……and, must admit, leaving with mixed feelings about this country as we have had quite a variety of experiences here and those that were negative were mainly in the north.   However I can’t stop wondering what the people think of us because, for the most part, they just stare at us……..that’s if they are not harassing us to buy something or begging on the streets.  As I hope you know we’re not cold-hearted but there’s no end to it here and I find myself fluctuating emotionally between anger and despair…………much time is needed for reflection and enough said for now.  Quite relieved that Saigon. The Mekong Delta and its’people left a positive impression because it is with those that we leave.

Anyway as we leave Saigon today it’s not quite so humid but still very hot and we are currently sitting on an air conditioned bus (thank the lord) headed to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  While waiting for the bus this a.m. a very tall and attractive young Vietnamese woman crossed the street in a fitted, tight orange dress which was very short and she was wearing three inch high heels as well….all heads turned as she passed(except Jim’s of course!)   I watched as she headed towards her motorcycle and I thought to myself “how’s she going to handle this, I wonder?”  But of course, no problem, as she put on her helmet and a waist length white jacket, sat on the bike, pressed on the gas and she was off with all eyes following her.  I actually took a picture but she was driving faster than I could pull things together so who knows if I caught the image…….she was almost as  impressive as the egg man!

This bus trip has been great so far and I was pleased that I could update the blog without difficulty from time to time.   We just went through the   Cambodian border, bought our visa to enter the country and then had to have our picture taken, both thumbprints and handprints recorded and then checked in the quarantine area to ensure we did not have a temperature.    The only saving grace was that we did not have to go into a body x-ray machine like you do when you enter the U.S……..coming soon, I’m sure!   Too early yet to  fill you in on Cambodia so I’ll save that for tomorrow’s blog.   Take care and glad to hear that the first day of spring was actually ‘springlike’ in Nova Scotia…….enjoy!