150m WE ARE STRONG

Got up very early today to catch a taxi over to the tour company. First time we felt really touristy on this whole trip but whatever it was like $6 to go to and from Cu Chi Tunnels. Off we went... The man in charge introduced himself and said Cu Chi probably every other word. We couldn't stop laughing at the way he said it. It's like he knew what it sounded like in English and purposefully emphasized it because we were there and we are immature.

We slept the whole ride and awoke to a much more leafy area with cool cows and rice fields. Then began our time at the tunnels. These tunnels are famous because the Vietnamese built them during the war to escape from the Americans. There are miles and miles of tunnels underground where people lived for years. There are also a lot of traps and hidden passageways and entrances that only the Cu Chi guerillas knew about. Let me just say, it would freaking suck to be over here during the war. One wrong move and your leg is severed by some rolling spikey death trap.

First we watched a very very very cheesy documentary on the tunnels. It was like, made during the war. So strange. Then we headed over to see one of the hidden entrances. It was a regular forest floor but hidden was a tiny little rectangular hole about the size of a bread box. A man working at the site showed us an example of him escaping into the hide out. Then the man in charge picked me to go do it because I guess I am small enough? Well, I surprisingly fit and it was really dirty and awkward with all the people watching me.

Oh my god and on our tour there was a LIVE MUMMY. At first we thought she looked a lot like our middle school choir teacher (no offense ms. pouliot, you just tan A LOT), but it was definitely just a mummy out and about for a nice day at the cu chi tunnels. Such a scary woman eghgfiufgiuegfiue.

We decided to be strong and try to crawl through the long tunnel path instead of opt for the easy version. It was definitely hard. At one point we were on our hands and knees and felt really dirty. Alyssa started to freak out and I was just laughing at her. We had met James, a traveler from some British island between France and England. He was very nice and very cute except for the dreadlocks and smoking ew... but he went into the tunnels with us. He definitely kept us motivated. When we got out on the other side, the man in charge congratulated us and said that we are very strong we went 150 m! Earlier he had also become friends with some random boy and Alyssa asked him who he was and he said Oh he is my son for the day so he can get in for free. Next time you two will be my girls and get in for free! We were like... uh ok?

Oh we also fired some AK-47's. That was kinda creepy. At first I felt a bit turned off by it all because you could hear the shots in the distance while we were walking around the jungle and it felt like a movie. Plus, what kind of regulation do they have? Do they get your fingerprint? ID? Anything? Turns out-- no. The guns are locked into place so all you can do is pull the trigger. But whatever, we shot AK-47s in the Vietnam jungle-- how many people can say that? Don't worry, the targets were animals, not Americans.

Then we headed back to the city, got some Banh Mi for lunch (vietnamese sandwiches, just to try them out here-- tasty), and took a taxi to Nhat's aunt's house. His mom and aunt made us a dinner! Actually, we helped a little. We cleaned lettuce and fruit and picked off the bad leaves and flipped spring rolls. His aunt has two maids, one cleaning and one that was taking care of the kid upstairs. It was rather awkward because no one introduced them they just were smiling and sweeping. Oh and they have this ridiculous pet bird-- I have NEVER seen something like it. It screams and looks like it is going to kill you then all of a sudden it will speak in Vietnamese and ay "Mom, I want food". Freaking insane. It looks like a vulture, not a parrot. I took a video of it.

Dinner was delicious and fun. His mom and aunt were suprised we like all the food here and surprised we could use chopsticks. Nhat said the bon bo hue wasn't as good as she usually makes it because she used less seasoning because she thought we wouldn't like it! Isn't that sad? It was still really good but I could tell it was a little plain. The spring rolls were good which we wrapped up in whatever leaves we wanted. We also tried this really disgusting veggie juice that is apparently very popular here. Yuck.

We hung out at the house a bit and played with his cousins. The one year old was very quiet and angry looking but beautiful. Then the 8 year old came over around the time his dad got there. She doesn't speak English, only French, but we just made faces and tried to teach her dance moves. I think she liked us a lot. When we were leaving his aunt told Alyssa she has a pretty face hahaha.

Nhat Alyssa and I went to a coffee shop and had some cold drinks. Once again, the location was really cool, down a creepy alleyway and up some stairs. Big comfy chairs and bean bag chairs filled the room and the straws were actually really awesome too. I would seriously be at these coffeshops everyday if I lived here. They are so relaxing. Then we picked up some grilled corn with dried shrimp and seasoning he wanted us to try. It was tasty. Then it was back to the hotel because tomorrow morning we must get up very early to go to Mui Ne and lay on the beach allll dayyyy. Oh so much work!

Oh, Nhat hugged us! I love him he is so dorky and nice. He was such a good host! Too bad he leaves for Ha Noi in two days so we won't see him until he moves to America next year. Oh and it is sooooo freaking hot. We wore jeans which was a terrible idea. Ohhhh yeah and I tried durian today. That was disgusting. It doesn't even smell that bad, it just tastes like shit. I like all the other fruit here, just that one should die.

Time for bed!