Jan 21 15:00. Previous one was at 14:00 -forgot to timestamp and forgot to cover another topic – the people.

First, the children. Havé seen very few in HCMC. They are ubiquitious in the countryside.

The children are always smiling and laughing and happy to say hello and hold your hand and jump around you. They are a joy to see. By US standards they have nothing, not even anything resembling clean drinking water. Hot humid in this the dry season and somewhat locked up in the wet season. Apparently few can swim so many are lost when the Mekong floods. The markers on the houses showed floods vary from 2 feet to 7 feet depending upon the year.

As the countryside is farming and the government allows them (crop rotation) a maximum of three crops they often have 3 months of no work. The young boys and girls as well as the oldér adults walk around trying to get you to buy lottery tickets. One of the few sources of income. Not a good job as you can imagine and at times quite intrusive.

Near the ferries noticed considerable begging and tugging at my shorts. In the city I am stopped or I should say approached at least one time per minute. Massage? Motor bike? Cyclo? Hello, where are you from ( they want me to use them as a guide or go on a ride around the city with them and have no concept or too much need to accept that I just want to wander).

I discussed the commerce earlier. As I wander many or maybe most shopkeepers intrude. They seem to have little undérstanding of 'just looking'. I do not think they have as yet learned that they might sell a bit better if they were not so insistant on showing and pushing a sale.

The hotel staffs have been uniformly nice and professional. Might be the class hotel we have stayed at but all try to please. Minibars are at US retail prices. Coke about $2.50 from the minibar.

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