it slow. I pass a motorcycle repair man who I stop, smoke a tobacco pipe with and laugh at the cars and motobikes trying to cross chest deep water at full speed. Most fail, but some make it. It is two dudes smokin on a pipe, laughing at the car owning class, I feel blue collar and I like it.

Empathy sets in and I leave my post with tobacco motobike man and help a few youngins push a Ford SUV out of the water to the dry part of the street. The locals laugh at the white boy but they appreciate the help. The owner hops out of the car, clearly late for something and I pantomime that it would be a good idea to get the car out of the middle of the road. Driver agrees and opens the back door to reveil 5 passengers in the back which causes me to ask "Why the hell didnt you get them out when we were pushing?" and I know my question is repeated in Vietnamese by the surrounding locals. Driver gives the locals and I cash for the help, locals run off and invite me for Bia Hoi (local beer) but I decline when the taste of watered-down crappy homebrew is remembered in my mouth. That and its 10 a.m. Driver looks sad so I use the best of my extremely limited car knowledge and open the hood, dry and shake the air filter and tell him to wait till things are dry. Driver assumes I am a Ford mechanic and asks many questions in Vietnamese while I laugh, telling him in English that I don't own a car and if you saw the last one I did own, you wouldn't let me near your car within a 30 foot radius. I do my best, grandpa in the backseat thanks me and I am on my way. Nothing like chillin with the locals.

I walk in the rain for hours, checking out the sights - as it is much better than being stuck in my lonely hotel room. I count minutes until Ricky gets back or my swedish friend's flight gets in. I am bored and expecting more out of Halloween night than this - even in Hanoi. Finally my Swedish friend arrives but we go downstairs only to find that we are locked into the hotel. What happens when there is a fire?

So I am here, waiting and raining for that flight to Laos, in just a few hours...

Taylor