Marble Mountains

We visit a marble statuary factory. It looks like very hard labor to me but, to give them credit they sure make perky boobs (yeah, I can hear Jan on that one, but, hey, it's my journal.)

The four of five mountains are 25% to 75% quarried out. Tho believes in five to ten years the industry will have put itself out of business. One mountain, "Water" is to be preserved as a sanctuary. Likely no coincidence, Water Mountain also contains a sixty to seventy foot diameter room allegedly used as a medical station by Viet Cong from 1966 to 1975. Tho personally saw one mortar attack by the U.S. in August, 1968.

I stop to meditate in the monks' temple. It is very difficult to focus on my breathing amidst the loud chipping, sawing and drilling of marble. Nonetheless, I have very peaceful thoughts about Vietnam and its people.

 

Feb 27, 2004

Eggs, Over Easy

While my hotel has a "dinning" room, no breakfast is served. Tho takes me to a coffee house that also serves breakfast, including eggs! They arrive cooked on the bottom, totally uncooked on top. Yikes! I pass request through Tho to have them flipped and cooked. I get them back burned. Be careful what you ask for.

Tour Guides, a Conversation

Tho: George W. Bush is your 46th President but you have had only 44 people as President because #6 and #8 were the same; I don't remember his name.  [Actually Adams was #2 father, and #6 son, but I'm still impressed.]

Rick: Adams

Tho: That's right.

Rick: Who was the other President with two terms?

Tho: #20 and #22. [Grover.Cleveland]

Rick: Mr. Tho, what are the requirements to be a guide?

Tho: To be a guide everyone must have studied four years at a university, two years more in history, and one year in Hanoi guide school plus written and oral language [fluency] in English, French, German, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish or Italian.

Rick: Who pays for this school?

Tho: I interviewed to be a guide in 1990. I gave them all my work history and education history. For two days I wrote exam in Hanoi, and then one-half day we talked in English. I got a letter in a few days saying I was accepted in guide school. Then government paid one-half and my sponsor tour company paid the other half.

Rick: I know about the university; when did you study history?

Tho: One year in Paris, 1966, and one year in Saigon, 1964.

Rick: How did you learn about the G7 and other events since 1990?

Tho: I read everything I can in newspapers and magazines plus all guides go back to guide school in Hanoi one month each year.