Atrocities Museum

One of the things that affects me greatly was the war that went on between the Americans and Vietnamese. In Vietnam it is called the American War. Not Vietnam War as Vietnam has had numerous wars since the beginning of time. Not a very peaceful country. No one will ever understand how greatly a war destroys lives till they see first hand the after effects of it. I went to the Atrocities Museum in Saigon 10yrs ago. I remember being very affected by it. Its not as cool as what you watch on the Cinema screens. Yea, its cool to enjoy it but effects aside, you come to realise that all you are watching is real and it happened to many people.

Its not like the movies where it ends and we walk out of the cinema all happy to a safe world. Sometimes we forget that people suffer in war. It doesn't really hit us till you walk into a Museum like this and see how the people suffered. Real people having to die when they didn't wanna die. People struggling to survive day by day never really knowing when's their last moment. People just trying to survive it. What about those who live with the after effects of war. It doesn't just end cause the war has ended. After effects of bombs on lives. Things like the orange bomb causes so much damage that the 3rd or 4th generation are still affected. People not being able to find their loved ones who have gone MIA. Never ever knowing for certain what happened to them.

It brought home the painful truth of war when I walked into the museum. Both countries suffered great casualties but it has always been a one sided affair. The Big screens always brag about the US soldiers and how they suffered. No one really heard the sufferings of the Vietnamese people. I still stand with Ho Chi Minh. I Stand for the Vietnamese people. The Americans were not supposed to be there but you know how it is. I do not have an issue with them now but it so pains my heart to see how much the country suffered. If there wasn't a war, I would most probably have been born in Vietnam. Haha. ;-)

Well, I found this trip back very enlightening. I got to know the country better, its people, and my history as well. Its good to know where you come from. To me my history is very important. Cause it makes me who I am. And I can understand why my dad's so patriotic to Vietnam. ;-)

My second trip to the Museum still affected me as much as the first time I stepped in. There were more to see this time round. It still pains my heart to see the suffering of the people. How lucky I am to not be in that position I tell myself. I just hope that peace continue to rein in Vietnam. And that in time, the pain of the land will heal. May God' s blessing be on them.

Below are some pics that I took while walking around. Pictures of the war on the people.



















































Effects of the Orange Bomb used to clear the forest to find and stop the Ho Chi Minh Trails.






































Sufferings of the people. Pictures taken before some of them were killed. Like the picture below of the woman in red.







































Some of the weapons used. Kept to show us.

























The Diem Regime. Keeping prisoners and torturing them for information.






























A Gullotine. A real one. The blade was so rusty.





























Bombs from the war.

























I ended up walking by myself cause I was trying to read most of whats on the boards. Which was good as I could go at a pace I was comfortable with. This was the place which hit me most in Saigon. I hate wars and what they do to people's lives. I can never understand the need for wars. Why do some men just love war and get all excited about them.

Down time

Its been horrific with the internet down. ;-O I am surprised at how dependent we are on the internet. I couldn't do much without it. ;-)

Now that its more or less back, I am able to complete my work. Today's my last day here!!! Am really looking forward to a few days of no work. Nice! At least it sounds nice to me now. I do have an interview that I would be going for as well. Perhaps by then a few more. I am not very clear on what I wanna be doing so I am just going to try out a few stuff. Am praying to God to lead me. So am not overly anxious. I won't be until say end of the month. Hehe.

I totally forgot abt not puttin my pic up..so yea, the previous pic will have to go. ;-D Will post up pics of Saigon right after this.

Back!

Hi all, am back already. Had been a really good trip. It was an educational one although a little too tiring. I guess we were a little too ambitious. I slept the whole of yesterday. Sleeping off the tiredness. ;-)

Am ok today. Missing loads of food that could not be found over in Vietnam. Ate my fishball noodles and fish slice noodles. Had "A" mum's soup yesterday. Yum Yum. Its nice to be back home. Nice hot shower. Full blast. Sigh, can I be any happier. Got to hug and see "A" after such a long absence. Poor boy, he was missing my presence bad. And yes, I got to hug the little bunny as well. Missed her like mad. The cutey.

Okies, will post up some pics soon. Am in my last week of work. Need to complete my project. And after that, I will have a little more time to post up pictures from my trip. It was an awesome trip.

Rain drops keep falling from my nose

I AM SICK!!!!!!! Actually let me rephrase that. I am still sick. Remember the running nose. Yes, its still around. On off I get it and now its evolved to a sore throat too. Finally went to the doc's. Yes yes, that's for being stubborn. This sucks cause I am leaving for Vietnam tomorrow. SHIT!!! And I feel like hell. ;-(

And what with all the typhoons hitting Vietnam. AArrgghhhh!!!

I feel so miserable. I just hope it clears up really soon. How to enjoy my holiday like that. ASSSSS!!!

Gripe gripe. Yeah. I hardly slept much last night cause the throat was causing so much pain and I couldn't sleep. It was the half awake kinda sleep. Feel so disorientated. Feel like something is missing. Bleah!

Heez.... so sick.

I dun even know why I keep getting the flu. Is something wrong with me?? Sickee "P". Haha..

Vietnam

I am getting so excited about the impending trip. Can't wait. ;-) Sorry I haven't been posting. A little lazy and a little busy. My nose has stopped running for one. Anyways, I thought to post some pictures on the places we would be visiting in Vietnam. We start with Ho Chi Minh City (previously Saigon), we move on the Dalat, Nha Trang, Hue, Hoi Anh and last but not least Hanoi. ;-D We will be travelling via bus. Open ticket route. Its cheap and its very comfy. It cost about USD 21 thereabouts for the entire journey. The bus is the 35 to 40 seater type. So yea. Okies.... less talk..more pictures and descriptions on the places we would be visiting. No worries, I will be taking loads of photos while there. I bought a 2GB memory stick to take to my hearts content. Hehehehh...

