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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.
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After dinner at a wonderful restaurant, we took this picture of the entire family.
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Here is Ethan's mother and father in front of the altar located
in the first room of the house.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The other corner of the hotel room.
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Going to market - the streets of Cho Lon.
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Taking goods to market.
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This is one way into the market.
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Here is the market - the meat section. Entrails and parts
were displayed for sale. Everything was very fresh and
interesting to examine.
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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.
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This is the place in the market to buy prepared vegetarian
food - it was wonderful!
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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.
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Coming home from market - the strangest mannequins! These
were everywhere! This is the first room of a house, serving
as a clothing store.
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Results of the market shopping! The fruit was wonderful!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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This is the skylight in the second kitchen room.
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The stairway going to the second floor - this house has three floors.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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A example of new construction.
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Ethan's parents at the temple
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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.
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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.
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A picture of the older nieces and nephews.
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