We have noticed in our short time here that there is very little middle class here. There is the wealthy and the very poor. This is true in many countries but the proximity of their coexistence is startling here. On our way to our first "home" in Vietnam we could see beautiful gated private villas right next to tin shanties. Literally adjacent to one another.
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Beautiful light in the living room |
At our new place here in District 7 we are staying at a new
condominium tower with modern decor, a gymnasium, pool, small
convenience store, 24/7 security and some condo units that are two
stories high. Out our patio living room window we can see squalor that
is just behind our building. There are people living in a rusted old
barge just feet from the condo. We can also see several other thatched
huts within view of our balcony. The view out the back windows gives us
a bird's eye view of the life of the people that live along waterways.
At the beginning and end of the day we see a few people standing in dug
out canoes paddling their way to the shore presumably to go to work.
It is very sad to see such poverty right next to modern luxury.
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This picture as well as the next two were taken from out balcony. Notice the "home" on the old barge |
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HCMC in the background |
We have seen BMW dealerships here and motorbikes that look like they
were used in the 60's. We see street vendors trying to shine shoes to
make a buck while at the same time there are many malls and stores that
are really expensive. It is hard to explain the way of life here in
Saigon because it is not as uniform as we are used to in North America.
What is uniform though are the ever-present face masks. From the rich
in their Burberry shirts and Louis Vuitton bags, to the poor in their
worn out attire, many people wear face masks while riding the city
transit, walking the streets, and most especially, while riding a
motorbike. Motorbike fashion has its own fibe as well. Nearly
everyone wears helmets...some are really funky. Some of the women wear
long "skirt type" material pieces over their clothes to keep themselves
clean. We are also amazed how many people can fit on a bike. We have
seen a family of four on a bike. Dad driving, small kid in the middle
(sometimes sleeping) and mom in the back holding a young baby. Some of
these moms must have killer abdominal muscles...holding on to a baby
while maintaining balance on the back of a bike looks like a difficult
task. On one occasion we witnessed a mom holding a young infant while
driving the bike herself and weaving through the crazy HCMC traffic.
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These women are wearing gloves and masks that are much bigger than most |
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Minion mask on this guy |
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Taking the dog for a ride |
Wishing you all good health! Travelling to far places has its ups and downs. Rykauna, this is one birthday you will certainly remember. Jadon is quite the gift for you. Sorry for the bug you also got. Hope you get rid of it quickly. Thoughts and prayers are with you all. Sorry to mention it but winter is upon us with snow and cold. Enjoy it there while you can. Jadon is in for quite the adventures as he arrives into his new world. Love, Granspapa.
ReplyDeleteHey...nice to see your living quarters. Seem very comfortable.
ReplyDeleteSo sad to see the difference though isn't it?
Enjoy your stay there. Count down now. Still praying for good health for all.
All my love. Grand-maman xoxoxo