'Nam

Last night, Linds, Dad and I enjoyed beers from the mini bar with the roar of motorbike traffic and river barges, unceasing, below the wide open window (our hotel, above). Clinking bottles and glasses, we toasted to Vietnam, Cambodia, and the trip ahead. Wonderful to be back in Asia.

The wheels are turning for each of us: I am wondering about how economies boom, Linds is marveling at the web of electrical wires (see photos in 'Wired' post), and Dad, looking out the window over breakfast, remarks how the West is unsustainable - we're all too 'over-scaled' to ride around like schools of helmeted fish on Honda motorbikes.

Today we are wandering the big city, checking out museums and markets. We'll head to Siem Reap on Saturday. Vietnam already feels less conservative than Indonesia. In fact, one bit reminded me most of Chile: dozens of young couples out snogging in the public parks. Mon dieu!

Below: Newlyweds pose for photos at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum.