Saigon: Anyone Been There?

Perotista said:

I met my wife in Thailand, married her and after close to 50 years, still married. I learned Thai from the Thai army and Lao from the Laotian army. I never really gave Vietnamese a shot. Yes, I wouldn't trade that experience or the wife for nothing. We still observe Thai and Lao customs in our home.

Speaking of Decatur, there a Thai Buddhist Wat there that the wife and I go to all the time. Wat Buddha Bucha. During the Buddhist ceremonies or should I say big Buddhist Holidays it is just like being back in Thailand for the morning and afternoon. Thai and Lao being spoke all over, the monks doing their chanting. Thai music and on occasion Thai dancing. Great Thai and Lao food all over. I actually hate to leave the wat some days. Lots of us old ex-GI's to relieve the good times. All married to Thai or Lao woman. We usually take part in the ceremonies. Great place.

I'm about 25 miles south of Atlanta. Still out in the country a bit, but it is fast becoming a suburb of Atlanta. I really don't care for Atlanta. I sure wouldn't want to live there. I like my breathing space.

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Good on you and your wife. You are both fortunate. I know it is also important to her that she can remain connected to the Thai community and to Buddhism. You too can be close to the culture and at the same time meet with other ex-GIs that also have an appreciation for Thai people.

There is a Wat west of Phoenix. My wife and I usually go during big holidays and enjoy it for many of the same reasons you mentioned. The food is fantastic. We like to watch the dancing and the Thai children are so serious when they dance. Concentration. I don't speak Thai but one of the monks is an American. He's translated a little bit for me on occasion. Also there are adult Thai-Americans who grew up in the US but are fluent in Thai and help translate a few sentences.

I volunteered to learn to speak Vietnamese in Vietnam. I learned so much more about the people and the culture by learning the language. Also as it worked out I had some pretty good duty from time to time because I could communicate with Vietnamese. Like Thais and maybe all or most Asian cultures Vietnamese have great respect for elders and children. Family is extremely important. I hope it is still that way in Vietnam and Thailand.

No, I couldn't live in Atlanta now either. I love it but I've been away for years and it's grown so much. If we ever move back I'd prefer to live in north Georgia or outside of Athens. It's all good. Atlanta is just its own independent self anymore. Hell, when I was growing up in Decatur we were just barely part of Atlanta.

vegas giants said:

Why Saigon? I ask because I am going to Thailand and Cambodia soon and wonder if I am missing something

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Now Cambodia I know a thing or two about. I lived there three years.

Skeptic Bob said:

Now Cambodia I know a thing or two about. I lived there three years.

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I am looking forward to Siam Reap. Angkor Wat. I love history and culture and I loved the temples of Thailand. I am going back to Bangkok because I rushed thru the temples there because I was with my wife. I plan to get a guide and slowly go thru them this time.

But I understand Angkor Wat is a whole new ball game

vegas giants said:

I am looking forward to Siam Reap. Angkor Wat. I love history and culture and I loved the temples of Thailand. I am going back to Bangkok because I rushed thru the temples there because I was with my wife. I plan to get a guide and slowly go thru them this time.

But I understand Angkor Wat is a whole new ball game

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Angkor Wat is phenomenal. I also recommend going to visit the Bayon temple as well. It is only a few miles from Angkor War. It isn’t near as large but is a completely different style. Angkor Wat was actually a Hindu temple and Bayon is Buddhist. Both are from the same century, though.

Skeptic Bob said:

Angkor Wat is phenomenal. I also recommend going to visit the Bayon temple as well. It is only a few miles from Angkor War. It isn’t near as large but is a completely different style. Angkor Wat was actually a Hindu temple and Bayon is Buddhist. Both are from the same century, though.

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Thanks. I will check it out. I read Angkor was Hindu then fell into Buddhist hands for a while and then back to Hindu and then abandoned essentially. But I just started reading up on it

Risky Thicket said:

Man, you had some fantastic duty stations. I would have loved that.

Thailand was just awesome when I was there. Thai people are special in my opinion. Cambodians too. I'd love to visit Laos. SEA is a wonderful part of the world. Had an opportunity as a civilian to work in Seoul but I was divorced with young children and turned the job down.

Yes, in many ways the world is all too modern and Asia is no exception. Every time I go back to Atlanta (Decatur) I get lost. Nothing is what it once was. But, we do have the experiences and the appreciation for different cultures. We are most fortunate to have that. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

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Ive lived in Thailand off and on for a few years, mostly in Bangkok and Chang Mai. I wasnt into spicy food when I first came in there (meat and potatoes was the norm for me) but I eventually grew to love it. Now I gotta have tom yam at least once a year.

Hottest place Ive ever been was in Bangkok- it was Christmas time too- yet the heat was scorching and humid.

Thai women... I had a nice relationship with one of them for awhile. Nowadays it may be a bit of a problem telling who the real ones are lol.

PoS said:

Ive lived in Thailand off and on for a few years, mostly in Bangkok and Chang Mai. I wasnt into spicy food when I first came in there (meat and potatoes was the norm for me) but I eventually grew to love it. Now I gotta have tom yam at least once a year.

Hottest place Ive ever been was in Bangkok- it was Christmas time too- yet the heat was scorching and humid.

Thai women... I had a nice relationship with one of them for awhile. Nowadays it may be a bit of a problem telling who the real ones are lol.

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Not only is Bangkok hot but Thai food can be scorching. It can be a great way for fast weight loss. Real fast. Once in London I had Chicken Phall. It took the hide off my tongue but the taste was worth it. That was close to some of the food I had in Bangkok.

polgara said:

Greetings, Chomsky. :2wave:

:thumbs: :mrgreen:

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:2wave:

PoS said:

I'm thinking of going to Vietnam, specifically in Saigon- before I head back to America for Thanksgiving. I've been to Hanoi before so this will be a new city for me. If anyone has any tips on what to do, where to go, please tell me.

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Got no specific tips but my son toured SE Asia a couple years ago and he recommends Vietnam, especially Ho Chi Minh City. He was with a group of schoolfriends including two Vietnamese guys so he had an advantage but it sounds like you're familiar with the culture.
What my son liked a lot about it was it was exotic like only SE Asia can be but without the sex-tourism perverts he said infested Bangkok and Phnom Penh. From his description of the public markets, though, I think I'd be vegetarian as long as I was there.

Grand Mal said:

Got no specific tips but my son toured SE Asia a couple years ago and he recommends Vietnam, especially Ho Chi Minh City. He was with a group of schoolfriends including two Vietnamese guys so he had an advantage but it sounds like you're familiar with the culture.
What my son liked a lot about it was it was exotic like only SE Asia can be but without the sex-tourism perverts he said infested Bangkok and Phnom Penh. From his description of the public markets, though, I think I'd be vegetarian as long as I was there.

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LOL thats what makes Thailand and Cambodia so attractive to some is because of the sex tours.

When my granny called and I told her I was thinking of visiting Vietnam with the kid, she told me not to go because of the war lol. She's 95.

PoS said:

I'm thinking of going to Vietnam, specifically in Saigon- before I head back to America for Thanksgiving. I've been to Hanoi before so this will be a new city for me. If anyone has any tips on what to do, where to go, please tell me.

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the hanoi hilton