Day 4 - War Remnants Museum (Reluctantly)

Well I'm back from a trip on the 'Hop on, hop off' bus, and I can safely say, today has been the hottest thus far. Despite this, it has also been the least busy. There is absolutely no way I could have done anything too strenuous; this holiday has really been more about relaxing and taking it easy and not overdoing it.

Recently, I have had a few health issues to deal with, that have left me a little exhausted, so this trip is about recuperating and preparing for the future. As I have gotten older, I have become more aware of my own mortality, as such I am trying to fit in as much as I can; that is important to me, especially now. Don't get too concerned, I'm certainly not going to drop dead tomorrow, but there are issues I have to have investigated further, and being the health anxiety mess I am, I am a little concerned.

This holiday to Vietnam is about unwinding and recharging my batteries, after seven months of solid working. It has been a hard four weeks for me, especially because I am changing jobs when I return from Vietnam. I am, however, determined to carry on as normal, and put any difficulties behind me, while I channel all my energy into moving forwards in life. Included in that, is my continued desire to travel; this trip to Vietnam has given me the opportunity to relax in a way I haven't for a long time.

I was, and still am, determined to use my time here positively; as I mentioned yesterday, I don't intend to revisit the Vietnam War too much, because that tends to leave me quite down and depressed. Nevertheless, today, Darrell and I had to visit the 'War Remnants Museum' here in Saigon. This isn't something I wanted to do, but after buying two tickets on the sightseeing bus, I discovered this excursion was included in the price of the ticket. In many ways, it made me just a little angry, but because it was so bloody God damn hot outside, Darrell and I decided to go into this museum anyway.

Darrell went around all the exhibits with a sense of determination, discovering much about the Vietnam War, that he wouldn't have otherwise know. I, stubbornly, took a step back, and didn't see too much by choice; it just wasn't something I wanted to partake in. However, at the end of our visit, we met a Vietnamese gentleman outside, who had no hands and forearms. He had them blown off in a landmine incident when he was eight years old. He wanted Darrell and I to shake his arms as if his hands were still there, and of course we bought several books from him about the war.

These will not be books I read, but will remain in the plastic covers they were given to me in, as a reminder of the pain this gentleman, now approaching old age, went through. The Vietnam War was truly horrifying, and I have learnt so much about its consequences on the population here. It has made them the people they are and given each one of them a deep sense of purpose. I do feel humbled in their presence, because, unlike them, I have never had to endure such hardship. Without their stories, I really wouldn't understand the ramifications of the conflict on families, and the enduring, lasting effects it continues to have on generations of Vietnamese.

I have realised today, that you can't just block out the past, because you don't like it. You have to deal with it, and the ramifications of people's actions, that affected ordinary lives. The trauma caused by the Vietnam War, will live on forever, as families continue to mourn their loved ones and come to terms with the pain of loss. I may well want this holiday to be about happiness, rainbows and unicorns, but I am also well aware of Vietnamese history, and in my own way, commemorate all those who died, because of man's inhumanity to man.

Sitting in the Craft Beer Café, drinking a large pint Jasmine tonic, I was left rather empty from today's experience. It was indeed humbling to meet someone who had been so affected by the Vietnam War, but it was also quite thought-provoking, as I wrestled with my own feelings about the destruction that was caused in Vietnam.

Despite everything that has happened to this country, the people are open and welcoming and forgiven the west for the pain they caused to this resilient nation. I am so appalled by the way people were treated here, that it disgusts and angers me, every time I think about it. This communist country as evolved into a tolerant and accepting nation, and it speaks volumes about who these remarkable people are.

I'm sure I will be back here before long, and I will never forget the time I have spent travelling this great country, especially Ho Chi Minh City. Tomorrow we leave for Da Nang, a World away from the Vietnam War, but after today, I will still carry a piece of it in my heart, remembering all those who gave their lives in pursuit of freedom. God rest your souls, all of you!

We ended the day with the best Italian food since I visited Rome and Napoli, and the service was exceptional! @ Italiani's Pizza 2 in Ho Chi Minh City — Absolutely delicious!

---