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In December 2003, Ethan and Neal traveled to Viet Nam, where Ethan grew up. We visited his family in Cho Lon, the Chinese Community of Ho Chi Minh city. The journey was transfiguring - Neal had never been to Asia, and Ethan returned home after being away for 20 years.
After dinner at a wonderful restaurant, we took this picture of the entire family.
   
   
Here is Ethan's mother and father in front of the altar located in the first room of the house.
   
   
This is the first room of Ethan's parents' house. This room is usually a living room or business (and used for motorbike parking). This room is being used to cast machine parts. It was not unusual to pass three or four workers into order to get into the house.
   
   
In Ho Chi Minh City, the houses go up, sometimes as high as six and seven stories. This is the third floor out of four in the parents' house. Ethan is hanging out with sister and newphews.
   
   
This is the lobby of our hotel - notice the motorbikes parked inside. The Christmas tree was not unusual - we saw holiday decorations everywhere. Like most houses and businesses, a roll-up door covered the front of the hotel and came down at night.
   
   
Another picture of the lobby - what is not seen is that there are two hotel employees sleeping on cots in the lobby. The employees let guests in and out after the roll-down door is shut for the night. The hotel staff was very friendly.
   
   
One corner of our hotel room. We could have stayed at Ethan's parent's house, but Ho Chi Minh City is very noisy until the early hours, and the heat and humidity would have caused us to sleep badly. The room had an air conditioner - if the electricity worked.
   
   
The other corner of the hotel room.
   
   
Going to market - the streets of Cho Lon.
   
   
Taking goods to market.
   
   
This is one way into the market.
   
   
Here is the market - the meat section. Entrails and parts were displayed for sale. Everything was very fresh and interesting to examine.
   
   
This very kind person is related to Ethan. She sits on the counter selling tofu and other prepared foods. Here she is wrapping tofu in banana leaves and newspaper for our dinner.
   
   
This is the place in the market to buy prepared vegetarian food - it was wonderful!
   
   
Sugar cane drink is made here - sugar cane is squeezed, and the liquid is drained into a glass, and lime is added. Behind the blue object is a woman washing her hair. Even though that would seem very strange in America, it seemed very natural in Viet Nam. Seated: Ethan, his sister Lin to the right, his niece Ni to the left.
   
   
Coming home from market - the strangest mannequins! These were everywhere! This is the first room of a house, serving as a clothing store.
   
   
Results of the market shopping! The fruit was wonderful!
   
   
Neal is a guest in Ethan's sister's house - this is the first room which serves as a living room and motorbike garage. The floors in Viet Nam are all tile - no carpet or wood.
   
   
In this house, the kitchen is two rooms. This room holds the refrigerator and washing machine (blue object on the left). No one we visited had a dryer or dishwasher. The refrigerator was used mainly to chill fruit and beverages. Food was purchased fresh twice a day. Cooked leftovers were placed in a cabinet and eaten during the next meal.
   
   
This is the second room of the kitchen where the sink and stove are located. Everyone we visited cook on portable butane stoves which can be moved to the top of the house during the hottest days. Ethan's mother still has open clay pots that are used on occasion; the smoke is very messy.
   
   
This is the skylight in the second kitchen room.
   
   
The stairway going to the second floor - this house has three floors.
   
   
The main bedroom of this house. Older houses have open rooms on every floor - privacy is achieved by hanging curtains around a mat on the floor.
   
   
These are typical houses in Ho Chi Minh City. This is a new development, which explains open spaces between the houses. These spaces will be taken later.
   
   
This house is in a new development area - as a free-standing dwelling, it is unusual. The construction of houses consists of excellent materials, and most of the work is done by hand.
   
   
A example of new construction.
   
   
Ethan's parents at the temple
   
   
We got into complicated traffic congestion when an intersection was blocked by a passing train. The railroad guards were put into place by two people, one coming from each direction. The driver of this tour bus was trying to convince the guard closers to let him try to cross the tracks before the train arrived - they refused.
   
   
Typical traffic in Ho Chi Minh City. Almost all private transportation is bicycles, scooters, and motorbikes. Entire families will ride on a motorbike. Ethan saw five people on on motorbike, and Neal saw someone transporting a washing machine.
   
   
A picture of the older nieces and nephews.
   
   
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