uncle ho loves you

well last night was a 'down night' meaning we drank while sitting down, until 3 am. we didn't venture out yesterday until about 1 pm, immediately the time at which the rain started. by the time we were a couple blocks deep and beyond turning back, we were forced to run for the shelter of a pavillion in a nearbye park. we were not alone. for the better part of an hour we got to know our circumstantial brethren-40 odd and tightly packed. after a bit we were compelled by hunger to try the foods peddled by a little old lady with a basket. we got a lot of thumbs and belly-rub-mimings that led us to try an unknown something wrapped in banana leaf. it was a nurnberger sausage. good. then we were emboldened to try another banana wrap package- stringy beef sausage with hot chilis in lightly slimy intenstinal tube. ok. had to eat it just to make everyone happy.
the night before was all around an awesome night. early in the day we met this really out guy named ' dj samurai' who wrapped every scant word he said in basket of ridiculous laughter. i was sure he was on mushrooms until we discovered he was just japanese. anyways, he owns and awesome t shirt shop, and told us to meet there to go out partying. we went to some posh rooftop bar with 'the' x-pat crowd. we were with linz's friend Minh and she turned out to know them all to a mind numbing level of familiarity. it was a birthday party and there were a few cool arty types and kind-like souls but mostly running the gamut from Marina-esque young professionals to utter dbags. but samurai handled it all with levity and absolute goofy grace and we followed suit. then to 'LUSH' the premier dance club downtown (its one of two) until close at one a.m., then to heart of darkness-its debauched older brother. your typical cancun catharsis that. we hooked up with a great group though consisting of linz, me, mihn, samurai, spainard bartender fabio, three nice dutch girls, a vietnamese girl with an inventive punk cut and a mischevious eye, and 'the boss' this totally batshit vietnamese lady with a bob who took it upon herself to lead the motley from place to place with despotic precision like "hey you guys shut the F*** up and get in the cab" and deft herding technique. we ended up and the HCMC version of the End Up, a slab-floored, unlit pool-hall of lady-boys and crunk tunes.
i'm off to the war museum with this Celtic guy who is sharpening his socratic method on my stone. ordered an iced coffee and baguette using only local language and sat for an hour reading the paper on a plastic lawn chair in an alley next to a one-legged chain smoking old man with a not unkind but withering stare. i got a couple of smiles out of him but tough work.
we're going to the central highlands in a day or two then hoi an, then meeting minh and going to Laos. wanted to go to the north but there is heavy flooding and mudslides and they are airlifting tourists. so it goes.
love you all, wish you were here

two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl