Saigon Tea Party

Vietnamese drink coffee in the morning and drink tea at other times of the day when discussing business or hosting friends and relatives.  Our host prepared ceremonial pots of white, green and oolong tea grown in the mountains of Viet Nam.  Ruth Ann and I preferred oolong.  

                                Vegetarian lunch was delicious at this fine dining restaurant.  



Saigon has grown from a population of five hundred thousand just after the Viet Nam War to twelve million people in 2025.  We have toured mostly the old city.  I was unable to capture a photo of the modern skyline with its skyscrapers.  Buddhism is the major religion in Viet Nam, however, eighty-one percent are agnostic.  Our guide, Chen, told us he is frequently asked about personal freedom in a Communist country.  He related that Viet Nam is the freest of the Communist countries.  Their internet is censored but they can access news sources like CNN from outside their country.  He illustrated their personal freedom by pointing to the thousands of motorbikes that are driven as if there are no lanes in the road and go wherever they want, even on the sidewalks- which we witnessed first hand.  Crossing the street as a pedestrian is nothing like our crosswalks at home.

Orleans released Still the One in 1976 during the early days of our marriage and here are a few lines;

You're still the one that makes me laughStill the one that's my better halfWe're still having fun and you're still the one

Changing, our love is going goldEven though we grow old, it grows new

You're still the one that I love to touchStill the one and I can't get enoughWe're still having fun and you're still the one
You are still the one that makes me shoutStill the one that I dream aboutWe're still having fun and you're still the one
You are still the oneYou're still the oneWe're still having fun and you're still the one

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