I have just come back from a wonderful early morning walk in the old quarter. The quarter is just starting to come alive. People of all ages on the street cooking Pho for breakfast. The super fast chatter of Northern Vietnamese is heard everywhere. It’s an amazing story of life unfolding before your eyes. I have heard that the government wants to clean up this place and modernize the old neighborhoods. The population density here is more than New York with no high rise buildings. Humanity layer upon humanity, young and old, generation living with generation. It figures that the government wants to get rid of the thing that brings tourists here to see it. It reminds me of my years in Austin. The things that made Austin “weird”, have been replaced with expensive high rises and slick trendy ultra modern bars. Which of course look just the same as they do everywhere.
Right now it’s still here and that matters to me. The smells and the sight of women butchering pigs in the street next to the flower girls who are getting their bouquets ready for the day. There is something here that pulls you in. Nguyen Sieu Street is the place to go. It’s very different here than the South. Very little English is spoken. How many times do you go to a place that you have no idea what is being said in the local language? Not often for me. You can usually pick up a word or two but it’s tough here. Still a smile and a respectful nod go a long way anywhere in the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment