Forty years ago the Cu Chi tunnels were home to Viet Cong and guerrilla fighters who successfully kept the Americans and South Vietnamese at bay. Today the 75-mile intricate system of tunnels are one of Vietnam’s biggest tourist attractions.
I hate canned tours. I always have. I hate the idea of being inside of a …
Some times you have to look into the mirror and ask if you respect what you see. If not, then make a change.
A few months ago, I was visited by two great friends and former colleagues from The Sacramento Bee, Bryan Patrick and Florence Low. They only had six days to see Vietnam. This is a fairly typical time allotment of a tourist. They either stick to the north or the south and go on several …
Part 3 of 3 – Day 10: Gorak Shep – Pheriche (4240 Meters)
On the top of the hill heading out of Gorak Shep I turn around for one last look at the desolate scene. The first sense of accomplishment comes over me. I smile, take a deep breath and move on. Every person we …
Part 2 of 3 — Day 6: Shomare – Dingboche (4410 Meters)
Rested and feeling better we set off to continue what we began yesterday. It is a short journey but one that could not have been completed while ill. Dingboche is a small but inviting village what seems to be based at the foothills …
Part 1 of 3
On October 29, 1979, I was born. Fast forward 30 years to today and I can’t help but look back and question what happened. What happened during those 30 years of my life. The dreams that I continued to put off till next year because I seemed to have enough time …
On October 29, 2009, I will have been on this Earth for 30 years. Numbers are just numbers unless you assign meaning to them. So in the spirit of attempting to live my 30 years of life to the fullest, I am headed out the door in a few hours to fly to Nepal. …
I’ve never been able to understand the arrangement of marriages. Love doesn’t seem to be capable of compromise. But perhaps I am just immature and naive on the topic.
My friend was married over the weekend to a lovely Vietnamese women in which their parents arranged. He lives and works in the States while she …
I’m not even certain what day it is. My trip back to the States came and went within a 9-day span that included two trips to San Francisco and Sacramento and one trip to Virginia. Eleven airports and 45 hours of flying. But it was all worth it. And more importantly I got the …
Staring at a safety card barely poking up between the barf bag and the inflight magazine. I’ve seen the flight attendant perform the safety ritual countless times before. But this time I wonder if I would really remember any of it facing an emergency.
The cabin lights soon dim as we climb high into the …