Ho Chi Minh City is the heart and soul of Vietnam. It's a bustling, dynamic and industrious centre, the largest city in the country, the economic capital and the cultural trendsetter. Yet within the teeming metropolis are the timeless traditions and beauty of an ancient culture.

This is a city that churns, ferments, bubbles and fumes. The streets, where much of the city's life takes place, are a jumble of street markets, shops, pavement cafes, stands-on-wheels and vendors selling wares spread out on sidewalks. It's impossible not to be infected by its exhilarating vibe.



















DaLat city is probably one of Vietnam's most well known vacation destination. Since the turn of the century, Da Lat has been the vacation spot for well-to-do vietnamese and foreigners. It is the unofficial honeymoon mecca of Vietnam. Located on Lám Viên (Langbian) high lands, part of the greater Central high lands of Vietnam (Cao Nguyen Trung Phan), the city is 1500 m above sea level and is 305 km from Saigon. The name Da Lat originates from the hill tribe people in this region. It literally means Stream of the Lat people.

The city of Nha Trang is becoming more popular with the tourists in recent years. Yet, with a population of 300,000, Nha Trang still retains its small town atmosphere. This resort town is well known for its miles of beach and the friendliness of its people. The city is flanked by nearly ten kilometers of prime beach where the water is warm year round. The average temperature in Nha Trang is 26 C. Nha Trang also has the lowest level of humidity in all of Vietnam. Today, Nha Trang ranks among the top of all beaches in Vietnam. Nha Trang is 1,287 km south of Hanoi, 624 km south of Hue and 442 km from Ho Chi Minh city (Saigon). Nha Trang has several famous islands. Most notable are Hon Tre, Hon Yen, Hon Rua and the Spratly islands.




















Hue is located in Thua Thien prefecture and is in the central part of Vietnam. Located 660 km from Ha Noi and 1080 km from Saigon, Hue has always been considered the fulcrum of Vietnam's two rice baskets, the Red river delta and the Mekong delta. Hue became the name of Vietnam's most well known ancient capital because of the local mispronunciation of the word Hoá in Thuâ.n Hoá.

Since the 16th century, Thuan Hoa, due to its strategic location, has been a very prosperous area. The Nguyen Lord chose this area to be their headquarters. Nguyen Anh made it Vietnam's capital city in 1802 after he defeated the Tay Son and ascended to the throne with the name Gia Long. King Gia Long (1762-1819) was credited for building and fortifying Hue from the very beginning. Since then, successive king of the Nguyen Dynasty has added to the foundation set by his predecessors.
















Hoi An, 30km south of Danang, was one of South-East Asia's main sailing ports from the 17th to the 19th century. It was a good material manifestation of the fusion of cultures over time in an international commercial port, and is still exceptionally well preserved. The city has retained a unique character, as there are still a thousand of very concentrated historical structures, and no modern development. It is a quiet and friendly place where you can still be transported one hundred years ago to a colorful past. The Hoi An Ancient Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nearly one millennium ago, My Son, 60km south of Danang, as the main Champa center was the counterpart of other South-East Asia's great cities such as Angkor, Bagan, or Ayathuya. Between the 4th and 13th centuries a unique culture which owed its spiritual origins to Indian Hinduism developed on the coast of contemporary Viet Nam. This is graphically illustrated by the remains of a series of impressive tower-temples located in a dramatic site that was the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom for most of its existence. The monuments on the site, set in a verdant valley, are largely ruined, but it is still possible to grasp the importance of the site and see the effects of time and vegetation. For beautiful specimen of Cham sculpture, you'd have to check the Cham Museum in Danang, whereas the best preserved structures are much further south. My Son Sancturary is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the fall of 1010, King Ly Thai To (Ly Cong Uan) moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Dai La. On the way, the king saw a vision of a golden dragon ascending from the Red river ( song Hong). The King decided to change Dai La to Thang Long (Ascending Dragon). Thang Long remained the capital city until the end of the Tran dynasty when in 1397, the capital city was moved to Thanh Hoa -Tay Do (Western Capital) and Thang Long became Dong Do (Eastern Capital).

Vietnam was invaded by China in 1407, and the city was renamed Dong Quan. In 1428, after ten years of fighting, Le Loi liberated Vietnam and renamed the city Dong Kinh. In 1527, the city was renamed Thang Long. In 1802 when King Gia Long (Nguyen Dynasty) moved the capital city to Hue, the name Thang Long remained but, Long no longer means dragon, Long in this case means prosperity. Ha Noi, was the name given to the city by King Minh Mang in 1831. Ha means river and Noi means within - Ha Noi means within the river.



















Its a beautiful country to visit and full of culture as well. I am really going to enjoy myself. You all have loads of fun while I am away too.

Oh hohoho...will be going to MOS this evening too. Have not even stepped into that place. See I am a mountain tortoise. My mum's company has some event there. So yea going to kpoh. Hehe.... If I dun blog before I leave.... here's a tata to you all. Will only be back on Christmas Day.


So here's a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. Hang in there!!!

ENJOY!!!!

Audio Expositional Teachings

I want to share this link with you all. I find it really good. "J" found it and gave me the link as I liked such things. For those who want to further your understanding of the bible its a good place to visit. It had audio expositional teachings of the entire bible. Great huh! Enjoy it! I am! ;-)

http://www.joncourson.com/teaching/teachings.asp