Julie & Mike - Day Minus 1

Looks like Day Minus 1 is another R&R'er.

Get used to the 12 hour time change (from local reports, sounds like younger folk fare better than grizzled veterans) and the tropical heat and humidity.

Piece of cake.

So to get out of that heat, J&M did a tour of the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels - and as Mike relates -

"...where the Viet Cong lived under ground for 20 odd years fighting the yanks. 70 klicks from Saigon they kept em busy and nervous.

Very cool."

"200 kms of tunnels 3 levels deep. Kitchens, hospitals and living areas for thousands of fighters are now on display for interested folks.

They even had a tunnel which went underneath the American base in Saigon from which they could sneak out at night and steal guns and stuff from the American Army.

Wouldn't want to be fighting against those folks."

"The entrances to the tunnels (seen here) were very small and the tunnels themselves were not meant for big people like Julie and me as you can see. And the bamboo killer traps were amazingly inventive and deadly.

They recycled bombs and claymore mines down there and then used them against the enemy."

We went into the tunnels a short way bent over and suffering from claustrophobia. Anyhow very interesting.

I don't think that this is the kind of trip we're on this time as we'll be riding with gentle folks creating awareness for the plight of the women and girls here.

And speaking of riding with gentle folk, as Mike reports:

"Last night we were driven around town on a three wheeled bicycle in heavy traffic. [Ed. note: I think that is Mike on the right, in his Amish girl outfit.]

Scared us a bit a first until we gained confidence in Charles our motor man. Millions on the road at the same time on mopeds mixing with the buses and other vehicles and us going in and out and even against the traffic at times.

Reporting from Ho Chi Minh, your pals the bicycling correspondents and tellers of daring do, Julie and Mike. "

So then they were off back to the hotel for some lounging and to finally meet the team! Then tomorrow heading out to visit one of the Care projects.

By bike? Nope - bus.

Hey, I coulda gone on this trip. And no mention of even one spider! Come on - even in all those tunnels?

Oh well, I think the bike portion of this vacation gruelling marathon starts Monday....